Any school teachers in the house?

[tape]

Hey all,

I have some considerable concerns about the level of knoweldge that has or hasn't been imparted onto a year 6 (last year of primary in Vic) student that we have.

I find it difficult to understand that a year six student is not being taught improper fractions, roman numurals or as I found out tonight what a prime number is?

Now before you start on my speelling and grammah, I just want an inside idea on why our kids at Primary level are being treated like babies then thrown to the wolves at Secondary level?

Cheers and looking forward to some insight

[MrWasabi]

Hmmm I remember being tought improprer fractions and roman numerals in year 5 and 6.
Maybe it's the school?

[mike-s]

I'm sure i had already well and truely gotten into improper fractions by year 6. Although i had to look up wtf they were( never knew the "real" name for them). Roman numerals well before i had done year 6. maybe even year 5.

Ever consider requesting you be given a quick rundown on what the curriculum is for the kid? im sure they would be half willing to give you a summary. That way you could compare to what sort of thing is being taught nationally.

Or if there is someone here who's a teacher/married to one, perhaps they can enlighten?

[craig]

aah my children/young adults now suffered fom a strange education dept affliction (vic) that the school system saw itself as a social trainer ( i always thought that was my job no matter how bad a parent i was/am ) ........................... ............ it was then considered our responsibility to teach our children the three R's subjects only glossed over by the primary school system, while an extra-ordinary amount of time was spent on excursions and camps at our expense........with very little basic teaching being supplied to our kids.........i realise i'm a dinasaur and the english language is changing day to day but basic math, english language skills are important
My children are not exceptional by any means and i beleive the then /now curricular is severely flawed

[Sulli]

Hey all,

I have some considerable concerns about the level of knoweldge that has or hasn't been imparted onto a year 6 (last year of primary in Vic) student that we have.

I find it difficult to understand that a year six student is not being taught improper fractions, roman numurals or as I found out tonight what a prime number is?

Now before you start on my speelling and grammah, I just want an inside idea on why our kids at Primary level are being treated like babies then thrown to the wolves at Secondary level?

Cheers and looking forward to some insight

Prime number is part of the robotecks where you been man
roman numerals you might get to see on the credits of a MGM movie
Improper fractions well........... are just improper and have difficulty fitting on a calculator

[Nelso]

I am, but I'm high school and NSW and Vic run off a completely different curriculum so I'm not much use to you. You can look up the specific syllabus for stage 3 (years 5 and 6) for NSW on the Board of Studies website so you should be able to do the same for down there.

Fractions are a part of the year 7 curriculum up here (including improper and mixed fractions) but most students have covered it to a point in primary school. Roman numerals, however, are purely the domain of the finger painters as I haven't come across students having to do them at high school. We see a HUGE difference in students' knowledge depending on the feeder school they have come from.

[ZXRobyn]

I'm no teacher . . . I just dropped in to see what Nelso said.

[aardvark]

I studied improper fractions, roman numerals and prime numbers for 3 years.

Yep, year 7 was the best three years of my life!

[swabio-ACT]

I'm no teacher . . . I just dropped in to see what Nelso said.

Stalker alert

[Jennysc]

I have a child in year 5 NSW and he's definitely being taught all those things. He has a textbook he brings home each week which is Maths Homework, does your child have something similar ? You could have a look at that and see what level they are at.

Jen

[rooster]

Improper fractions - isn't that what happens at PI camp ground each year

[tape]

Problem arose by the school not following up on home work that was asked to be done. Our kid used the system knowing he wouldn't be given any punishment from school to not do the "homework".

We asked why there was no consequences for his failure to hand in his homework, we were told there was nothing the school could do about it. The school told us that there were studies that show no link between primary school homework and preparation for secondary school.

We purchased some Maths Mate style books and started giving him the sheets as homework, that's when we realised how much he has dropped off in his abilities in the past year. He used to be a very bright student for his age, now he has fallen well below the level of grade six work from these books. The books aren't that hard either so...

I believe it may just be the school's and his teachers attitude to teaching the boy, as well as his attitude to not giving a stuff. It appears to be a case of let someone else worry about it at secondary school.

BUT.... surely at grade six level a student should know the afore mentioned stuff as well as multiple digit sums, multiplications, divisions etc.

Cheers

[Jennysc]

Sounds like the teachers attitude sucks, which child wouldn't slack off if they knew there were no consequences ?

I have to sign off all the homework and it all gets marked at the end of the week, if he's not doing it I get questioned at parent/teacher meetings.

Good luck with it all.