12/09/06 Cruise Continued ~ Pirating Bananas DIS Geekorama Part 2 Part 8

[GoofyforGoofy]

So this is what you do around the house now?

ROFLMAO!!!!

House, work, in traffic....

Can't wait to get on the plane and then on the boat...there gonna LOVE me!!!

 

[bubbasmom99]

Can I just say, I love listening to music on hold at Disney 49 more days for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jhalkias]

Good points, John. Its "strange" to hear from the school admin end of things..as parents we tend to band together with common situations (bullying,poor teaching styles, etc) and don't see what admin is up against. We have had issues with our school in that they get snotty when we ask for help - there answer believe it or not is, "she is not in special education, we don't have to do that..." We ask for help, they answer, "what do you want us to do?", not "sure, we can help you, we can do this or that or this..." - They are the educators, we are the parents, we are asking for educational advice from professionals...

I also don't say that teaching is not being done; I think that the teachers are the same as they have always been - the difference is that school doesn't always let them be teachers - one of DD's teachers (an older, experienced Language Arts teacher even told us she felt that she had no choice in how she was teaching, it was the way they are being told to do it now. She was willing to pass on her methods gained from years of experience but her curriculum now revolved around testing and grade levels of other children in the state. I just want teachers and admin to realize that at the end of the day, being able to write and read and add and subtract is more important that whose school is number one in test scores and such.

As some have said before, this subject will get out of hand and I've said what I can without being on everyone's bad list....everyone has their opinions and I'm no different.

Hey Andy,

Don't think you are on anyone's "Bad" list. I agree with most of what you said - just trying to give you another angle of understanding. You don't really know a person until you walk a mile in their shoes.

I also want you to know that most teachers and administrators feel the same way you do about education - but the people we all elected have taken much of that out of their hands.

Your frustration is one I hear from a lot of parents - all I can tell them is tell the people that you elect that make these rules (like NCLB) that you want it changed. It isn't just being the #1 school - there are serious consequences to a school district if they don't meet specific test goals.

None of us is afraid of accountability - it just has to make common sense - and this one-size fits all accountabilty formulated by politicians does NOT make sense. I will be in Washington to tell them so in February.

John1

 

[pyramid2000]

Andy - in case you can't get a plane...maybe you can get a propeller hat...

 

[pyramid2000]

Oh yeah....It is only 28 degrees here this morning!

Yikes!! It was in the 40's here...brrrrr

 

[goofyforlife]

That is fantastic! I don't know how they handle the honors program at the middle school here. Having an advanced class would be fantastic.

and Lisa....there's even an "advanced" honors class of children who had the algebra class last year and will have geometry this year.....

 

[pyramid2000]

They may think its that new DisBoard virus that keeps coming back. As much as you turn off the machine and close the internet, the forum keeps growing and out of control and can't be stopped.

 

[GoofyforGoofy]

Hey Andy,

Don't think you are on anyone's "Bad" list. I agree with most of what you said - just trying to give you another angle of understanding. You don't really know a person until you walk a mile in their shoes.

I also want you to know that most teachers and administrators feel the same way you do about education - but the people we all elected have taken much of that out of their hands.

Your frustration is one I hear from a lot of parents - all I can tell them is tell the people that you elect that make these rules (like NCLB) that you want it changed. It isn't just being the #1 school - there are serious consequences to a school district if they don't meet specific test goals.

None of us is afraid of accountability - it just has to make common sense - and this one-size fits all accountabilty formulated by politicians does NOT make sense. I will be in Washington to tell them so in February.

John1

Go John! go John! go John! go John! go John! go John!

 

[MommyMinnie]

and Lisa....there's even an "advanced" honors class of children who had the algebra class last year and will have geometry this year.....

You must be so proud!

 

[MommyMinnie]

Lisa, I've missed pages and pages, what's the update on that kid in school?

 

[lbgraves]

Lisa, I've missed pages and pages, what's the update on that kid in school?

According to another teacher in the same hallway, DD's teacher is "on top of it" and it shouldn't be long until the kid is pulled. I asked her if DD was safe in the classroom.

