The Vent and Rant Thread

[DMcCunney]

Originally Posted by Pookeysgirl

Both my children have problems in school. Especially with reading. They're both at least a grade behind and they're only in 2 & 3. Every report card is poor or ok. I can't afford a tutor and I'm at a loss as to how to help them. Right now their testing my oldest (8) to see if he has learning disability. Up until now we all thought he was just being inattentive (I think some of the teachers they've had just plain suck too).

Bad teachers are a factor. Inattention can have other causes, too, so getting him tested is a good idea. Dyslexia is one thing to look for. ADHD is another.

Reading was never a problem for me, and I always read above my grade level. I don't remember not knowing how to read. Of course, I had an example set: my mom read to me every night before I went to sleep, so I picked up the idea early. She told me in later years that I grasped the concept well before I could do it myself: she would try to fast forward through something to get on to other chores, and I'd say "No, Mommy! You skipped this part!", and unerringly point at the section she skipped over.

I've always read anything that didn't read me first and some that did, and I know where I got the habit.

You might try spending some time reading to and with your kids. See what stuff you can come up with they might like, and play switch off: read some to them, then give them turns. Pick stuff a little beyond their level if possible, so you can help them with the hard parts.

Unfortunately the school they attend doesn't believe in holding kids back a grade. "It's bad for their self esteem" they say...my butt.

Your school has bought into the whole "social promotion" myth. You might ask them what happens when the kids finally graduate as semi-literates with no prospects because they haven't learned basic skills and can't do anything, and what their self esteem will be like then.

How do they think they (the kids) feel watching all the other kids get good grades while they bring home C's and D's...or worse.

Assuming they know what grades the other kids got. (No doubt the kids who get the top grades trumpet it...)

Just last night my son turned to me with tears in his eyes and said "Mommy, you know what? I'm never going to get an A, no matter how hard I try".

And maybe he won't. All you can do is make it clear to him that all you care about is that he does the best he can, and care far less about whether he gets an A than whether he is trying hard.

We don't all give birth to geniuses and some kids NEED to be held back in order to move forward.

In part. We also need to accept the fact that different kids learn different things at different rates, and make allowance for the differences. Not all kids can be taught in the same manner.
______
Dennis

[kennyc]

Originally Posted by Pookeysgirl

Thanks both of you I tell my kids every day how wonderful, smart and special they are.

[Pookeysgirl]

Originally Posted by DMcCunney

Bad teachers are a factor. Inattention can have other causes, too, so getting him tested is a good idea. Dyslexia is one thing to look for. ADHD is another.

Reading was never a problem for me, and I always read above my grade level. I don't remember not knowing how to read. Of course, I had an example set: my mom read to me every night before I went to sleep, so I picked up the idea early. She told me in later years that I grasped the concept well before I could do it myself: she would try to fast forward through something to get on to other chores, and I'd say "No, Mommy! You skipped this part!", and unerringly point at the section she skipped over.

I've always read anything that didn't read me first and some that did, and I know where I got the habit.

Same here (I don't remember my mother reading to me though). I started reading at 3 and I have always had a love for books.

You might try spending some time reading to and with your kids. See what stuff you can come up with they might like, and play switch off: read some to them, then give them turns. Pick stuff a little beyond their level if possible, so you can help them with the hard parts.

I try to read with them every night. They do get frustrated, but we get through it together.

Your school has bought into the whole "social promotion" myth. You might ask them what happens when the kids finally graduate as semi-literates with no prospects because they haven't learned basic skills and can't do anything, and what their self esteem will be like then.

Absolutely agree, as soon as they're done testing him and I find out what's really going on I'm going to have a chat with the principal. I already found out last year that my youngest son has ADHD.

Assuming they know what grades the other kids got. (No doubt the kids who get the top grades trumpet it...)

They do...every single time

And maybe he won't. All you can do is make it clear to him that all you care about is that he does the best he can, and care far less about whether he gets an A than whether he is trying hard.

I told him last night that all I expect is for him to try his best. I certainly didn't get A's. Mind you, I was rarely there

In part. We also need to accept the fact that different kids learn different things at different rates, and make allowance for the differences. Not all kids can be taught in the same manner.

I agree 100%

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by Pookeysgirl

Thanks both of you I tell my kids every day how wonderful, smart and special they are.

while you are struggling with that, find somewhere the kids shine and make that a special activity that they CAN succeed in. makes a huge difference! ;o)

[nohmi2]

Two of my children were not academically inclined.

Somehow they just seemed to march to diferent drummers.

As long as they know that they are greatly loved, and encouraged in what does interest them, then that is worth it's weight in gold.

Today both of them are self-employed and very independant.

Cheers

[TheKindleWorm]

Deleted

[Freeshadow]

+1 on that (post 14494)
a) not everyone with goood marks is skilled or smart - some just better "save the input" and thus better replay it at tests, they 'll find out soon enough that plain data doesn't equal knowledge.

b) there are always strenght and weaknesses.
e.g. wee me was always a lousy computer.
I never had problems extracting equations from text tasks in math - calculating them was PITA

[Stitchawl]

My father taught me something very valuable when I was in high school. He said; "You don't have to give the correct answer. You just have to give the answer the teacher wants to hear." That was the ONLY thing that got me through school.


Stitchawl

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by wvcherrybomb

For the third, I'm dropping in to rant.

