Yesterday two people posted this picture (from George Takei’s Facebook page) to my Facebook page:
The fact that Number 4 had a “personal heritage project” due yesterday made it even funnier.
Or should I say “Number 4” had a personal heritage project due yesterday.
Because let’s be honest.
I bet you can count on one hand the number of students who completed the project on their own.
Or mostly on their own.
Or partly on their own.
Or even remotely on their own.
Basically the kids are supposed to make a paper doll, and decorate it to reflect their heritage.
Apparently “many students and parents have told us this project was a wonderful way to spend time together as a family.”
Hmmm.
I wonder who those people are.
Because we did this same project last year with Number 3.
And I use the term “we” lightly.
Very lightly.
Number 3 is a procrastinator like his mother.
So at 8:30 the night before it was due, when Number 3 realized he had completely forgotten about it, “he” completed this project.
In about 10 minutes.
I Number 3 did a really good job.
I was really concerned about what all the other kids would bring in.
About what other people would think.
About how his heritage doll would compare to the ones all the other parents kids made.
So his heritage doll looked pretty freaking awesome.
But he did not learn one single thing from that project.
He learned absolutely nothing about his heritage.
He learned nothing about researching anything or finding information.
He learned nothing about budgeting his time or the consequences of putting things off until the last minute.
And I learned I can get an A on a second grade social studies project.
So this time around, I kept my hands out of it.
Literally.
Plus, Number 4 is smart.
She knows what to do.
You saw her valentines.
And the directions on the project said “Please encourage your second grader to be as creative as he or she would like to be.”
Your second grader.
Number 4 is not a procrastinator.
She likes to get things done and out of the way.
She decided to do this project on Saturday.
For some people that still may be cutting it close.
But starting the project three days before it’s due is like starting it 3 weeks early in Susie time.
So this is how our conversation went:
Number 4: (at 4 p.m. on Saturday): Mommy, I need to do this project.
(I was in the middle of making dinner. It wasn’t a great time).
Me: What is it?
Number 4: It’s a heritage project. I have to decorate this person like one of my ancestors.
Ugh. The heritage doll.
Me: Go ask Daddy. He can help you on the computer. But this is a project. So it should take you more than 10 minutes to finish.
Number 4: Daddy doesn’t know what to do.
Me: I think Daddy can figure it out.
Number 4: I need to get on the computer so I can see a picture of some clothes.
Me: Daddy will help you find a picture to use as an example. He can help you find materials.
Number 4 (at 4:15 p.m. on Saturday): Mommy I’m done!
Me: Already? You only started 15 minutes ago.
Number 4: You said it should take more than 10 minutes. It did.
Me: Let me see your project.
Now here is the example her teacher sent home:
Simple.
Nothing crazy.
Here is Number 4’s heritage doll:
I just looked at her.
She knew it sucked.
But she didn’t care.
It was done.
Number 4: What? Daddy said our ancestors were from England.
I guess Number 4 identifies mostly with William Bradford.
The teacher in me wanted to make her redo the project.
But I held back.
Me: Is that the best you can do?
Number 4: That’s the best I want to do.
Fair enough.
I followed the directions.
And really, so did she… Please encourage your second grader to be as creative as he or she would like to be…
Am I proud of her project?
Not really.
But it’s not my project.
And I don’t need to pass 2nd grade, anyway.
I already did that last year.
Baseball season is almost here. The perfect T-shirt for baseball moms!
I’ll keep writing, you keep voting!
I printed out a native costume from the village that my mom is from and told my daughter, “This is what you making.” She responded, “Mommy, that is ugly.” I couldn’t agree more, but I told her, “At least you did not have to wear the actual costume like your cousin M. M had culture day at her school and she had to get dressed up.” My daughter did not say another word and glued construction paper as directed. A “wonderful” time had by all:-)
Glad you were able to have that “bonding” time 😉
I try to be light handed in my kids “projects” because like you said, I already went thru 2nd grade. We brain storm and then he’s on his own. If I need to print anything from the computer I do that. I HAVE cut things that needed to be exacto’d (sorry…I’m not trusting him with a razor). I would also say that 99% of the kids in his class do their own work (based on the the end product of things I see) #4’s end product wouldn’t look out of place hanging on the wall at my kid’s school.
I know she can do A LOT better, that’s what bothers me. But hopefully her teacher will hold her accountable. That will have much more of an impact than me forcing her to redo it anyway. And it’s hard core out here in CT, Deanna. You should see the shit that kids bring in to school.
My daughter had to draw our family as gingerbread men and the project was a wreck…
Little red- I can’t do this
Me- why?
Little red- our family isn’t gingerbread we are people
Sound logic, can’t argue all we learned is that school projects are unnecessary. Funny that all families learn that lesson in the first or second grade.
When my kids were in second grade they had to make “stuffed animals”. The directions were to make them out of 2 pieces of paper stapled together, stuffed with crumpled paper. I only helped with the stapling for obvious reasons. (Staples in thumbs are a bitch to get out.) Those hand drawn, handpainted, kid cut, stuffed animals looked exactly the way they were intended to look….like shit. LOL. Do you know many kids brought in honest to God, freaking homemade, stuffed animals? WTF!! Those kids learned nothing and their parents passed second grade….again.
I think she hit it – right on! I don’t think it sucks at all!