Daily Chat Showing 4,901-4,950 of 13,123

[[deleted user]]

Thanks, Maude. Lisa, we just had our first anniversary. I started the group so I know everyone really well, and I think they would understand. Yes, others have not finished before. However, I have decided to push through because I don't want to feel like the odd man out at the meeting. It's really a short book so I should just do it.

[[deleted user]]

I have a nervous stomach over this meeting. I hope that I don't throw up on anyone.

[[deleted user]]

It looks like (according to GR people) this book is supposed to pick up after the first third. That's about where I am...let's see if it's true.

[Manybooks]

Lisa wrote: "Christine, if you really can't enjoy it at all, maybe you should stop. How long has your group been meeting? Do members sometimes not finish books? If members have contacts between meetings, can yo..."

I think you should stop reading it. You can always discuss during your book club meeting precisely "why" you stopped reading the book; that fact itself might lead to some interesting discussions. And, you know, this is supposed to be fun, right. Personally, I have had to read and finish more than enough unenjoyable books (both fiction and analysis) for university literature courses etc. that if I am reading a book for pleasure (and/or for a club read) and I really cannot stand the book, I will sometimes just stop (not always, but more and more often).

Btw, good luck at your meetings today!!

[Brenda]

Christine if you feel so strongly that you should finish the book then maybe you should. I also think that you should comment on what it is that you didn't like about the book. I think it would lead to some interesting discussion as well. That is sort of the point of a reading group to share thoughts and ideas and yours should be valued as well. Different perspectives is what brings the spice to a discussion otherwise we would all be saying the same things. Best of luck on your meeting today as well hope it goes the way you want.

[[deleted user]]

I agree with Gundula & Brenda -- put the book down. Just tell everyone at the group why and go from there.

Do you have another meeting at school today with the dreaded teacher? I missed that in the thread somehow? I figured dropping a book wasn't barf-worthy! Good luck and stay the course, Christine!

[[deleted user]]

The meeting that I mentioned yesterday was for today. I just choose to extend my anxiety as much as possible. The meeting today is with that teacher and three other people at the school. I just know this is going to be turned around on him needing meds (and trust me, I know this boy...he is doing fine without them). Hopefully a calm and happy Christine will report back later. Otherwise, watch for me on the news as "Crazed mother bombards teacher with stale, rock-hard cupcakes".

[[deleted user]]

Don't forget the goopy frosting! I hope this teacher listens to reason, because I know no one knows Benjamin better than you do. Good luck!

[Manybooks]

Christine wrote: "The meeting that I mentioned yesterday was for today. I just choose to extend my anxiety as much as possible. The meeting today is with that teacher and three other people at the school. I just k..."

Good luck with the meeting!! I actually think you might need to bring in some heavy artillery to these meetings if the teachers etc. refuse to listen to you or to reason (like, maybe some of the healthcare professionals and doctors etc. who work with your son). I hope the school cannot force you to do anything you don't want to do, but if they are going to play hardball, you need to respond in kind.

[[deleted user]]

Jeannette wrote: "Don't forget the goopy frosting! I hope this teacher listens to reason, because I know no one knows Benjamin better than you do. Good luck!"

I just looked up his classwork on the school's parent access center, and he is getting A's in every subject except her class. They can't make a case for meds on that.

[[deleted user]]

Gundula,
Since I was a speech pathologist in the schools in this state, luckily I know the laws well. I feel pretty confident with today. If it doesn't go well then I will indeed get some other support.

[Manybooks]

Christine wrote: "Jeannette wrote: "Don't forget the goopy frosting! I hope this teacher listens to reason, because I know no one knows Benjamin better than you do. Good luck!"

I just looked up his classwork on ..."

Well, obviously this teacher is just bad news. On the other hand, you don't want to antagonise her too much (you don't want her to take her frustrations out on your son). Is there any way that Benjamin can get out of taking her class?

I'm glad that you know the laws and regulations, I think they (and the teacher from Hell) will discover that they cannot simply bully people.

