Do primary school teachers still meke children do this at teh start of a new term

[queenofthemountain]

write about
'what I did in the holidays

[Sparklingbrook]

They did at First School (up to Year 4) not afterwards.

[mrz]

I've never asked pupils to write about what the did in the holidays in 20 years of teaching

[Sparklingbrook]

You are missing a trick then mrz. Year 4 were told to bring in postcards and tickets and a huge wall display was created detailing what they had all done.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Yep, my dd2 has got a holiday diary. I think it's because she's going back to the same teacher so it gives her something to look forward to showing her.

[2kidsintow]

Yes. I do. One year it wasn't my plan after one of the holidays, then I had a child actually asking me if they could do it (year 4) as they enjoyed it - and this was a child who didn't particularly enjoy writing at the best of times. So we did.

I've also done the postcard/writing etc beginning of the year display. I make sure I value writing about day trips/play 'dates' (hate that term!) as much as big expensive holidays though - after one parent accused me of being 'unprofessional' asking her child to write about their school holiday one year.

[lljkk]

Yes, I only know because Has been a surefire trigger tantrum for DS2 many times, at least through yr4. He can't remember anything he did and hates composition anyway. Instant panic & he can't handle pressure.

[mummytime]

It depends where you are, for some schools and children it would be horrible to do this.

My DC have never been asked to do this. It has limited value, much better to discuss places people have been when in naturally comes up in Geography etc.

[Sparklingbrook]

I would imagine lot of children love it, they get to write about the fun they had whether it was every day at the local park or in Barbados. My two always enjoyed it and we don't go to far flung places.

[Lally112]

The primary kids in our village school did it, but they've shit that down and all the kids are now going to a crap school in the next town where they probably wont. Its a shame because the kids liked it.

[mrz]

It's my pet hate Sparklingbrook. I can think of lots more exciting things to write about.
OK if your children get to go on holiday but not if they spent 6 weeks on the X Box

[DeWee]

We used to always do that. But we were always told to choose a day and describe it, perhaps to stop the big v little holiday. We often didn't go away and I never had a problem choosing a day. In fact I can remember discussing on the way to school on at least one occasion which day we were all going to choose.

My dc have sometimes done it. Isn't something any of them mind doing at all. In fact two of them would much rather that than an imaginative story.

[ipadquietly]

Not necessarily writing about it, but talking about it, yes, because I'm dead nosey! You ought to hear some of the shameless questions I've asked in the privacy of my own classroom !

[Breezy1985]

Ours does, I got to read ds's at parents evening, funnily enough I can't remember doing most things on his favourite day

[WhereHas1999DissappearedToo]

Yes DD did it all the way through primary, though mostly they go to write about what's the favourite thing they did in the holidays. She did it in year 9 too.

[SirChenjin]

Yes, DS2 has to this year. Not only that, we've had to send postcards from the holiday location so that they can talk about them in class, and take a photo of them reading in an unusual location which will be used to make a collage. I have had to bite my tongue - I think it's utterly pointless.

[Sparklingbrook]

I think it makes sense. When they return from 6 weeks off to ask them to recall and write about something fresh in their minds that they enjoyed. Not straight in with the ones where they are given the last paragraph and they have to write the rest or something.

[TheEnchantedForest]

It tend to do it just because it is a nice, simple task for the majority. A straightforward recount of an event (one thing-could be swimming, park, a meal...) and I ask them to consider their use of descriptive language and emotion.
it settles them back in to class and writing (some children won't have written for six weeks) without being too heavy.

[mammadiggingdeep]

At the school I work in we can't really do this. Sadly the kids really don't so anything, and I mean anything in the holidays...a sainsburys trip or playing in the estate. :( not the most inspiring material for our little writers. If the children are doing lots, I think a diary is a nice idea- my niece did one last summer and really enjoyed it.

[Grittzio]

My DD has one to do, so far she has written a page and drawn a picture, she doesn't want to do it, it's the holidays, she reads to me every day and I still read to her, she (I) has a project to do, we've done nothing yet! What we have done is had fun days out, she has played with friends, she has done independent writing of her own accord when she is playing teachers or leaves me little notes round the house. We haven't had time to get stressed about recording it all. Even today it's raining and I'm thinking let's just have an easy day, if I suggest the diary let the battle commence!

[wingcommandergallic]

I remember having to write a diary of my weekend every Monday morning at primary school.

Fecking hated it.

[pissedglitter]

I HATED this at school
I never had a holiday until I was 17 and even that was a weekend in Oban with my boyfriend
I have tried to make sure my kids have had at least 1 long weekend away every year to make sure they had a holiday

My holiday report was 'I played with my friends'

[AppleAndMelon]

ipadquietly sorry, but as a parent that is really horrible to read and a bit unpleasant.

[SirChenjin]

pissed - see, that is why I hate this. Nothing like the school holiday diary to remind kids of where they stand . It's totally unnecessary, unimaginative and humiliating for the children whose parents weren't able to afford a holiday. I really thought schools and teachers had moved forward, but sadly not.

[Sparklingbrook]

Once they get to secondary their friends holidays will be plastered all over FB so no escaping what everyone did on their holidays then.

[Nerf]

What are you worried about OP?
Anything you'd rather wasn't reported?