Comments on: Math Tests For Five-Year-Olds?

NYC Proposal To Assess Kindergartners' Skills Stirs Debate Over Standardized Tests

[imperfexshun]

So ridiculous. Teachers spend their time testing, not teaching. School systems are forcing concepts on kids before they are ready, e.g., in Kdg., the kids were taught to "print" with a slant & little curls on letters to prepare them for cursive when they could barely draw a line. My grandson didn''t learn block printing & his printing is awful. In 1st grade, the teacher said she had no idea how to teach the barter system to 6-year-olds as required. In 2nd & now in 3rd, they changed the math so an equation is a "number model"; & things like 12 tally marks, the word ''dozen'', 6+8-2, 6 6, 15-3, etc. are all "names" for the number 12. They draw pictures of meat grinders ("numbers in, answer out"). They use triangles with numbers such as 15, 7, & 8 on them with both a & - in the middle, so you would take the 15 & subtract 7 to get 8; but if you use the instead, their little theory doesn''t work (i.e., 15 7=8). In spelling, the term "alphabetical order" doesn''t exist--it''s ABC order. Why don''t they just teach the kids their 3 R''s by using methods, common terms, & common sense the way they used to teach through the ages instead of trying to reinvent the wheel? Since there''s no discipline in school & every child who acts up is labeled ADD/ADHD, they don''t put "Johnny''s" desk in the corner or in front near the teacher''s desk when he acts up because they might hurt his feelings--oh wait, there are no corners or front because the desks are arranged helter-skelter.

[MIpapaof4]

Let us see if Bush and Cheney can pass that one. I bet not. They''re more corrupt than Sadaam was.

[barbaram99]

i am poor with numbers. Should they learn their numbers yes.Math is every where. So I think if they learn to court,print their name,learn their letters. It seems all the adults care is tests so they can look down on the ones that in their eye..dumb.Learning should be fun and I don''t mean force them into a mindset where they must complete with each other. That is how I see the school system going.going.

[displeased]

I''''''''''''''''m a little stumped here. Is GOP_forever male or female? May be that the jury is still out on that one. Posted by MyOpinion381


GOP_forever is a genderqueer who rode the short bus to school.

[displeased]

Sure great idea. Let''''s start SAT prep in Kindergarten too. Sigh.
Posted by viscor

The earlier the better.

[myopinion381]

I''''''''m a little stumped here. Is GOP_forever male or female? May be that the jury is still out on that one. Posted by MyOpinion381

We are not even sure if it is animal, vegetable, or mineral yet! lol. Posted by haoli25 at 12:56 PM

Thanks for my laugh for the day. Only problem is people are wondering what I''m laughing at. Oh well, let they wonder.

[mandylou4u]

Actually I work with math everyday now. And I was hoping you were smart enough to know I wasn''t talking about you being my parent. My parents were much more loving than you seem to be.

[questionnews]

I''''m a little stumped here. Is GOP_forever male or female? May be that the jury is still out on that one.

Posted by MyOpinion381 at 12:35 PM : Aug 28, 2008

We may be forced to deal with GOP_forever like the Pat charactor on Saturday Night Live.

[mandylou4u]

I am also rarely confused when it comes to kids. I''ve been around them too long and have seen how smart they really are. Like I said before, some are even smarter than their parents. Most five year olds can learn something faster than an adult because they don''t have all the pressure on them.

[mandylou4u]

How are you able to down five year olds when you can look around and some five year olds are prodigy''s? The reason they say a man may have a mind of a five year old is because they mean he is far behind his level. It doesn''t mean he is dumb. And most five year olds are cute, but that doesn''t mean they can''t be smart too. I am guessing you have never hung out with a five year old before. Let''s hope you are not a parent either. I would hate to have a parent that thought I was dumb or a "peabrain". Good luck to you

[viscor]

Sure great idea. Let''s start SAT prep in Kindergarten too. Sigh.

[mandylou4u]

And DaVicar2 wonders why some 5 year olds are peabrains. Just look at SistaTee''s comment. Maybe that will shed some light on why some 5 year olds don''t even get a chance period.

[haoli25]

how many rounds do your momma''''s boyfriend hafta cap-off foe his nine run outa bullets? Posted by SistaTee



17? lmao

[sistatee-2009]

Story problem:
If a dealer have a dime-bag, an a dude walk up an snatch it; how many rounds do your momma''s boyfriend hafta cap-off foe his nine run outa bullets?

[haoli25]

I''''m a little stumped here. Is GOP_forever male or female? May be that the jury is still out on that one. Posted by MyOpinion381


We are not even sure if it is animal, vegetable, or mineral yet! lol

[mandylou4u]

thanx! Kids see everything you are doing, if you are acting like a peabrain, they probably will too, hehehe

[myopinion381]

I used to teach kindergarden and the five year olds are pretty smart. Some of them were smarter than their parents, lol, but seriously, they do deserve a little more credit. I don''''t think they should be tested this way until they are a little older. They must be able to play first. It is a balance of play and work. Most of my five year olds could button their own shirts and tie their own shoes. They could also read their parents like a favorite childrens story! Posted by mandylou4u at 12:47 PM

Thank you for posting your comment. I completely agree with you.

[myopinion381]

No, really...Kindergarten Kids are essentially PeaBrains! They can barely tie their shoes, can hardly write a decent paragraph, have trouble remembering their multiplication tables, and couldnt bait a hook or trap a Bar if their life depended on it! They ARE PeaBrains. Posted by DaVicar2 at 12:43 PM

DeVicar2: Children at the age of 5 (for the most part) are able to tie their shoes. That is if the parents take the time to teach them as I did with my child. Are you stating they are pea brains based on experience with your own children? Then again, maybe you don''t have any. I don''t agree with testing them at that age but people shouldn''t say that they don''t have any knowledge by that age.

[mandylou4u]

I used to teach kindergarden and the five year olds are pretty smart. Some of them were smarter than their parents, lol, but seriously, they do deserve a little more credit. I don''t think they should be tested this way until they are a little older. They must be able to play first. It is a balance of play and work. Most of my five year olds could button their own shirts and tie their own shoes. They could also read their parents like a favorite childrens story!

[mandylou4u]

Kids are smart, but let them be kids! They only get one chance, then they have to be responsible adults. Just because you test them doesn''t prove if they are smart or not. They are FIVE!