Topic : School Issues
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September 19, 2008, 1:33 pm PDT
 Quote From: profmaryann Hi, Becky!
Yup, we just got the barest of brushings from Ike. As far as I know, there's nothing more out there that need concern us -- yet. Truth is, though, most years we may make it to K or L and that's about it. Oh-five was realy the outlier, what with having to resort to the Greek alphabet after Wilma!
We are about to see how serious Miss Anne is about doing more than "showing up" for class. I'm disappointed with her performance in math so far, although there have been no *major* tests yet, just 2 quizzes. The proof of the pudding will be today's science test and tomorrow's geography test -- it concerns me that she doesn't get the concept of READING the chapter as a way of learning the material. She has gotten used to her teachers "spoon-feeding" every bit of info they ned for the test, even to (in math class) the teacher giving them a "practice test" that is simply a different version of the one they will get the next day.
Unfortunately for me, though, she has discovered BOYS in a BIG way this fall. I have already gotten on her about clothes that are borderline dress-code violations; however, I don't have a whole lot of leverage when the school's enforcement of its' own policies seems to be something of a farce.
Jack is now 3 1/2. I started the potty training (daytime) in earnest just less than a year ago. We went through WEEKS of wet pants and nasty carpets. Anne was in daycare too when she was that age, and there was no choice --- you HAD to provide the pull-ups. It made consistency almost impossible. Nighttime training is on the horizon, once the adults are over this cold that has left me with the voice of Suzanne Pleshette.
The cold, that has hit all 4 of us, is merely the latest in the series of "crises du jour" over the last few weeks. Before the colds, it was the $1500 repair bill on the 8-y/o van (that I'm NOT ready to trade in yet; we were discussing unloading Hubs' 10-y/o sedan), the dead computer and procuring its replacement, the head lice from camp...you get the idea.
Good luck with the 504 for Scott. Did he & Matthew ever negotiate Mount Dirty Sweat Socks?
*Still* no externship for John?!? Hopefully, he finds a paying one, and FAST!
Better get a grocery list drawn up -- what was *not* afected by the colds were peoples' appetites!
Later!
Prof And STILL no externship for John yet...one restaurant said that they "couldn't afford" to take on another person at this time...but it is OPTIONAL for the restaurant to pay him while he is there...he would really like to find a paid externship, but at this late date, he had better take what he can get!! A couple of the restaurants told him to come by in person when he gets to town...that's hopeful...but he SHOULD have a few waiting in the wings...if he lands an unpaid externship, he can get a paying job in addition to that. He needs to pay for his own gas to get back and forth...no busses out our way...too far from town...
Scott has been claiming "no English homework" again...except for the paper that was due Tuesday, and the poem due today...I'll find out soon enough if he has been telling the truth. The teacher says that he is doing a great job on the in-class work...In 10th grade, they combine English and American History in one class...their essays are centered around the history lessons, with some creative writing added in. The teacher does a great job with being creative with their assignments, to keep it interesting for them...no spoon-feeding the information...the spoon-fed method gets real old real fast for the kids...and boring.
Mount Dirty Sweat Socks is still there...Scott pulled out some socks and underwear for a white load last night...and then, he forgot to put it in the dryer...so he still had nothing this morning...they did get dry in time for Matthew though...after I made Scott put the clothes in the dryer when he got up...I told him before bed to make sure that the load got into the dryer...didn't happen...too bad for him...but I don't want to be in the room when he takes his shoes off!! They WILL be sorting laundry this afternoon...no playing, no computer, no TV until it's done, and a load is in the washer!! And the playing, TV and computer will stop for folding and putting away as each load is finished...
UGGG!! Head lice...we have been fortunate so far in that department...I don't suppose they do lice checks at camp!!...at the elementary school, where the lice seem to be more common, they do lice checks, and they will send a child home if lice are discovered...and they must pass a lice check before being allowed to come back...I feel sorry for the girls with really long hair...the parents need to comb out the nits, as well as using the prescription shampoo...and I heard recently on the news that lice are becoming resistant to those shampoo treatments...scarey!! I haven't heard about any lice checks on the older kids...
Scott has come down with a fall cold...and we hope it stops with him...time to get out the hand sanitizer, and use the sani-cycle on the dishwasher...hubby gets really sick when he gets a cold...usually ends up with pneumonia...he is diabetic, so he doesn't need any viruses...he takes lysine, and when he is exposed to a cold, he takes echinacia for a couple of weeks...it seems to prevent, or at least reduce the severity of a cold...
I'm so glad that our potty training days are done...our boys learned pretty quickly, once they decided that it was time (around 3 1/2)...and the nighttime training just happened naturally, after they were day trained...it was helpful to cut off any drinks an hour before bed...Grandma thought is was deplorable that we waited so long to train them...but it was really none of her business...kids will learn things in their own time...and to force the issue just makes them more resistant and defiant at that age. Salty foods, prunes, and lots of drinks during the day were helpful in the beginning...more opportunities to take them to the toilet...and yup...been there with the messy carpets...we kept the Bissell handy...
