Get Schooled

By Parent

September 16, 2005 10:17 AM | Link to this

I think this teacher is being proactive in this situation. By her providing to the student an already written (and legible)note, parents can not complain that they were unaware of what was going on in the classroom. Personally, I believe that the student should be held accountable for his/her assignments and the teacher should only be responsisble for making certain they get the assisgnment. I applaud this teacher for going beyond the call of duty to provide this added incentive to the student and, more importantly, the parent. Your sister’s concern is valid, but in this case, a bit misplaced. The teacher is only trying to avert future hardships and conflicts because there is going to be a parent that is going to say that their child never recieved the assignment or that they could not understand the child’s writing.

By Dan

September 16, 2005 10:32 AM | Link to this

This teacher is just trying to cover her butt, albeit from stupid gripes. The very act of writing down notes reinforces the material. Hear it, Write it, Read it. If kids know they are getting the notes done for them they clearly won’t write them, they may not even listen figuring they can read the notes later, so maybe they read them, now they have 1/3 the reinforcment. Then of course there is the opportunity to teach responsibility which is completely taken away Now if she wants to give the notes to the parents so they can help monitor the kids homework etc, thats not a bad idea of course some parents will simply give it to their kids anyway but thats their problem.

By Leia

September 16, 2005 10:36 AM | Link to this

I think this teacher is being lazy! She probably is using the same “notes” that she’s been using for years, therefore lessening her planning time. She is really robbing the students of developing their note-taking skills, which are needed throughout their lives.

I have had students come back to visit me after going to college, and thank me for making them take good notes and give them grades on their notebooks. They complained while I did it, but, in the long run - it paid off for them!

This teacher is outrageous, and I agree with your sister on this one. By the way - if someone put a used tissue on my child’s head, I would go ape-s^&* on them!

By SWC

September 16, 2005 10:57 AM | Link to this

Dan, these are kids who only started 5th grade - lets not jump to conclusions and assume that the teacher is in CYA mode over such a minor issue. When my son was 5th grade he began a new routine where they change classrooms for every class. They are often very rushed going from class to class, and many are still a bit disorganized. They didn’t have just one teacher, but a different teacher for every class. My son has pretty good handwriting, but his agenda entries tend to be a mess, which tells me that they are written in haste. They should be writing down their own notes, but I see nothing wrong with providing some backup - better that then end up missing assignments or tests. Ideally though, weekly assignments (and special projects) should be on a website so parents can get an idea of the big picture and plan their week (and weekends) accordingly. I don’t know why this isn’t done more often.

By HStchr

September 16, 2005 12:17 PM | Link to this

This is nothing to make a fuss over. Sometimes I do this in the interest of saving time, or when I have a particularly challenging class that I know can’t keep behavior under control for long. Yes, kids need to know how to take notes, and we need to reinforce that. What I do is give my kids an outline with blanks to fill-in as we go so they don’t just have everything given to them. Sometimes parents complain regardless. I just do what I feel is best for the kids in my room.

By Jennifer

September 16, 2005 12:53 PM | Link to this

Fifth graders should definately be writing their own notes. They are stepping stones away from school environments where they will have to keep up with minimal help. If they don’t do it themselves then how will they learn? To maybe follow up a lesson with teacher taken notes to help re-inforce the childs notes sounds much better to me.

By Teacher

September 16, 2005 12:55 PM | Link to this

Wow, if that was all I had to gripe about, I’d find some hobbies. I agree that this is probably not the most efficient way of learning for the students…and the teacher is enabling them…but maybe she is going to gradually increase the amount of responsibility they shoulder. I teach the 9th grade, and have been known to hand out notes with blanks that we fill in together. It takes too long to have them copy every word…

By Melissa

September 16, 2005 12:56 PM | Link to this

I like that idea! If you are taking the note taking out of the kids hands, you are encouraging an actual DISCUSSION on what you are covering. Why not encourage kids to speak up and form their own opinions of what they study?? The kids see immediatly(sp?) what is important to the teacher and the kids can supplement that with anything the teacher might say that will help them remember what is being covered. (Besides, how many times when you were a kid did you read something that you just didn’t get, only to have your teacher or other adult rephrase it and suddenly the light bulb go off??)

Math, Science, and History teachers especially don’t have time to re-cover handwriting-since that should be covered in English class.

And I agree that the parents lose the “But I didn’t know what was going on” if teacher is giving out notes before hand.

By Karen Armsby

September 16, 2005 01:17 PM | Link to this

If all the notes are handed to the students, when will they learn how to take notes on their own, and why would they even listen to the teacher? I like HStchr’s idea of filling in blanks, an interactive note-taking, where the note taking structure is given but the student must listen and learn enough to fill in the blanks.

