~Snowbird Chat~

[Momto2PrncChrmgs]

I have a BIG problem with the G&T classes here in Texas. Or at least our neck of the woods. All that means around here is tons more work for the kids, plus extra homework. Another reason I didn't want to stick out our ps. I know my boys would have definitely been candidates for that. A family that we go to church with, but is in the school district right to our north all have super smart kids, and they are all GT. Well, the kid that's going into 5th this year has been in a GT class for several years now, and the mom is reallllly getting fed up with all the extras in/out of the classroom. And she's a school teacher at that Jr. High. Said she was going to talk to the admin about what they are putting on these kids. I know several people with kids a little older than mine from our district that did the class and said they were literally falling asleep at the table over their mound of extra work!!

If you kid is smarter than grade level, I dont' know why they don't just put them in classes together, challenge them IN CLASS and then go from there. Why 'punish' them by giving them more homework than any of the other kids in school!!! Okay, time to get off my soap box I guess!!! Hope that didn't offend anybody..I just think the schools are going about it the wrong way...and our school board doesnt' give a HOOT what anyone around here thinks about it...if they like it, it stands. No matter what.I have been tempted to run for school board!! I am a hser, so I don't see myself gettin any support!! Ha!!!!

I was in the gifted program when I was in school (many, many years ago...). I loved it because we didn't do MORE work, we did DIFFERENT work. We took different field trips, we learned things about drafting (in 5th grade we were learning about designing homes), I remember listening to old radio shows and learning about them, doing mind-bender type problems, it was a blast. I think it was only 5th-8th grade for us though. We thought we were cool in 5th because we got to go to the Jr High one day a week because that's where the teacher was. I don't remember necessarily having to make up the work that we missed in the regular class but we may have??

 

[danceintherain]

I have a BIG problem with the G&T classes here in Texas. Or at least our neck of the woods. All that means around here is tons more work for the kids, plus extra homework. Another reason I didn't want to stick out our ps. I know my boys would have definitely been candidates for that. A family that we go to church with, but is in the school district right to our north all have super smart kids, and they are all GT. Well, the kid that's going into 5th this year has been in a GT class for several years now, and the mom is reallllly getting fed up with all the extras in/out of the classroom. And she's a school teacher at that Jr. High. Said she was going to talk to the admin about what they are putting on these kids. I know several people with kids a little older than mine from our district that did the class and said they were literally falling asleep at the table over their mound of extra work!!

If you kid is smarter than grade level, I dont' know why they don't just put them in classes together, challenge them IN CLASS and then go from there. Why 'punish' them by giving them more homework than any of the other kids in school!!! Okay, time to get off my soap box I guess!!! Hope that didn't offend anybody..I just think the schools are going about it the wrong way...and our school board doesnt' give a HOOT what anyone around here thinks about it...if they like it, it stands. No matter what.I have been tempted to run for school board!! I am a hser, so I don't see myself gettin any support!! Ha!!!!

Because that would be against the lovely No Child Left Behind jurisdiction. If they separated the smart kids to challenge them more, then the kids who were having trouble handling the regular work load would get "left behind." I'm not saying that extra attention shouldn't be given to the kids that have a harder time in school, my DH was one of them, but what about the kids who are naturally more advanced? Technically they end up getting left behind by not being able to develop their natural intelligence. They just get to do more work, and get put into groups with the kids who stand on their head in class, because that will help the head stand kids learn?

UUUURRRGGGGHHHH!!!!
I have to confess my sins to my Birdie Buddies! I usually try to be only positive on these boards because so many people are so cranky and flame everyone for everything, but I just couldn't take it anymore!!

I was on one of the threads with people complaining about Disney LYING to them, that free dining isn't really FREE, blah blah blah...
Free dining is FREE, 40% off room rate is 40% off the normal room rate. You can't combine discounts. So people thinking that Disney is lying to them and it's some big bad conspiracy because they'd have to pay MORE for free dining for 2 people than they would with 40% deluxe. I basically just said we should all just be thankful that Disney is offering so many different choices for deals for us to find the one that suits our families needs the best. They don't HAVE to offer us anything, and alot of us would probably still go. I had to open my mouth, let the flaming begin...I can take it!

