elementary teachers = requests for great websites

[MichelleCarmen]

Okay, my son is in 3rd grade and I have been provided with a bit of insight re: his teacher and am concerned he will need a bit (or more) of extra schooling. His teacher had told someone last year she didn't like teaching but needs the $. So, well, now I am concerned....

I figured the best approach, rather than freaking out at the principal and request a class transfer, is to work w/my son at home.

I'm looking for any recommendations of great website/learning projects that can be printed out for 3rd graders and math/science mostly, to make up for what I worry he's missing out on this year.

Thanks for any tips.

 

[yennyfire]

Yikes! That would concern me too. I'll ask around and see if anyone I know has some suggestions. My oldest is in first grade, so I don't know off hand of any resources for older kids.

 

[jlp86]

I hope the school year goes well despite her not wanting to teach. I was a second grade teacher last year so the websites I personally used may be too low. I went on the schools website though and took the following links from a 3rd grade teacher at the school. I hope some of them help, I have not gone to them so unsure what each one offers.

Math:
Great Math Practice Site for 3rd Graders
http://www.ixl.com/math/grade/third/

Multiplication
http://www.multiplication.com/

Math Games
http://www.aplusmath.com/Games/index.html

Math Games #2
http://www.coolmath4kids.com/

Math #3
http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/

Baseball Math
http://www.prongo.com/math/

Math Bingo!
http://www.abcya.com/math_bingo.htm

Rounding Numbers
http://www.aaamath.com/est27a-rounding.html#section2

Rouding Spaceships: Round the number to the nearest ten. Click
on the space ship with the correct number.
http://www.free-training-tutorial.com/rounding/rounding-spaceships.html

Rounding Sharks: Round the number to the nearest hundred. Click
on the shark with the correct number.
http://www.free-training-tutorial.com/rounding/sharks.html

Math Worksheet Maker
http://themathworksheetsite.com/

Telling Time
http://www.abcya.com/telling_time.htm

Learn to count money and earn fish for your fish bowl.
http://www.abcya.com/counting_money.htm

Tic-Tac-Toe Math
http://www.funbrain.com/tictactoe/index.html

Sudoku for Kids!
http://www.funbrain.com/sudoku/Sudoku.html

Math Playground- Challenging math activities for kids!
http://www.mathplayground.com/games.html

 

[zoebartlett]

Those are really good websites, jlp! We use a lot of them at my school.

 

[jlp86]

I am glad they are good ones!! I recognized a few that I used with my 2nd grade class but didnt know how they were for 3rd grade!

 

[zoebartlett]

I am glad they are good ones!! I recognized a few that I used with my 2nd grade class but didnt know how they were for 3rd grade!

Sorry for the threadjack, MC, but jlp, do you know of any good 2nd grade teacher websites and/or blogs? I've found a TON of first grade ones, and I could get lost all day in those, but I'm looking for something at the 2nd grade level. The ones I've found aren't fabulous, unfortunately.

 

[jlp86]

Unfortunately I do not have links to all of the sites I used to use. When I quit my job my class website was deleted before I pulled stuff off of it (and I forgot to save my favorites folder on my work computer). Below I included some that another teacher had on her website, I used some of these plus others.

http://www.funbrain.com/
http://www.coolmath4kids.com/
http://www.mathfactcafe.com/view/view.aspx?t=P&g=2
http://www.kidscount1234.com/mathcentersandgames.html
http://www.mathisfun.com/


I am going to try and find some other ones that I actually used. I had some really good worksheet websites that helped me a lot! I will post them if I can find them.

Also, the ones I posted are primarily math websites. The other websites I had included other subjects as well.

 

[eddiexp]

You might need to purchase a full access account, but I believe you can see some sample stuff first and see if the material suits your needs.

http://edhelper.com/

 

[zoebartlett]

Thanks jlp and eddiexp. I actually meant sites where teachers post ideas, etc. I was reading through bunch of first grade blogs but I couldn't find any great ones for 2nd. I have a ton of sites for teachers bookmarked and edhelper is one of them. Thanks for the suggestions though! Sorry for threadjacking, MC!

