Margy,

I must challenge this statement:

"Contray to the uninformed opinion of other posters teachers really do study
how
minds work."

I was with you all the way until I got to this one. Either your positive
attitude, or an unusually positive series of coincidences has shaded your
judgement on the interest in childrens' minds held by many teachers today.
I am not uninformed. A close personal friend of mine is a public school
teacher, and I attended several public and private schools. Unlike many
people, I have a good memory of what transpired.

While perhaps not a majority, many teachers have quit caring enough. I
don't necessarily blame it on the teachers, but I do blame them for not
quitting. That's right, stop whining and vote with your feet. Too many
teachers today are simply filling the job because they feel helpless, or no
longer care, but for various reasons do not quit.

Parents, administrators, and union hacks will not get together on this
problem until the teachers stop talking and act. If a teacher has stopped
being a student of the art of educating children, they should not be in the
classroom (just like pilots who have stopped learning are dangerous in the
cockpit).

I suppose that your experience with such a gifted child has led you to have
better teachers. Teaching the bright kids takes more energy and talent than
many of today's teachers have.


"Margy Natalie" wrote in message
...


Judah wrote:

My kids are just starting in school. My son is in 3rd grade and my
daughter
will start Kindergarden next fall.

Please advise on how I can ensure that my children grasp the knowledge
presented to them.

Ask higher order questions on Blooms Taxonomy (analysis and synthesis
questions) about the material they are presented. They need to know the
who,
what, when , but the why and how shows understanding.

Don't push abstract concepts on young children!! Earlier is not better!
Read
some Piaget. Don't teach little kids algebra (my 140 + IQ daughter
struggled
through algebra in 7th grade and would have done fine in 8th. Even though
she's good in math (A in second semester Calculus as a first semester
freshman
at Penn State) she's not confident in math because of that experience.

Due to the pressures of standarized testing students get more information
and
less time to work on basics. Make reading and writing fun and practice at
home. Have your kids write the grocery list and do the grocery shopping.
Have
them estimate what the total bill will be as they go through the store.
Have
them play imaginitive games not on the computer. Make sure they play
outside,
turn part of the yard into Mars or something and they can build vehicles
to
explore. Ask them to write down what they do "on Mars" for you to read
when
you get home from work. Write notes to your kids to convey information.
"
I'll be home at 6:00 and then we can go to the store".

Contray to the uninformed opinion of other posters teachers really do
study how
minds work. Make sure your kids DO when they are learning. Lecture
format has
a 5% retention rate whereas adding a simple write it down increases it to
30%.
The more interactive the learning the higher the retention. For kids who
have
a tough time spelling marching the words out to a tune really helps. Also
make
sure your kids drink enough water as brain research has shown that
dehydrated
brains don't absorb knowledge (most schools now allow the kids to carry
water
bottles if they are clear plastic).

Margy



Thanks.

"Tom Sixkiller" wrote in
:


"Michael Houghton" wrote in message
...
snip
Well, if in sending my kids to public schools all these years (they're
all in or past college now) I'd seen even ONE that comprehended HOW
the
young minds grasps knowledge I'd say "most". That's not been me
experience.


I won't deny that there are a significant number of teachers whose
ability to teach is questionable, but many teachers actually give a
damn about their students, doing their best to *teach*. Oh, and "rote
learning" is not so nearly ubiquitous as you would claim.

"Giving a damn" is completely worthless if they don't know _HOW_ it
works.

Your tirade is so full of manure that it is laughable -- or would be
if you weren't expressing a range of opinions that are painfully
common.

You don't have a clue what you're talking about.


yours,
Michael



Best,

Tom