Elizabeth Hill

**

I see the Sylvan learning ads and they make me very sad.
> Those families seem SO cured and complete after they pay for tutoring.

**

I finally paid attention to this ad this morning. After she looks at the report card, the mom and her son exchange glances of love and approval. And the tragic thing is the implication that as long as the mom was seeing "bad" grades she was unable to love and approve of her son in the same way.

(Yes, I may be reading to much into this short scripted slice of fake life, but I thought you all would agree.)

Betsy




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[email protected]

> I see the Sylvan learning ads and they make me very sad.
> Those families seem SO cured and complete after they pay for tutoring.

***Yesterday I finally had the wonderful massage my good friend gave me at my
blessingway before I went on my hike to the Appalachian Trail. The masseuse
was telling me that she had homeschooled her son last year. Before that he
was in school and was getting F's. She said when she talked with people at his
school they were so concerned with the grades, and didn't listen to her when
she stated that her goal was to have her child grow up to be a decent human
being. Anyway, after one year at home (using materials thro the school system),
the child elected to go back to school for his high school years and is now
making A's. Like the mom said, she doesn't care about the grades, but it makes
school easier for her son to get better ones. She was sad that he didn't want
to stay at home.

Connie
www.homeschoolingreflections.com

>
>




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Kim & Jim Studzinski

Hi,
I'm new to the group. I've been lurking for a few weeks ... reading, enjoying and learning from your posts. I have a question that perhaps you can help me with. My son, who is 7, insists on stating what "grade" he is in. I'm sure that's largely because most of our friends are schooled. I tried to explain that we really don't have grades, just as we don't have school days, and non-school days. It's hard to make a 7 year old understand that his parents find value in everything he does, and we consider it all learning. Should I even try to stop the grade labeling, or just let him go with whatever makes him comfortable? I have the feeling it's more my discomfort with looking or sounding schoolish more than anything else. I'd love to hear anyone else's input/experience.
Kim

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sandra Dodd

-=-Should I even try to stop the grade labeling, or just let him go
with whatever makes him comfortable?-=-

I'd let it go.

Sometimes when people ask me I'll say "If she were in school she
would be... (whatever it is)." But a few times the kids have said
"sixth grade" or something rather than get into it, or "I would be in
sixth grade."

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Clarissa Fetrow

I have sympathy for kids about wanting to have a short answer to that
question. It's often the first, second or third question they are asked by
just about anybody they meet. I'd want a simple answer I can feel
comfortable with too, when I'm just bopping through life not wanting to
explain my entire lifestyle to someone.
I'm an adult and it's one of my favorite topics, and I still sometimes
choose to take the easy way out and not explain the grade thing to people we
are having brief contact with.

Clarissa



On Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 7:51 AM, Kim & Jim Studzinski <
kimjimstudz@...> wrote:

> Hi,
> I'm new to the group. I've been lurking for a few weeks ... reading,
> enjoying and learning from your posts. I have a question that perhaps you
> can help me with. My son, who is 7, insists on stating what "grade" he is
> in. I'm sure that's largely because most of our friends are schooled. I
> tried to explain that we really don't have grades, just as we don't have
> school days, and non-school days. It's hard to make a 7 year old understand
> that his parents find value in everything he does, and we consider it all
> learning. Should I even try to stop the grade labeling, or just let him go
> with whatever makes him comfortable? I have the feeling it's more my
> discomfort with looking or sounding schoolish more than anything else. I'd
> love to hear anyone else's input/experience.
> Kim
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Meghan Anderson-Coates

********************
 
-=-Should I even try to stop the grade labeling, or just let him go
with whatever makes him comfortable? -=-

I'd let it go.

Sometimes when people ask me I'll say "If she were in school she
would be... (whatever it is)." But a few times the kids have said
"sixth grade" or something rather than get into it, or "I would be in
sixth grade."

Sandra

********************
 
Tamzin usually just says ___ grade (whatever fits for her age at the time <g>) when someone asks her. She realized long ago that it was often an adults way of figuring out her age. If it's another homeschooler, she will say, "I'm not in a grade, we unschool. I'm ___ years old". Often it is easier for kids to give the 'expected' answer rather than going into a whole homeschooling/unschooling discussion.