[Brenda]

Christine throw that CCC-SLP around a little and wow them with titles and articles from ASHA! (I'm a speech pathologist too) You certainly do have the knowledge on your side and know Benjamin the best. Gook luck to you!

[[deleted user]]

I would like to see this teacher removed from their job. A straight A student who is doing poorly in one class. Well, it seems rather obvious where the problem lies. Sometimes people decide they are the expert and don't accept any evidence to the contrary. Very sad, indeed.

[[deleted user]]

Brenda wrote: "Christine throw that CCC-SLP around a little and wow them with titles and articles from ASHA! (I'm a speech pathologist too) You certainly do have the knowledge on your side and know Benjamin the ..."

You are?! Cool!! I haven't worked in the field since Benjamin was a baby (he needed too much time in therapy and in the hospital for me to manage working), but it came in handy with his processing problems when I homeschooled. What setting do you work in?

[[deleted user]]

Jeannette wrote: "I would like to see this teacher removed from their job. A straight A student who is doing poorly in one class. Well, it seems rather obvious where the problem lies. Sometimes people decide they..."

They have to know what kind of teacher they have in her, but there probably isn't anything that they can do about it.

[[deleted user]]

Gundula wrote:On the other hand, you don't want to antagonise her too much (you don't want her to take her frustrations out on your son). "

I hear you, I always keep that in mind. I'll be good, Gundula. ;)

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "I would like to see this teacher removed from their job. A straight A student who is doing poorly in one class. Well, it seems rather obvious where the problem lies. Sometimes people decide they..."

I would like to see the same thing happen, but I guess I was too much of a coward to voice it.

[Manybooks]

Christine wrote: "Gundula wrote:On the other hand, you don't want to antagonise her too much (you don't want her to take her frustrations out on your son). "

I hear you, I always keep that in mind. I'll be good, ..."

Don't be too good though ...

[Brenda]

I haven't worked in sometime but when I did I worked with young adults who had sustained head injuries. The work was very rewarding and I loved my job, employers and clientele. Unfortunately, we needed to move away from the area. Now I am blessed that I get to spend my time as a mom.

[Lisa]

Christine wrote: "I have a nervous stomach over this meeting. I hope that I don't throw up on anyone."

Well, if it does pick up after the first third, you may end up liking it. One thing I love about book club is that it gets me to read books I wouldn't have read otherwise. Of course, if it doesn't improve, putting it down might be best. And why nervous? Maybe other members will not have liked it or not have finished it.

A straight A student who is doing poorly in one class. Well, it seems rather obvious where the problem lies.

As far as the bad teacher, it's such a shame when they can't do anything. A friend of mine has a daughter who had an abusive math teacher freshman year of high school and when it was discussed with the school/counselor-office, all they did was promise they'd make sure she didn't get him again as a teacher. But that term she was stuck, as were all the kids every term who had him. Ugh!

[[deleted user]]

So, if they promise all the kids they won't get the guy next year, will he be sitting in an empty room? So dumb.

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "So, if they promise all the kids they won't get the guy next year, will he be sitting in an empty room? So dumb."

I bet that the next term, the kids would have him as a teacher again; nothing ever changes with bad teachers, it seems. One of my math teachers used to pelt me with chalk pieces because I was not good at math; if you could not get an answer to a question, bombs away. To be honest, I did sometimes daydream in class and once he caught me reading Judy Blume's Forever but that was only because I was bored and he only had time and patience for students who were good at math (and, basically he thought I was lazy and did not apply myself, he could not figure out how I could get 90s in French and 40s in math, so he thought I was simply not trying, that I might actually have a problem with numeracy, pattern recognition and executive functions never occurred to anyone).

[[deleted user]]

Well, you are preaching to the choir, so to speak, since that's one of the reasons I decided to homeschool. If my daughter had a problem with her teacher I knew that I was to blame! If she had trouble with a class, same thing applied. Of course, I've had DH as a backup for math and science. He still uses it everyday, and I've forgotten a lot of it.