Been there with the expensive car repairs too...we had $1500 in repairs on our 1993 sedan back in 2006...that is John's car now...we gave it to him in good repair...but he had to have a $700 brake job back in January...probably because my brother's house, where is is living, is on a steep hill...have to gear it down to preserve the brakes...we GAVE him the car, free and clear, so he is responsible for any reapirs to it...we are still paying the insurance, as long as he is in school...then, he will have to get his own policy...and probabaly pay a lot for it...being male and under 25...I don't know if good grades count anymore after they are out of school...probably not...but there is a non-smoker and good-driving discount...he will also have to get his own cell phone plan when he is out of school...and his student loans...time to take responsibility for his own expenses...we will let him live at home, as long as he pays rent (after he graduates)...and, as I've mentioned before, the rent will go into a savings account for him to save up to move out on his own (and we'll probably calculate the rent to be equal to rent plus utilities and incidental expenses, so he'll be used to that level of expenses in his budget...no wild shopping sprees)...but with ADHD, his maturity level is a few years behind, so we're not really in a hurry to have him on his own...we'll see how responsible he is when he comes back home...and when he graduates, he will no longer be eligible to stay on our medical insurance...unless he decides to go for that business degree at the local community college (the smart thing to do...but...)
I hope Anne did well on her tests...that will show whether she has been studying and paying attention in class...and math...I don't know how the teachers could make it more interesting for the kids...just this year, Scott has finally been showing his work...required by the teacher...I've been after him to use scratch paper for years to write down the steps...but he has always done it in his head...and successfully...but by doing it in his head, I think he wasn't really clear on the individual steps involved...until the teacher this year made him show his work...the teachers all say he is gifted in math...but his past grades never showed it...I think that the repetiveness of the homework was extremely boring for him (not that it should be an excuse)...One thing that previous teachers have done with the math is to have worksheets, where the answers represented letters of the alphabet, and by doing the problem and getting the correct answer, they would fill the letters in the blanks to come up with the answer to a word puzzle...that made it a little more bearable for Scott...this year, he seems to be more responsible in the math department...bringing home work most days...but the English class...I'll be checking the grade website later today...
Well...around here, all of the guys have healthy appetites...the budget is tight this month...due to the high cell phone from John, plus hubby broke his glasses...the glasses store was kind enough just to order a replacement part, instead of having to replace the whole frame...and these were supposed to be non-breakable frames, made from "memory metal"...must have been when he took his fall last month... home landscaping injury, where he landed face-first into a tree (don't remember if I mentioned that one...his knee took the worst of it...severe bone bruising...but not broken...fortunately)...plus, we have to pay the co-pay for hubby's new insulin pump (the old one gave out...just past the 5-year warranty, of course)...and our usual high prescription bills...it never ends...just when we think we're getting ahead, something else comes up!!
Next month, the boys will be working hard selling Boy Scout popcorn...a great fund-raiser for summer camp and other activities, plus some of their hiking and camping equipment...I hope that all of the boys in the troop work hard...hubby is the Scoutmaster, and I am the Webelos leader for the Cub Scout pack...plus I am Committee Chair for the troop...Scott is in the Boy Scout troop, and Matthew is in Webelos, and he will graduate to the troop in June, 2009...he is working on his Arrow of Light...the highest award a Cub Scout can get...
Well...gotta get to the shopping list...have to make up a menu first...probably will involve a lot of hot dogs this shopping day...and multiple-day meals like stew and spaghetti...have to go easy on the food budget due to the other expenses...and the cost of gasoline!!
Becky
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September 22, 2008, 10:11 am PDT
Quote From: mustbecrazy And STILL no externship for John yet...one restaurant said that they "couldn't afford" to take on another person at this time...but it is OPTIONAL for the restaurant to pay him while he is there...he would really like to find a paid externship, but at this late date, he had better take what he can get!! A couple of the restaurants told him to come by in person when he gets to town...that's hopeful...but he SHOULD have a few waiting in the wings...if he lands an unpaid externship, he can get a paying job in addition to that. He needs to pay for his own gas to get back and forth...no busses out our way...too far from town...
Scott has been claiming "no English homework" again...except for the paper that was due Tuesday, and the poem due today...I'll find out soon enough if he has been telling the truth. The teacher says that he is doing a great job on the in-class work...In 10th grade, they combine English and American History in one class...their essays are centered around the history lessons, with some creative writing added in. The teacher does a great job with being creative with their assignments, to keep it interesting for them...no spoon-feeding the information...the spoon-fed method gets real old real fast for the kids...and boring.
Mount Dirty Sweat Socks is still there...Scott pulled out some socks and underwear for a white load last night...and then, he forgot to put it in the dryer...so he still had nothing this morning...they did get dry in time for Matthew though...after I made Scott put the clothes in the dryer when he got up...I told him before bed to make sure that the load got into the dryer...didn't happen...too bad for him...but I don't want to be in the room when he takes his shoes off!! They WILL be sorting laundry this afternoon...no playing, no computer, no TV until it's done, and a load is in the washer!! And the playing, TV and computer will stop for folding and putting away as each load is finished...
UGGG!! Head lice...we have been fortunate so far in that department...I don't suppose they do lice checks at camp!!...at the elementary school, where the lice seem to be more common, they do lice checks, and they will send a child home if lice are discovered...and they must pass a lice check before being allowed to come back...I feel sorry for the girls with really long hair...the parents need to comb out the nits, as well as using the prescription shampoo...and I heard recently on the news that lice are becoming resistant to those shampoo treatments...scarey!! I haven't heard about any lice checks on the older kids...
Scott has come down with a fall cold...and we hope it stops with him...time to get out the hand sanitizer, and use the sani-cycle on the dishwasher...hubby gets really sick when he gets a cold...usually ends up with pneumonia...he is diabetic, so he doesn't need any viruses...he takes lysine, and when he is exposed to a cold, he takes echinacia for a couple of weeks...it seems to prevent, or at least reduce the severity of a cold...