 

[MichelleCarmen]

I am glad they are good ones!! I recognized a few that I used with my 2nd grade class but didnt know how they were for 3rd grade!

Thanks. This will be a good starting point. A lot of parents are worried about the teacher's lack of motivation and we're all in the "this will be a wasted year," mindset. (And yes, someone also told me her child's year was wasted by that same teacher and she told me to contact the district and get my son out of that teacher's class!)

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Thanks jlp and eddiexp. I actually meant sites where teachers post ideas, etc. I was reading through bunch of first grade blogs but I couldn't find any great ones for 2nd. I have a ton of sites for teachers bookmarked and edhelper is one of them. Thanks for the suggestions though! Sorry for threadjacking, MC!

That is fine! I like reading all you have to say.

Just a note: It's gotta be difficult being on the teacher's side listening to me complain. lol

What DOES sucks is that there are some FABULOUS teachers at the school and my other son had the awesome 3rd grade teacher, but we can't request teachers so my younger son couldn't be placed into her class.

 

[zoebartlett]

Thanks jlp and eddiexp. I actually meant sites where teachers post ideas, etc. I was reading through bunch of first grade blogs but I couldn't find any great ones for 2nd. I have a ton of sites for teachers bookmarked and edhelper is one of them. Thanks for the suggestions though! Sorry for threadjacking, MC!

That is fine! I like reading all you have to say.

Just a note: It's gotta be difficult being on the teacher's side listening to me complain. lol

What DOES sucks is that there are some FABULOUS teachers at the school and my other son had the awesome 3rd grade teacher, but we can't request teachers so my younger son couldn't be placed into her class.

Not at all! It's great that you want to help your son, and the sites that jlp posted are definitely a great start.

 

[jlp86]

Is the teacher a new teacher or has she been there a while? With how many teachers are out there looking for jobs I am surprised she still has a job after getting complaints.

 

[chemgirl]

Are you near a science center? My mom used to enroll me in weekend classes at the science center when I was a kid and I remember them helping when it came to science projects at school.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Thanks jlp and eddiexp. I actually meant sites where teachers post ideas, etc. I was reading through bunch of first grade blogs but I couldn't find any great ones for 2nd. I have a ton of sites for teachers bookmarked and edhelper is one of them. Thanks for the suggestions though! Sorry for threadjacking, MC!

That is fine! I like reading all you have to say.

Just a note: It's gotta be difficult being on the teacher's side listening to me complain. lol

What DOES sucks is that there are some FABULOUS teachers at the school and my other son had the awesome 3rd grade teacher, but we can't request teachers so my younger son couldn't be placed into her class.

Not at all! It's great that you want to help your son, and the sites that jlp posted are definitely a great start.

I must sound like a nutso mom...posting abt both my boy's classes! Lol. I think what is making it so aggrevating is that last year, both ended up having awesome teachers and great friends in their classrooms. I never went into their teachers except a few times because the teachers were great fits for the kids. Then this year we get double-whammy opposite. Oh well! Hopefully it evens out in the end.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Is the teacher a new teacher or has she been there a while? With how many teachers are out there looking for jobs I am surprised she still has a job after getting complaints.

This is her sixth year. She's taught grades 1-3 and did a split one of the years. Yeah, i know it's odd...maybe last year was her burnout point? Another teacher with a similiar apathetic attitude quit. I had requested on a form that my son not get that one and luckily that was granted and she left later on.

Chemgirl - my older son is enrolled in a science series of sorts that extends from 4th-12th. Next year my 3rd grader will participate in that. I'll check around. I want to put him in an afterschool art program that he's asked abt every year. I kept putting it off bc it's pricey, but now it's gone up even more, so we'll do it before it costs more than 5 credits at a community college. Lol. He wants to have two jobs when he grows up. Video game designer and shoe designer! Lol.

 

[jlp86]

Can you hire another 3rd grade teacher to help with what is being taught? Just to recap what was taught that week/day. I know in the school I taught teachers could "tutor" as long as it wasn't their own students. That is really horrible she has been teaching for 6 years and isn't doing her job! Ugh it is so frustrating!

