This school year is almost at an end, and all I can say is Thank God!!!!It has been ok, but the challenges that have faced the kids, and us, just about got us down. With five in school---12th, 10th, 9th, 8th, and K, it got interesting at times. From teachers and what I call their "whims" to scheduling issues on extracurriculars, let's just say we're tired of school.
Of course next year has already reared its head---Ben cam home yesterday griping because he is in all honors courses next year in 9th and it is going to be a lot of work. He is going to have to stay organized and we are all going to have to stay on top of what is due when. The honors program changed and it was not a gradual change--it was BOOM!!! all at once. Now they take the regular class but have to do extra work--a lot of it--to get the honors credit. But I told him it is easier to start out doing the honors stuff, and if it actually becomes too overwhelming, then we can look at backing him off some, instead of him being bored to tears and trying to get him into the honors program later.
Chris is finally going to have a year without his English teacher of the last two years. Thank goodness, and I hope she flipping retires before Ben has to have her or Chris has to again. Sad thing is, as far as challenging the kids and demanding the performance from them goes, she is excellent. But she has the "I am the teacher, you will not question me" attitude, which does not sit well with me. I as the parent have the right to question anything that affects my child, including her grading practices. But I also have tried to impress upon my kids that they have to take responsibility for their grades-----including being prepared for class and doing the best work they can, and there are times they fall short and then expect me to fix it. Ummm, not.
Kris is graduating Saturday. Our biggest disappointment is that she failed to do anything about getting into college---including applying. She says she is going to work for a year and then apply. She says she will not fail to get the papers in on time, that the only reason she didn't this year was that she knew she would not be eligible for aid and she could not go without it. We are still trying to figure out how she knew this without even trying. But it is a case of she made her bed....and she will have to learn. Her dad and I will not let this rest---she must get post secondary education, even if she does as her aunt has done, and take several years a couple of classes at a time to do it.
Kate, we hope passes 9th grade. I am pretty sure she will. She has never been one to be overly concerned with grades, and even though we push for her to live up to her potential, I don't think she gets the same push at home. Plus she was pretty hot an heavy with a guy this year--see prior post---and I think was greatly distracted. Partly our fault for not demanding to see grades, etc.
Shellie has gone from being on the verge of reading at the start of the school year to reading everything she gets her hands on----Little house, Harry potter.........She has had a wonderful kindergarten year and has made a bunch of friends, plus as most of her cousins in the same age range----K-2----are at the same school, she got to know them pretty well and was in Tball this spring with all of them, and just had a great time. Now she is putting off cleaning her room by showing me all the stuff she brought home from school today.
Just a quick update----gotta post and disconnect----storm getting ready to hit!!!!
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