I'm so glad that our potty training days are done...our boys learned pretty quickly, once they decided that it was time (around 3 1/2)...and the nighttime training just happened naturally, after they were day trained...it was helpful to cut off any drinks an hour before bed...Grandma thought is was deplorable that we waited so long to train them...but it was really none of her business...kids will learn things in their own time...and to force the issue just makes them more resistant and defiant at that age. Salty foods, prunes, and lots of drinks during the day were helpful in the beginning...more opportunities to take them to the toilet...and yup...been there with the messy carpets...we kept the Bissell handy...
Been there with the expensive car repairs too...we had $1500 in repairs on our 1993 sedan back in 2006...that is John's car now...we gave it to him in good repair...but he had to have a $700 brake job back in January...probably because my brother's house, where is is living, is on a steep hill...have to gear it down to preserve the brakes...we GAVE him the car, free and clear, so he is responsible for any reapirs to it...we are still paying the insurance, as long as he is in school...then, he will have to get his own policy...and probabaly pay a lot for it...being male and under 25...I don't know if good grades count anymore after they are out of school...probably not...but there is a non-smoker and good-driving discount...he will also have to get his own cell phone plan when he is out of school...and his student loans...time to take responsibility for his own expenses...we will let him live at home, as long as he pays rent (after he graduates)...and, as I've mentioned before, the rent will go into a savings account for him to save up to move out on his own (and we'll probably calculate the rent to be equal to rent plus utilities and incidental expenses, so he'll be used to that level of expenses in his budget...no wild shopping sprees)...but with ADHD, his maturity level is a few years behind, so we're not really in a hurry to have him on his own...we'll see how responsible he is when he comes back home...and when he graduates, he will no longer be eligible to stay on our medical insurance...unless he decides to go for that business degree at the local community college (the smart thing to do...but...)
I hope Anne did well on her tests...that will show whether she has been studying and paying attention in class...and math...I don't know how the teachers could make it more interesting for the kids...just this year, Scott has finally been showing his work...required by the teacher...I've been after him to use scratch paper for years to write down the steps...but he has always done it in his head...and successfully...but by doing it in his head, I think he wasn't really clear on the individual steps involved...until the teacher this year made him show his work...the teachers all say he is gifted in math...but his past grades never showed it...I think that the repetiveness of the homework was extremely boring for him (not that it should be an excuse)...One thing that previous teachers have done with the math is to have worksheets, where the answers represented letters of the alphabet, and by doing the problem and getting the correct answer, they would fill the letters in the blanks to come up with the answer to a word puzzle...that made it a little more bearable for Scott...this year, he seems to be more responsible in the math department...bringing home work most days...but the English class...I'll be checking the grade website later today...
Well...around here, all of the guys have healthy appetites...the budget is tight this month...due to the high cell phone from John, plus hubby broke his glasses...the glasses store was kind enough just to order a replacement part, instead of having to replace the whole frame...and these were supposed to be non-breakable frames, made from "memory metal"...must have been when he took his fall last month... home landscaping injury, where he landed face-first into a tree (don't remember if I mentioned that one...his knee took the worst of it...severe bone bruising...but not broken...fortunately)...plus, we have to pay the co-pay for hubby's new insulin pump (the old one gave out...just past the 5-year warranty, of course)...and our usual high prescription bills...it never ends...just when we think we're getting ahead, something else comes up!!
Next month, the boys will be working hard selling Boy Scout popcorn...a great fund-raiser for summer camp and other activities, plus some of their hiking and camping equipment...I hope that all of the boys in the troop work hard...hubby is the Scoutmaster, and I am the Webelos leader for the Cub Scout pack...plus I am Committee Chair for the troop...Scott is in the Boy Scout troop, and Matthew is in Webelos, and he will graduate to the troop in June, 2009...he is working on his Arrow of Light...the highest award a Cub Scout can get...
Well...gotta get to the shopping list...have to make up a menu first...probably will involve a lot of hot dogs this shopping day...and multiple-day meals like stew and spaghetti...have to go easy on the food budget due to the other expenses...and the cost of gasoline!!
Becky
Never rains but it pours, huh? Sigh.
Fortunately (I guess), I caught the lice *before* school started & could start the treatment. Camp is the best guess as to where she got them. Luckily, her dirty laundry never made it upstairs -- it took the direct path to the downstairs laundry room. It still took two treatments and some careful combing to rid her of the infestation completely.
My glasses are way overdue for a new prescription, as I got confirmed this AM. These frames have about had it -- they haven't sat on my face right in some time -- so I'm looking at some $ this go-round. That "memory metal" is something of a joke.
No, you hadn't mentioned the knee. So far, Hubs has escaped the worst of those sorts of injuries; the most recent was a set of wasp (??) stings collected last week while he was trimming some dead palmetto branches.
I need to stick an additional hamper in the kids' bath so they can do their own front-end sorting. Miss Anne is old enough to do that much. Right now, I think I've just succeeded in the struggle to get her to deposit the dirties in the hamper in a timely manner, rather than leaving the pile to grow on her bedroom floor.
Interims come out tomorrow -- stay tuned.
Prof |
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September 23, 2008, 2:42 pm PDT
Well, the interim report came out today. She got "S"s in some classes; some teachers opted to report an actual GRADE -- As & Bs, although technically she has a C+ in math as of right now. She knows what she needs to do to bring that one up, and it *is* do-able.
Later!
Prof |
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September 25, 2008, 10:04 am PDT
Quote From: profmaryann Well, the interim report came out today. She got "S"s in some classes; some teachers opted to report an actual GRADE -- As & Bs, although technically she has a C+ in math as of right now. She knows what she needs to do to bring that one up, and it *is* do-able.