Or, do you have any contact with your older sons teacher(you can even use this 3rd grade teacher) and ask for extra work to be sent home so you can work on what is being taught at home? I sent home packets of worksheets for parents that wanted to review concepts at home.

 

[Tuckins1]

I love http://www.spellingcity.com

 

[TooPatient]

Is the teacher a new teacher or has she been there a while? With how many teachers are out there looking for jobs I am surprised she still has a job after getting complaints.

This is her sixth year. She's taught grades 1-3 and did a split one of the years. Yeah, i know it's odd...maybe last year was her burnout point? Another teacher with a similiar apathetic attitude quit. I had requested on a form that my son not get that one and luckily that was granted and she left later on.

Chemgirl - my older son is enrolled in a science series of sorts that extends from 4th-12th. Next year my 3rd grader will participate in that. I'll check around. I want to put him in an afterschool art program that he's asked abt every year. I kept putting it off bc it's pricey, but now it's gone up even more, so we'll do it before it costs more than 5 credits at a community college. Lol. He wants to have two jobs when he grows up. Video game designer and shoe designer! Lol.

You really should request that he be moved. Parents NEED to speak up or more kids will get stuck losing a year of their education (and not all of them will be lucky enough to have a wonderful mom like you!).

Take a look at the community colleges in the area too. I know that the college I attend does math & science camps for kids during the breaks from schools. I think they even had a weekend thing last year.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

You really should request that he be moved. Parents NEED to speak up or more kids will get stuck losing a year of their education (and not all of them will be lucky enough to have a wonderful mom like you!).

.

Yeah, I'm stuck in a sticky situation here of now changing him and upsetting his routine. He, on his own, went up to his teacher and asked if she would teach him multiplication and she said that would be next year, but then did give him a math worksheet and he said it was too easy. Then he was given a reading evaluation by the librarian. I guess she will determine what level he is at...he is a good reader (above level) but he said the test asked definitions of longitude, etc., and he didn't understand it all, so I don't know where they'll place him since that is what my older son being taught.

My dh has partical say (obviously) and said not to switch him out b/c it will just cause more upset among the school and we've ruffled feathers in the past.

 

[TooPatient]

You really should request that he be moved. Parents NEED to speak up or more kids will get stuck losing a year of their education (and not all of them will be lucky enough to have a wonderful mom like you!).

.

Yeah, I'm stuck in a sticky situation here of now changing him and upsetting his routine. He, on his own, went up to his teacher and asked if she would teach him multiplication and she said that would be next year, but then did give him a math worksheet and he said it was too easy. Then he was given a reading evaluation by the librarian. I guess she will determine what level he is at...he is a good reader (above level) but he said the test asked definitions of longitude, etc., and he didn't understand it all, so I don't know where they'll place him since that is what my older son being taught.

My dh has partical say (obviously) and said not to switch him out b/c it will just cause more upset among the school and we've ruffled feathers in the past.

It sounds like she may have additional material if he keeps asking for it. That is good.

How old are your sons?

 

[MichelleCarmen]

You really should request that he be moved. Parents NEED to speak up or more kids will get stuck losing a year of their education (and not all of them will be lucky enough to have a wonderful mom like you!).

.

Yeah, I'm stuck in a sticky situation here of now changing him and upsetting his routine. He, on his own, went up to his teacher and asked if she would teach him multiplication and she said that would be next year, but then did give him a math worksheet and he said it was too easy. Then he was given a reading evaluation by the librarian. I guess she will determine what level he is at...he is a good reader (above level) but he said the test asked definitions of longitude, etc., and he didn't understand it all, so I don't know where they'll place him since that is what my older son being taught.

My dh has partical say (obviously) and said not to switch him out b/c it will just cause more upset among the school and we've ruffled feathers in the past.

It sounds like she may have additional material if he keeps asking for it. That is good.

How old are your sons?

Younger is 9 (has a summer b-day and we decided to hold off in putting him into kindergarten so he's older than most of the kids in his class).
Older is 10, turning 11 in a couple months.

(They're just under 2 years apart.)