By belleabroad

September 16, 2005 01:24 PM | Link to this

I think this teacher is trying to help the students, not hinder them. Perhaps she plans to mix this up with some fill in the answer types of notes as well. Passing out notes from the teacher is actually a strategy that can be helpful for students that may need a little extra help with things, be it attention problems etc that hinder normal notetaking. If this mother is all up in arms about this.. really… we should all be so lucky to have fewer problems to deal with in life. Besides, she could, instead of just complaining, speak to the teacher regarding her concerns and ask why she is choosing to do this. In a non-judgemental way please! Also.. ask your teacher to do some research on this topic before making such bad assumptions. Imagine the trouble that could save us all!

By Dan

September 16, 2005 01:36 PM | Link to this

Melissa, you are absolutly right about discussion and preprinted notes would have no reference to that discussion which is another point against them. Your seem to suggest that taking notes would hinder discussion, but only in the case of those tring to write down every word. With proper note taking you write highlights and add your thoughts to help you remember and understand. This is a learned skill that needs to be cultivated.

By belleabroad

September 16, 2005 01:50 PM | Link to this

just for the sake of clarification, that above should have been ask your sister to do research.. not the teacher.

By Melissa

September 16, 2005 01:51 PM | Link to this

Dan, I was just drawing from my experience in HS and college where it was either one or the other- you took notes and missed on the acutal participation and discussion OR you got so involved in the discussion you totally forgot to take notes. Proper note taking IS a difficult thing to learn— maybe the answer is a mix of both worlds.. Kids take notes during the week and the teacher passes out notes and has discussion time on Friday where he/she covers the notes she has given out for the entire week. However, in order to encourage the note taking during the week, a participation grade is given on Friday’s discussion- no teacher notes until the end of the class time. (Where you must contribute something relavent to the topic???) (I am not really wavering on my stance… just willing to see a compromise!)

By Hannah

September 16, 2005 02:40 PM | Link to this

SWC - we are not allowed to assume that all of our students have internet access!

By Dottie

September 16, 2005 02:52 PM | Link to this

The teacher may have a few students with special needs whose plans require them to receive printed notes. Rather than draw attention to those students, the teacher is giving every student that advantage.

By Robert

September 16, 2005 03:29 PM | Link to this

This is a problem for the students. They need to learn HOW to take notes. They to to recognize when content is critical. If everything is handed to them on a silver platter, they will never be ready for high school and then for college.

As a high school teacher, I tell my students that taking notes is their own business - they are not required to do this and I do not check notebooks. I do not provide a “study guide” for a test because if they paid attention in class then they should know what to expect on a test and do not need a “study guide” as a crutch.

By doing this, I hope that I am teaching students responsibility and accountability for their own learning. I teach and they learn. I will do my job and they should do theirs.

By Danielle

September 16, 2005 04:38 PM | Link to this

I am a high school special ed teacher. Passing out notes BEFORE A TEST helps because we have so much information to cover in very little time. But class notes is great practice for the students to do on their own, depending on their weakness. IF reading, written, memory, or any type of processing problems, then they practice taking notes, I see their notes, and then give them mine so they have thiers and mine. Notes are important, and there isn’t much help in college… beyond high school for kids who will need it.

By old teacher

September 19, 2005 07:48 AM | Link to this

SWC - so now along with all the other duties and responsibilities I have as an educator, you want me to set up a website so that parents know what I do in class every day? I do need to eat and sleep.

By 5145

September 19, 2005 10:34 AM | Link to this

Parents and students don’t need a website, we need is CLEAR communication from the teacher. Teachers complain all day long that parents must participate in their child’s schoolwork, preparation, etc. But somehow students and parents are not entitled to receive notes, assignments in direct written form.

By HStchr

September 19, 2005 10:45 AM | Link to this

5145—you’re right, but keep in mind that many times teachers send home information that gets lost before you get it. If you’re worried, get on the phone and call your child’s teacher(s). I’m a high school teacher and because I teach so many kids a day, I don’t know for sure if information I send home is getting there. Many schools also have paper use limits, so it’s hard to make enough copies of things to send home frequently. I send home a syllabus at the beginning of each semester with tentative dates and project descriptions so parents have some advance notice. Most parents just read, sign, and hand it back to the child. Also, most elementary schools have agendasin which kids are to write down important information (or the teacher staples it in for lower grades). Just call us if we’re not making enough contact—most of us won’t bite.

By Leia

September 19, 2005 11:11 AM | Link to this

5145 - Parents are entitled to receive assignments and due dates in written form, but, at the high school level, you’re doing your child a disservice by allowing him/her to rely on Mommy to keep up with the assignments. Force your child to be responsible. It will help in the long run.

By Dick

September 19, 2005 04:11 PM | Link to this

Should a fifth grade student be responsible. Certainly!!!!.

By 5145

September 20, 2005 09:51 AM | Link to this

Lets not confuse responsibility with classwork. There is a huge difference between 5th grade and High School, and the 5th graders are learning communication and organization, while high schoolers should “know it”.

If communication breaks down, classwork suffers, regardless of whether the teacher or student is at fault. Anything a teacher can do to IMPROVE communication (syllabus, assignment sheet) is welcome.