[[deleted user]]

Lisa wrote: And why nervous?"

Haha! I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. I am nervous about the school meeting. I would never throw up on my bookclub!

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "Well, you are preaching to the choir, so to speak, since that's one of the reasons I decided to homeschool. If my daughter had a problem with her teacher I knew that I was to blame! If she had tr..."

Math was always such a pain, and I could never explain why I was so good at certain subjects and so absolutely lousy (even with studying my brains out) at others. I always knew there was something not quite right, because getting a 40% discrepancy (or even more at times) between my verbal capabilities and my non-verbal capabilities (especially things like math and physics) seemed more than being "better at certain subjects than others."

So, now, after having done my PhD, but having a heck of a time publishing and/or finding a job in academia or anywhere else, I finally took the bull by the horn and got an assessment done for potential learning disorders. I still have to digest the findings of the final report and I am not sure that I agree with all of the results, but the report basically states that I have NLD (Nonverbal Learning Disorder), which would certainly explain my distractibility, lack of coordination, as well as my problems with math and complex concepts and patterns.

One of the problems I am facing right now is that almost all of the books on NLD are geared towards children, I need to find some information geared towards adults, especially those of us diagnosed later in life. I have to admit that I was a bit shocked at the results, but not really that surprised, 88th percentile in verbal comprehension, 12th percentile in perceptual comprehension, and only 5th percentile in working memory (I really cannot remember patterns and numbers).

So basically , my verbal skills are post graduate, even post college, but my math skills are at about the grade six level, which is interesting, as grade six was the last time I actually had reasonably good math grades. Sorry, for this rant, I was just brainstorming a bit, and if anyone has any ideas, suggestions (also how to deal with family members who think I'm just being lazy), and books to read, I would really appreciate it.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I'm sure I made my parents want to tear their hair out.

Math was my real problem area. These days I suspect I'd have been identified as "LD" in math in about second grade. (I couldn't subtract then, and haven't learned in the years since then. I do something else that gets the job done, but it's not actually subtraction. At 7, I hadn't figured the other thing out yet, either.)

The maddening thing was I was always 8 or 9 (on a scale of 10) in "math concepts" and a 4 or 5 in execution. I knew what I wanted to do, and just couldn't do it!

Luckily for me, I had a superb math teacher in 5th and 6th grades, after a very poor one in 4th grade.

[Manybooks]

Susanna wrote: "I'm sure I made my parents want to tear their hair out.

Math was my real problem area. These days I suspect I'd have been identified as "LD" in math in about second grade. (I couldn't subtract t..."

Susanna, that sounds so familiar, it is actually frightening. I still use my fingers to count (and, I sometimes still do math in German). And, for me, it was usually also the execution that was a problem. In Chemistry, I would know what I was doing, but then I would forget a negative sign or not see something obvious and screw up my whole answer. I was lucky in grade 11, I had a really great math teacher and I got in the 60s and low 70s (don't laugh, for me that was like getting 90s in French). I was also lucky that the Canadian university I was applying to, wanted grade 11 math, and not grade 12 math (I don't think they would have accepted me with my grade 12 math, I had "chalk thrower man" again, with obvious results). And, in physics, I just could not derive formulas, I passed because a friend of mine derived all the possible variants for me, and I spent ages memorising them before the final.

And, I cannot do word problems in math. I don't know why, but I sometimes wonder if it is because when we started word problems at around grade four, I could not understand English that well (and, of course, I've always thought of math as boring).

[[deleted user]]

I found three different links on the web. Since I don't know if you know about them, Gundula, I will copy them here. They all have links to other resources and online forums.

http://www.nldontheweb.org/
http://www.nldline.com/
http://www.nlda.org/index.php?src=

My poor daughter had the hardship of having parents who both studied math in college. She does well in math, but it is so much work for her. She definitely doesn't see a problem the way I do. I had to constantly reassure her that she wasn't "bad" at math, because she would get discouraged and frustrated.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

If the word problem is "one train leaves Chicago..." my brain freezes! ::shudder::

I, also, still use my fingers to count sometimes.