Tehehe... I get very frustrated as well. I tend to ignore those threads...Though it's hard to avoid ALL the trouble, I was helping someone figure out the Dining plan and I got told that almost ALL character meals are now 2 TS credits on the Dining Plan. So I checked this year's Dining Plan brochure AND next year's. Alas, only CRT is 2 TS credits.

Then there's the thread where people are discussing whether or not Disney should have a frequent goers program to benefit all of us who go regularly. Goodness... as if the discounts this year aren't already deep enough. They did the AP referral program... Free Dining for the REST of the year. 30-40% room only discounts. Obviously, people who do not research their trips to the breaking point will not know about these discounts. Some people probably don't even know about the Free on your birthday promotion, or about Free Dining.

I'm sure there are some people out there that pay RACK RATE for everything. They pay the $82/night at the Value resorts AND they pay OOP for all their meals. They don't even get the luxury of knowing about Free Dining. They probably don't even know that Fastpasses are available to EVERYONE.

Anyways... I should go check my other subscribed threads to see in the 2 TS for Character Meals person gave her source!

 

[sarbah77]

UUUURRRGGGGHHHH!!!!
I have to confess my sins to my Birdie Buddies! I usually try to be only positive on these boards because so many people are so cranky and flame everyone for everything, but I just couldn't take it anymore!!

I was on one of the threads with people complaining about Disney LYING to them, that free dining isn't really FREE, blah blah blah...
Free dining is FREE, 40% off room rate is 40% off the normal room rate. You can't combine discounts. So people thinking that Disney is lying to them and it's some big bad conspiracy because they'd have to pay MORE for free dining for 2 people than they would with 40% deluxe. I basically just said we should all just be thankful that Disney is offering so many different choices for deals for us to find the one that suits our families needs the best. They don't HAVE to offer us anything, and alot of us would probably still go. I had to open my mouth, let the flaming begin...I can take it!

I agree with you - when I plan a trip, I have a price point I'm willing to pay. When it gets below that threshold, I snap it up! If it doesn't, I don't buy.

For example, my 10th anniversary cruise next year came in at $X when we booked it. We thought it was a GREAT DEAL (and really, it's HALF of the Disney version of the cruise! HALF!). Today, I discovered that it's dropped by $1300. So I'm thrilled...

...but occasionally, RCI runs "new booking only" sales and I wouldn't be able to get that price. Sucks, but when I booked, I was willing to pay what I booked at.

Also, in the real world, JCPenney.com often has dollar off sales OR free shipping, based on a code. But you can only use ONE code. I spend the time and figure out which one is better for me. I know I can't use both... Disney is the same way, but on a much higher dollar amount!!

It frustrates me - I don't know if it's because we're so focused on ME that we can't see the big picture these days? Or if the lack of understanding is the same part of what drove us to the credit/housing crunch? (not everyone who got caught in the credit or housing mess falls into this category, of course - some people were just unlucky!)



Of course, Disney requires a LOT of planning, if you've never been before. Once you've been, I think it's easier to understand that they'll do this or that at this time or that time... but that even still, there's NO PROMISE that they will!!

 

[letthewookiewin]

UUUURRRGGGGHHHH!!!!
I have to confess my sins to my Birdie Buddies! I usually try to be only positive on these boards because so many people are so cranky and flame everyone for everything, but I just couldn't take it anymore!!

I was on one of the threads with people complaining about Disney LYING to them, that free dining isn't really FREE, blah blah blah...
Free dining is FREE, 40% off room rate is 40% off the normal room rate. You can't combine discounts. So people thinking that Disney is lying to them and it's some big bad conspiracy because they'd have to pay MORE for free dining for 2 people than they would with 40% deluxe. I basically just said we should all just be thankful that Disney is offering so many different choices for deals for us to find the one that suits our families needs the best. They don't HAVE to offer us anything, and alot of us would probably still go. I had to open my mouth, let the flaming begin...I can take it!

