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    Joined: Jul 2012
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    Thanks, Stacychev. I really do see the word around and it seems like it is some sort of polymorphic euphemism. In that a bunch of people (non-professionals thinking now) agree that more rigor is needed and yay they go home happy. But then, person A actually means a minimum of two hours of homework a night as rigor, and person B means that everything that might be on end of year testing is covered twelve times, and person C actually means things are taught exactly they were when they were a kid, and finall person D means intellectual rigor and complexity of thought. I'm relieved that in the "biz" D is what is meant.

    I hope you find the situation that works for your daughter.

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    We're also in NJ and in one of the best school districts. We have the same problem with DD5 in Kindergarten. Our school also does not have a gifted program. In fact, I heard that most of the best school districts in NJ do not have gifted programs. So it might be better to move to a worse school district if possible. Our school principal is also opposed to grade skipping and is also trying to do in class differentiation. But it's difficult to address the learning needs of far advanced students this way.

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    Iynait:

    I don't think it's a "good school district" problem. We're in a pretty mediocre district. Small PreK-8 building, not much technology, worse than the state average on many test scores, and relatively low district factor group (DE). I have had this sneaking suspicion for a while now that the whole "New Jersey schools are awesome" flag that the NJEA and others wave is actually a "New Jersey schools are awesome for kids in the bell curve" flag. (Full disclosure: NJEA member here...)


    Stacey. Former high school teacher, back in the corporate world, mom to 2 bright girls: DD12 & DD7.
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    If I may jump in on that last point... we are in a New Jersey district factor J district, also with no gifted program. I am currently researching this as a parent member of the district's strategic planning action team, and many, many I and J districts have gifted programs that do more than pay lip service to differentiation. Upper Saddle River, Chatham, Livingston, Mendham, Bernards, Princeton, Montclair, New Providence are among the ones I've found so far. It is true that NJ does not have a strong mandate for gifted education, but quite a number of school districts are managing to provide it anyway.

    Stacey, my first-grader spends most of the morning on reading and writing, using the Lucy Calkins/Reading and Writing Workshop program. Math is Everyday Math. Science and social studies seem pretty minimal. No world language until a Rosetta Stone-based program in upper elementary.

    Differentiation for reading, not math. Writing paragraphs, heavily genre-driven (so DS was reproved for writing about different kinds of birds in his Thanksgiving "personal essay"). Homework is one Everyday Math worksheet per night, plus studying for the weekly spelling test, plus the occasional (less than monthly) poster project.

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    My second grader is in the TAG program. We're in Michigan.

    Math is Everyday Math 3rd grade curriculum.

    Spelling: This is last weeks list for dd http://www.spellingcity.com/view-spelling-list.html?listId=1719478 Her class has 3 spelling groups. I think dd is in the middle group. The top group spends their time doing Latin and Greek root words because they were "born spelling words."

    Reading is done independently throughout the day. Done with your work? Pick up a book!

    Writing is done each morning in "writers workshop." Last year they spent quite a bit of time researching polar animals and writing a report. The report was in book format with an outline, titled paragraphs and clip art illustrations. They also made a life sized version of the animal using poster paper and paints. This year, they are doing the same thing with sea life. They keep a journal where they write daily on topics of their own choosing. DD brought home a book she had illustrated about a trip we took to an amusement park where my ds got a cut and bled. Two sentences on each page with illustrations. It was a 10 page book.

    Science seems to be hit or miss. The school has a science fair but dd never mentions learning science.

    Social studies. The class is studying Ancient Egypt. This meets the understanding chronology requirement.

    Library. They are learning to use the computer catalog to search for books on their own.

    Computer lab. They are learning typing. Last year they learned how to use Tux Paint.

    Gym. Regular gym stuff. I think they are playing basketball right now, they did jump roping before.

    Music. They listen to classical music and write down their feelings about the music. They are expected to match the names of composers to pieces of music that are played. They also sing "dreadful" music according to dd. Last week it was a Bruno Mars song. LOL!

    Art. They are learning that good art students listen like the Mona Lisa. Eyes focused, mouths are quiet smiles, hands folded. They paint, they look at art, they make clay creations, they've done paper cutting, gluing, drawing. All seems typical.

    Art appreciation. I go in monthly and show famous works of art. Last month we did 19th century American Paintings and then made a 21st century American painting of our own using temperas.

    They just finished a unit on the books of Gail Gibbons. They read 20 or so of her books and hmmm...I can't remember what they did. Compared and contrasted her works?

    They also do a Time for Kids magazine each week where they read Time for Kids and answer a worksheet. DD loves this. It looks like they do the 3-4th grade version.

    Very little time is spent on worksheets in this class.

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    Also, dd is in a 1/2 split class.

    Math is differentiated. Math time is universal at this school to accomodate subject acceleration. Most of the students leave their classroom and join another for math instruction.


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    I think I'm gonna move to Michigan, Daytripper. wink


    Stacey. Former high school teacher, back in the corporate world, mom to 2 bright girls: DD12 & DD7.
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    Originally Posted by staceychev
    I think I'm gonna move to Michigan, Daytripper. wink

    This school is one of a kind. I have to pinch myself periodically!

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