I think I might spend less time because I get most of my information directly from the source, the teachers...while pnj receives that information from her children.
I was thinking of this board tonight as I quizzed dd for her religion test tomorrow! Perhaps I'm too involved and let her study on her own.....:)
And just for kicks, I looked at her HW too. Not because I was "checking" it but b/c I was interested in seeing what she is working on this week. They just started on geometry. I HATED geometry!
Like you, I get most of my info from the weekly newsletter, teacher's website, occasional glances at her workbooks and from talking with other parents. And of course, talking to dd. We had a nice chat tonight about how much she loves her reading teacher this year. Her reading teacher last year was incredibly unpopular with the kids. I'm so glad that dd likes her teacher this year b/c she is much more engaged in the learning process which is impt at this age while the foundation is building. Unfortunately, next year, ds will have the unpopular reading teacher.
"Are you saying you've never had to go back over a unit or material in any subject for either of your children?"
I have never done that and dd is 16. There are many other things I have done over the years that related to education, but not any nitty-gritty of daily lessons. When she was small, I often gave her math concepts "inadvertently." I like math, although I am not particularly good at it, and I wanted to make sure she would experience it as something fun and interesting before any teacher had the chance to ruin it for her. It worked.
Likewise, I made sure that learning to read was something she experienced as fun and interesting. She read fluently by the time she entered K. I also presented her with grammar concepts and spelling patterns when it seemed relevant, but never drilled spelling words with her. If she asked me to correct something she had written in English, I did so. She has an unerring sense of grammar and spells better than I do. The fact that her main fun in the early elementary years was to read probably has something to do with that.
As far as dealing with what she learned at school, my contribution was mainly to set her straight when they told her nonsense or mangled things and try to provide the things that were not provided at school. For example, when they read a condensed, picture-book version of Oliver Twist aloud in library hour, I went a bit bananas and read her the original at bedtime for that whole winter (it is one heavy tome).
Lastly, I have been her main English teacher all her life. This was mainly accomplished by talking and reading bedtime stories. Since she discovered the internet a few years ago and got a laptop, I have largely been relieved of this burden.
I find it more useful to know what the curriculum is and thus the attached philosophy of instruction. Once I know that, I know what the shortfalls will be and can take steps to provide the missing bits along the way.
Have to be careful with the other parents sometimes though, lol. When dd was in 3rd or 4th grade we were at a birthday party. Another mother who was hyper-involved in the home work (she had a second set of school books for herself) asked how dd did on the history test. My response? "What history test?" The woman went ape! It turned out that the class had a weekly history quiz every Friday, only dd never bothered to tell me. Apparently hyper-mom spent a great deal of time drilling junior for the weekly test and was aghast that I was clueless about this important educational exercise. Her reaction came close to a verbal assault.
Feeling a bit rattled I asked dd later what this history test business was all about. Well, dd never studied for the weekly test because she could remember everything the teacher had said in class verbatim, so it was not a problem for her.
thank you -- I don't pretend that people are going to understand what it means for me and LIza to act - but I know that it chnged me and molded me and made me who I am today and watching that happen to Liza is the most amazing thing. She's gone from being the shy girl who cried in new situations to walking in to rooms wiith confidence, she has friends with the same passion, she is respecte and liked by older kids and teens who see themselves i her -- and when she's on stage she glows. she said to me one day "momma. this is just what we do isn't it? it's just who we are"
We've cut soccer and clarinet -- we've assessed her schedule and figured out where her priorities are and we've also agreed after the show she's in now she'll take a little break - all good actors need to rest and recharge -- but cut it out completely? mmmm..probably ain't gonna happen.
yeah -- cuz we're all all alike -- all misfits, all outcasts -- all nerdy BAER
Felicia, I don't pretend to know every lawyer in the country b/c my brother is one ...please don't condescend to me about my career and my passion which is something you know nothing about... I couldn't walk in a courtroom just b/c I've watched Law and Order and you couldn't do what I do just b/c you knew' some guy whose sister was a theater geek"
I like you alot I really do and I also find you unbearably insulting right now.
My kid is so not a "theatre geek," but she used to suffer from shyness. When she started JHS, several teachers complained that she did not speak up in class. After I told her this, she signed up for the drama club. It was not my idea, she only told me after she had done it. Her reason was that she thought it would help her shyness and ability to speak up in class.
The kids worked with an actor/director and wrote their own show entirely and performed it in a local theatre. The kid was completely stressed out by the combo of drama club, serious asthma and the new demands at school, but she loved it and it was a great experience for her. Also, it really did help her confidence and outlook a great deal. So it definitely contributed to her academic performance, even if she never acts again.
