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Tips and Advice for Not So New Parent...

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions ARCHIVES: Apr. 2007 ~ Jun. 2007: Parenting Place (ARCHIVES): Tips and Advice for Not So New Parents (ARCHIVE) users admin

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Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - 8:00 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Oh heck don't be embarrassed Spitfire, some kids are just uhm...lol, little spitfires! Dakota's the most obvious sick kid ever for the same reason, though with her it's that she sits still and really gets cuddly. It's not unusual for her to come sit with us for a bit or give hugs and be totally sweet, but when it lasts for awhile that's when you know.

Spitfire
Member

07-18-2002

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 9:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Spitfire a private message Print Post    
Wargod ya just gotta love em though!! Cuddles are good, I just wish they happen more often for a good length of time.

He woke up this morning with no fever but more of a runny nose. He still looks kinda tired but otherwise is back to normal. Thanks everyone for your answers and advise.

Mocha
Member

08-12-2001

Wednesday, March 28, 2007 - 10:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mocha a private message Print Post    
Yay runny nose should mean the infection is breaking up and coming out. i'd keep up the tylenol for today though just in case.

Vacanick
Member

07-12-2004

Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 7:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Vacanick a private message Print Post    
Kids' Mouth Rinse Recalled By Listerine

www.agentcoolblue.com

It's designed to help kids brush their teeth better, but it could make them sick. Listerine is voluntarily recalling its Agent Cool Blue Plaque-Detecting Rinse after finding that preservatives in the rinse did not guard against certain microorganisms.

So far, no illnesses have been reported but use of the rinse could be risky for those with weakened or suppressed immune systems.

Consumers should discontinue using the rinse, which tints plaque blue to help kids brush better. You can get a full refund by calling 1-888-222-0249 and mailing in the back label, including the UPC code. Additional information can be found at the product website www.agentcoolblue.com.

My son uses Agent Cool Blue. Just thought I'd pass on the information.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 7:53 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Well crap, so do my kids. In fact they just told me they need some more because their bottle is almost gone. Thanks Nick! I'll have to call the people I know whose kids use it too.

Jewels
Member

09-23-2000

Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 8:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jewels a private message Print Post    
Jake uses it too...thanks for posting this!

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Thursday, April 12, 2007 - 1:24 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
My DS uses it too -- thanks for the heads up!

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Monday, April 23, 2007 - 3:21 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Did ya'll know starting today is TV Turnoff Week? LOL, I didn't until I just read it, but what a great idea! We're going to start it tomorrow and see how many fun things we can come up with during the week while we keep the tv off.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 4:34 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Any tips for advice and pep talk to give a kid going to their first school dance?

The jr high Caleb is going to is having a dance next week for all the incoming sixth graders and he's very nervous about it. We have told him, as have the two neighbor girls who both go to this school, that most of the kids won't really pair up and dance, theres lots of chatting with friends and listening to music, but he's under the impression he's gonna have to dance.

I've also been pretty positive about it, how he'll have fun and get to spend time with his friends. Though in all honesty, I'm a bit torn about it myself. I think it's good he's going and has a chance to meet some of the kids he'll spend the next few years with and I do think he'll have fun once he gets there. On the other hand, these kids are 10 and 11 years old and that feels so young to be pushing them into boy/girl type situations. I'd be much happier if it was a picnic or something like that instead of a dance.

Justavice
Member

11-22-2005

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 5:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Justavice a private message Print Post    
Ten and eleven really does seem young for a dance... But something my mom used to tell me that helped was that if you are nervous about how you dance, just do whatever the person next to you is doing. And I think you are right, there will be very little pairing up to dance. Usually the guys stand around and the girls dance in groups. If you Tivo Oprah, she had a great show a few weeks ago where Gayle (who I guess had all the 80's moves, but nothing current) went to a dance class and then the instructor came on the show and showed the basics that anyone could do to look like they had some rhythm. I did notice you posted about his upcoming birthday party with family/friends. What about having music going and getting people of all ages to dance and just have fun so he can see what people do and how girls can dance with girls and group dancing, etc? I probably wouldn't make it something like a planned activity for the party, but maybe see if there is just a natural time to turn up the tunes and move around. It could kind of be a "practice" for him. Either way, I think it's awesome that he is able to talk to you about it.