Later!
Prof I checked the grades website...Scott is missing several assignments...in biology he has a D+...the others are OK, but if he keeps missing assignments, they are going to slide too...the 10th grade teachers don't accept late assignments...which means that Scott simply "gets out of doing them"...not sure what to do about that...except to try to intercept before the assignments are due...we're still trying to get him to fill out his planner properly...
Matthew's WASL results for 4th grade arrived...he did very well in writing...in the reading section, he scored 100%...in math, he scored very high...he was one of the few who passed the writing portion...
Scott will have his 10th grade WASL in the spring...and this is the BIG one...he needs to pass all sections in order to graduate...they have three trys if they need it...after that, we have to pay for additional attempts...
I've been extremely busy with Scouts...popcorn sale time...and with the high school band...their silent auction is coming up in November...I'm making a list of businesses for each student...they are to go to the businesses and ask for a donated item or gift certificate to put into the auction...it's a great way to raise funds for their spring trip to San Francisco...
gotta get busy on the lists...Becky |
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October 2, 2008, 1:34 am PDT
Here it is past 1 AM, and Scott is still working on a power point that is due in a few hours...mind you, he's had a week, and I've sent him to the computer to do it multiple times over that week...and he played around...he has a few slides done tonight...it is for biology...on what distinguishes humans from animals...I told him to get the titles down for the rest of the slides, and then do the pictures...he is using a little camera that attaches to the computer...but I don't really want to be up all night...I have things to do tomorrow...or I mean today...I really want to go to bed, but if I do, he'll be up all night........I should just make him stop and turn it in the way it is...not finished...on the other hand, I want him to pass the class....
I am not going to babysit him anymore...he will have to do his work or fail....he's in 10th grade, and it is high time for him to get responsible...he might be in high school all the way through 14th grade if he doesn't figure out how to get in gear.....I think it's the fatigue and frustration talking here....
The psych doc for the ADHD is running a bunch of lab tests on Scott...hormone levels, thyroid level, vitimin and mineral levels, liver enzymes, lipid profile, histamine level...a bunch of body chemistry tests...because the body's chemistry plays a lot into how well a person can concentrate and perform daily tasks, and how tired or energetic a person is...and how focused (or not) they are on their work...interesting to me...I wonder why his original psych doc didn't run these tests...that guy was dead set against the boys having sleep studies...even though almost half of the cases of ADHD can be linked to a sleep disorder...imagine that...body chemistry and sleep affect behavior...who-da-thunk-it?? I wish that insurance companies would catch up with that line of thinking..."mental health" issues are really more about body and brain chemistry...which is a HEALTH issue...not a behavior problem!! We could do with more testing in the beginning, and less Ritalin and Adderall in our lives.......obviously treating the symptoms without getting to the root causes is just a bandaid...and a bad one at that.......
Culinary Kid John sees the same doc on Friday...and she will be running the same tests on him....he has ADHD and Narcolepsy...and the whole "gay or not gay" issue....the psych doc said that it is normal for some boys to be confused about that...usually around 14 or 15, but ADHD causes some emotional and social developmental delays, so age 19 is not abnormal for this issue to show itself...I just hope that she can convince him that maybe he could have been influenced by this online friend due to lonliness (from being away from home and in a big city not knowing anybody his own age)...and that not being attracted to the one girlfriend that he ever had doesn't mean a thing...maybe she just wasn't "the one"....he's still young...there is no need to rush into rash decisions...there are many things that affect that aspect...thyroid levels, other hormone levels, vitamin levels, mineral levels.....so the psych doc will be filling up a lab slip...and about 12 vials of blood will be taken for the tests...better come prepared with the OJ for after the blood draw...
Culinary John will be going out tomorrow afternoon to make personal appearances at the restaurants at which he would like to do his externship. There is one in particular that he would like to work at....they do catering, as well as running a small cafe...but a majority of their business is catering...he went out today, but found out that a lot of the restaurants don't open until 4 PM...surprising...I thought most of them were open for lunch.....anyway, instead of waiting another hour for them to open, he came home instead.....so he will go out again tomorrow...and hopefully, he will be able to meet with the right people and land a position somewhere...if it ends up being an unpaid position, he will have to find himself a part-time job...maybe being a server or busser at a restaurant...then, he can get tips, on top of his regular pay...
I am falling asleep as I type...Scott had better hurry up...I'm ready for bed...I may just go there, and leave him to his own...he made the choice to play around earlier, instead of working like he was supposed to...
Good night...I'll let you know how the presentation goes...Becky |
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October 2, 2008, 8:33 am PDT
Quote From: mustbecrazy Here it is past 1 AM, and Scott is still working on a power point that is due in a few hours...mind you, he's had a week, and I've sent him to the computer to do it multiple times over that week...and he played around...he has a few slides done tonight...it is for biology...on what distinguishes humans from animals...I told him to get the titles down for the rest of the slides, and then do the pictures...he is using a little camera that attaches to the computer...but I don't really want to be up all night...I have things to do tomorrow...or I mean today...I really want to go to bed, but if I do, he'll be up all night........I should just make him stop and turn it in the way it is...not finished...on the other hand, I want him to pass the class....
I am not going to babysit him anymore...he will have to do his work or fail....he's in 10th grade, and it is high time for him to get responsible...he might be in high school all the way through 14th grade if he doesn't figure out how to get in gear.....I think it's the fatigue and frustration talking here....