Why on earth does a mod here insist on giving false information to newbies on the Kindle forum???????????? I have seen him do this so many times now that I can't even count. New people coming here will assume that information given to them by a mod is correct. Nothing like spreading bullsh*t to the masses...

Whoever is in charge on this forum needs to monitor the mods much better than they do. Opinion and fact are not one in the same.

From my perspective, consider this:

Moderators are normal users who have been given responsibilities to help in the running of the MR forums. They are as entitled to post erroneous facts or misguided opinion as any other user. Likewise, they are open to be called on it. A firm condition of my being a Moderator is that I will not compromise my normal behavior (as absurd and foolish as it can be) in the forum in any way because I am a Moderator. This seemed to be a common feeling among Moderators when expressed back in the Star Chamber.

Saying that, and knowing that the greenness of the username highlights mod status, and with feedback that moderator opinion can be misinterpreted as moderator action, Alex (owner) came up with the MOD code which highlights when we are using our Moderator Superpowers to interject in a thread (and we as individuals try to avoid putting such interjections into a thread we've been participating in). At other times we can all assume a Moderator is acting as his or herself.

To newbie's...? Well that will always be tricksy, but education and experience are good teachers, especially when experienced non-moderators publicly question or contradict such personal opinions.

So, what I'd say is, if you disagree with them, then disagree with them. If they are wrong on facts, correct them. We're all guided by the Guidelines, so report anything and anyone you think contrary to them.

Cheers,
Marc (speaking without any MOD code)

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

From my perspective, consider this:

Moderators are normal users who have been given responsibilities to help in the running of the MR forums. They are as entitled to post erroneous facts or misguided opinion as any other user. Likewise, they are open to be called on it. A firm condition of my being a Moderator is that I will not compromise my normal behavior (as absurd and foolish as it can be) in the forum in any way because I am a Moderator. This seemed to be a common feeling among Moderators when expressed back in the Star Chamber.

Saying that, and knowing that the greenness of the username highlights mod status, and with feedback that moderator opinion can be misinterpreted as moderator action, Alex (owner) came up with the MOD code which highlights when we are using our Moderator Superpowers to interject in a thread (and we as individuals try to avoid putting such interjections into a thread we've been participating in). At other times we can all assume a Moderator is acting as his or herself.

To newbie's...? Well that will always be tricksy, but education and experience are good teachers, especially when experienced non-moderators publicly question or contradict such personal opinions.

So, what I'd say is, if you disagree with them, then disagree with them. If they are wrong on facts, correct them. We're all guided by the Guidelines, so report anything and anyone you think contrary to them.

Cheers,
Marc (speaking without any MOD code)

in this particular case, said mod threatened said user in PM to take down the ticker and a link in her sig line. there are tons of combinations all over the place. that's what has cherry out of sorts and I don't blame her one bit

[SneakySnake]

Originally Posted by montsnmags

<snip>
Cheers,
Marc (speaking without any MOD code)

But obviously a mod speaking as a non-mod!

Well done that puts it just about straight!

[SneakySnake]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

in this particular case, said mod threatened said user in PM to take down the ticker and a link in her sig line. there are tons of combinations all over the place. that's what has cherry out of sorts and I don't blame her one bit

I am surprised all those ticker links haven't all been requested to be removed. Looks like viral spam to me. A link to a commercial site. Not quite the same as a link to a writer's book or a reviewer's blog!

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

I am surprised all those ticker links haven't all been requested to be removed. Looks like viral spam to me. A link to a commercial site. Not quite the same as a link to a writer's book or a reviewer's blog!

people are having a lot of fun with those tickers. when I first came here the site was getting over a dragon infestation. you can imagine how that looked!

the link was to a place to earn credits. a lot of people have similar links and even more outlandish and commercial links

[montsnmags]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

people are having a lot of fun with those tickers. when I first came here the site was getting over a dragon infestation. you can imagine how that looked!

the link was to a place to earn credits. a lot of people have similar links and even more outlandish and commercial links

I can't be certain about the sig thing with cherry, and I know the tickers are being discussed in the backroom. I would only offer that rather than just the ticker it could have been the size of a sig' when combined with other graphics or enhanced text in the sig simultaneously. Cherry should seek clarity on that (please feel free to get in touch with the Mod you were speaking to, or myself, cherry), but clarity may be forthcoming shortly for all anyway. You should know that it is not without its supporters in the backroom, even amongst those who actually dislike them (aesthetically).

KK, can you clarify here how the tickers work? I understand what they are counting (the rather impressive Challenge so many are participating in, and which I would find terribly intimidating ), but does this ticker also work with "credits" like that old dragon egg thing did? I know that that old one caused performance issues with the forum, though I haven't noted, or seen anyone note, any such issues with the ticker.

Cheers,
Marc

[astrangerhere]

Originally Posted by SneakySnake

I am surprised all those ticker links haven't all been requested to be removed. Looks like viral spam to me. A link to a commercial site. Not quite the same as a link to a writer's book or a reviewer's blog!

Honest to God, I didn't realize folks were so bothered by it. I'm happy to take mine off though, since there seem to be such unkind rumblings about it. I just like to know where I'm at, but I'm happy to use other websites for it if its just going to bother people here.

As to the fuss and bother about Moderators, I co-admin a very active radio station site, and I cannot give good Mods enough credit. It is a tiring, irritating and exhausting job. I hate to hear folks not being happy about it.