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 6:49 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Oh, I like your moms advice. I truly don't think there will be a lot of dancing but thats a big part of his worry. One of my neighbors daughters (she's in the 8th grade) is going to the dance to pass out punch or something, so neighbor is going to drive the kids to the dance. I'm hoping maybe going with a girl he doesn't really think of as a girl will help to make him not so nervous about it.

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 7:09 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
I think they call it a dance because music is played, but even in 8th grade, the girls still dance with the girls and boy just sort of stand and sway! LOL

Mamie316
Member

07-08-2003

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 7:27 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mamie316 a private message Print Post    
One of my daycare boys just went to the 6th grade dance and I think it was more of kids just hanging with their friends and goofing around. There really wasn't much boy/girl dancing.

Eris
Member

11-13-2003

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 7:42 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eris a private message Print Post    
My kiddo went to a dance while we were living in Georgia. It was just for the 3-6th graders. She had a blast. There was very little dancing, but a lot of laughs and good times. As soon as the lights went down they all let loose. The girls all danced together but there were no "couples" don't think they are really into that yet at that age, thank gawd

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Tuesday, May 22, 2007 - 10:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Well hopefully it will be a great experience for him. We're trying to encourage as much school involvement for him as possible. Because of our school boundaries, half his classmates he's had his whole school career will be going to the other jr high, including most of the group of close friends he has. And he always does better in school when he's more involved.

Julieboo
Member

02-05-2002

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 5:38 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Julieboo a private message Print Post    
One tip that does not have to do with this question directly, but my parents always said (and they are a teacher, a principal and parents of 5) is that if you have a kid that is a little shy, that getting them involved in band is a great thing.

My dh's cousin was a little awkward and did not have that good of grades. Well, when he was a freshman (or maybe a sophomore) he got into band and ever since then he has been a different kid. He has fun because he is involved with other kids and activities. The school he goes to is very active with their band and even his grades have improved dramatically....

SO there is my 2 cents for today...

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 8:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
We noticed a dramatic improvement in grades and overall attitude about school when he was on the track team earlier this year, Julie. And as he tried out for both Basketball and Soccer he continued to do well. Hasn't been doing so well the last four weeks or so so he now has to bust his butt the last couple weeks of school.

We're unsure about band. They offer both band and guitar, both of which are a year long commitment and both of which are electives. He wants to do guitar and we're all for it. Except, we may have no choice. Apparently, one of the rumors Caleb came home and told us (and we thought he was overeggarating at least) turned out to be true. At the elementary level, if kids don't reach the proficient level in the state and federal testing, the kids are invited to attend intercession and may end up with a tutor the following year. Well he came home and told us that if he didn't make proficient in either reading or math he would have to take double classes next year. I talked to his teacher and found out that is true! If they don't make proficient in math, they will lose their elective the following year and have to take two math classes. Or reading. Or both (she wasn't quite sure how it'd work if they had to do both because as far as she knew there wasn't another class they could take away to add the second one. Caleb's problem is that even though he's in the second highest math group (but tested at a basic level,) his tests results in math at least don't match up with his knowledge of the subject. We go through this at the begining of every school year too where they give the kids proficiency tests and he usually does poorly enough to end up in the lower groups for math, reading/writing. Then they get him in class and within a week or two I'm getting a note home that says clearly he didn't belong in those groups and he's been moved up. Until these test results come in, we're on pins and needles waiting to see if he'll get an elective next year or if he'll be stuck taking two math classes..sigh. Have I mentioned lately how much I hate the damn state/federal testing?

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 9:08 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
It's frustrating how some kids perform better in testing situations than others, as it doesn't necessarily reflect actual knowledge and understanding.

I know kids who do extremely well on tests but can't remember anything about the subject two weeks later.

Eris
Member

11-13-2003

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 9:54 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Eris a private message Print Post    
Thats just unfair...My kiddo has been in the GATE program since the 2nd grade...and what I don't understand is why kids who are so called "gifted" get to have special treatment while the "normal" kids get left out in the cold...

What I mean is that I think any child would benefit greatly from the curriculum my daughter gets...the work is really geared towards each child individually...they get a lot of one on one with the teacher...they get extra time to complete things...i could go on and on...i've always said that my daughter does better in school not because she is "gifted" but because we were lucky enough to get her in a program that really works with her individual learning abilities and needs. It seems utterly ridiculous to me that all kids don't get this same treatment...instead most are thrown into a cookie cuter mold curriculum and if they can't stay on track they lose out

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 10:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
Uh huh. With Dakota, we know the reading portions will be low and her tests are pretty accurate. She'll score low on reading comprehension but high on vocab and that's how she is. That's a different kind of frustration cuz no matter how hard she works, how hard we work and her teachers to help her, it's still a struggle.

