Textbooks in The Class

[Concerned Mom]

Does your student have his/her own textbook for each subject (Reading, Math, Vocabulary, English, Science, and Social Studies)?

There isn't a Reading textbook in my son's class, no vocabulary book, the mathbook is shared among 40 students (when one homeroom is in reading, the other homeroom is in math class), Science book is shared among 40 students as well as the Social Studies book which is barely used. There isn't an English textbook. English is something that is not worked on as often, neither is phonics. I just have to get my son back in private school for 5th grade.

[Caroline]

My fourth grade son has his own math, grammar and vocabulary consumable books. I am sure I was billed for them at the beginning of the year.

They don't have a reading textbook or social studies or science. For social studies, they use a variety of sources--original documents, biographies, narratives, etc. In science, they do a lot of hands on research including weather diaries after they made their own weather stations, physics experiments, simple machine building and testing, nature walks and journals, and animal observations. For reading, they read a variety of books based on their reading level. Some of the reading is done in groups with group discussion, and some is just on their own.

I am confused--40 students use a single book? How does that work?

[Renee in FL]

My 12 yo ds has a textbook for each class besides reading (they don't have a taxtbook) and there is a class set for each room, too. That way he can keep his at home and not have to lug them back and forth. My other three have their own books when there is a text - they are in 1st and 3rd.

[Heigh Ho]

Does your student have his/her own textbook for each subject (Reading, Math, Vocabulary, English, Science, and Social Studies)?

There isn't a Reading textbook in my son's class, no vocabulary book, the mathbook is shared among 40 students (when one homeroom is in reading, the other homeroom is in math class), Science book is shared among 40 students as well as the Social Studies book which is barely used. There isn't an English textbook. English is something that is not worked on as often, neither is phonics. I just have to get my son back in private school for 5th grade.

Class sets are used in K-12. Most elementary teachers will issue the math book and a LA workbook, but the rest just sit on a shelf and will be used occasionally as part of the instructional material. Nothing is brought home unless the child is ill; sufficient time is given in class to learn the mat'l.

In 6-12, textbooks are sent home for reference and for the occasional reading or hw assignment.

The oddest thing I noticed, not being from the east coast, is that no classrooms in elementary have dictionaries. Bizarre.

[Pat in MI]

Nope, my son is in a ps charter school 9th grade and they do not use books at all. Only in English when they read a particular novel do they have books for everyone. The other classes have to make copies of the text. My son likes it because it makes his back pack lighter, but I would rather see a text book.
Blessings,
Pat

[AmyinMD]

My 7th grader only has 2 textbooks- math and history. They both stay at home because there are books for the classroom as well. Dd has barely cracked either one though. The history class has no homework and the math class mainly uses worksheets.

[Concerned Mom]

My fourth grade son has his own math, grammar and vocabulary consumable books. I am sure I was billed for them at the beginning of the year.

They don't have a reading textbook or social studies or science. For social studies, they use a variety of sources--original documents, biographies, narratives, etc. In science, they do a lot of hands on research including weather diaries after they made their own weather stations, physics experiments, simple machine building and testing, nature walks and journals, and animal observations. For reading, they read a variety of books based on their reading level. Some of the reading is done in groups with group discussion, and some is just on their own.

I am confused--40 students use a single book? How does that work?

The teachers teach in teams of 2 at my son's public school. One teacher teaches Reading and Social Studies. The other teacher teaches Math and Science. Students in both homerooms have Reading and Social Studies or Math and Science at different times.

[Jeannie in NJ]

my son is in special ed.(7th grade) except for history and science (this is his first year to be mainstreamed in any classes). He has history and science books that he has homework assignments in every night. He is only in those classes 30 min. each day. the rest of his day is 2 1/2 hours lang. arts, 1 hour math and the rest p.e. and specials (art, music, computer, etc.). In his speciall ed. classes (math and lang. arts, he does not have a textbook, he brings home worksheets to do every night).

my dd was in public school last year for 9th grade (she is back homeschooling this year) and she had textbooks in every class except for Spanish which she brought home worksheets every night. she said they did not have spanish textbooks at school either.