Year 1 Booklist - calculator!
Jan 19th 2008, 12:03 pm
#1
BE Enthusiast
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 430
Year 1 Booklist - calculator!
OK - have finally managed to find my 5 year old son's Year 1 booklist and decided to start getting some of the things on the list. First thing was a $20 calculator! Now my son can't even add 5+3 in his head or write the number 9 the right way round - so the thought of him using a calculator is pretty scary. I have discussed with OH and we've decided not to buy it and hand a note to the teacher explaining why.
Have I done the right thing?
Galba
Have I done the right thing?
Galba
Jan 19th 2008, 1:46 pm
#2
Crazy Cat Lady
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 65,493
Re: Year 1 Booklist - calculator!
OK - have finally managed to find my 5 year old son's Year 1 booklist and decided to start getting some of the things on the list. First thing was a $20 calculator! Now my son can't even add 5+3 in his head or write the number 9 the right way round - so the thought of him using a calculator is pretty scary. I have discussed with OH and we've decided not to buy it and hand a note to the teacher explaining why.
Have I done the right thing?
Galba
Have I done the right thing?
Galba
Jan 19th 2008, 1:51 pm
#3
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 164
Re: Year 1 Booklist - calculator!
OK - have finally managed to find my 5 year old son's Year 1 booklist and decided to start getting some of the things on the list. First thing was a $20 calculator! Now my son can't even add 5+3 in his head or write the number 9 the right way round - so the thought of him using a calculator is pretty scary. I have discussed with OH and we've decided not to buy it and hand a note to the teacher explaining why.
Have I done the right thing?
Galba
Have I done the right thing?
Galba
Our 10 yo has a very long book list, and many of the items on it are still there at the end of the year. She didn't have a calculator until Year 3, but then didn't use it until year 4. Last year it was a CD-ROM she brought home completely untouched - I wouldn't be surprised if the thumb drive she's got on this year's list comes home the same way. 
r12p
Jan 19th 2008, 1:59 pm
#4
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Re: Year 1 Booklist - calculator!
I think so! Our 10 yo has a very long book list, and many of the items on it are still there at the end of the year. She didn't have a calculator until Year 3, but then didn't use it until year 4. Last year it was a CD-ROM she brought home completely untouched - I wouldn't be surprised if the thumb drive she's got on this year's list comes home the same way.
r12p
Our 10 yo has a very long book list, and many of the items on it are still there at the end of the year. She didn't have a calculator until Year 3, but then didn't use it until year 4. Last year it was a CD-ROM she brought home completely untouched - I wouldn't be surprised if the thumb drive she's got on this year's list comes home the same way. r12p
Also noticed that our school seems to charge a lot for things like glue ($3.30) while a friend at another school gets charged much less ($2.20) (both lists are from Woolridges sp?) I'm guessing that the P&C committees make some extra money from this.
Year 1 booklist was $151.00
Galba
Jan 19th 2008, 4:05 pm
#6
West is best!
Joined: Nov 2006
Location: Gold Coast
Posts: 450
Re: Year 1 Booklist - calculator!
Sorry to butt in here, are the booklists over and above the school fees?
thanks
ob
thanks
ob
Jan 19th 2008, 4:07 pm
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Location: Oz -> UK -> San Diego
Posts: 9,912
Jan 19th 2008, 5:04 pm
#8
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Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Posts: 363
Re: Year 1 Booklist - calculator!
Hi,
I'm a teacher in the UK and I know most schools here don't introduce calculators until Year 3. However, I if I were you I would have a quick chat with the teacher and see what they say. If they have planned a scheme of work around using calculators your child may just end up feeling a bit embarrassed if they don't have their own and have to either share with another child or borrow one from school. I know I wouldn't be the slightest bit annoyed if a parent asked me a question like the one you have! I would get slightly peeved though if a parent though they knew better than me and just didn't get one cos they though it wasn't necessary!!!
I'm a teacher in the UK and I know most schools here don't introduce calculators until Year 3. However, I if I were you I would have a quick chat with the teacher and see what they say. If they have planned a scheme of work around using calculators your child may just end up feeling a bit embarrassed if they don't have their own and have to either share with another child or borrow one from school. I know I wouldn't be the slightest bit annoyed if a parent asked me a question like the one you have! I would get slightly peeved though if a parent though they knew better than me and just didn't get one cos they though it wasn't necessary!!!