Well I totally agree with you. People should be thankful that they offer any discounts. I think what they forget is that Disney doesn't have to offer any discount. I'll keep a couple buckets of water handy if you need them.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

UUUURRRGGGGHHHH!!!!
I have to confess my sins to my Birdie Buddies! I usually try to be only positive on these boards because so many people are so cranky and flame everyone for everything, but I just couldn't take it anymore!!

I was on one of the threads with people complaining about Disney LYING to them, that free dining isn't really FREE, blah blah blah...
Free dining is FREE, 40% off room rate is 40% off the normal room rate. You can't combine discounts. So people thinking that Disney is lying to them and it's some big bad conspiracy because they'd have to pay MORE for free dining for 2 people than they would with 40% deluxe. I basically just said we should all just be thankful that Disney is offering so many different choices for deals for us to find the one that suits our families needs the best. They don't HAVE to offer us anything, and alot of us would probably still go. I had to open my mouth, let the flaming begin...I can take it!

I know, sometimes it's hard not to express your opinions on these boards. Especially when some people are so ungrateful (and annoying!).

I saw one of those threads about which is better - free dining or 40% off. And the answer is plain and simple - it depends. It depends on how many are in your party, what level of resort you are staying at, what season you are going in, etc.

But I'm like you - either is a great deal and I am happy to have either one!!

 

[danceintherain]

I was in the gifted program when I was in school (many, many years ago...). I loved it because we didn't do MORE work, we did DIFFERENT work. We took different field trips, we learned things about drafting (in 5th grade we were learning about designing homes), I remember listening to old radio shows and learning about them, doing mind-bender type problems, it was a blast. I think it was only 5th-8th grade for us though. We thought we were cool in 5th because we got to go to the Jr High one day a week because that's where the teacher was. I don't remember necessarily having to make up the work that we missed in the regular class but we may have??

Yeah, that's why I wanted to go into the Gifted program. They got to go down to the creek and catch tadpoles, and other cool stuff like that.

BTW...I don't want anyone to get offended by my rant about schools. I know that a lot of kids really were getting left behind for the wrong reasons before NCLB came into affect, and many kids were getting misdiagnosed and misjudged. I know that there were some good programs that came out of it, but from the research I've done about it I've noticed a trend.
It really is very sad that our schools aren't funded well enough to give each child individualized attention. I am a huge mourner of lost potential. I have a brother who is probably "smarter" than me, but barely graduated high school, because he either didn't go, or picked fights with the teachers. He has spent the past 3 years taking and failing classes to the point where he couldn't even GET IN to the college I go to, which is an incredible feat, because it's a state school, the entrance GPA is like a 2.0
I have a husband that was called "stupid" when he was a little kid, because he didn't pick up reading as quickly as the other kids, and was a little "slow". They wanted to hold him back. He worked really hard to complete primary school, then college, and now he's assistant teaching a horticulture class for special education kids at the high school. He really enjoys it. He thinks the kids like him, because he can relate to them well. (he's only be there for 3 days, so who knows)
I just think that they need to look at the whole picture when they come up with jurisdiction like that. Every child has a different set of needs. Instead, schools are cutting funding. The school district where my brother and sister go lost 200 teachers over the summer (some took early retirement, others quit for other reasons) but they didn't hire any new teachers, even though they opened a new school. There's something terribly wrong with that. I seriously doubt that any of those kids are going to be able to get individualized attention this year.

 

[letthewookiewin]

I know, sometimes it's hard not to express your opinions on these boards. Especially when some people are so ungrateful (and annoying!).

I saw one of those threads about which is better - free dining or 40% off. And the answer is plain and simple - it depends. It depends on how many are in your party, what level of resort you are staying at, what season you are going in, etc.

But I'm like you - either is a great deal and I am happy to have either one!!

