Grade(1st- 5th) -Important Plans for summer and beyond

Dear parents,

Summer is around the corner, so I thought of sharing this with you. Even though we say summer is not for studies, a little preparation will not hurt. Beware, some marketing of my center will also be expected!

Entering 1st/2nd grade:

Time to start piano lessons, drawing, sports, dance, music etc. Especially when the kids are moving from private schools to public schools, there will be lots of free time. Use this time to develop interest on other extra curricular activities. These two years are the time to do all the tryouts and it may be a waste of money/time. Still, we need to try in order to figure out. Cut down on TV. Let them dream and direct them on using time on what ever they like. This way, they develop an interest in reading/drawing/writing etc. PLEASE PULL OUT THAT TV'S PLUG.

Academics: Read.read, read. Take them to library or bookstores and read with them. Introduce them to non-fiction books also. Aside from math, all subject knowledge can be developed through reading.

Math: This is the time for developing speed. Kumon is a proven place for developing speed. Stick with Kumon up to the level of Division. I really don't know about other places.

Entering 3rd grade:

This is the time to stop fooling around with multiple activities. You need to figure out which activity your kid enjoys the most and start building on it. This is totally your kid’s choice.

Academics: Time to deeply focus on comprehension skills/problem solving skills.

Math: By this time, kids need to have enough speed to do basic arithmetic problems. Focus more on speed and eventually build unto Division. Time to come out of raw arithmetic like Kumon and start building on word problems. Either spend time with kids by working on problem solving books or send them to Gurukulam(www.Gurukulam.us). Yes that's me. I am proven to turn them around .

English: Start focusing on writing/comprehension/vocabulary/grammar.

HAND WRITING is the important thing in this grade level. Start working on the handwriting. Schools won't care much about it. So please, fix it at home.

Entering 4th grade:

If you did the previous grade level steps correctly, your child has good handwriting, has already picked their area of interest in extra curricular activities, is an avid reader and a good problem solver. Now time to build on it.

Extra curricular: Time to throw away the activities they don't like and even it won't hurt starting couple of new things. Maybe you will see a spark in different areas.

English: Build on writing skills and comprehension skills. Also, build on vocabulary through reading, and focus on grammar and critical reading skills. 

Math: Time to try out more problem solving books like Math Olympiad, CML, and a ton more. Teach them all the tricks with math. Take them to a higher level. Open up their mind with different methods and challenging things. Teach their concepts clearly. This is the year that they are either going to build a passion towards math or not. At 5th grade they are either going to hate math or they are going to love math. The big transition is happening at 4th grade.

You can see the connection between critical reading/comprehension skills in English and problem solving skills in math at this grade level. Kids who are not good at comprehension are not going to do well with math competition problems.

Other subjects: Read, read, read. That's the only way they are going to build interest in history/science etc.

Entering 5th grade:

This is the time all the hormones are kicking in. They may say "no more" often. Try to build the connection with the kids before hand. When I look at my 5th grade students, this is what coming to my mind. They are a group of energetic kids ready to absorb any kind of information given to them. We have to be successful at directing their energy in the right direction. This is their turning point in life. If they are exposed to bad influences from surroundings at this time, that is going to reflect on them all through their life. Handle them with lots of care. They may tend to lie to you in order to look good in front of you. This is the time they are developing their personality also. So even though they act evil, show them that you care. We need to do the reverse engineering. The more they act weird, the less we freak out.

Academically: English and math are a continuation of what they build on. If they are not strong in any of the areas explained in fourth grade, this is your last chance to fix all that. Talk to the kid, find out where they are lacking, and fix it.

