*Updated* I know now why we hate Kindergarten homework!

[Clarity]

*Update* First of all, thank you all for weighing in on the homework instructions. I enjoyed knowing that dh and I were not alone in finding the instructions poorly written. Sadly, it was clear that we thought about it more than her teacher; the homework was returned to us marked with the usual "http://officeimg.vo.msecnd.net/en-us/files/164/392/ZA001117936.gif+" that all correct homework is marked. Nevermind that dd completed the front and back of the page completely differently. :banghead:

Anyhow, dh thinks that yesterday's homework has answered the question for us. (If you voted Choice B, you were correct.) Here it is:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s320x320/308598_10150295753027651_591917650_8215386_9251484 24_n.jpg



**************************


It's because the instructions are as clear as mud.

My dh and I are disagreeing on how to interpret the instructions on this goat worksheet:

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/308789_10150288047507651_591917650_8175218_1958172 318_n.jpg

I think dd should color the goats that just have "Gg" on them. (Choice A)

Dh thinks that she should color the goats that have "Gg" AND "gG". (Choice B)

Can you all weigh in with your opinion here? This is not the first time in 2 weeks that I've been confused by the instructions on her paperwork. I feel a bit silly.

[brittone2]

I agree w/ your DH, but really, I can't say for sure LOL.

[infomama]

I would color both Gg and gG. The instructions only stated they should be partnered...not in a specific order.

[KrisM]

I would color both Gg and gG. The instructions only stated they should be partnered...not in a specific order.

I agree.

[purpleeyes]

I would only color the ones with Gg. That is how it is written on the directions and on the picture of the Goat at the top.

[g-mama]

Oooh, that's a tough one. I could see it going either way but I'm going to say color both the Gg and the gG.

[veronica]

I'd color goat #1 and #5. they are both Gg and that is what the instructions say. although, it bothers the heck out of me that the faces on those two goats go in the opposite direction of the "master goat".

[kristenk]

I'd color the gG and the Gg goats. It doesn't say what order the letters need to be in, just that they're paired.

[egoldber]

This is EXACTLY the kind of crap I hate.

[SnuggleBuggles]

"A" gets my vote. I think that b/c the kids can recognize the pattern from the directions vs having to think about the letters more deeply than that.

Beth

[lmwbasye]

I'd color the 4 goats that have them partnered.

[Canna]

I agree with DH.

[Clarity]

This is EXACTLY the kind of crap I hate.


:yeahthat: right? Dh and I have advanced degrees. There are a LOT of experienced kindy mama's here and a lot with advanced degrees here too. If we can't figure it out the directions how the heck is my 5yr old supposed to?

[WolfpackMom]

I would just do Gg, I would think for kindy they would expect the most straight forward simple answer.

[Clarity]

is a "letter identification" wksheet?

[veronica]

is a "letter identification" wksheet?
she needs to identify/distinguish "Big G and little g"

[infomama]

is a "letter identification" wksheet?
This would reinforce my color both Gg/gG decision. I think the teacher wants them to recognize the letters even when they are mixed up.

[justlearning]

I would do what your DH's suggesting.

This makes me so glad that my son's school doesn't give homework in K!

[lhafer]

I would only color the ones with Gg. That is how it is written on the directions and on the picture of the Goat at the top.

:yeahthat:

The directions say Gg, not Gg AND gG. Actually it did give a specific order (Gg), because otherwise it would have said something like - "Color each goat that has the partner letters G on it" or "Color each goat that has the same partner letters on it." Then you could do the gG pairing. And I can pretty much bet you that in the classroom, the G in the alphabet going around the room (that's in all K classes!) is Gg. Not gG. I've never seen gG in that order, so I wouldn't think of it as an option.

And this is when adults over analyze everything.


I'd color goat #1 and #5. they are both Gg and that is what the instructions say. although, it bothers the heck out of me that the faces on those two goats go in the opposite direction of the "master goat".

Right?!?! That bugs me too!!

[Clarity]

she needs to identify/distinguish "Big G and little g"

Yes, I know that part. :) LOL
I wondered if that made it different from a "matching" assignment worksheet. I should have specified that initially. Sorry.

[lmwbasye]

I would seriously hope that no matter what is decided, your child won't get it marked wrong.

[anamika]

too funny - I asked my dh and he agreed with you but I think your dh is right. We have advanced degrees too!
How many PhDs does it take to answer a kindergarten question?

[veronica]

Yes, I know that part. :) LOL
I wondered if that made it different from a "matching" assignment worksheet. I should have specified that initially. Sorry.
I meant in that order-sorry, I should have specified too . the typical presentation for uppercase and lower case is in the format presented by the instructions Gg. I think the complexity is too great for kindy to be able to recognize and identify all combinations of the letter "g".

[justlearning]

too funny - I asked my dh and he agreed with you but I think your dh is right. We have advanced degrees too!
How many PhDs does it take to answer a kindergarten question?

This does seem like a funny IQ test for all of us! I just asked DH and he agreed with me (with your DH). OP, you're going to have to report back to us what they actually wanted.

[WolfpackMom]

What does your DD think? I would just let her do what she thinks is best, its her homework :)

[veronica]

This does seem like a funny IQ test for all of us! I just asked DH and he agreed with me (with your DH). OP, you're going to have to report back to us what they actually wanted.
I'm thinking they will all get returned with a sticker on it :)

this may require a parent/teacher conference:hysterical:

[PAfirsttimemom]

I would only color the ones with Gg. That is how it is written on the directions and on the picture of the Goat at the top.