 

[pyramid2000]

That is fantastic! I don't know how they handle the honors program at the middle school here. Having an advanced class would be fantastic.

You should try to find out. It is nice to know what you can expect down the road.

When DD was going into 6th grade, they had 2 Enrichment classes in her grade. (tat is another story about how many get into it and how many BELONG there ) One of the teachers many, many parents heralded as the BEST!! Well, for a few reasons, I did not want my daughter in his class, one being he encouraged the kids to be very grade competative with each other. Definately NOT my style. Most liked him because he is from PR and teaches Spanish very well. DD had the other teacher, but also had this other one for Spanish and Social Studies, and a third for math and science. It worked out really well for DD. Her math teacher was the best! He really taught them to think and to check and recheck, although DD has seemed to have forgotten this already.

Now she is in a 2 year Spanish class that will count for HS Spanish as well as pre Alg. If she does well enough, she will be in Alg in 8th that will count for HS also. The JH seems a little more selective in who takes advanced courses, which I think is a very good thing.

You are definately doing the right thing Lisa in talking with DS's teacher. I remember DD would get silly mistakes on her math tests and in class work. When I asked her if she had enough time to go over them before turning in, she said yes, but that she didn't. Instead, the teacher had said they could read when they were done! Don't tell that to MY bookworm!! She would rush through whatever she was doing so that she could read instead!! A talk with the teacher solved that one. I swore I was the only mom in the world who had to encourage their kid NOT to read so much! The best thing you can do is make sure DS really understands what he is doing and challenge him at home with logic problems and such. Give him times tests on his math so that he has them down pat!! Especially when he gets to multiplication. It will help him tremendously when he gets to harder math. Having the basics down pat without having to stop and think of them makes for an excellent math student. It sounds as if he is already there!

 

[pyramid2000]

what is the PIMP for after the ROTFLMAO?

Just think about what happens if you have to go REALLY badly and can't find a restroom!

 

[MommyMinnie]

OK I was crusin' my TA's website thinking about my 08 cruise. I found a likely RCCL as a checkpoint for comparison but also found this...

11 day Hawaiian cruise leaving Dec 9, '06 for 1,583 for all three passengers. Airfare for 3 would be about 1,041. That's a total of 2,624 for flight and and 11 day cruise.

Yikes! But then again there would be no Mickey and no DIS geeks. So it would be no fun!

 

[pyramid2000]

And the countdown is at 56 days until the cruise!!!

We actually will leave that Thursday night before so only 54 days until we are officially on vacation....

...I am looking forward to chat tonight but I may or may not be able to join you. I had the computer last Friday night so I am thinking DH wants a turn. Maybe I will have to see how late the library is open so I can chat from there!

You think your vacation will start when you get in the car for that long drive with the kids?!?!

I hope you can find a library!!

 

[ds2Mom]

We bought our Boys theres for the June Cruise ...Looks like they can use them again for the Dec cruise ....On formal the only way to go is TUX

WOWSER! You have one good looking family!!

 

[ds2Mom]

You think your vacation will start when you get in the car for that long drive with the kids?!?!

I hope you can find a library!!

O.K. now.....let's not knock the Library!

 

[ds2Mom]

Hmmm.....let's see. If I don't eat a single thing between now and Dec. 9th, could I look like Todd's wife?


Nah.....'aint gonna happen.



(Do they have a little green-with-envy smilie?)

 

[ds2Mom]

Okay , most of us that have Balconies thought it would be cool to hang pirate flags off of our Balconies when we pulled into port ...Making it look like we are all Pirates ....Then someone said the Windows are good sized too , so most who have windows are now getting Pirate Flags to hang up in Port as well ...So if you want to be a true Pirate , here is the link to order yours ..they are cheap and no shipping

http://cgi.ebay.com/Jack-Rackham-3x...3QQihZ003QQcategoryZ43534QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thanks Todd!


We'll have a pirate window, we will!

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

They may think its that new DisBoard virus that keeps coming back. As much as you turn off the machine and close the internet, the forum keeps growing and out of control and can't be stopped.

Very good