I have seen more self-realization in 7th grade kids. But by that time, it's going to be too late to fix the academics. So I am trying to push that to 5th grade before it's too late. In general, kids tend to be in a lazy mode in 5th grade and in 7th grade they want to turn it around. They need lots of help from adults in the right way at this point. So try to build the following foundation before kids enter middle school (6th-8th)

Key points before Middle school

Caring AttitudeTime management /Organization skills
Good peers
Strong problem solving skills/concept knowledge in math
Strong grammar/Critical reading/Comprehension skills
Writings skill/vocabulary building through reading non-fiction books.
Strong connection with parents
Strong interest in the extra curricular activities which they are participating
Strong mind to say no to bad influences
Hobby to replace the TV time

The middle school plan will be followed in the next blog depending on the response to this. If you are reading this blog, try to leave a comment so I will feel motivated. Middle school and high school plans are worth a million, so I am trying to collect all the info from my high school, my kids' schools, and from students. There are lots of different paths kids can follow depending on private school/public school etc. I will compile all that and will put it shortly. Please try to be a follower of this blog if you want updates.

What is Wrong with our educational system?

After hearing a lot of comments from parents about the normal schools they attended back in other countries and how they are doing great now, I feel like putting this in writing. The common argument is that it doesn't matter which school you attend here also.

Yes, you are right in one way that many of us are from medium families and attended normal Government schools and got into good professional colleges and are doing fine. Then what is the deal about public or private schools and pushing the kids or not?

The basic difference between Asian countries and here is that in Asian countries, education is the number one priority in  life, and here it is not. There, it is a community feeling; parents,teachers, relatives, and  neighbors are all thinking on the same line. Here it is mix of education/dating/sex/work etc. There, teachers can't think about wasting one minute of their time. For them, each student is like their own. If our teachers were not there updating on our performance and caring about our future, how many of you would be in these positions right now? If our teachers told us that wasting time is ok, I don't think we would be this successful. Now try to connect our own  teachers with our kids' teachers right now. How many teachers here do you think carry that same caring  nature and even that much knowledge our teachers used to have? That is the big gap in this country. It is not about budget or other stuff. It is about quality of the teacher's heart and knowledge. It is also  the quality of the curriculum. Go around and talk to a parent from private schools/public schools/Saratoga/Cupertino/Evergreen. It all finally goes back to the teacher. It doesn't matter which school public/private, it is all about teacher quality.

I used to sit in classes of 50 students and learn a lot. Why can't the teachers here do it? Just some simple question to each parent out there: 

How many of your kids are not learning much from school? 

If so, what we can do about it ?

For me, I can't change even one teacher's mind about caring. I tried and failed.

I have experience with both sides of the picture as a teacher and parent.

High achieving area (like our neighborhood):

Parents are spending money outside or teaching the kids at home . Some teachers are just taking advantage of it. You really don't know how much these kids are missing in their education. Just one small example: one kid asked his teacher, "Why are you giving out answers and hints for math tests before each test?" The teacher said,"Otherwise you all will be confused about it." Then what's the point of tests??? He is still confused about the fact that his teacher last year didn't give out any answers but the whole class did great. The simple answer to this is that the last year's teacher really cared about teaching and this year's teacher knows how to play the game of making it good in front of the kids and parents. She is the most favorite teacher for many kids since they are all getting good grades and for parents also since they don't feel the pressure of homework, but are the kids learning anything? NOTHING according to me. For the big SAT and AP tests, they need to read the questions, study the formulas and understand the questions. So why can't they train the kids from the smaller grades? Since the teacher has the tenure and some supporters who don't care about education, we can't do any thing about it. She has all the political answers ready with her. 

Please stop whining about the money and more students in the classes e.t.c. If you have a great heart, you can guide these great students in the right way. You can do it! All you need is a white board, basic books, and some papers and pencils for the kids.

So as parents, we can't fix this big problem in front of you. How can you fix the problems at the Capital?

The other Side:

Low income neighborhood. Parents don't care. Students don't care. Half of the teachers don't care. But the Government cares. Tons of money is pumped into improving the performance score as remedial programs for students who messed up with other kids' lives and who didn't let the teachers teach. So there are many opportunities for bad kids to retake the tests. Nothing is going to happen. We're still wasting all our money on teaching the kids/family who don't care about education. First do some counseling and make them care about education and then start teaching them.

So it is really funny to watch both sides of the picture.