The psych doc for the ADHD is running a bunch of lab tests on Scott...hormone levels, thyroid level, vitimin and mineral levels, liver enzymes, lipid profile, histamine level...a bunch of body chemistry tests...because the body's chemistry plays a lot into how well a person can concentrate and perform daily tasks, and how tired or energetic a person is...and how focused (or not) they are on their work...interesting to me...I wonder why his original psych doc didn't run these tests...that guy was dead set against the boys having sleep studies...even though almost half of the cases of ADHD can be linked to a sleep disorder...imagine that...body chemistry and sleep affect behavior...who-da-thunk-it?? I wish that insurance companies would catch up with that line of thinking..."mental health" issues are really more about body and brain chemistry...which is a HEALTH issue...not a behavior problem!! We could do with more testing in the beginning, and less Ritalin and Adderall in our lives.......obviously treating the symptoms without getting to the root causes is just a bandaid...and a bad one at that.......
Culinary Kid John sees the same doc on Friday...and she will be running the same tests on him....he has ADHD and Narcolepsy...and the whole "gay or not gay" issue....the psych doc said that it is normal for some boys to be confused about that...usually around 14 or 15, but ADHD causes some emotional and social developmental delays, so age 19 is not abnormal for this issue to show itself...I just hope that she can convince him that maybe he could have been influenced by this online friend due to lonliness (from being away from home and in a big city not knowing anybody his own age)...and that not being attracted to the one girlfriend that he ever had doesn't mean a thing...maybe she just wasn't "the one"....he's still young...there is no need to rush into rash decisions...there are many things that affect that aspect...thyroid levels, other hormone levels, vitamin levels, mineral levels.....so the psych doc will be filling up a lab slip...and about 12 vials of blood will be taken for the tests...better come prepared with the OJ for after the blood draw...
Culinary John will be going out tomorrow afternoon to make personal appearances at the restaurants at which he would like to do his externship. There is one in particular that he would like to work at....they do catering, as well as running a small cafe...but a majority of their business is catering...he went out today, but found out that a lot of the restaurants don't open until 4 PM...surprising...I thought most of them were open for lunch.....anyway, instead of waiting another hour for them to open, he came home instead.....so he will go out again tomorrow...and hopefully, he will be able to meet with the right people and land a position somewhere...if it ends up being an unpaid position, he will have to find himself a part-time job...maybe being a server or busser at a restaurant...then, he can get tips, on top of his regular pay...
I am falling asleep as I type...Scott had better hurry up...I'm ready for bed...I may just go there, and leave him to his own...he made the choice to play around earlier, instead of working like he was supposed to...
Good night...I'll let you know how the presentation goes...Becky Morning, Becky! Did you head to bed right after you posted? Hope so. Hope your sleep deprivation isn't affecting you *too* bad.
In your sitch, you are walking a *very* fine line between "babysitting" and "not providing enough 'support' ". Sigh. I do not envy you.
I had to pull the reins in on Miss Anne a bit after she pulled the "Oops, I forgot about that assignment" trick (either after her fave prime-time show is over, or, worse, the next morning!) three times in a 2-week period -- As I pointed out, she seems to be quite able to remember when "90210" is on! Through today, we're back to the HW being done in my view, and no electronics or phone until it is completed. She will be watching the VP debate tonight as part of her Social Studies (I think it's for extra credit) assignment, so she gets that "waiver".
"We could do with more testing in the beginning, and less Ritalin and Adderall in our lives.......obviously treating the symptoms without getting to the root causes is just a bandaid...and a bad one at that......."
Been there, done that! In Anne's case, the explanation wasn't even as esoteric as body chemistry! Mom pregnant, Dad in the midst of a whirlwind courtship & subsequent marriage -- think that might affect an 8-y/o's psyche (and behavior) a little bit??? Some fairly routine psychological testing uncovered the anxiety issues.
ITA that finding out the root causes of the attention/focus issues is MUCH better in the long run than pushing meds that either don't work at all or simply mask the problem. I imagine, though, that the research into the attention issues that have been lumped under the umbrella of "ADHD" has progressed considerably from what it was even five years ago. It seems to me that the sleep link to "ADHD" symptoms was only really put forth about 3-4 years ago, for instance. Dunno what may be the current thinking about various aspects of body chemistry's effects on those symptoms.
Good luck with both boys' testing -- it will be interesting to see what it uncovers.
Hope the Culinary Kid gets an externship pronto!
Later!
Prof
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October 3, 2008, 9:30 am PDT
Quote From: profmaryann Morning, Becky! Did you head to bed right after you posted? Hope so. Hope your sleep deprivation isn't affecting you *too* bad.
In your sitch, you are walking a *very* fine line between "babysitting" and "not providing enough 'support' ". Sigh. I do not envy you.
I had to pull the reins in on Miss Anne a bit after she pulled the "Oops, I forgot about that assignment" trick (either after her fave prime-time show is over, or, worse, the next morning!) three times in a 2-week period -- As I pointed out, she seems to be quite able to remember when "90210" is on! Through today, we're back to the HW being done in my view, and no electronics or phone until it is completed. She will be watching the VP debate tonight as part of her Social Studies (I think it's for extra credit) assignment, so she gets that "waiver".
"We could do with more testing in the beginning, and less Ritalin and Adderall in our lives.......obviously treating the symptoms without getting to the root causes is just a bandaid...and a bad one at that......."
Been there, done that! In Anne's case, the explanation wasn't even as esoteric as body chemistry! Mom pregnant, Dad in the midst of a whirlwind courtship & subsequent marriage -- think that might affect an 8-y/o's psyche (and behavior) a little bit??? Some fairly routine psychological testing uncovered the anxiety issues.