Meghan
 

Too much rigidity on the part of teachers should be followed by a brisk spirit of insubordination on the part of the taught.
~ Agnes Repplier




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Sandra Dodd

-=-Tamzin usually just says ___ grade (whatever fits for her age at
the time <g>)-=-

OH!!! I just remembered something I had forgotten. When the kids
were really little we went by ages for grades, so at five someone
could start saying "kindergarten" and six meant "first grade" but it
was kind of a goof. It helped make the point that our "school years"
weren't really based on school's count at all, and that none of it
was real or pressing.

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Joylyn

yeah, i agree, i'd make it a non issue. Which it is...

Alexx and I went to LBCC to register her again--guess if you are 13, you have to reapply each semester, and also have an interview each semester. It's a bit annoying, but the classes are free. Anyway, technically, Alexx would be going into 8th grade. However, I've skipped her ahead. Now, we just put her back into 8th grade. why? because if she "graduates" she can't take college classes for free any more. So, it seemed, for the purposes of college, that she be back in 8th grade. Gives her more semesters at college for the free price.

Anyway, i would let him be whatever grade he wants. Janene, when she was 6, told everyone she was in the 6th grade. I never corrected her..., it was kinda cute.

Joylyn
---- Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
> -=-Should I even try to stop the grade labeling, or just let him go
> with whatever makes him comfortable?-=-
>
> I'd let it go.
>
> Sometimes when people ask me I'll say "If she were in school she
> would be... (whatever it is)." But a few times the kids have said
> "sixth grade" or something rather than get into it, or "I would be in
> sixth grade."
>
> Sandra
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

diana jenner

On Wed, Jul 23, 2008 at 6:26 PM, Joylyn <joylyn1@...> wrote:

> Anyway, i would let him be whatever grade he wants. Janene, when she was
> 6, told everyone she was in the 6th grade. I never corrected her..., it was
> kinda cute.
>
>
>
>


When Hayden was littler, around 6-7, and I was frantically abolishing
school-think, he'd tell people "We don't *do* school, so I'm in college" :D
--
~diana :)
xoxoxoxo
hannahbearski.blogspot.com


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Gwen

Megan used to say she was in kindergarten and 1st grade. Now she says she is in 1st grade and 2nd grade. For some reason 2nd grade is a big deal to her and it seems to hold some mystery or difficulty. I think it comes from the Jumpstart computer games. It took her awhile to master 1st grade and she seems to be worried about how difficult Jumpstart 2nd grade will be.

Lately, she has been playing Nintendogs quite a bit. Maybe this year she'll say she is in grade "Chihuahua and Friends" or grade "Dalmatian and Friends"

I think asking kids what grade they are in is an easy way for adults to figure out how old a child is and maybe gives them an opening for conversation.

It is impossible for Megan not to talk to people. She tells anyone who will listen her name, her sister's name, that we've recently moved to Oregon, that I sunburn easily, that she loves dim sum, and what pets we have. Her enthusiasm for everything can be overwhelming for some people. She's awesome. She's like a giant puppy (and she'd love the comparison because she's usually a dog or a cheetah or a bat or a kangaroo when we go out).

Gwen

Robin

Well, I already failed at Learn Nothing day for sure! I had the pleasure
of having to start researching legal stuff. My daughter received a summons
first thing this morning. After 7 1/2 years - my grandaughter's father
suddenly wants visitation! Oy, this could get interesting! (Great
opportunity for learning for all of us, though!) LOL


As always, Mi Vida Loca
Robin





-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Gwen
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 6:17 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] Re: grades


Megan used to say she was in kindergarten and 1st grade. Now she says she
is in 1st grade and 2nd grade. For some reason 2nd grade is a big deal to
her and it seems to hold some mystery or difficulty. I think it comes from
the Jumpstart computer games. It took her awhile to master 1st grade and
she seems to be worried about how difficult Jumpstart 2nd grade will be.

Lately, she has been playing Nintendogs quite a bit. Maybe this year she'll
say she is in grade "Chihuahua and Friends" or grade "Dalmatian and Friends"

I think asking kids what grade they are in is an easy way for adults to
figure out how old a child is and maybe gives them an opening for
conversation.

