All Purpose Rant Away Thread - 3.2.1 GO!

[beachdown]

Don't you mean a man...I mean how many have you experienced that do this? I can assure you that there are many women just as guilty, worse when they allow their stinky cat / dog to take up room (not that I'll ever sign up for pets in a relationship)

Men who hog the bed!

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[Midnightly]

I am so livid right now. Came home to try and calm down and be less emotional.

DD was moved into a different class again this year. She's now in the grade 1/2 split, when all her friends are in the straight grade 1 class.

Same thing happened last year. 4 students were moved from one of the jk/sk classes to the other and she was one of the 4. All of her friends were in the other class. She had a crying fit the first day but finally adjusted. I asked the teacher and principal why and they said that it's "important for kids to get used to other teachers and she has such an outgoing personality that she has no problems making friends so she was chosen to be moved".

Ok, fine. I understand that so I accepted it and DD went on to make her friends (although she still desperately missed her old friends and only saw them at lunch recess and on play dates).

This year she was so excited to be re-joined with her friends UNTIL they called out the names. ALL her friends (from both JK and SK - 2 different classes) are in the straight grade 1 class and she (and 3 other students) and in the 1/2 split.

She was completely dead-panned. No emotion at all. She just looked at me and said "I guess I don't get friends".

Like are you freaking kidding me? Not something a SIX year old should have to go through. Especially since EVERY KID except her has been allowed to stay with the same kids for multiple years. She is the ONLY kid to have been moved from the overall group TWICE.

I'm sure she'll make new friends BUT why should she have to every single year when the vast majority of the other kids have been with the same group for 3 years now??? The explanation of having a different teacher won't jive this year as she would have a new teacher no matter which class they put her in.

She was ahead her class last year in a few areas BUT that's before she missed TWO full months (May and June) because of her surgeries. Besides should she be penalized for working hard? Maybe I should stop doing all the home-schooling with her? I mean getting good grades is great but not at the expense of having no friends.

I'm really struggling how this makes ANY sense at all. I've already spoke to the principal and am waiting for him to call me with answers.

Any teachers out there have any thoughts?

you should go into the school and make a issue about it.. sometimes you have to be the witchy parent that they cringe when they see coming because it's what you feel is best for your child.. i personally went in and told them "i do not want my child in a 1/2 split because she will backslide" just before school started this year and on the form at the end of last year (she is going into grade 2, and her school likes doing lots of split classes for some unknown reason)...they don't have their classes set-not till friday but if i find that she's put in a 1/2 split i'll be that snarky mom in the office saying change my kid, figure something out because it's not ok... we as parents have to stand up for what is best for our kids

it sounds like they have done this more then once with your child and the school really shouldn't be bouncing kids around and shifting them once they are settled into their classroom especially the same kids over again... while i'm not the most thrilled with how they work out the classes in my daughter's school it does save from "class adjustments" once they've already settled into their set classes... when kids get into the new room with a new teacher they settle into a groove and find their place then to have to do that all over again (especially when joining a different pre-exisiting class) can be a hard adjustment for a child because your joining a group that has already been settled and as a kid you can feel a bit like an outsider (i remember having this experience)

[Midnightly]

That really sucks! That is not the kind of product you can do long distance. We use to glaze ceraminc Christmas decorations every year for Grandma, I would not want to add in a road trip....

Is the gc transferable? Could you sell it to someone in Kelowna and at least recoup a bit of the cost?

it's a generic gift card (plastic card not paper gift certificates that are valid only for a specific store) i've already checked the balance online and the money is still sitting on the card so it can be given away/sold and used at ANY location across Canada... though it seems like such a battle trying to find all the locations then trying to find a person living in those areas who would be willing to buy it off me for a reasonable price

[FallenPixels]

Don't you mean a man...I mean how many have you experienced that do this? I can assure you that there are many women just as guilty, worse when they allow their stinky cat / dog to take up room (not that I'll ever sign up for pets in a relationship)

Both men and women can do it, but I am guessing that the poster only shares her bed with men (and maybe some pets)

[Natalka]

I am so livid right now. Came home to try and calm down and be less emotional.