I totally agree. I sometimes think there would be people complaining even if Disney let everyone come for free to WDW. I saw a thread the other day about a person complaining that Disney wouldn't let them take the DDP off for just their DD that just had gastric bypass. They actually said "Are the days of trying to make the guest happy gone??". I thought really?? It sounded like they expect Disney to do anything, including going against company policy, to please them. I can understand the frustration. About 6 months before our last WDW trip, my DH had the lap band. Before he did we were going to get the DDP. When we found out we couldn't take just him off, even with a doctor's note, we just didn't do the DDP. I just thought it was a little ridiculous to "shame the disney dining plan" for not breaking company policy to please them. Honestly with the economy like it is, people should just be happy they have the money to go to WDW instead of complaining about something that Disney doesn't have to do in the first place.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I know there are ungrateful people everywhere!! It's just a shame that it's becoming the norm for society.. People like this are raising their children to be this way too!! I agree about the codes/discounts!!! I am soooo thankful they give us anything! They don't have to do it. They could close hotels, let people go, make shorter park hours, forego M.E.....lots of things, but they dont', they keep on giving incentives.
As for school...I was bored stiff!! I always read library books during class. Do ya'll remember those skinny little black spelling books we used to have? I remember in 3rd grade, doing the WHOLE book after the first few weeks of school... when it was spelling time, I would just redo my paper neatly, or read a library book. I think by the time I left Elementary I had read our entire library. It wasn't huge, but it was a decent size. I have always loved books...one of my dream jobs would be to be a librarian....love it!!!!
Yep...something is messed up with the school system. Did any of ya'll read the thing by Bill Gates a few years ago? He was talking about public high school and said that in a few years it would be obsolete. we won't even have one. He was talking about how far behind most graduates are anyway...college is KILLING them. They are not learning enough in high school to make it into college. Even if they do get in, they are struggling so bad. So,I don't know what his solution is, but he is pretty smart himself!!!! So, maybe he'll think of something!!!

 

[sarbah77]

My trip documents arrived....

TIME FOR A DOCUMENT DANCE!!!

Who's with me?!






Happy Friday!

 

[danceintherain]

I know there are ungrateful people everywhere!! It's just a shame that it's becoming the norm for society.. People like this are raising their children to be this way too!! I agree about the codes/discounts!!! I am soooo thankful they give us anything! They don't have to do it. They could close hotels, let people go, make shorter park hours, forego M.E.....lots of things, but they dont', they keep on giving incentives.
As for school...I was bored stiff!! I always read library books during class. Do ya'll remember those skinny little black spelling books we used to have? I remember in 3rd grade, doing the WHOLE book after the first few weeks of school... when it was spelling time, I would just redo my paper neatly, or read a library book. I think by the time I left Elementary I had read our entire library. It wasn't huge, but it was a decent size. I have always loved books...one of my dream jobs would be to be a librarian....love it!!!!
Yep...something is messed up with the school system. Did any of ya'll read the thing by Bill Gates a few years ago? He was talking about public high school and said that in a few years it would be obsolete. we won't even have one. He was talking about how far behind most graduates are anyway...college is KILLING them. They are not learning enough in high school to make it into college. Even if they do get in, they are struggling so bad. So,I don't know what his solution is, but he is pretty smart himself!!!! So, maybe he'll think of something!!!

Haha... they obviously don't go to my college. My first year was incredibly difficult. I was in the very selective Architecture program. As soon as I decided I didn't want to be an architect, (if I had stayed in I would have had at least 2 more years in school... I would be getting a Master's but still) the classes became mind numbingly easy. Interesting....but easy. I suppose that's because I picked Sociology. I guess I'm getting a little ahead of myself though, because the other kids in my classes couldn't even read the syllabus, and moaned and groaned if the teacher assigned us anything. Sorry if they're interfering with your very important drinking and/or Xbox schedule, but you're paying good money for these classes, so you probably should learn something.
I actually had a conversation with Logan yesterday about going to do laundry. The laundromat we tend to go to is in the lovely part of town that is called Aggieville. That's the fancy name for the area of town with the most bars. Our conversation was that we should probably go do laundry on Saturday morning, instead of tonight, because that part of town will probably be packed with intoxicated people, especially since school starts on Monday.