:yeahthat:

[justlearning]

What does your DD think? I would just let her do what she thinks is best, its her homework :)

Well, now that's a novel idea! :)

[crl]

This is EXACTLY the kind of crap I hate.

:yeahthat:

Catherine

[vonfirmath]

Only "Gg" -- they are Kindergarteners (at the beginning of the year) Not older kids.

Its a matching thing.

[ett]

All I can say is that we've spent way more time analyzing this worksheet than the time it's going to take your DD to do the homework.

Now that I've read all the posts, I think I'm going to have to agree with vonfirmath that it's a K worksheet at the beginning of the year so they just want her to match "Gg".

[hellokitty]

Only "Gg" -- they are Kindergarteners (at the beginning of the year) Not older kids.

Its a matching thing.

:yeahthat: I would vote this. HOWEVER, I could easily see my DH and I getting into the same debate. I hope that the rest of your dd's homework is not going to be like this! K homework was tedious for us, but it's just wrong that it should be this confusing so early in the game, lol.

[Melanie]

OMG - trick questions in kindergarten!? Based upon the target age, I agree with you - but it does look like a trick question!

[fivi2]

Only "Gg" -- they are Kindergarteners (at the beginning of the year) Not older kids.

Its a matching thing.

:yeahthat:

[essnce629]

I agree with you-- choice A (only color Gg goats).

[MMMommy]

I would color just the Gg. So I would agree with OP and disagree with her DH.

[PMJ]

"A" gets my vote.

My guess --- is that they want kids to see that capital letter comes first, then lowercase. "Gg"

GOOD LUCK !

[mmommy]

I'd vote with your DH.
You could have her use different colors to prove she can tell the difference between Gg and gG.

[KHF]

I would color only the Gg goats.

From our experience last year, this is the first of many ambiguous instructions you will find on worksheets. Good luck.

[sidmand]

Only "Gg" -- they are Kindergarteners (at the beginning of the year) Not older kids.

Its a matching thing.
:yeahthat:

[sarahsthreads]

I'd vote with your DH.
You could have her use different colors to prove she can tell the difference between Gg and gG.

:yeahthat:

Can I just say, DD1's 2nd grade teacher rocks? The only homework he's given so far this year (granted, she's only been in school 9 days so far) is to read. None of these confusing worksheets. ;)

Sarah

[longtallsally05]

I vote for Choice A. I think this is about recognizing patterns, not just about recognizing letters.

[Gena]

I would say to color "Gg" and "gG". It's about recognizing that "G" and "g" are the same letter.

[Clarity]

I've decided that I am going to find out the publisher of this workbook and email them a letter with this thread attached.

FWIW, we did let dd decide what she was coloring. As a result, one side has been done a la "Choice A" and the other side was done a la "Choice B". I'm looking forward to seeing the teacher's response. LOL

Ultimately this IS just kindy homework and it's no big deal. I had a moment where I thought I'd just keep the darn paper and have her not turn it in but I didn't want dd to have to explain where her homework was to the teacher. DD is a rule follower. She would have been horrified to have not had what she needed for class.

[Roni]

I think it's just the "Gg", but I'm nor 100% sure.

[maestramommy]

This is EXACTLY the kind of crap I hate.
:yeahthat: Would have to agree with that one. Maybe I'd just read the directions like, "color all the goats that have big G and little G" and let DD interpret how she will. God help the teacher if she gets marked down.

[PAfirsttimemom]

Did I miss the update? What was the answer?

[AnnieW625]

It would only be choice A.

[Clarity]

Did I miss the update? What was the answer?


You didn't. :). The teacher didn't send it home "graded" yet. I'll keep you posted!

[kmkaull]

Only "Gg" -- they are Kindergarteners (at the beginning of the year) Not older kids.

Its a matching thing.

:yeahthat: don't over-think it, lol.

[Clarity]

bump for update

[artvandalay]

This is EXACTLY the kind of crap I hate.

:hysterical::yeahthat::hysterical::yeahthat: Stupid friggin' goats!

My 1st grader brought home math homework yesterday. I should have scanned it and posted it here, too. The wording they use for teaching math is different from the way I learned it. I was stumped on a few things. I also don't want my kid thinking I'm stupid! I meant to ask DH what he thought but forgot. Will be curious to see how his teacher graded it!

[maestramommy]

:hysterical: on the latest assignment!

[JustMe]

Well, I would have been confused, voted for choice A, and gotten it wrong. I think what I would do in the future is just take as good of a guess as to what I thought the instructions said, write a short note to the teacher explaining what was confusing to me and apologizing if dc did not do what was expected, and not worry about it anymore.

[justlearning]

How sad is it that reading this update just made me feel good about myself because I voted for choice B?! I've been a SAHM too long--now I'll take any form of positive feedback that I can get, even if it's for my performance on a K assignment! :)

[hellokitty]

Crap, I'm 38, and I picked choice A.

[infomama]

yes! i picked B.....it's the little things sometimes ;)

[n2ou]

The mouse explains the goat - lol!

Here is the latest homework riddle at my house. Granted, it is third grade.

Today is January 8th. One week from now is

January ___


March ____

October _____

Okay? The first one is obvious. The other two? No further instructions.