Back to School Thread -- 2007!

[Gabby]

I know many of you have been back to school for weeks, but in MI we hold Labor Day as a high holy holiday. We don't report back with kids until Tuesday.

I love to go back in the archive and read about when tahitisweetie, spf15, and I were all sending off first time kindergarteners! :)

Today, my dad was the only adult available to watch my boys while I did one of my pre-school work days. He is pretty frail these days, but the boys don't require a ton of supervision. They were under orders to watch grandpa as much as he was watching them!

When I got home, the boys were in my finished basement with a gaggle of friends and grandpa was watching the Tigers. My dad said that they'd been down there for a while and it was getting a little rowdy.

After dad left, I ventured downstairs to discover that they had plugged the sink to cause a waterfall to the drain (in the kitchen part of the basement) and were skim-boarding across the tile.

:chased:

Laugh or cry?

I think we're ready to go back to school now.

[tahitisweetie]

I'd laugh...


Mine went back this Tuesday. Brett (my youngest) is a 3rd grader. When I walked him in the class, gave the teacher Klenex boxes and hand sanitizer and all the goodies they ask parents to help supply, I looked over and he was calmly unpacking his book bag. He was so grown up but I still see the youngest kid in school.

Of course, I teared up when I told him to listen and have a good day. That I wanted to hear every detail when I picked him up. He said don't cry mommy. I love school. Of course, bigger tears for that.

He got one of the top 3 teachers in the school. I'm thrilled.


Caroline is a 5th grader. She plans to rule the school! 'nough said.

[pocket]

LOL, Gabby! They were giving your dad a rest, at least. But, no rest for you. How long did it take you to clean it up?

[Gabby]

I made them help. Fortunately, our drain works really well.

I still have the headache though! :)

[Slitter]

the boys don't require a ton of supervision.

:biglaugh: You want to reevaluate that statement?

Maybe it was a science experiment, lol.

[Gabby]

:spit:

Guess you have a point!

[frawniemae]

I can see a bunch of boys doing that!!! I'd have to scold them and make them help clean up (as you did) but I would be trying hard to not laugh...ahhh...boys...there's a reason why God makes them so cute!!:wink:

My baby boy is a Senior now. That is so hard to wrap my mind around. It was hard enough when Sarah graduated a couple of years ago... but now it's my "baby"!!

Yes, time really does fly...

[AvecLion]

First day of school was rough. DJ is repeating his junior year and he has the same teachers he had last year. He's really frustrated (no, changing teachers is not an option - it's a trade school and that is the 11th grade academic team). He didn't drop out, which we were afraid of, but his attitude is already shot. I'm worried we're going to have a repeat of last year.

[Mouse9]

My kids are doing okay, so far, this year. We had to go to school before it started to get a plan for Julie to get an extra set of books, leave class a minute or two early, etc. because of her back surgery this last summer. We also had Open House this last Thursday and it appears only one class seems to have a teacher who prefers the lecture method only.

My son is doing fine at this time. He was ready to go back to school. So were we. He says his math teacher recommends him to be moved to an AP (honors) class. We said we will think about it, pending on work getting handed in on time or not in the regular math class. He has never had a quarter, let alone a half of a quarter without a zero unless I am standing over him for the second half of the quarter. He remembers things differently. I should've kept all of those notes I wrote down missing work which were zeros. His grades are enough proof. He doesn't get A's except in p.e. and even music grades went down this last year because a paragraph was due and he didn't do it. He had a "D" in choir last year until finally his performance involvement brought it up to a B.

I am doing great with my new class. It looks like a very nice class, which is a nice reward for my last 5 years of trying classes. We are already doing many new activities I would not have been able to do with my last few classes.

Of course, we've only had 11 days of school so far. I'm sure I'll let you know later if I have difficulties.

Happy school days, to you all.

[Tiberius]

My son is starting college…I am happy and sad, excited, freaked out and worried all at once…

[Gabby]

Lion -- how's DJ?

We start tomorrow. Please send happy thoughts and prayers to Charlie. He's excited about his new teacher, but he's starting having nightmares. The nightmares are about alien attacks (not school), but my Psych 101 is telling me that it's just all that anxiety coming out in dream form.

Since Charlie has a 504 accommodation plan, he was able to spend an afternoon at school "helping" his teacher get ready. This was to give him a connection to her and a sense of ownership. She was amazing! She knew a lot about Charlie, including the fact that he loves Webkinz. When we walked in the room, all of the classroom computers were set to the Webkinz homepage. When Charlie noticed, she said, "Oh, Charlie! I was hoping you could teach me about Webkinz. I don't know how to use the website or anything." Ding-ding-ding! We have a connection!

She was really great about making Charlie feel like she needed him as much as he needs her. Hopefully, that will make a world of difference to him.

She does have MS. There was a small hesitation in placing Charlie with Miss R because of the possibility of her missing a lot, but in the end, we decided that she really was the perfect person for him.

[tahitisweetie]

That's great about his teacher, Gabby! I'll be thinking happy thoughts for you guys tomorrow.


We had a really good first week. Brett is a smart kid, just hates ... HATES ... reading. I worry since this is the first year of EOG reading tests. He also told me last Friday that it was Book Buddy day. K-2 have older kids come and help read to them. Brett actually has always enjoyed this.

I was like, great, Brett, you love book buddies. He said, no I have to BE a book buddy. I was like, Oh No. He will absolutely hate reading to other kids. He is a slow reader, can do it, but stops every 3 words to tell you how much he hates this.

[frawniemae]

Maybe Brett will be buddies weith another "slow reader". that may help him overcome any trepidation he might have. At any rate maybe that his having to read out loud to someone will help his reading improve...youknow... a boost in confidence or something. Book Buddies is a great program!

[svecki]

When Kyle was about 7 he had some neighbor kids over while dad was sleeping(3rd shift). They thought baby powder would make our treadmill go faster. I came home to a white floor and wall in the basement. Was very angry. Thankfully, Kyle (my baby) is starting his Junior year. He has some tough classes and will be challenged.

Lion, I can sympathize with you. My 2 oldest (twins) did not complete HS. One expelled for drug possesion and the other was in the LD program and it seemed all the teachers except 1 only wanted to get him through. He got so frustrated he stopped going. On a good note, they are both working online to get their diplomas and should be done by the end of the year. Hang in there with DJ and always remember that sometimes it gets worse before it gets better. I have learned that a lot with the twins.

[Fuel]

We start tomorrow. Please send happy thoughts and prayers to Charlie. He's excited about his new teacher, but he's starting having nightmares. The nightmares are about alien attacks (not school), but my Psych 101 is telling me that it's just all that anxiety coming out in dream form.


Uh-oh, not a good sign. Hopefully he has a good start and no new triggers.


She does have MS. There was a small hesitation in placing Charlie with Miss R because of the possibility of her missing a lot, but in the end, we decided that she really was the perfect person for him.

Hopefully she will not miss much time. I think if she does, having subs will cause Charlie problems.

[Gabby]

He had two good days. The power went out this afternoon (which is a phobia of his) and the support staff ran down to make sure he was okay. He was just fine. :) Hooray!

Looks like I have some good classes. It's amazing that you can get a "personality read" on a class in only one day.

[AvecLion]

Gabs,

So far DJ is OK. That's only because of a scheduling fluke - the school wants to give the freshmen time to adjust to academics before going to the every other week schedule, so he's been in shop since school started and still has another week and a half to go before he starts academics.

Oh, and ummm, he also just added something else to the mix. A girlfriend.

Oh this is going to be so much fun.