ITA that finding out the root causes of the attention/focus issues is MUCH better in the long run than pushing meds that either don't work at all or simply mask the problem. I imagine, though, that the research into the attention issues that have been lumped under the umbrella of "ADHD" has progressed considerably from what it was even five years ago. It seems to me that the sleep link to "ADHD" symptoms was only really put forth about 3-4 years ago, for instance. Dunno what may be the current thinking about various aspects of body chemistry's effects on those symptoms.
Good luck with both boys' testing -- it will be interesting to see what it uncovers.
Hope the Culinary Kid gets an externship pronto!
Later!
Prof
I finally got to bed at 3 AM...made Scott go to bed too...not finished...he got an extension, with a 10% reduction in his grade...I left him to his own on the computer last night after band practice...he actually managed to get it finished before bed time...he COULD have finished it the night before, if only he wouldn't have been playing around so much....it's a shame that an A project will only end up with a B....it is a really good power point presentation...plus, he had to show it to the teacher this morning before school...so he won't even have the chance to present it to the class...and it is a pretty funny and entertaining presentation too...the class would have enjoyed it...and probably gained some more respect for Scott for his effort...
Culinary John interviewed yesterday at one of the local fine restaurants...his first choice said NO because they aren't into their busy season yet...but at the other restaurant, one of the kitchen staff didn't show up to work yesterday...the boss was to call him yesterday to see what's up...so John may have a chance at a PAYING job which will give him his externship credits...fingers crossed and praying...if the other guy turns out to be unreliable, John may get the job...he will find out later today...I told John to offer to work for free if the paid position isn't available...this will give him a chance at a job there in the future if one opens up...in the mean time, he needs to be putting in more applications at other places...He applied at Outback Steakhouse...and he will be going in next Wednesday during open interviews at Olive Garden, if this pending restaurant doesn't work out...If he gets the job, he will start as Pantry Chef and work his way up, as the head chef feels he is ready...
Hubby is stressed with having to work a lot of overtime at work...good for the paycheck though...and we certainly could use the extra money...with the huge cell phone bill, and multiple high medical expenses that are all coming at once...have to make financial arrangements, so we can pay everybody something...we would like to get on top of things for once...but winning the lottery is highly unlikely, so we'll just have to budget, just like everybody else...
Tommorrow, I will be going to the marching band festival with Scott in Pasco...Hubby will be selling Boy Scout popcorn with Matthew...John will be cleaning the playroom, so we have a place to put the storage items that are currently in his room...and he needs to clean up the mess in his room that he left last year...I just decided that I would leave it for him to deal with when he came home...huge mess of trash and candy wrappers on the floor...I filled a couple of trash bags and gave up...to make matters worse, the cat got up on one of the shelves and brought both shelves down, contents flying everywhere...with some broken items...hubby will put a different shelf bracket system up there before the shelves are put back...something more cat-proof...
I can't remember if I mentioned that one of our dear kitties died suddenly last Friday...she was fine...jumped up on the bed to be scratched, and did her usual morning drink from the bathroom faucet (spoiled), and then a little while later, I found her dead on the bedroom floor...body still warm, but clearly dead...the kids were very upset, as was I and hubby...Matthew stayed home from school that day...he already had a sore throat, and this just tipped the scale for staying home....Scott was late for jazz band...but the band teacher understood...then, the very next day, Matthew and his friends found a stray kitten...we took her in...temporarily...but I think she gets to stay...but we have the expense in a couple of months for spaying and front declaw...and three sets of kitten shots...all very costly...the kids are willing to give up their allowances to save up to pay for it...she is awfully cute...for now, she is nameless..."She who must not be named"....we are throwing lots of names around...Ginny...Hermione...Peggy Sue...Mary Lou...Tituba (Scott's idea...but what would her nick name be?? Titty or Tuba?)....Haily (like the comet)...maybe we should all write our suggestions on a little scraps of paper and throw them all into the air...whichever one she pounces on first will be her name....we really hadn't planned on another kitty right now....
and the 18 year old cat still hangs on...he is happy, but having chronic respiratory problems...at this point, we don't want to spend a lot at the vet...the vet wants to run a bunch of blood tests for liver function, etc...but we don't see the point...he's getting old, and nothing will stop that.....but we hadn't expected two younger cats to go before him...we lost another dear kitty a year and a half ago....with the latest one, we don't really know how old she was...she was a pound kitty, and if they are healthy and have good teeth, they automatically call them 2 years old...so she could have been as old as 16 years...we had her for 6 years...We buried her under our ornamental pear tree...she will now become "part of the tree, and when the beautiful flowers are in bloom, and pretty fall colors, it will be her....
One reason we didn't plan on another kitty is the heartbreak when they die on us...
gotta go now...have a good day...
Becky |
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October 4, 2008, 11:04 am PDT
Quote From: mustbecrazy I finally got to bed at 3 AM...made Scott go to bed too...not finished...he got an extension, with a 10% reduction in his grade...I left him to his own on the computer last night after band practice...he actually managed to get it finished before bed time...he COULD have finished it the night before, if only he wouldn't have been playing around so much....it's a shame that an A project will only end up with a B....it is a really good power point presentation...plus, he had to show it to the teacher this morning before school...so he won't even have the chance to present it to the class...and it is a pretty funny and entertaining presentation too...the class would have enjoyed it...and probably gained some more respect for Scott for his effort...