DD was moved into a different class again this year. She's now in the grade 1/2 split, when all her friends are in the straight grade 1 class.

Same thing happened last year. 4 students were moved from one of the jk/sk classes to the other and she was one of the 4. All of her friends were in the other class. She had a crying fit the first day but finally adjusted. I asked the teacher and principal why and they said that it's "important for kids to get used to other teachers and she has such an outgoing personality that she has no problems making friends so she was chosen to be moved".

Ok, fine. I understand that so I accepted it and DD went on to make her friends (although she still desperately missed her old friends and only saw them at lunch recess and on play dates).

This year she was so excited to be re-joined with her friends UNTIL they called out the names. ALL her friends (from both JK and SK - 2 different classes) are in the straight grade 1 class and she (and 3 other students) and in the 1/2 split.

She was completely dead-panned. No emotion at all. She just looked at me and said "I guess I don't get friends".

Like are you freaking kidding me? Not something a SIX year old should have to go through. Especially since EVERY KID except her has been allowed to stay with the same kids for multiple years. She is the ONLY kid to have been moved from the overall group TWICE.

I'm sure she'll make new friends BUT why should she have to every single year when the vast majority of the other kids have been with the same group for 3 years now??? The explanation of having a different teacher won't jive this year as she would have a new teacher no matter which class they put her in.

She was ahead her class last year in a few areas BUT that's before she missed TWO full months (May and June) because of her surgeries. Besides should she be penalized for working hard? Maybe I should stop doing all the home-schooling with her? I mean getting good grades is great but not at the expense of having no friends.

I'm really struggling how this makes ANY sense at all. I've already spoke to the principal and am waiting for him to call me with answers.

Any teachers out there have any thoughts?

I'll give this a shot, as a former primary teacher.

School is not about friends. You may not want to hear that, but it isn't.

It's tough to have a 1/2 split - I'm sure they wouldn't have done it if they didn't have to.

Your daughter having been chosen to be in it just is evidence that they know she is functioning at a high level - not only academically, but being able to work more independently, and get along with others. This is because they choose 'high' grade ones to go with 'low' grade twos. Note: this doesn't mean those grade two students aren't smart, not at all.

I just really wish you wouldn't make it all about friends, and all social - then that's all your daughter will think it's about as well - because it isn't.

I realize your daughter has had a rough time with her health problems, and so have you in handling it - it's been a lot for your family to go through.

But I'm sad to see you making it hard for your daughter, and yourself, for not realizing that educators don't do these things lightly - they do truly care about all students, and putting them in the best possible circumstances.
Maybe you can think of more positives about the situation she's being put into, and let her know those, instead of just having her see everything you are seeing negative about it, and making such a bad start for her emotionally for the new school year.

(Please don't get mad at me for being straight and explaining my opinion - and also realize that I don't know all of the circumstances either at your home or at school, just going by my experience and what you have written.)

[wolfwoman]

Apparently I am buying the wrong kind of eggs now. The shell of brown eggs are too hard to break so DH breaks the yolks and the shell of white eggs are too fragile so DH breaks the yolks. See what I am dealing with?

[lecale]

.

[bargain_hunter_lola]

I'll give this a shot, as a former primary teacher.

School is not about friends. You may not want to hear that, but it isn't.

It's tough to have a 1/2 split - I'm sure they wouldn't have done it if they didn't have to.

Your daughter having been chosen to be in it just is evidence that they know she is functioning at a high level - not only academically, but being able to work more independently, and get along with others. This is because they choose 'high' grade ones to go with 'low' grade twos. Note: this doesn't mean those grade two students aren't smart, not at all.

