<p>Now that I've looked more closely (funny how seeing all those Fs and 0s can blind one), each of the French homework assignments for the first quarter that are not graded as 0 are A+. Shame on me for not having a discussion with S2 sooner. Looks like good dinner conversation tonight over our "Breakfast for Dinner" (DH teaches at the CC on Tuesday nights). And I like the suggestion of copying all assignments.</p>
<p>I like the suggestion of copying all assignments as well, and I think I'm going to start doing that. Unfortunately, last year, S lost one of his projects (on posterboard) somewhere in the school (I know he had it with him in the morning). He was supposed to bring it straight to that teacher's room when he arrived in the morning, but he forgot and carried it with him throughout the day and then left it somewhere - you'd think one of his teachers would have said something, as the project had his name on it! Unfortunately, that type of thing can't be copied.</p>
<p>Good luck, Archiemom. I hope that if your S actually did the assignments, that he still has them!</p>
<p>Sigh. I may have to stop reading the paper ... but I can't because we need to know. Latest news from CA is the possibility of reduced enrollment as well as increased costs for the 23 campus CSU system and the 9 campus UC system. Right at the same time students may be choosing to stay closer to home due to roiling financial markets.</p>
<p>Will this be more an impact for the '09 or '10 group of students? Thank goodness my DS is focused and "tending to his knitting" AKA classwork.</p>
<p>Uh oh. We've got a little trigonometry issue at our house. </p>
<p>Son just got a 52% on a unit test. The unit was identities. The 3 identities quizzes before the test were 90, 72, and 50. If it weren't for the 100's on hw, he'd be in really bad shape. </p>
<p>Son's convinced that he can reverse the trend now that identities are behind him. There are 6 weeks remaining in the quarter, so I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt. At least for a week or two. </p>
<p>The teacher says identities are NOT gone forever, so I'm kinda worried. Stay tuned. (And cross your fingers, please.) </p>
<p>(He earned a 91 for Q1.)</p>
<p>FindAPlace - that doesn't sound like good news for kids relying on the state schools - but I'm sure it's going to be like that all over the country. So, a scary time for all of us as far as finances and college choice are concerned.</p>
<p>DougBetsy - sorry to hear about your son's problems in trig. I hope that his problems are truly over - or that he can get someone to help him understand identities before they get back to them. </p>
<p>We're having math issues of our own, but with my 7th grader. He got a 56 on his most recent test (and has had similar grades to your son's on his other exams). The fact that he has handed in all of his HW assignments has worked in his favor as well. While I realize that a bad grade in 7th grade isn't as serious as a bad grade in 11th grade, it will determine whether he's allowed to stay in the accelerated math program. D has volunteered to tutor him, and I have made him promise to go to his math teacher for assistance at least once a week (something that is offered by our school a few mornings a week). Hopefully, he'll get himself back on track - otherwise, I will let them switch him to regular math - but it means changing his entire schedule around, so Im hoping it doesn't come to that.</p>
<p>Good luck DougBetsy, and my fingers are crossed - for your son and mine!</p>
<p>archiemom,
With kids with ADD-inattentive, I have to admit that I also assumed it was the disorganized, absent-minded kid's fault. On the other hand, I have heard enough teachers complain about the online grading system over the past three years that I now think there are other factors at work: a) there are a sizeable number of teachers who are uncomfortable with technology in any shape or form; and b) there is a real lack of training on these grading systems. Of course, what school system wants to pay subs while teachers are out of the classroom learning this stuff, and before school starts is crammed with other necessary tasks...</p>
<p>Before the online grading system was implemented, both kids had to turn in papers to a common file for the teacher's class -- it was amazing how often the teacher said "I never got it," and then my kids (even the non-techy one) had to show them where it had been submitted, on time.</p>
<p>DougBetsy, trig identities are the worst part of that level of math. S1 got them via osmosis, but his best friend, who is a genius in many things, had to re-learn them every time he had to take a test. S2 slogged his way through with them the first time in Alg II, but in pre-Calc he remembered most of them and was fine.</p>
<p>I used to (and still occasionally do) copy worksheets and big assignments because both kids would lose them (and more importantly, the instructions and grading rubric). S1 wanted a scanner with the printer he took to college just for that purpose. S2's teachers this year are better than any others he's had so far at putting stuff online.</p>
<p>Not to discourage anyone ... but we tried the copy trick. It helped some, but when one project was copied, the copy copied, and the third time and it never got graded... was it the kid or the teacher? I think it actually was the kid rebelling in a silent fashion. Not saying YOUR kids are doing that at all! But just FYI, and to whine I guess.</p>
<p>For the math identities ... flash cards in the back of the car, everyday review on the way to school. You really need those cold for further movement in math, plus knowing them fast for the SAT is useful.</p>
<p>Thanks for the understanding and encouragement, everyone. This too shall pass. </p>
<p>
[quote]
For the math identities ... flash cards in the back of the car, everyday review on the way to school. You really need those cold for further movement in math, plus knowing them fast for the SAT is useful.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>My thoughts exactly. We're flying to Disney World for Thanksgiving week. Guess what Son will be doing on the plane down and back. :P</p>
<p>I have had both child and teacher responsible for missing work. My D has screamed and sworn up and down she handed in assignments that were later found on the bottom of her knapsack. However, D also had zeros given for tests where I remember having seen a graded paper. Luckily my D never throws anything out until the end of the school year, so I was always able to go to the teacher with her own handwriting on the test grading it (3X with one teacher).</p>
<p>I am not quick to blame anyone anymore. In fact, I am tired of blame. I just want problems fixed quickly and efficiently. The sooner I catch mistakes, the sooner they can be taken care of. That's why I am a big fan of the electronic grades.</p>
<p>About the Trig Identities, he will absolutely need to know them later on if he continues with Math. This is one of those times where pure memorization (of which I am not generally a fan) can help. Use those flashcards.</p>
<p>Have fun in Disneyworld!</p>
<p>DougBetsy - sounds like a fun plane ride for S ;). But I'm sure Disney will more than make up for the not so fun study time.</p>
<p>Hi Esobay and CountingDown!</p>
<p>
[quote]
I am not quick to blame anyone anymore. In fact, I am tired of blame. I just want problems fixed quickly and efficiently. The sooner I catch mistakes, the sooner they can be taken care of.