It is impossible for Megan not to talk to people. She tells anyone who will
listen her name, her sister's name, that we've recently moved to Oregon,
that I sunburn easily, that she loves dim sum, and what pets we have. Her
enthusiasm for everything can be overwhelming for some people. She's
awesome. She's like a giant puppy (and she'd love the comparison because
she's usually a dog or a cheetah or a bat or a kangaroo when we go out).

Gwen




------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links



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swissarmy_wife

There's a casting call near by for a new Ang Lee movie. It's about
Woodstock. That got my oldest son asking an awful lot of questions.
From Woodstock, to Jimi Hendrix, to hippies, to the vietnam war.
We've been surfing the net all morning.

Crap.

Sorry.



--- In [email protected], "Robin " <kyra40@...> wrote:
>
> Well, I already failed at Learn Nothing day for sure! I had the
pleasure
> of having to start researching legal stuff. My daughter received a
summons
> first thing this morning. After 7 1/2 years - my grandaughter's father
> suddenly wants visitation! Oy, this could get interesting! (Great
> opportunity for learning for all of us, though!) LOL
>
>
> As always, Mi Vida Loca
> Robin

Sandra Dodd

-=- I had the pleasure
of having to start researching legal stuff. My daughter received a
summons
first thing this morning.-=-

Summons to a hearing? To speak to a judge? What?
How old is she?

Is it your dad or her paternal grandfather?

(Don't tell us if you don't want to, but I'm fascinated by legal
trivia, and of course it's more fascinating when it's distant and
not up-close and personally scary.)

Sandra

Sandra Dodd

-=-There's a casting call near by for a new Ang Lee movie. It's about
Woodstock. That got my oldest son asking an awful lot of questions.
From Woodstock, to Jimi Hendrix, to hippies, to the vietnam war.
We've been surfing the net all morning.-=-



GOOD! I'm glad there will be another movie besides the documentary,
which is really interesting, and the actual footage is wonderful, but
I'd be interested in knowing a more retrospective view of it.

In the movie A Walk on the Moon there's a good Woodstock scene, with
Diane Lane and Viggo Mortensen.

It's not a great film, nor uplifting, so don't combine it with
anyone's "cheer up the family" plans. But for a 60's vision and a
bit of sexy (Seriously: Diane Lane plus Viggo Mortensen)... or just
to run it forward to the Woodstock part...

Sandra

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

swissarmy_wife

It's Taking Woodstock. Based on the memoirs of Elliot Tiber. Films
in August through October. Due out sometime in 2009.

We're going to check out the casting call. My kids might be too
young. But, they are looking for 60's era cars too. My husband wants
to make his car famous. ;-)




--- In [email protected], Sandra Dodd <Sandra@...> wrote:
>
> -=-There's a casting call near by for a new Ang Lee movie. It's about
> Woodstock. That got my oldest son asking an awful lot of questions.
> From Woodstock, to Jimi Hendrix, to hippies, to the vietnam war.
> We've been surfing the net all morning.-=-
>
>
>
> GOOD! I'm glad there will be another movie besides the documentary,
> which is really interesting, and the actual footage is wonderful, but
> I'd be interested in knowing a more retrospective view of it.
>
> In the movie A Walk on the Moon there's a good Woodstock scene, with
> Diane Lane and Viggo Mortensen.
>
> It's not a great film, nor uplifting, so don't combine it with
> anyone's "cheer up the family" plans. But for a 60's vision and a
> bit of sexy (Seriously: Diane Lane plus Viggo Mortensen)... or just
> to run it forward to the Woodstock part...
>
> Sandra
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

Nicole Willoughby

I think its is impossible to not learn anything at all in a day ( k so that was the point) but its really impossible when your son had a colonoscopy and an EDG today.

I got to see neat new machines. I dc'd his iv for them , talked to the dr, got pictures of the inside of his intestines, stomach and esophagus, and convinced the hospital that they didnt always have to follow protocol and we left 10 minutes after he was extubated.

Nicole



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Robin

My daughter's ex boyfriend. He has wanted nothing to do with this child
for 7 1/2 years. Last year the state ordered child support and now he wants
joint legal and physical custody as well as visitation.