Culinary John interviewed yesterday at one of the local fine restaurants...his first choice said NO because they aren't into their busy season yet...but at the other restaurant, one of the kitchen staff didn't show up to work yesterday...the boss was to call him yesterday to see what's up...so John may have a chance at a PAYING job which will give him his externship credits...fingers crossed and praying...if the other guy turns out to be unreliable, John may get the job...he will find out later today...I told John to offer to work for free if the paid position isn't available...this will give him a chance at a job there in the future if one opens up...in the mean time, he needs to be putting in more applications at other places...He applied at Outback Steakhouse...and he will be going in next Wednesday during open interviews at Olive Garden, if this pending restaurant doesn't work out...If he gets the job, he will start as Pantry Chef and work his way up, as the head chef feels he is ready...
Hubby is stressed with having to work a lot of overtime at work...good for the paycheck though...and we certainly could use the extra money...with the huge cell phone bill, and multiple high medical expenses that are all coming at once...have to make financial arrangements, so we can pay everybody something...we would like to get on top of things for once...but winning the lottery is highly unlikely, so we'll just have to budget, just like everybody else...
Tommorrow, I will be going to the marching band festival with Scott in Pasco...Hubby will be selling Boy Scout popcorn with Matthew...John will be cleaning the playroom, so we have a place to put the storage items that are currently in his room...and he needs to clean up the mess in his room that he left last year...I just decided that I would leave it for him to deal with when he came home...huge mess of trash and candy wrappers on the floor...I filled a couple of trash bags and gave up...to make matters worse, the cat got up on one of the shelves and brought both shelves down, contents flying everywhere...with some broken items...hubby will put a different shelf bracket system up there before the shelves are put back...something more cat-proof...
I can't remember if I mentioned that one of our dear kitties died suddenly last Friday...she was fine...jumped up on the bed to be scratched, and did her usual morning drink from the bathroom faucet (spoiled), and then a little while later, I found her dead on the bedroom floor...body still warm, but clearly dead...the kids were very upset, as was I and hubby...Matthew stayed home from school that day...he already had a sore throat, and this just tipped the scale for staying home....Scott was late for jazz band...but the band teacher understood...then, the very next day, Matthew and his friends found a stray kitten...we took her in...temporarily...but I think she gets to stay...but we have the expense in a couple of months for spaying and front declaw...and three sets of kitten shots...all very costly...the kids are willing to give up their allowances to save up to pay for it...she is awfully cute...for now, she is nameless..."She who must not be named"....we are throwing lots of names around...Ginny...Hermione...Peggy Sue...Mary Lou...Tituba (Scott's idea...but what would her nick name be?? Titty or Tuba?)....Haily (like the comet)...maybe we should all write our suggestions on a little scraps of paper and throw them all into the air...whichever one she pounces on first will be her name....we really hadn't planned on another kitty right now....
and the 18 year old cat still hangs on...he is happy, but having chronic respiratory problems...at this point, we don't want to spend a lot at the vet...the vet wants to run a bunch of blood tests for liver function, etc...but we don't see the point...he's getting old, and nothing will stop that.....but we hadn't expected two younger cats to go before him...we lost another dear kitty a year and a half ago....with the latest one, we don't really know how old she was...she was a pound kitty, and if they are healthy and have good teeth, they automatically call them 2 years old...so she could have been as old as 16 years...we had her for 6 years...We buried her under our ornamental pear tree...she will now become "part of the tree, and when the beautiful flowers are in bloom, and pretty fall colors, it will be her....
One reason we didn't plan on another kitty is the heartbreak when they die on us...
gotta go now...have a good day...
Becky At least the teacher accepted the late assignment!
Anne conked out about halfway through the VP debate the other night and couldn't keep up enough with it to take decent notes, so no EC. I think she got something out of it, though.
Sorry to hear about the kitty -- KWYM about "when in doubt, the animal is 2 years." My parents got a couple of rescued cockers that were "2 years", and the vet informed them that the dogs were more like 5 and 7! One of that set is still alive; he has survived 2 "roommate" cockers. Don't blame ya for not wanting to go to the trouble for the 18-y/o.
It's amazing how an animal will work its way in when you don't have the least intention of taking it in, isn't it? =) But "Tituba"????
Oh, well. I'd better get cracking. Have a good one.
Prof |
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October 4, 2008, 6:51 pm PDT
Quote From: profmaryann At least the teacher accepted the late assignment!
Anne conked out about halfway through the VP debate the other night and couldn't keep up enough with it to take decent notes, so no EC. I think she got something out of it, though.
Sorry to hear about the kitty -- KWYM about "when in doubt, the animal is 2 years." My parents got a couple of rescued cockers that were "2 years", and the vet informed them that the dogs were more like 5 and 7! One of that set is still alive; he has survived 2 "roommate" cockers. Don't blame ya for not wanting to go to the trouble for the 18-y/o.
It's amazing how an animal will work its way in when you don't have the least intention of taking it in, isn't it? =) But "Tituba"????
Oh, well. I'd better get cracking. Have a good one.
Prof Scott suggested Tituba...he's reading The Crucible at school...that name has already been rejected by the "name committee"....
Culinary John landed a job at one of our area's finest restaurants...he started yesterday...This is one of the restaurants that he had contacted while still in Portland...when he came home, he started contacting restaurants to schedule interviews. When he went in to this restaurant for his interview, it just so happened that one of the kitchen employees didnt' show up for their shift...he asked John to call the next day...and he was hired at 1:30 to show up at 3:30 to start at 4:00 PM....at $9 per hour...he is starting out in the Pantry position, where he will make salads and desserts, and wash dishes. He will be moved up as the boss feels he is ready for more responsibility. The boss asked in his interview how long he intends to stay...he said that after his 3 month externship, he'd like to stay on...I think that's what the boss wanted...somebody who will stick around...the boss commented that some of his staff are "just there for the paycheck"...John is there because he is doing what he loves to do...hopefully, he will enjoy his new career...