I just really wish you wouldn't make it all about friends, and all social - then that's all your daughter will think it's about as well - because it isn't.

I realize your daughter has had a rough time with her health problems, and so have you in handling it - it's been a lot for your family to go through.

But I'm sad to see you making it hard for your daughter, and yourself, for not realizing that educators don't do these things lightly - they do truly care about all students, and putting them in the best possible circumstances.
Maybe you can think of more positives about the situation she's being put into, and let her know those, instead of just having her see everything you are seeing negative about it, and making such a bad start for her emotionally for the new school year.

(Please don't get mad at me for being straight and explaining my opinion - and also realize that I don't know all of the circumstances either at your home or at school, just going by my experience and what you have written.)

Thanks for the input. I'm not upset, I did ask for thoughts from teachers.

My DD actually doesn't know what's going on. She left with her 1/2 class before I spoke to the principal in his office. I went back again today before class was out so she wasn't involved with any of the conversations.

I spoke with the principal again (before school was out) and he said to talk to her teacher from last year, which I did (again DD wasn't present). Apparently she didn't know a lot of the back information (she was new to the school last year). She said DD was "on the cusp" and she honestly debated but decided to put her in the 1/2 split because of a combination of her age, her grades and that she likes the 1/2 teacher. When I explained my concerns she agreed with them and said that I should explain them to the principal to see if she can be moved.

She didn't know that DD has had issues academically in the past and that I've been spending HOURS working with her to catch up. I simply CANNOT continue to do that. I'm working on going back to work so I won't have the time I have had. If she was "on the cusp" with me doing a lot of work at home with her then I'm seriously worried she'll fall behind.

I absolutely realize it's not just about friends, she was devastated last year but she adjusted. However I do think that friendship does play a role in positive mental health and stress levels and being the ONLY kid being moved around each year has an impact.

Any way I've spoke to the teacher and principal and the principal is looking into things. He wants to talk to the teachers directly (which I agree with) before making a decision. As I said I didn't want to go in all upset and emotional because there could be valid reasons but it's looking like a huge communication glitch. Her teacher from last year apologized profusely and said she wish she knew all this (some of the issues I've written but a few others as well). I'm not sure why her previous teacher or the principal didn't bring it up the issues I did (she also is questioning that). I'm lucky to have a good relationship with her so she's very candid with me. Some of the things she said were very interesting... She even gave me tips of what to say to the principal to help encourage DD being moved. So now we wait...

[beachdown]

Hmmmm...can't believe am agreeing with you, but I concur with everything you've said here! However, I hope you remind your own words next time you read someone else' opinion i.e. "don't get mad".

Parent do have to pick their battles, and yes kids will adjust at some point once they get into the routine. It's better to learn earlier that you are going to have to work with people you don't know / like in the future, and if you don't like it the company will get someone else to do the job.

My son was on the receiving end of this today also i.e. most of his buddies are in another class. I read the following in an article.....

But do split grades really work? Are teachers simply being asked to make the best of a bad numbers situation? Or can your child actually benefit from learning with older or younger students?
The research suggests the latter. Joel Gajadharsingh, professor emeritus of education at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, is considered a leading expert on combined classes. He says students in split grades “do just as well, if not better” academically, thanks to repetition and exposure to another grade. He adds that their ability to behave and get along with others is also superior. They’re more independent, confident, responsible, dependable, respectful, collaborative and — if you haven’t heard enough already — even tend to develop better study habits, regardless of whether they’re in the younger or older grade.
“They’re not simply left alone,” says Gajadharsingh. “They have assignments to do and it’s these things that teach them independence and dependability to do their work. They also learn to collaborate in this kind of environment, where they either give help or seek help.”


