Comments on: Is This A School Standard?

By: christen

christen — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:46:41 +0000

what about these schools who are using those big exercise balls as chairs? supposedly those help.

I don’t have kids, so I don’t know, but I’ve heard stories from parents who say it worked wonders for their kids. the internal muscles are constantly working so it gets energy out.

By: charlene

charlene — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 19:03:14 +0000

My son’s Kindergarten teacher is wonderful with the kids. She knows where my sons strengths lies and where they do not. She really truly gets him which I call my angel. She challenges in math were he excels but take it a tad easier on him in writing because she knows it is where he lacks but presistant. I just hope all of his teacher understand him. I always why teachers forget that some kids have the wiggles and it is best for them to stand. They learn better this way. Here in missouri we have one school district (public) that divides the boys and girls into seperate rooms for teaching. Studies show that the kids are advancing wonderfully because of the way it is set up. What is differnt mroe hands on for the boys and listening for girls. Also, by your emails I can tell you are a good teacher/principal.

By: Woman with Kids

Woman with Kids — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 02:09:27 +0000

I think Boy 1 has had at least one Mr. Dingleberry every year. And unfortunately, very few Mrs. Nearly Perfects.

By: Headless Mom

Headless Mom — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:49:53 +0000

Oh, and don’t get me started on the actual academic requirements…

By: Headless Mom

Headless Mom — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:49:18 +0000

My #1 son’s first grade teacher taught me a lot about boys and school. She let them stand at their desks, wiggling like 6 or 7 year olds are apt to do. I learned that they need to wiggle, and that I should give it a rest-I had been fighting him to sit all through K and 1st during homework time. After I got the message? Much easier to get him to do his work.

But actually a ‘skill’ on the report card? *head exploding*

By: Sra

Sra — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 01:26:07 +0000

I’m not hyperactive, and I’m not a boy, but I definitely don’t sit in chairs properly most of the time. I spent three years working as a legal secretary at a law firm, and nearly everyday I folded my legs under myself on my chair. No one ever told me I didn’t get work done because I didn’t sit in my chair properly. Ha. There’s simply not a connection. Currently, I’m in law school, and I like to draw my foot up onto my chair and hug my leg sometimes in class. I’m still getting my notes down and getting my reading done.

We seem to think we can boil things down to a set of cookie cutter rules, and anything that doesn’t fit into the lines doesn’t work. But people are too different to expect that to be good policy. Flexibility is a virtue.

By: Amelia Sprout

Amelia Sprout — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:59:57 +0000

My now two and a half year old seems to be turning out like this. One in constant motion. I have no idea how I will deal with it with teachers, but I do know that if I ever have a question, I’m coming to you.

My brother was the same way and is brilliant, and I’m a little that way. the thing is, it didn’t stop either of us from being successful adults. I’m all for standards, and goals, but in a quest to make sure everyone is being taken care of, they keep trying to fit kids in these boxes, and kids aren’t box shaped. I wish I had an answer.

By: Suebob

Suebob — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 04:32:33 +0000

I heard this great interview with a choreographer. When she was a kid in England, she could NOT sit still. She was considered a troublemaker until her principal told her parents “Put in her in as many dance classes as you can afford.” She said that she found her people – people who could not sit still – in dance school and that once she found that comfort, she never looked back. She had won every award under the sun for choreography.

That one insightful principal made the difference between a hugely successful member of society and a “problem.”

By: @lindajones

@lindajones — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 22:24:21 +0000

What Rachel’s school does is great, our school makes the entire grade have a silent lunch and stay inside as a punishment, that is the only time of day when they can visit with friends and expend some energy outside of PE.

By: Rachel K

Rachel K — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:16:42 +0000

My son’s school ensures at least 2 recess periods a day and 2 gym classes per week. When we transferred in, it was explained to me that they found that kids who were allowed to expend some of the extra energy at different points during the day appeared to have a better time focusing on their lessons. Forcing active and hyperactive children to (try) and sit still is cruel.