Advice for Future 4th Graders

If you could offer one piece of advice for an incoming 4th grader, what would it be?  Why did you choose this?

School Debate: Should Kids be Rewarded for Doing Chores?

Many kids help out around the house with chores such as emptying the dishwasher, putting laundry away, and taking out the trash. In exchange, some kids get allowances or other rewards such as extra computer time.

But some people do not think that kids should get rewards for doing chores. Susie Walton, a parenting educator and family coach, believes that by rewarding kids, parents are sending a message that work isn’t worth doing unless you get something in return. “Running any kind of household is a team effort,” Walton told TFK. “A home is a living space for everyone in the family. It’s important for kids to see that we all have responsibilities in the house, and that families decide together how they want their home to look, and how they are going to keep it looking like everyone wants it to look.”

Other people believe that getting a cash allowance or other reward motivates kids to do chores, and it also teaches them real world lessons about how we need to work to earn money. There are also now apps that give kids points and digital gifts that can be redeemed either online or in the real word. With the ChoreMonster app, kids earn digital points by completing chores that they can turn in for real life rewards such as extra Xbox time or a trip to the mall.  “Our goal is to empower kids so they can earn rewards,” says Chris Bergman, founder of ChoreMonster. “Kids need positive reinforcement to help motivate them.”

What do you think? Should kids be rewarded for doing chores? Or should kids help out around their homes without getting something in return?

4th Grade Memory

Please write about a memorable experience in 4th grade.  This can be something funny that happened, something that was exciting for you, or something that will be hard to forget!  Tell us why this event was so memorable to you.

School Debate: Eco-Friendly Lunches

Schools across the country are aiming for a waste-free lunch period. Still using brown paper lunch sacks? Bag them, they say. Schools are asking parents and students to choose reusable cloth sacks instead of bags that get thrown in the trash. You won’t find plastic baggies or bottles on many school lists either. To meet eco-friendly lunch requirements, sandwiches and snacks need to be packed in plastic containers and water must be in a reusable aluminum bottle.

The schools’ view: more students packing eco-friendly lunch containers means less waste created at lunchtime. That’s good for the planet. A green lunch policy also benefits schools since cafeterias will require less clean up and there will be less cost for hauling garbage away.

But there are more issues to consider say some parents. They say that reusable containers are expensive and washing the containers also uses precious resources such as water and fuel. School officials argue that the containers don’t need to be replaced, so in the long run, the cost should be less than buying boxes of baggies and paper lunch bags. That is, if students don’t lose or misplace their containers. Parents claim kids are bound to lose the containers.

Despite the inconveniences, it seems many families are trying to go green. Sales of eco-friendly lunch products are on the rise. Sales of plastic and paper bags, once school lunch must-haves, are dropping.

What do you think? Is the added time and money involved in going green at lunchtime worth it? Should schools require kids to bring eco-friendly lunches?

School Debate: Boys and Girls in Schools

Can separating boys and girls improve their performance at school? Or do boys and girls need to be together to learn to get along? There is no right answer. But many people have strong opinions about the topic. Some people believe that single-gender schools are the best bet. Others believe that coed schools give kids a stronger start.

Single-gender education is on the rise. In the mid-1990s, there were only two single-gender public schools in the nation. Today, more than 500 public schools in 40 states have only boy students, only girl students or some classes that are single-gender.

The authors of a new report in Science magazine reviewed existing research about single-gender schools. Their report argues against this type of education. They say it reduces boys’ and girls’ opportunities to work together, and reinforces gender stereotypes. A stereotype is an inaccurate oversimplified image of a group.

“Boys who spend more time with other boys become increasingly aggressive,” the article says. “Similarly, girls who spend more time with other girls become more gender-typed.” The authors also argue that there is no scientific evidence that single-gender schooling leads to better academic outcomes.

What do you think? We want to hear your opinion.

4th Grade Favorites

Please write a short paragraph about your favorite part of 4th grade up to this point in the year.  Be sure to include a few reasons why you chose this as your favorite.  Remember to read through your post and make sure it is your best quality work before submitting!

Drink Dilemma

Jordan and Mike were playing a video game at Jordan's house.  Mike accidentally knocked over a glass of juice onto Jordan's computer.  Jordan needs to get his computer repaired and thinks Mike should pay for that.  Mike disagrees.  He thinks that it's Jordan's fault for keeping his drink too close to his computer.  What should Mike do?