Caleb has serious anxiety over these types of tests (usually not with regular ones) and I think sometimes he gives up before he even starts. Then he rushes through and doesn't go back to check his work, making simple mistakes he shouldn't make (which is disastorous on the math portions.)

Jimmer
Moderator

08-30-2000

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 10:13 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Jimmer a private message Print Post    
I had a friend at school who was like that. In fact, he was absolutely brilliant in math but he would get tense and make simple mistakes on tests. If he wasn't so distraught, it would have been amusing. He'd get his test back and he'd be sitting there cursing away. When I asked him how he did he'd say something like, "I got a friggin' 93%. Screwed up again!!!"

(Well ... my friend was an extreme case)

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 5:58 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
"It seems utterly ridiculous to me that all kids don't get this same treatment"

Blame budget cuts, overemphasis on "standardized testing" (i.e. - cookie cutter assessment), and NCLB. Add to that classes w/35-40 kids (and 6 classes per day) and there is no way ONE teacher can individualize 200 different students' lessons; heck, we can't even afford computers that aren't 8 years old! It's most frustrating, and if there were is EVER a presidential candidate that will throw out testing, I'll vote for him/her no matter what! LOL

I second the band advice. My DS is not very athletic, and even though he is a good student, band has helped his self-confidence and given him new friends and achievements. He's quieter, but band doesn't require talking, either. :-) Perfect match all the way around!

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Wednesday, May 23, 2007 - 7:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
LOL Teach, me too (about the presidential candidate throwing out testing!)

I've posted about this before, but at our school what they do is at the begining of the year they give proficiency exams to all the kids. Then the teachers for each grade level get together, discuss each students scores and they seperate them into groups for Reading, Writing, and Math. Far below basic, below basic, basic, proficient, advanced (though they give them color names or letters of the alphabet.) When they have those subjects, they go to the teacher who teaches their group so that everyone in the class is at or around the same level. Throughout the year they do the exams three times (at begining of each trimester) plus they review in between times, if a student has improved they will be moved up a group or if they're struggling will be moved down. It works out pretty good for the most part because the teachers can go as slow or fast as their group needs to go and none of the students are bored to death or struggling to keep up. Not the same as tailoring lessons for each individual student, but they are able to tailor them for each group. Caleb's math group has already finished the fifth grade math book (that happened right around the third or fourth week of this last trimester) and have moved on to some more advanced math. Dakota's reading/spelling group goes through a story and spelling/vocab list every 2-2 1/2 weeks (they do more studying and a very thourough discussion) while the more advanced groups do it in one week.

The one thing this breaking into groups that I hate is that as a parent, you don't have as much chance to keep in contact with the different teachers. I talk to their homeroom teachers every day, I know if they've worked extra hard, if they've been slacking, or if the teacher has a minor concern. Heh, it's probably preparing me for jr high where I won't have the chance to talk to each teacher every day, but I love being able to keep up on that type of stuff, it's my kid, I wanna know everything that they are going through. Good, bad, minor problems, big problems.

Teachmichigan
Member

07-22-2001

Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 1:59 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Teachmichigan a private message Print Post    
Do they do this at the jr high level, too? My DS was in all advanced groups in elementary, but this year it's all clumped in one again. I understand (and support) why middle/high schools don't track, but I tell ya' - it's the upper kids that get the short end of the stick. With tracking, the lower end kids don't do as well, but without it, the upper kids are bored. Wish someone would invent a perfect education system and teach the rest of us how to do it!

Texannie
Member

07-16-2001

Thursday, May 24, 2007 - 3:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Texannie a private message Print Post    
Do you know have different academic levels? In middle school and high school we have academic, PreAP, and PreAP/GT. Academic level is your basic student, PreAP used to be called honors and it's an excellerated track. PreAP/GT is the same as PreAP except it's taught in the GT model and you have to test to qualify.
And it's not an all or nothing program but more course based, especially in high school. You can be in Academic or PreAP classes. GT kids have the option of all 3 levels. This way you are not struggling in classes that are not your forte, but able to excel and be challenged in your strengths.
In middle school, they are tied La/SS and Science/Math.