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "I found three different links on the web. Since I don't know if you know about them, Gundula, I will copy them here. They all have links to other resources and online forums.

http://www.nldonthe..."

Thanks for the links, Jeannette, I will put some bookmarks on them and check them out, I always need more information.

You know, I think if I had had different teachers, and if my father had not thought of my dreaminess and lack of math concept comprehension as a sign of laziness, I might have done better. My father is actually quite talented in math, but he has no patience and if I asked him for help with my homework, I always ended up getting insulted (so, I stopped showing him my work).

[[deleted user]]

My daughter is lousy with addition! But, I think everyone hates word problems!

[Manybooks]

Susanna wrote: "If the word problem is "one train leaves Chicago..." my brain freezes! ::shudder::

I, also, still use my fingers to count sometimes."

Me too, and they had a lot of these types of problems when I was doing my assessment, yuck.

[Susanna - Censored by GoodReads]

I believe the one nightmare that my mother and I share (and joke about) is being stuck in geometry class again.

[[deleted user]]

ha! I think the worst class I ever had to endure was chemistry -- which I barely got a C in. The professor was a holy terror.

[Lisa]

Christine wrote: "Lisa wrote: And why nervous?"

Haha! I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. I am nervous about the school meeting. I would never throw up on my bookclub!"

Ah, most likely my fault. I tend to end up skimming this thread. Good luck!!!

Jeannette wrote: "So, if they promise all the kids they won't get the guy next year, will he be sitting in an empty room? So dumb."

Well, He was particularly cruel (true verbal abuse in my opinion) to her. And she was a freshman. So, if they stick him with mostly freshman classes or classes only he teaches, not much recourse there. It's a shame. Kids always know when teachers love the kids and love their jobs. And teachers should quit when they stop feeling that way!!!

[Maude]

Chemistry and Algebra 3 were my waterloo. In chemistry, the teacher gave me a make-up test because I failed the first one. He then left the room. With shame I admit I looked at the answers he had left on his desk (it is possible he did not want me in another chemistry class). I only used two of the answers, no sense getting an A - all would be exposed! So I got a C. I loved Algebra I and II but for some reason I did not understand much about Algebra III. In this case, I went to the teacher and told him if he gave me a C I would promise to never take math again - he did and I didn't! And just for the record that was the ONLY time I ever cheated in school.

[[deleted user]]

Good morning comfies! I have to run Emma to school so I'll post later, but I wanted to let you know that the meeting went okay yesterday. They didn't attempt to make a case for meds because I told them why I wasn't doing that, and I told them right away. He can't be removed from that teacher since she is the only special ed language arts resource teacher, but he will be getting more support from the assistants, and his case manager is going to be monitoring things more in the classroom. It's not done, but this was a good first step. I'm going to see how this goes.

[Brenda]

Yeah! It does sound encouraging Christine. As you said at least it is a first step! Way to go Benjamin's mom.

[Manybooks]

Christine wrote: "Good morning comfies! I have to run Emma to school so I'll post later, but I wanted to let you know that the meeting went okay yesterday. They didn't attempt to make a case for meds because I told ..."

I guess it's a case of so far, so good, but obviously, the teacher does need to be monitored more. Good luck with everything.

[[deleted user]]

I'm off early to watch the baby today. I started my new book last night, and it was wonderful to be happy to be reading again. I still don't get those reviews, sheesh.

Jeannette, I hope you will be posting a few of those senior pictures when you can. I wanna see!

Have a great start, comfies!

[Manybooks]

Christine wrote: "I'm off early to watch the baby today. I started my new book last night, and it was wonderful to be happy to be reading again. I still don't get those reviews, sheesh.

Jeannette, I hope you will..."

Well, I've read books that I've liked and many others have hated and vise versa. It often depends on your own likes and dislikes, but in some cases, it also depends on your mood, recent experiences and your life experiences.