 

[danceintherain]

My trip documents arrived....

TIME FOR A DOCUMENT DANCE!!!

Who's with me?!






Happy Friday!

YAY!

I checked my mailbox 3 times today looking for my AP referral gift cards. Unfortunately, my mailbox is not magical.

 

[sarbah77]

YAY!

I checked my mailbox 3 times today looking for my AP referral gift cards. Unfortunately, my mailbox is not magical.

I'm still waiting to see what we get for the ME documents. Hopefully they'll be right this time!!

AND!!! I emailed my TA about my cruise next June, because it looked as though the price had dropped and she was able to get us (and my parents!) the $1300 per cabin savings!

I continue my dance!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

yeah for you Sarah!!!!!

And Becca...this is a good idea...and you KNOW they won't be up early tomorrow!!! Ha!! Sarah....don't know if you ever check over on the game threads...I was thinking for when you have surgery... I have found some fun little games over there today!

 

[sarbah77]

yeah for you Sarah!!!!!

And Becca...this is a good idea...and you KNOW they won't be up early tomorrow!!! Ha!! Sarah....don't know if you ever check over on the game threads...I was thinking for when you have surgery... I have found some fun little games over there today!

Oooh, I had no idea that there were game threads! Thanks for the heads up!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Oooh, I had no idea that there were game threads! Thanks for the heads up!!

right now i am doing one of the Word Association games, How many...and change one letter. Super fun!!!

 

[Dancegrl624]

Happy Saturday everyone! I found out some things about the whole teacher situation yesterday. Madison was supposed to have a teacher that has taught at that school for awhile. I heard that she's a wonderful teacher and would have been a perfect fit for Madison. However, she had a baby in July and isn't coming back this year. So, it looks like the teacher Madison will have for 2nd grade is a long term sub. I have a lot of friends that have been long term subs and I know that they are great teachers.I'm just going to continue praying for a great school year.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

meghan,...That's the best thing you CAN do!!! God has His hand on her...she'll be fine!!!!!We will be praying for her too!

 

[Dancegrl624]

meghan,...That's the best thing you CAN do!!! God has His hand on her...she'll be fine!!!!!We will be praying for her too!

Thanks Shawna! I know she'll do fine with whatever teacher she has. I'm sure we'll still work on harder things at home with her too. I absolutely love the fact that she enjoys reading, writing stories and doing math problems at home. She has so many journals and notebooks just filled with stories that she's written. So cute!

 

[letthewookiewin]

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. I'm just trying to get some last minute stuff ready before school starts. My in laws will be home tomorrow, so no more feeding the mini-farm for me.
Joey got a letter from People to People Student Amassador Programs. He could go to Canda next summer for 12 days. My sister has a teacher friend that works for them and she says the program is amazing. The only problem is it's really expensive according to her. He wants to go, but we'll have to wait and see how DH's job hunt goes. The longest he's been away from us and not at a grandparents house was a 4 day sleep away camp the 4th grade does every year.

 

[sarbah77]

Well, I'm kind of bummed, now.

I saw that the Red Sox won tonight - YAY!

I then heard that, at the start, they had a moment of silence for one of their minor league pitchers who died today. His name is Greg Montalbano and we went to school together until high school. (then his parents sent him to a private school with an excellent baseball program... for good reason, as you can see) He started fighting cancer when we were 19 - so, he fought for a very long 13 years. But, man, 32 is too young.

We weren't close but it was a small town. Plus, regardless, you always keep your eye out for the kid from the small town making good in the big world.

Oh well. It's just sad and I feel badly for his family and friends.

Oh, here's a nice write-up my mom found: http://www.telegram.com/article/20090822/NEWS/908229994/1116