As always, Mi Vida Loca
Robin





-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Sandra Dodd
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 12:02 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] Learn Nothing Day


-=- I had the pleasure
of having to start researching legal stuff. My daughter received a
summons
first thing this morning.-=-

Summons to a hearing? To speak to a judge? What?
How old is she?

Is it your dad or her paternal grandfather?

(Don't tell us if you don't want to, but I'm fascinated by legal
trivia, and of course it's more fascinating when it's distant and
not up-close and personally scary.)

Sandra

------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links



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6:59 AM

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Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.5/1570 - Release Date: 7/24/2008
6:59 AM

Robin

It's my daughter's ex boyfriend. He is suing my daughter for joint legal
and physical custody as well as visitation of her oldest daughter (my
grandaughter). He has wanted nothing to do with this child for 7 1/2
years. Last year the state ordered child support and now he wants joint
legal and physical custody as well as visitation.

As always, Mi Vida Loca
Robin





-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Sandra Dodd
Sent: Thursday, July 24, 2008 12:02 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: [AlwaysLearning] Learn Nothing Day


-=- I had the pleasure
of having to start researching legal stuff. My daughter received a
summons
first thing this morning.-=-

Summons to a hearing? To speak to a judge? What?
How old is she?

Is it your dad or her paternal grandfather?

(Don't tell us if you don't want to, but I'm fascinated by legal
trivia, and of course it's more fascinating when it's distant and
not up-close and personally scary.)

Sandra

------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links



No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 270.5.5/1570 - Release Date: 7/24/2008
6:59 AM

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6:59 AM

Melissa Dietrick

hi robin,
my friend here had this happen to her as well, the father (not
husband) refused to acknowlege the baby, but after 7 years (must be a
magical number) he sued for visitation rights etc...

He lost the case.
The judge thought that he was being absurd...considering the
circumstances.

i realize this is italy, so things are not exactly the same as in US--
I hope things work out for you all.
melissa






--- In [email protected], "Robin " <kyra40@...> wrote:
>
> It's my daughter's ex boyfriend. He is suing my daughter for joint
legal
> and physical custody as well as visitation of her oldest daughter (my
> grandaughter). He has wanted nothing to do with this child for 7 1/2
> years. Last year the state ordered child support and now he wants joint
> legal and physical custody as well as visitation.

MLewis

Woah. I hope your son is ok?

As for our learn nothing day: I drove Connor to Seattle and we picked
up a couple I found on Craig's List to share the ride. I had spoken
with the man and knew his name but not the woman's. When picking
them up I said "I'm sorry it's the 'first annual' Learn Nothing Day
so I won't ask for your name". The learning nothing pretty much went
downhill from there ;-)
Mary

--- In [email protected], Nicole Willoughby
<cncnawilloughby@...> wrote:
>
> I think its is impossible to not learn anything at all in a day ( k
so that was the point) but its really impossible when your son had a
colonoscopy and an EDG today.
>
> I got to see neat new machines. I dc'd his iv for them , talked
to the dr, got pictures of the inside of his intestines, stomach and
esophagus, and convinced the hospital that they didnt always have to
follow protocol and we left 10 minutes after he was extubated.
>
> Nicole
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

k

LOL!!! What a great way to break the ice. :)

~Katherine



On 7/25/08, MLewis <m9f9l@...> wrote:
>
> "I'm sorry it's the 'first annual' Learn Nothing Day
> so I won't ask for your name". The learning nothing pretty much went
> downhill from there ;-)
> Mary
>
>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Nicole Willoughby

Woah. I hope your son is ok?
>>>>>>>>>>>>

He's fine. Been having some long term stomach problems so it was time to go in and see what was going on. Also look biopsies on his esophagitis and for celiac disease.

He is severaly autistic and nonverbal though and was quite pissed when he woke up from surgery and realised he was still there. The hospital has their standard protocol of getting them woken up, making sure they can hold down some liquid, blah blah. Its all understandable for most kids. My son would have just gotten more and more upset trying to make me understand that he wanted to go , would have probably made himself throw up. Once he saw that we were going he calmed right down .



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]