No More Childhood

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First Grade Teachers Chatboard

No More Childhood

by Anna

Dec 9, 2012

I am a substitute teacher currently subbing as a first grade long-term leave replacement for the entire school year. I have to say that I don't like what I'm experiencing in first grade. There are no longer any references to Christmas.....no plays, no Christmas trees or decorations, no excited anticipation for Santa's arrival - just business as usual. Kids will only be little innocent beings for such a short time....I don't think that ignoring Christmas is right. Also, there is nothing but independent reading along with a brief, 10-minute guided reading lesson each day. There is a classroom reading packet and a take- home reading packet, both with a reading log. The poor kids have so much trouble keeping track of all their packets! There is a writing folder and a writing journal...same for the writing "stuff". There is math...yay! There is no "real science or social studies instruction, no time for fun classroom things such as singing, dancing or playing as a group. There is no fun any...See More

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Another Sub I hope you are not too recognizable by this post in case the person you are subbing for comes to this board. With that being said, I second what you are saying in a lot of ways. Just remember that teachers have a tendency to leave more worksheets when there is a sub because trying to explain all their centers, etc. is often so detailed that it's no...See MoreI hope you are not too recognizable by this post in case the person you are subbing for comes to this board. With that being said, I second what you are saying in a lot of ways. Just remember that teachers have a tendency to leave more worksheets when there is a sub because trying to explain all their centers, etc. is often so detailed that it's not easy for a sub to make sense of it in the few minutes of planning time they have upon arrival to school.

In our district, the kids still get A LOT of reading instruction.

On 12/09/12, Anna wrote: > I am a substitute teacher currently subbing as a first > grade long-term leave replacement for the entire school > year. I have to say that I don't like what I'm > experiencing in first grade. There are no longer any > references to Christmas.....no plays, no Christmas trees or > decorations, no excited anticipation for Santa's arrival - > just business as usual. Kids will only be little innocent > beings for such a short time....I don't think that ignoring > Christmas is right. Also, there is nothing but independent > reading along with a brief, 10-minute guided reading lesson > each day. There is a classroom reading packet and a take- > home reading packet, both with a reading log. The poor > kids have so much trouble keeping track of all their > packets! There is a writing folder and a writing > journal...same for the writing "stuff". There is > math...yay! There is no "real science or social studies > instruction, no time for fun classroom things such as > singing, dancing or playing as a group. There is no fun > anymore...it seems like I'm teaching 4th grade. There is > barely enough time for show and tell. Since I'm doing what > I'm told to do, I give worksheets, which I don't believe > in. I'm a hands-on teacher and it's like fingernails on a > chalkboard! Basically I'm trying to say that I don't like > where education is heading. Kids used to learn to read by > having groups reading a basal reader. They were taught > phonics. They weren't reading independently most of the > day. Kids used to have science experiments and learn about > history by having plays or re-enactments. There used to be > singing songs and cutting, pasting, and coloring. I don't > see little kids....I see miniature people with souls of > adults. First grade is not what it used to be. Very sad.

Dec 12, 2012

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