My name is Mark, and I’m a recovering worksheetaholic.
I know I’m not the only one out there. The ubiquitous worksheet has many adherents — there are probably more teachers who rely on worksheets than don’t — and I confess that I, too, relied on them for years. They felt like a sort of security blanket, a way for me to ensure that learning was taking place.
Never mind that the so-called “learning” consisted of memorizational factoids that the students would never recall at a later date, or that the questions the students answered were about reading selections that were neither genuine nor eloquent. By using worksheets, I had proof! I had a number that could be documented! Grades could be given, standards could be tracked, and the game of school could continue on its merry way.
Not anymore. It’s not to say my students and I don’t use paper anymore – we do – but the days of filling in the blanks, with a few final exceptions that I am weaning myself off of, are just about done.
I think that my daughter’s kindergarten teacher relies on worksheets too much. She has 8 to 10 worksheets a day. Is there a diplomatic way for me to approach this subject with her teacher? Do you know of a resource that would give me studies to support my opinion?
Her teacher wants to “spank” her for not completing her work. Should I allow a “spanking” as a motivator