I give extra credit to students who bring in Kleenex. They pratically eat it.

Also, you are a god if you supply hand lotion.

I can get my massage till Friday. Color me tense.

Yay for getting through the first week Gris. I know I've said it before, but I sit in awe of my children's teachers and the teachers here. I don't know how you do it, but I am so grateful. Your job is as difficult as it is important. Thank you.

I have both open houses next week. I have the email addresses and on line access for Brendon's HS team. I wrote an introduction note to the 5 teachers that listed addresses. One wrote back. 3 of 7 classes have posted grades. It's only 3 weeks and we had a storm break in there, so there may not be a lot of grades to post. So far Brendon is appropriately pleased and annoyed with his team. He has had one detention for chewing gum. Shithead! Like he doesn't know by now. But it was cool that he got it over with early in the year. 2 hours after school, and then I left him hanging in the parking lot for half an hour while I took my time getting there to pick him up. He will be avoiding a repeat experience. All the teachers gave him thorough syllabi with good information of what was expected. That is very important to me. If the teachers let me know what is expected from my child I’ll make sure it happens.

I haven’t met Bobby’s MS team yet and they haven’t sent the on line access codes yet. It seems to be going well from what I can see. DH is taking the lead with him this year. It has been really stressful for me to be primary homework torturer. So this year I have responsibility for Brendon’s success in school and DH has responsibility for Bobby. So far I love it. Our personalities are such that Bobby makes me insane, and Brendon makes DH insane. We still have crossover. I am stronger is language and DH is stronger in math. But I feel much more like a team this year. In the past DH took more of a lead role in our business and I took more of a lead on the home front. It’s more balanced this year and I’m a bit less stressed.

Blabby blabbermouth. What I am really saying is, I Love You Guys. Teachers rock!

Also, I sent tissues, nice hand soap, and nice whiteboard markers. When they send a wishlist I send stuff.

And welcome StolenCubicle!

Also, I sent tissues, nice hand soap, and nice whiteboard markers. When they send a wishlist I send stuff.

Oh, whiteboard markers....you are a goddess among parents, Laura!!

Also, you know if you ever need homework help in English, or even history, you can ask here, right?

And welcome StolenCubicle!

Damn! I was trying to sneak in without a Buffista welcome.

Edit: Also, how could you tell? Did I flash my trace amounts of innocence? Is the lack of porn on my desktop that obvious? Did my lack of innuendo give me away?

Resistance is futile, SCube

Sounds like a good first week, Gris.

Also, I just remembered that I'd promised you an email about some graph theory lesson plans. I'll get to that soon.

I just had a salad with blueberry stilton and sliced apples on top. It was yummy. (I also just had a quesadilla, which was also yummy, but much less interesting-sounding.)

I discovered yesterday that Trader Joe's sells plastic bags of pizza dough, both regular and whole wheat. I'm having all kinds of, "Oooh, I could make some mini-calzones and take them for lunch!" plans.

Brendon was classified by his gifted team last year as exceptional and unmotivated. He understands everything. He tops every test that comes his way. He doesn't study. He hears it or reads it once and he gets it. He absolutely does not care about anything. He thinks he is going to be an NBA star. Last year his testing 99%tile on everything. Reading scores and vocabulary out of sight. He ended the year with a 1.5 gpa. 100 on most of his tests. Zero on most of his homework. This is why he is my very special project this year. We basically have a deal. Money bribes for good grades and no life without his homework done. I sit with him like a 1st grade student and go through his backpack every day. We go over every class. I've told him he really has no other option than success this year.

Bobby is a whole other issue. He is bright enough, but he has a hard time learning. Huge attention issues. He has been classified ADD so he gets extra time for his tests and goes out of the classroom so he can better focus. He does very well in math, and he loves science and history. Language is pure torture for all of us. I can't get him to write an entire sentence without a trip to the bathroom, a snack, he has to tell me something, etc. He can't spell. He wrote his address last week as Laik instead of Lake. He's 12.

I have his father working with him since he is just as ADD and somehow they work better together. We have him writing on the computer so he can see his spelling errors easier, but sometimes he is so far off that Word can't help. We have voice recognition software and I am considering using that because he can spew out a 500 word story with ease but he can't write it out. I think he might find it fun to watch the words printing out on the screen. His teachers don't care how he gets the work done. They are very flexible that way.

Parenting, very tough. Any suggestions on helping this bright child learn to write are more than welcome.

Also, how could you tell?

Hee, I mouse over your user name and see your number. It flashes Newbee. You may see that I am sweet 16 by doing the same.