Please feel free to shout at me or support me. I am really frustrated with the educational system  where the lazy teachers and the lazy students are the culprits (not the money part).

Raji Menon

How to pick the Right High school For your kid ?

Let me start with my recent experience in this topic. I work at a school where the API is the lowest in the  District. We are marketing our AP Calculus program because if there is not enough students to take it, we will lose the whole program. Said that, last Friday one of my Calculus students informed me that he got into pre-med at UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Davis. He wanted my help in picking the right college. I was really excited and asked him about the details. Then, more surprises were revealed . First of all he is a Junior graduating this year as a senior. Also, he got the college credit for one year too. That means he only needs to do 3 years of Graduate studies at college. Now how did he do it? The moment he joined our 9th grade class he realized that our classes are not challenging. So, he took night classes at community colleges and finished 2 years of course work ahead. He didn't even care about the after school program at our school. So, what is the moral from that? If the child is motivated, we will have opportunities around us.  Also, we should be good at finding those opportunities out.

Now:

Disadvantages of the advanced programs in a low performing school:

Ok, this is an interesting topic to discuss. First of all, academics are not the only factor in your child's high school life. They have to do tons of extra curricular activities outside the school like after school sports, clubs, dances etc. So think of it this way, your kid is taking six to seven advanced periods in a low performing school with highly motivated kids and highly trained teachers. But what happens after that? You can't guarantee that your child is going to be with those highly motivated kids during after school activities. There are a lot of bad things like drugs, sex, gangs, just to name a few. If you think your child is capable of handling these situations then you are fine. High school years are so important for them to build their character, building connections, developing other interests, e.t.c. Also, you need to run around for counseling services, e.t.c. So it is absolutely your call. If your child is like the child in my class, you will be fine. But the risk factors are 50:50. Is your child ready to take that challenge? 

Advantages/Disadvantages of IB/Magnet programs:

This program follows a standardized curriculum and unique curriculum around the world. So, they are great programs in any school. Only highly motivated kids are in those classes, and trained teachers are taking the classes. The student needs to decide which area they are going to graduate to in 9th grade, so that way they are learning specialized subjects in that particular area. As for normal schools, kids can decide on their future even in the twelfth grade. So if a particular student in the IB program decides not to continue in that particular field in his tenth/eleventh grade they have to start over again in the other subject.

Great Web links to Motivate your kids

This is going to be a progressive blog which will be updated periodically with great web links.

Trust me, these are worth a million.

03/12/10 - http://harvardmagazine.com/commencement/the-fringe-benefits-failure-the-importance-imagination

Who am I ? and Why blog?

Who am I to write this blog, and what makes it interesting for people like you to come back?

Ok, here you go. I am turning 38 this month and I'm just turning back and looking at what I did all these 38 years and what I am planning to do for the next 38 years. 

0-22 years :Nothing much , just listened to parents and studied, studied, studied

23yr- Started working a  teacher at SHY in Yercaud, India

24yr- got married , moved to Dubai and worked at Indian private school

25yr -Had the first child and started the life as a house wife/mom

27yrs- Had the second child and continued the life as mom,moved to USA.

30yrs- Started AIM tutoring center

33yrs- Younger child turned 6 years and started looking for full time job, went back to school, got the Credential, and started the life as math teacher.

Right now, I'm enjoying life as a math teacher and I'm planning to continue this forever.

Every day is filled with lots of experiences with young children, so I thought of coming up with this blog to share all my experiences with everyone around the world.

I'm hoping that someone will gain something from all these

Why Blog?

My days are filled with lots of experiences with the young generation.

Every day, I am meeting with 140 students at school  and 15 more at home.

Then my own two.

I feel like there is a lot to share with all of you.

Maybe I am trying to figure out my own identity with all these. Or maybe I am trying to reduce my stress. Or maybe I am trying to help some of you with all these. Or maybe I am trying to spend some time alone with my thoughts. Or maybe I am trying to leave some footprints today if I leave this world tomorrow.

Ok, you figure it out after reading all my posts.