Scott was in a marching band festival today...since they lost many members after the beginning of the school year (due to laziness), the director had to completely re-write the show....and of the 25 remaining, only about 15 show up regularly for the evening practices...and I put that on the parents...they need to be responsible about getting their kids to practice...if they have another activity that interferes with the schedule, then they need to choose one or the other...I am really against over-booking kids in their activities...8 of the band kids play on the high school football team....the coach and the band director try to coordinate their schedules to make it possible for the kids to do both...although, it makes for a pretty long day for those 8...
Because of the lack of dedication from many of the band members, they did very poorly in the contest...and Scott, who is one of the better players, hasn't been holding up his end with the practicing...and it showed...the trumpets carry the melody much of the time, and if the lead player doesn't know his part inside and out, then the others will follow his example....after dinner, he WILL practice...NO TV until he does....it is off right now....and every night for the next 2 weeks...in addition to his homework...I've been trying to let him set his own schedule a little bit...a step toward independence...but I think it is time to step in and dictate his schedule for him for awhile...until he earns his way out....he really wants a lettermans jacket on which to put his band letter, earned last year...he will have to earn it...with good grades for 3 trimesters, and practice time....
Well....hubby is up and moving...he's been ill all day...better check on him...Becky |
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October 5, 2008, 3:20 pm PDT
Quote From: mustbecrazy Scott suggested Tituba...he's reading The Crucible at school...that name has already been rejected by the "name committee"....
Culinary John landed a job at one of our area's finest restaurants...he started yesterday...This is one of the restaurants that he had contacted while still in Portland...when he came home, he started contacting restaurants to schedule interviews. When he went in to this restaurant for his interview, it just so happened that one of the kitchen employees didnt' show up for their shift...he asked John to call the next day...and he was hired at 1:30 to show up at 3:30 to start at 4:00 PM....at $9 per hour...he is starting out in the Pantry position, where he will make salads and desserts, and wash dishes. He will be moved up as the boss feels he is ready for more responsibility. The boss asked in his interview how long he intends to stay...he said that after his 3 month externship, he'd like to stay on...I think that's what the boss wanted...somebody who will stick around...the boss commented that some of his staff are "just there for the paycheck"...John is there because he is doing what he loves to do...hopefully, he will enjoy his new career...
Scott was in a marching band festival today...since they lost many members after the beginning of the school year (due to laziness), the director had to completely re-write the show....and of the 25 remaining, only about 15 show up regularly for the evening practices...and I put that on the parents...they need to be responsible about getting their kids to practice...if they have another activity that interferes with the schedule, then they need to choose one or the other...I am really against over-booking kids in their activities...8 of the band kids play on the high school football team....the coach and the band director try to coordinate their schedules to make it possible for the kids to do both...although, it makes for a pretty long day for those 8...
Because of the lack of dedication from many of the band members, they did very poorly in the contest...and Scott, who is one of the better players, hasn't been holding up his end with the practicing...and it showed...the trumpets carry the melody much of the time, and if the lead player doesn't know his part inside and out, then the others will follow his example....after dinner, he WILL practice...NO TV until he does....it is off right now....and every night for the next 2 weeks...in addition to his homework...I've been trying to let him set his own schedule a little bit...a step toward independence...but I think it is time to step in and dictate his schedule for him for awhile...until he earns his way out....he really wants a lettermans jacket on which to put his band letter, earned last year...he will have to earn it...with good grades for 3 trimesters, and practice time....
Well....hubby is up and moving...he's been ill all day...better check on him...Becky Starting with the last item --
Hubs is now fighting off a cold, no doubt brought home courtesy of Jack. You wouldn't know the latter was sick, unless you got close enough to hear the occasional sniffle or see the runny nose. Such is life for a preschooler.
I guess it's the season for band competitions already; my nephew's (coincidentally, a trumpet player) band had one last night as well. I remember all too well about trumpets carrying melody lines -- we woodwind players were a second thought! LOL Unfortunately, that *does* make it tough when those guys (& girls) fall down on the job. BTW, how small is the HS? If it isn't all that big, I can understand why the band director & football coach try to coordinate practices as best they can. Oddly enough, my HS (small by FL standards) had a running joke my last couple years about how the football team would be a LOT better if the lead trombonist & one of the tuba players would suit up!
UGGGHHH about feeling it necessary to step in at this stage -- as I said earlier this week, I had to pull Miss Anne up short in the "getting the HW done in a timely manner" department. Our latest there is 2-fold. The good news (I think), she was invited to participate in the school's "Challenge Day" this week. From what I could read from the official website (challengeday.org , I think), it seems like a good peer leadership training/anti-bullying type of program. We'll see once she's done it. The bad news, after she complained about not being able to see the overhead in math class and I ran a few things by her, it's clear that she needs glasses. I'm not all that surprised (I've worn them since I wasn't much older than she is now), but it's time out of school to hit the eye doc.
LOL about the rejection by the committee.
And, last but not least, YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! and a WOO-HOO about John getting that externship and the prospect that it's where he'll start off his culinary career. Three Cheers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Speaking of things culinary, it's 6:20 here, which means I need to get diner going before Jack falls asleep on me.
PS, How are the popcorn sales going for the scouts?
Later!
Prof |
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