I need opinions. DD's class was assigned a paper due Monday (assigned 2 days ago) 600 words, APA style, and 3 letter words and under do not count as a word. This is a brand new teacher that just started teaching 2 weeks ago in her school, she only has this teacher for one class, I have not met her yet. I think this is a little overboard for 6th grade homework. My DD in college is doing this length of paper. It's been a long time since I was in 6th grade and I don't remember my two older kids having to do this type/length paper in 6th grade. Is this standard nowadays?

I would have to say Yes. But I would include the 3 letter words as long as they were not used to an excessive, just to fill the paper. Before she started teaching she was a student teacher, she knew the kind of class she was getting involved in. maybe this is her way to test her skills. If it works she will do it again, if not , then she failed.

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"Madison AnnMarie " 6/13/2008

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What is the topic? Is this a rough draft or a final copy? The writing is a process. Not something that is written once and that is it. It should have revisions especially at this age before the final copy.

If she is in an International Baccalaureate School then it is right on(my DD had alot of these types of papers)or maybe a magnate school but really don't know about the magnate program in middle school. If regular education classes then I say it is overboard.

read52 are you a teacher? We have been doing these processes for so long now at the school I work at. I work with a third grade class. Some kids enjoy it others just HATE it.

The topic is anything to do with ancient Egypt, she picked a female pharoah. No rough draft, just turn in a final paper on Monday. It is a regular 6th grade class in public grade school, junior high starts at 7th grade here, no middle school.

600 words is not really that long of a paper and I agree that the teacher probably said no words under 3 letters because most kids would say "the, and, it..." just to fill the paper. I'm sure that a few "the's and and's" here and there aren't going to be a problem. 600 words is what, maybe 2 pages. It is good too because it prepares them to what to have to expect and live up to next year, and so forth. Also with the state standards going up, that may be another reason.

doesn't sound too extreme to me. I have a 3rd grader so he isn't to that point yet but I remember those types of papers when I as around 6th grade. 600 words isn't that many really, especially given the topic of ancient Egypt

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Yes I am a teacher. Although I have only taught English a few times, I know that you don't just assign a topic and expect a finished paper a few days later. In this case, they should have some time for research then a rough draft and then a final copy. I am an old teacher. This is the way they did it when I was a kid. We had no idea what we were doing. The only kind of paper that could be done quickly is a reflection paper (how you feel about something). I don't think this is too much homework but it should have been done over a longer period.

I love to see kids challenged and I don't think that this is "too much" for a 2nd semester 6th grader, but I do see it as a pretty tough assignment for the time period given. I would encourage her to do her best with it and support her in her efforts getting reference materials and proofreading, etc. If it were me, I would also be sure not to let my child know that I doubted the teacher's wisdom in making this assignment....don't want to undermine a new teacher with her new pupils.

Actually...as an aside, I'd be equally concerned that a college student was only being asked to do papers of this size/nature.

cj/

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I teach, and think that this is a bit much without revision. Thinking when the teacher gets the pile of papers, she will regret giving this assignment.

It wouldn't be too much, if the kids had this teacher from the start of school and were used to researching/writing with her requirements. To me, this is like the second week of them having her- so it is like the start of school all over again.

Thanks for all the input! I would never let DD know that I didn't agree with a teacher unless it was something totally outrageous, which this is not, it's just an assignment, she has no idea that I think it's a bit much or that I think teacher is going about it a bit wrong. BTW, it's not for English, it's a Social Studies assignment. I was thinking there should have been more preparation on the teachers part also, it's been a long time since I did a paper but we used to have to hand in an outline, after it was approved, we'd hand in a rough draft, then last would be the final paper. She did give them a 15 page handout (and went over it in class) about APA style, plagarism (sp?) etc. The orignal assignment was 500 words, then Friday she changed it to 600 words. I also think she will regret doing this when she has to sit down and grade 32 Social Studies papers and help them all figure out what they did wrong.

As far as the DD in college some of her assignments have only been 600 word papers, but many have been alot longer, they do not use APA style where she goes to school.