In fourth grade we will start to have nation wide tests for math, reading and science. Given no more than twice a year.

In fifth grade we would half to start teaching students all about banks and some other things related to money and finance.

Reading and math levels 100% checked at the 3rd and 4th grade levels so we do not send out students with poor performance.

We may even have to go as so far as to rename the third, fourth and fifth grade classes to something else to better define what goals we are trying to reach with students in those grade levels.

OUTLINE

ELEMENTARY STUDENT/GRADUATE ALTERNATIVE (FIRST TO FIFTH GRADE STUDENT)

• Do not have to finish eight grade of reading at the end of the sixth grade.
  • They will though have to be at a beginning 5th grade reading level at the end of 4th grade or they will be held back.
• 100% must follow Middle School Student / Graduate Alternative rules.

PARAGRAPH

Testing of students should begin in the first grade and the first major test they will take is a battery test to find out how his or her mind is wired. This type of a test is a battery exam type test that has no pass or fail for the student. A first graders mind is a very complex even at this young of an age and does not know the proper way to learn. Given them this battery type exam will help easily find this out. This will help the first grade teacher structure the class time better so his or her grades will the best they can be.

All students will take this test no matter if they are home schooled or not. Home-schooled students should come to school one day at take with someone that can administer this exam. Students that have skipped 1st grade will take in the grade they have skipped to.

I feel that programs like Hooked on Phonics are a good thing to use in the early elementary grade levels to get students to read better. I will never say programs like these are the 100% defacto thing that will get students to read, but they are good start.

I think nation wide testing in subjects should take place in second grade and be giving every year until eight grade. Finding out how we rate against other nations is a good thing and the scores from the test will be good for parents to know and for the school district to know what schools are bad or even what grades are bad.

Now these test scores are not the be all, end all, 100% set thing you only look at to see if a school is under-performing or not. You also have to look at how well the students are performing in class as well because not all students are great test takers.

Now these nation wide tests in reading and math are different from the traditional tests that the teacher will give out since these will be given out more frequently. Scores from these tests can help determine in you do move onto other grade levels if the teacher thinks they are important in you overall grade.

Limiting homework is a good thing as well for the first few grade levels. Too much of it, too soon will hurt the learning process which is a no-no. I do know that some students may complete work much faster than others so students and teachers will have to come to compromises on how much homework to give out each night.

For both versions of the Elementary School graduate / student we will have a progress report on the student at the end of 3rd grade and the 4th grade. I do want the student at proper reading and math levels no matter what version the school district uses. If they are too far behind we really need to keep the student behind to make sure they catch up with the other students.

I do have two different suggested ways a student can go through the first through eight grades and it is better to discuss these two ways in the Middle School Student/ Graduate web page on this website.

I do have some strict controls on these students. They will and can be held back if they are not performing well when it comes to math and reading skills. I for one do not want to send students up the ladder who are not performing at the level they must be at.

Q&A

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