Tulsa Schools and New Standardized Testing & Common Core

[sgrizzle]

Perhaps we can keep that pesky metric system away too.

[Hoss]

Perhaps we can keep that pesky metric system away too.

LOL.  I remember we were learning that when I was in third and fourth grade because, it was said, we would be transitioned over to metric by 1980.  LOL.

I was watching something on DIY the other day where a transplanted Aussie was referring to the Imperial measurement system (for those of you not in the know, that's what we use ) as "The King's Foot".

Never heard it called that but it was amusing.

[heironymouspasparagus]

How long has common core been in operation?

I remember some controversy about a math program called "base 10" back when my little brother was in grade school. Parents couldn't understand it and complained but it didn't hold my brother back. He became a computer engineer.

I tried to duct tape two fingers together on each hand of the oldest daughter so she would learn to count in octal....

[heironymouspasparagus]

Perhaps we can keep that pesky metric system away too.

Unfortunately, we have been way too successful at that....using inches/feet is as if we were trying to write advanced technical items in Sanskrit.  Stupid not to have changed a couple hundred years ago, when it would have been easy.

[Conan71]

Unfortunately, we have been way too successful at that....using inches/feet is as if we were trying to write advanced technical items in Sanskrit.  Stupid not to have changed a couple hundred years ago, when it would have been easy.

From elementary school, I recall that we were supposed to have converted to the metric system at some point in the 1980's. 

Doing a little checking, apparently there was a metrication act passed in 1975 that apparently never was fully deployed.

[TeeDub]

The metric system is the tool of the devil! My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead and that's the way I likes it.

[Townsend]

From elementary school, I recall that we were supposed to have converted to the metric system at some point in the 1980's. 

Doing a little checking, apparently there was a metrication act passed in 1975 that apparently never was fully deployed.

I remember the "thinkmetric" signs.  There were also conversion signs.

[rebound]

My youngest niece is in the 6th grade and in advanced classes, I'll have to upload an example of how they are teaching math these days. Trust me, I don't have children and if not thrust into this situation due to circumstances beyond my control, I would have been blissfully ignorant of what is going on in our public schools, but the more involved I become, the more terrified I get. Never once did I think home schooling or private school was a superior alternative to public schools, but that is an opinion I am slowly reconsidering.

I've got a 7th grader and a 9th grader.  Both in advanced classes.  Both went through common core the last two years here in Owasso.  (The Freshman is now at Bishop Kelley.)  I will confess to not being too concerned one way or the other regarding common core as a whole, but I was fairly involved with making sure all the homework was complete, etc, and never had an issue (other than the sheer amount) with any of the homework assignments or methods of teaching, and both kids did (and are doing) well.

You mention private and home schooling, and while there are a number of factors related to moving my oldest to private school, the quality of teaching was not one of them.  Yes, there are some additional advanced classes offered at private schools, and the class sizes are smaller, etc.  (You get what you pay for).  But I can honestly say that I was (and still am, for the youngest) satisfied with the level of teaching and course content in Owasso.   With any school system as large as Owasso (and Jenks, and BA, and Union, etc...) there is going to be some leveling and a greater opportunity for a kid to get lost in shuffle.  But from a pure level of teaching, I give Owasso a thumbs up.

As for actual home schooling, I have multiple reservations about that.  To me, home schooling removes the child too much from the day-to-day social interaction with other kids.  I know it is becoming more and more popular, but I would much sooner consider alternative schools or main-stream private schools before homeschooling.  

[nathanm]

Doing a little checking, apparently there was a metrication act passed in 1975 that apparently never was fully deployed.

There are still a few kph speed limit signs scattered around the country. IIRC, Texas installed a few replacements near the Mexican border a couple of years ago without switching them back from kph to mph. (These were some of the original kph signs installed back in the 70s being replaced)

[Kallima]

I've got a 7th grader and a 9th grader.  Both in advanced classes.  Both went through common core the last two years here in Owasso.  (The Freshman is now at Bishop Kelley.)  I will confess to not being too concerned one way or the other regarding common core as a whole, but I was fairly involved with making sure all the homework was complete, etc, and never had an issue (other than the sheer amount) with any of the homework assignments or methods of teaching, and both kids did (and are doing) well.

You mention private and home schooling, and while there are a number of factors related to moving my oldest to private school, the quality of teaching was not one of them.  Yes, there are some additional advanced classes offered at private schools, and the class sizes are smaller, etc.  (You get what you pay for).  But I can honestly say that I was (and still am, for the youngest) satisfied with the level of teaching and course content in Owasso.   With any school system as large as Owasso (and Jenks, and BA, and Union, etc...) there is going to be some leveling and a greater opportunity for a kid to get lost in shuffle.  But from a pure level of teaching, I give Owasso a thumbs up.

As for actual home schooling, I have multiple reservations about that.  To me, home schooling removes the child too much from the day-to-day social interaction with other kids.  I know it is becoming more and more popular, but I would much sooner consider alternative schools or main-stream private schools before homeschooling.  

Thank you for the insight, DH and I are still trying to find a solution, we most likely and unfortunately will be moving to OKC and have already done some research on the private schools there. I definitely agree that home-schooling has it's negatives and will be a last resort, but the mere fact it was a consideration was me simply displaying the sheer frustration I feel, part of it from acclimating to a role for which I wasn't prepared and the remainder from witnessing children struggle with concepts that IMO should have been mastered long ago. Maybe once the adjustment has occurred for all parties, I'll feel more at ease, still vigilant, but less worried.

[Breadburner]

[sgrizzle]

This exact thing was posted on the last page.
(not to mention this method has been around longer than I have)

[Gaspar]

Test scores came back for Jenks 3rd graders this week. 6 did not pass.  In my daughter's class, the teacher (her second teacher for the year, because the first one went to jail) passed out a letter (for the kids to take home to parents) to the students and then the teacher went around the class writing each child's score on the letter.  The kids were all excited and confused as to what their score meant, and were comparing scores.  One little girl had the lowest score in the class and was ridiculed by her classmates.  There was a rush to get these scores home to the parents, most likely because the news was going to cover them that night, and the administration wanted to avoid a deluge of calls.

This little girl who was publicly humiliated was one of my daughter's best friends, and very sweet.  She scored unsatisfactory and will be held back.  She was devastated and embarrassed to tears in front of her whole class.  She probably won't come back to school for the rest of the year, or attend Girl Scouts with my daughter and several others from her class this summer. The parents (all of us) were outraged, and my gut is still in a ball.  After a series of angry calls and emails the teacher has been fired, but that does nothing for this little girl.

We have cut our household budget and paid our first months tuition for a private school for both kids next year. Two other families with kids in the class will be doing the same, as well as another teacher, with whom we are friends, she will be leaving the school to take a position at the same private school we have chosen for our kids.

[rebound]

We have cut our household budget and paid our first months tuition for a private school for both kids next year. Two other families with kids in the class will be doing the same, as well as another teacher, with whom we are friends, she will be leaving the school to take a position at the same private school we have chosen for our kids.

So is this a general dissatisfaction with Jenks Schools, Common Core, or this particular teacher?  Not questioning the move (we're doing the same thing), just looking for clarification on the reason.

[Gaspar]

So is this a general dissatisfaction with Jenks Schools, Common Core, or this particular teacher?  Not questioning the move (we're doing the same thing), just looking for clarification on the reason.

It seems there are multiple reasons and we are just glad that the year and this chapter in our child's education is over.