[/quote]
</p>
<p>Hear, hear. After one more discussion with S2 (and promised to be the last), it is clearly a combination of (from esobay)
[quote]
I think it actually was the kid rebelling in a silent fashion
[/quote]
and some disorganization on the teacher's part. We did discover some graded homework returned and in S2's french notebook. So we can't go back and redo 1st quarter, but we (me & S2) can pay more attention during this marking period. </p>
<p>It's exasperating that S2 went from "excited to take French all the way through AP French V next year" to hating French IV enough to ignore the homework and risk the GPA. Unfortunately he's my stubborn child.</p>
<p>I hear you. Here in CA, they have a honor society called the CA Scholars Federation (I think that's it; I know the acronym is CSF.) Anyway, after the semester, the student is required to fill out the (simple) form to show they qualified and append a copy of the related report card ... and turn it in by a specified date. They usually give the kids three weeks to do this. This week, I was the village nag to my DS to JUST TURN IT IN since he filled it out day one, but it migrated to the bottom of the backpack.</p>
<p>And today I had to scurry at lunchtime to get more film and clear sheets at the photo store, since this was somehow not communicated over the weekend ... whilst we were out driving hither and yon to rack up time for the driver's license.</p>
<p>Yes, I found S2's 120 hours of summertime community service form in the bottom of his backpack a few weeks ago. It was returned for "more reflection." Wonder how much reflecting goes on in the pit of a bookbag... Good thing he already has 4x the number of required hours completed (and submitted)!</p>
<p>Archiemom - your S probably could bring in those graded assignments to have the teacher change his grade - I'm pretty sure that would be allowed at my D's school. </p>
<p>FindAPlace - you're not alone - my kids do stuff like that all the time.</p>
<p>CD - LOL at "how much reflecting goes on iin the pit of a bookbag." How much community service is required by your son's school?</p>
<p>S2 needed 60, but had 245 already on record before the hours that were left in the bookbag. He did, however, get the IB paperwork done for the summer stuff, so about 40 of the bookbag hours will count for CAS. (He had to submit separate forms for the school system and IB.) </p>
<p>He can still count the summer hours for college apps, since he has all the documentation, etc. It's just that the school doesn't have them.</p>
<p>Counting Down, is there a reason for the school to have them? My D put the state-required hours into the school, but they have no idea what she does for community service outside of that. She will put it on her college app of course, and her supervisors will vouch for her if necessary, but I doubt it will be.</p>
<p>The only reason to continue submitting them is that there is some school system-wide recognition above a certain level, and some local scholarships that are based on community service may want the hours that are officially on record. It's just to cover the bases, mainly.</p>
<p>S1 only had the offical 60 recorded, but earned about another 100 that he never bothered submitting paperwork for, but were easily verifiable with the groups he was involved with.</p>
<p>IB CAS hours are another story, however. Those must reported through the school to IB.</p>
<p>CountingDown, my D also has a lot of community service hours that she didn't bother submitting to the school. She made sure the got the minimum amount approved each year, and then didn't think about it again. I'm sure if she needed documentation, she could have one of her supervisors write a letter for her.</p>
<p>To all parents with class of 2010 kids: really enjoy this Thanksgiving season, because things may be extra busy this time next year. I can just imagine the households here in CA with seniors, because Nov 30 is D Day for the UC system ... and most of the CSU, too, due to enrollment cuts.</p>
<p>FINDAPLACE^^</p>
<p>Ditto my sentiments! Fortunately, I'm getting away to Orlando next week without my two (2) children. I'm a long-time single dad. While I love my children dearly, the Fall season is SO maddening with marching band and football and many other things! I have a fantastic extended family that will assist with D and S, while I visit a sibling in Florida.</p>
<p>I know in 365 days, we will be finalizing EA or ED applications and trying to cull the RD list, so I am going to enjoy my five days of vacation next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</p>