Well, so much for enjoying time off with the kids. On their last day of school before Christmas the 1st grade teachers sent home a huge poster project for everyone to have some "family fun" time.

Excuse me, but I prefer to decide how my family will enjoy themselves over the break. It already feels like they are in school or busy most of the time. Now they are cutting into our family time over break with homework. This is on top of the 50 words sent home for a spelling bee mid January (I had planned to work on those some during break). I remember this happening in college or even high school but can't they just be kids for now?

So, DH and I worked with the kids for 3 hours today getting the project started. There is probably at least half of the work still left. We split a posterboard for each of them into 20 squares each having a different blend (sl, sp, fr, etc) that they need to find at least 2 pictures each to glue on and write the word. This would be quite a task for one 1st grader, let alone 3.

So we finished up for the day and left them on tables downstairs for the glue to dry. As 3 of us are relaxing upstairs. DD and her brother come up and tell me that the posterboards have been cut. Evidently she cut the two bottom corners off her brother's and so he went and cut a strip off the side of her's. None of the "work" was compromised but the boards are definitely no longer rectangular. Fortunately the DD who was upstairs with me thinking of words to find pictures of did not get any cuts on her board. Sent her siblings to their room for an hour (nap, as dad wanted to do himself).

Still deciding what to do when they wake up. Frankly, it's a bit embarassing for me to make them take the projects to school that way. I may just make them deal with it and finish the project. Then I will trim up the sides to look as normal as possible. Might do them good to worry that their whole class will see the mess they made of it. I really don't want to start over with a new board.

Oh the fun of multiples.

So much for my resolution to yell at the kids less this year

Andi
g/b/g
7 yr olds in 1st grade

My kids are crafting freaks, and those are the kind of projects they do all day long for fun. Do yours or have yours had unlimited access to craft supplies? We have one whole wall of cabinets just for art supplies. I cannot express to you how much they craft. Over the break, we wove scarves, made potholders, designed our own books with Illustory, made a rocket car with baking soda and vinegar, and they all got new art sets for Christmas. Mine are in first grade also.

But as to your immediate problem, I would send them in, as is. It is their project and that is what they did with it.

Okay that would irritate me too! Wth teachers??? Can we not enjoy our Christmas break without some stupid project looming over our heads??

And you are right! Why do they get to decide what you do for "family fun?" I am mad for you! Maybe your family fun is playing basketball with your kids or riding bikes together or just relaxing together watching a movie. Not everyone loves to craft with their kids. Christmas break should be just that, a BREAK from school!

As for the posters, I would probably fix them as best I could. BUT make them help you of course.


Terri~
12/21/01 at 33 weeks

I will say this is only the beginning. The trio are in 4th this year. Wait until Science Fair starts. Here we have to do a bulk of the science fair over the break. I hate it times 3 (next year times 4) After the 2nd grade year I said lets do it early so we aren't spent doing it over the break. But NOOO, they do it in stages. Go over this, go over that, get this approved, get that approved, they don't even get their final project subject approved by their teacher so they can start their experiments until a couple days before the break and the data is due a couple days after the break. So if you are traveling you are screwed and have to take it ALL with you.

And this year we had snow days the 3 days before break so we ended up with extra homework there. Books to be read and questions to be answered that were emailed out.

Celesta I hear you about kids loving to craft. Mine are craft lovers also. We also have craft stuff all over the place. But what I read when I read the OP is there is a big difference between chosen craft for fun and assigned project. For some assigned project sucks the fun out of it because it is limiting in what they can do or just the mere fact someone is choosing for them. And having craft supplies available isn't necessarily going to make them like it more. We have closets of craft stuff. Abby LOVES to craft all day long. Teachers give her the extra scrap die cuts still that she used to get when she went with me before K. They call her the "Junk Artist" for her recycled art. She would have ate that project up. But Alex and Megan probably would have protested just because they didn't choose. It wouldn't have been fun, it would have been homework. Then when done they were done they would have done something similar on their own or made more puzzle piece wreath ornaments happily because it was a craft they wanted to do.

Tasha
Have children afraid of monsters or just looking for a fun kids app? http://www.goawaymonster.com/

I detest those "Family Fun" projects. I'm sure some families don't spend time together but we DO and telling us we HAVE to do it does suck the fun right out of it.

I would turn them in as is. Did they have fun? Then mission accomplished.

Kari S.

Mom to BBB 21, 18, 14
BBG 9/25/01

Just thought I'd update. Yesterday was the kids first day back at school. My DD who was so concerned that she might end up in the principals office or have to repeat 1st grade came home and told me that a few of the kids had already returned their projects. At least one of them the sides looked like her's did (I'm guessing it was either cut or bent) So I think she's feeling better about her own project -- I'd sort of wanted to have them feel bad about what they'd done, at least for a while.
Anyway, we will probably trim them up so even if they aren't exactly the right size, they will be roughly rectangular. I'll probably wait until they are done glueing the pictures on...that way they can smash up the side we'll cut off rather than crumpling the new edge we make.
Oh, and I have contemplated making a craft center down in the playroom but it never stays clean long enough for me to get it done Maybe I'll have to try again for the summer. Though I might have to talk to them about what should and shouldn't be cut with scissors (like not to cut up someone else's school project I might have to find some cabinets like Celesta described and just install those for all our craft stuff. My own craft stuff from Before Kids is in a few of those plastice roll carts and an old dresser---need to sort through that stuff too.

Thanks for listening,

Andi
g/b/g
triplets -- back at school after a long break

I second Celesta's idea to have the rolling cart or some cabinets for arts and crafts stuff. You are just at the beginning of a long period of school projects that require art stuff.

My boys are in 8th grade and we STILL have arts and crafts projects. Make a poster to go with your essay or speech. Or the one that just filled me with joy - do a book report in the form of a cereal box. They are 13 years old. Teach them to write an essay. That's an important skill. Not writing lots of small things and making them fit on the sides of a cereal box. Oh, and make it look pretty.

I stock up on construction paper, poster paper, glue sticks, colored markers, etc. at back to school time. And the biggest time saver was the purchase of a cutting board tool used for scrapbooking. It cuts paper down so quickly. We are not an artistic family but they boys can print out a title for a poster, cut out a bigger piece of construction paper to put the title upon, and voila - it's a FRAMED title. They coordinate colors and it's fast and easier with the paper cutter.

Best wishes,

Sharon
13 year old b/b/b + 17 year old son

Oh my, I feel for you ,Andi! It's hard to not want the kids' projects to look "perfect". I know I stuggle with letting my kids do it vs. "helping" so that it's done to my satisfaction even though I know they need to do it on their own. Sounds like you're doing the right thing.

You've got your kiddos at a good school as this project is awesome for 1st graders! They are learning a lot.

Just think...some day we'll look back and laugh at all this, right?!? At least, that's what I tell myself!

http://lilypie.com>

I, too, get a little upset with all of the FAMILY FUN projects. But even more so this year is all of the speeches they have to memorize (one a month) x 3 kids! Each one has a different speech! One month there were 2 things to memorize at once...a speech and the school song! OMG!!! REALLY????

Agapi

Proud Mommy of
Kaden, Rowen, Kai
BGB 03-22-05

Ok, survived the poster project. Now they brought homework home for me to do. I have one week to get 3 Valentines ready to put up in the hall at school telling them (and the rest of the school) what wonderful kids they are.
At least I'm not having to figure out 3 different projects.

Andi