Bob Stefaniuk, principal of Montrose School in Winnipeg, buys into this theory. Every classroom in his K–6 school is a split — oops, make that a “multi-age” — class. This is an important distinction for Stefaniuk. At his school, every teacher teaches two grades together, with the same students for a two-year period.
“It never has been about mathematics,” he says. “It’s a philosophy.” His teachers look at the big picture: What do their students need to learn over two years? The two grades learn together, each child learning at his or her own rate — not according to grade-specific expectations.
“In reality, you can go to any classroom across Canada and you may call it grade three, but you’re going to have kids who are reading at a grade seven level, kids who are reading at a grade one level,” he says. “That’s where the art of teaching comes in.”


In multi-age classrooms, teachers plan for crossover between grades. Themes integrate both levels so that whether children are in grade three or four, for example, they’re still writing; only the expectation varies. It’s a philosophy found at many schools across the country, and one advocated by many education experts, including Gajadharsingh.

I'll give this a shot, as a former primary teacher.

School is not about friends. You may not want to hear that, but it isn't.

It's tough to have a 1/2 split - I'm sure they wouldn't have done it if they didn't have to.

Your daughter having been chosen to be in it just is evidence that they know she is functioning at a high level - not only academically, but being able to work more independently, and get along with others. This is because they choose 'high' grade ones to go with 'low' grade twos. Note: this doesn't mean those grade two students aren't smart, not at all.

I just really wish you wouldn't make it all about friends, and all social - then that's all your daughter will think it's about as well - because it isn't.

I realize your daughter has had a rough time with her health problems, and so have you in handling it - it's been a lot for your family to go through.

But I'm sad to see you making it hard for your daughter, and yourself, for not realizing that educators don't do these things lightly - they do truly care about all students, and putting them in the best possible circumstances.
Maybe you can think of more positives about the situation she's being put into, and let her know those, instead of just having her see everything you are seeing negative about it, and making such a bad start for her emotionally for the new school year.

(Please don't get mad at me for being straight and explaining my opinion - and also realize that I don't know all of the circumstances either at your home or at school, just going by my experience and what you have written.)

[saundyl]

Don't you mean a man...I mean how many have you experienced that do this? I can assure you that there are many women just as guilty, worse when they allow their stinky cat / dog to take up room (not that I'll ever sign up for pets in a relationship)

Lol yes I guess I mean a man.
He hogged the bed so much while camping I had to drive home at 5am so I had somewhere to sleep.

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[Lyssia510]

Apparently I am buying the wrong kind of eggs now. The shell of brown eggs are too hard to break so DH breaks the yolks and the shell of white eggs are too fragile so DH breaks the yolks. See what I am dealing with?

Men!!! I'm lucky dh won't complain about anything but coffee.

Obviously you should send him to the store and get him to ask for eggs with an intermediate shell thickness. Take your phone

LMAO!

[beachdown]

You the poster at least got my point, and didn't read more into it than meets the eye.....

Lol yes I guess I mean a man.
He hogged the bed so much while camping I had to drive home at 5am so I had somewhere to sleep.

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[Darth Penguin]

Apparently I am buying the wrong kind of eggs now. The shell of brown eggs are too hard to break so DH breaks the yolks and the shell of white eggs are too fragile so DH breaks the yolks. See what I am dealing with?

You should ask for Araucana eggs.

[Natalka]

Hmmmm...can't believe am agreeing with you, but I concur with everything you've said here! However, I hope you remind your own words next time you read someone else' opinion i.e. "don't get mad".

You're new, so I forgive any ignorance. You don't know me or many of the regular SCers; many of us have a history of which you are blissfully unaware.

[d.ot]

Was expecting a shipment from Canada Post. The tracking system said it was due to be delivered today. So I stayed home, darting in and out to places close by, so that I could quickly get back if I got a call from them.
At around 9pm, I decided to check the tracker and saw that it showed as 'delivered' with a stamp time of 8:20pm. I'm stumped since I had my phone with me at ALL times and never heard a peep. I checked my mailbox and there it is!
Peeved that I stayed in all day...expecting to have to sign for a package, ugh!