Pages
Ah okay, gotcha...thanks for explaining.
I think I might spend less time because I get most of my information directly from the source, the teachers...while pnj receives that information from her children.
PumpkinAngel
I was thinking of this board tonight as I quizzed dd for her religion test tomorrow! Perhaps I'm too involved and let her study on her own.....:)
And just for kicks, I looked at her HW too. Not because I was "checking" it but b/c I was interested in seeing what she is working on this week. They just started on geometry. I HATED geometry!
Like you, I get most of my info from the weekly newsletter, teacher's website, occasional glances at her workbooks and from talking with other parents. And of course, talking to dd. We had a nice chat tonight about how much she loves her reading teacher this year. Her reading teacher last year was incredibly unpopular with the kids. I'm so glad that dd likes her teacher this year b/c she is much more engaged in the learning process which is impt at this age while the foundation is building. Unfortunately, next year, ds will have the unpopular reading teacher.
Thank you.
"Are you saying you've never had to go back over a unit or material in any subject for either of your children?"
I have never done that and dd is 16. There are many other things I have done over the years that related to education, but not any nitty-gritty of daily lessons. When she was small, I often gave her math concepts "inadvertently." I like math, although I am not particularly good at it, and I wanted to make sure she would experience it as something fun and interesting before any teacher had the chance to ruin it for her. It worked.
Likewise, I made sure that learning to read was something she experienced as fun and interesting. She read fluently by the time she entered K. I also presented her with grammar concepts and spelling patterns when it seemed relevant, but never drilled spelling words with her. If she asked me to correct something she had written in English, I did so. She has an unerring sense of grammar and spells better than I do. The fact that her main fun in the early elementary years was to read probably has something to do with that.
As far as dealing with what she learned at school, my contribution was mainly to set her straight when they told her nonsense or mangled things and try to provide the things that were not provided at school. For example, when they read a condensed, picture-book version of Oliver Twist aloud in library hour, I went a bit bananas and read her the original at bedtime for that whole winter (it is one heavy tome).
Lastly, I have been her main English teacher all her life. This was mainly accomplished by talking and reading bedtime stories. Since she discovered the internet a few years ago and got a laptop, I have largely been relieved of this burden.
Have to be careful with the other parents sometimes though, lol. When dd was in 3rd or 4th grade we were at a birthday party. Another mother who was hyper-involved in the home work (she had a second set of school books for herself) asked how dd did on the history test. My response? "What history test?" The woman went ape! It turned out that the class had a weekly history quiz every Friday, only dd never bothered to tell me. Apparently hyper-mom spent a great deal of time drilling junior for the weekly test and was aghast that I was clueless about this important educational exercise. Her reaction came close to a verbal assault.
Feeling a bit rattled I asked dd later what this history test business was all about. Well, dd never studied for the weekly test because she could remember everything the teacher had said in class verbatim, so it was not a problem for her.
<>
i never assumed differently.
eileen
thank you -- I don't pretend that people are going to understand what it means for me and LIza to act - but I know that it chnged me and molded me and made me who I am today and watching that happen to Liza is the most amazing thing. She's gone from being the shy girl who cried in new situations to walking in to rooms wiith confidence, she has friends with the same passion, she is respecte and liked by older kids and teens who see themselves i her -- and when she's on stage she glows. she said to me one day "momma. this is just what we do isn't it? it's just who we are"
We've cut soccer and clarinet -- we've assessed her schedule and figured out where her priorities are and we've also agreed after the show she's in now she'll take a little break - all good actors need to rest and recharge -- but cut it out completely? mmmm..probably ain't gonna happen.
yeah -- cuz we're all all alike -- all misfits, all outcasts -- all nerdy BAER
Felicia, I don't pretend to know every lawyer in the country b/c my brother is one ...please don't condescend to me about my career and my passion which is something you know nothing about... I couldn't walk in a courtroom just b/c I've watched Law and Order and you couldn't do what I do just b/c you knew' some guy whose sister was a theater geek"
I like you alot I really do and I also find you unbearably insulting right now.
My kid is so not a "theatre geek," but she used to suffer from shyness. When she started JHS, several teachers complained that she did not speak up in class. After I told her this, she signed up for the drama club. It was not my idea, she only told me after she had done it. Her reason was that she thought it would help her shyness and ability to speak up in class.
The kids worked with an actor/director and wrote their own show entirely and performed it in a local theatre. The kid was completely stressed out by the combo of drama club, serious asthma and the new demands at school, but she loved it and it was a great experience for her. Also, it really did help her confidence and outlook a great deal. So it definitely contributed to her academic performance, even if she never acts again.
Pages