I just made a discovery about myself, ha. I recently got a pile of interesting scientific documentaries and I've noticed that I remember the information better, if I put on the closed captions and both read and listen to the information. I know that according to the classic description of NLD, I am supposedly an auditory learner, but no, I am a visual and auditory learner, I need everything spelled out in clearly defined and clearly presented "writing." It is probably why I always made tonnes of detailed handouts when I was teaching German. It drove some of the other instructors batty, but my students loved them. In my opinion, no one learns grammar and correct language usage if the instructor only focuses on verbal communication and that, unfortunately, is the new "trend" in language teaching, as though grammar were evil. Sorry for my rant, I've been thinking about this all night (ever since finishing the DVD "The Adventure of English").

[[deleted user]]

I am finding that is the case with my Japanese studies. I am compiling written second copies of my notes, just to re-reinforce the lesson. I also ordered a grammar book. Some of the lessons give you new words or grammar and don't tell you why. I want to know why; it stays in my head longer if I do.

@Christine -- those wonderful senior pictures of my daughter are being sorted and touched-up on a computer that I don't have access to. If I knew where it was.....

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "I am finding that is the case with my Japanese studies. I am compiling written second copies of my notes, just to re-reinforce the lesson. I also ordered a grammar book. Some of the lessons give..."

I always need to know why as well. One of my German students , when I was teaching German at the University of Waterloo, told me that because of the fact that I actually explained the grammar and had them practice conjugating verbs etc. (and, no I did not simply make them recite verb tables, there are much better ways that combine grammar and fun), they were actually able to better understand English grammar (I was flattered, but it also angered me immensely that English grammar seems to have become almost something politically incorrect in the public school system, pretty sad, and a disservice to our students).

[[deleted user]]

It makes you feel like a dinosaur sometimes.

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "It makes you feel like a dinosaur sometimes."

I know, one of the reasons why I don't like teaching that much anymore, most of the modern textbooks are completely geared to communicative learning, there is as much one-sidedness with this approach as there used to be with the old grammar-translation approach. And, it often completely ignores students who need to learn a foreign language primarily for academic reading and writing knowledge (like graduate students who might require reading and writing knowledge of a second or sometimes even a third language for their degrees or their comprehensive exams). One of these days, I am going to write what I would consider "my" perfect German textbook, but that is going to be a while yet, and there are so many textbooks on the market ...

[[deleted user]]

There are so many "bad" textbooks on the market. You sound like a great teacher, Gundula! :)

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "There are so many "bad" textbooks on the market. You sound like a great teacher, Gundula! :)"

Thanks, I have not taught for a while, but the idea of creating better textbooks and resources for language teachers does appeal to me.

[[deleted user]]

I just ran smack into a problem I am having with my online Japanese class. I spent a whole week learning how to ask/answer when, where and why questions. The Japanese language marks sentence parts (like direct object, subject, etc) with little particle words. The first assignment for this next section dropped a new particle construct on me with no explanation. My daughter said, "Oh, they explain that later; the course is just like that. How will you ever learn anything if you have to question all this? Just accept it!" But I see it the other way. I want to know why it is, and then I can retain it. My daughter replied "Adults are so weird." which I did not find all that helpful. :P

She did explain some of it to me, and the teacher is very good about answering my multitude of questions. I certainly keep her from being bored.

[Manybooks]

Jeannette wrote: "I just ran smack into a problem I am having with my online Japanese class. I spent a whole week learning how to ask/answer when, where and why questions. The Japanese language marks sentence part..."

Jeannette, that would drive me bananas. I need to know how and why things work as well (explanations, and then a multitude of examples, including exceptions to the rules). And, I don't think it has anything to do with being an adult or being a child (or a teenager), more with how one learns and remembers things. I've also noticed with me that (although I really strive to include many different exercises, based on different learning styles, including some strange and alien to me) I tend to generally teach the way that I learn, otherwise I just end up confusing my students (but I do try to be as versatile as possible).