Writer's Workshop
It's Writer's Workshop Thursday!! If you are not familiar with this, there is a lovely button at the bottom of this post for you to follow! This is one of those weeks where I can't just pick one!! I am writing from 1, 2, & 3.
I have many complaints that I can lament about. But I think I will take this opportunity to gripe about something I mentioned earlier this week. Homework. First of all, as my dear friend says, "Homework promotes child abuse!" And I have to agree. Now there is no need to call CPS on either of us. We haven't actually reached that point. And since her daughter is a junior in high school she is mostly free of the homework torture chamber.
From kindergarten kids are saddled with loads of homework. Do you remember kindergarten? Do you remember what your homework was? Of course not! Because you didn't have ANY! Do you remember your homework in first grade? It was probably spelling one night and math the next. Reading. But it was kept simple.
On Emily's first day back her homework was as follows: A spelling worksheet--front and back--.the scholastic news, which she had to read all 6 pages and answer the various questions from each section. Plus read for 25 minutes. Okay the child is supposed to have 10 minutes of homework for every grade level. Therefore, Emily my fourth grader should have 40 minutes of homework. Okay 25 to read, leaves us with 15 to do the rest. Tonight there was less, but we didn't get it all done last night so it was double duty. It's frustrating. They really put way too much on these kids. And why is that??? Standardized testing. No child left behind. The teacher's are under tremendous pressure. The kids are supposed to like school. A place to play, talk with friends and maybe learn a thing or too. Instead they are force fed a gross amount of information and expected to regurgitate it at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the parents are fighting Monday through Thursday for up two hours a night to get through homework, make dinner, do dishes, and get them to bed at a reasonable hour. The teachers are helpful, they offer suggestions to help take away the stress of getting through it. I appreciate it, but seriously...if you want to help me, come over, sit with my child, mind the 4 year old, help the 12 year old when she needs it, make dinner, answer the phone, do the dishes....etc.
To Emily's credit, as much as she struggles, she does it. She may not like it at times, but she does it. She is a trooper. She has way more homework than Kristin. It doesn't seem fair. And it's not, there is simply too much for these kids.
#2) My life at present has me days away from closing on my first house. I have three beautiful children. I live in Southern California. Married 16 years to my eternal companion. Rewind 5 years.
I was either just pregnant, or about to become pregnant for the third time. We had been trying for 2 years. My doctor even offered to refer me to the fertility clinic. I quickly declined. We had two beautiful girls. I wasn't worried. Now show me that picture.
Look at my son! He is sooo cute! Look how lovely Kristin is becoming. Look at Emily trying so hard to be like her big sister, and at the same time be her own person! Look at that house. I never dreamed I would live in a house like that. And so close to mom. I can push through two more years of VA now. I know I am coming home. I know there will bumps and slumps along the way. But the end result is worth it!
3.) "What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet." My name is Lourie. I was named after my father's mother. Lourene. My parents simply shortened it. Grandma Lourene was the sweetest kindest woman a person could know. She would open her door to anyone, make sure her family ate before she did, and she had the most even demeanor. I can honestly say, I never heard her raise her voice.
I have many complaints that I can lament about. But I think I will take this opportunity to gripe about something I mentioned earlier this week. Homework. First of all, as my dear friend says, "Homework promotes child abuse!" And I have to agree. Now there is no need to call CPS on either of us. We haven't actually reached that point. And since her daughter is a junior in high school she is mostly free of the homework torture chamber.
From kindergarten kids are saddled with loads of homework. Do you remember kindergarten? Do you remember what your homework was? Of course not! Because you didn't have ANY! Do you remember your homework in first grade? It was probably spelling one night and math the next. Reading. But it was kept simple.
On Emily's first day back her homework was as follows: A spelling worksheet--front and back--.the scholastic news, which she had to read all 6 pages and answer the various questions from each section. Plus read for 25 minutes. Okay the child is supposed to have 10 minutes of homework for every grade level. Therefore, Emily my fourth grader should have 40 minutes of homework. Okay 25 to read, leaves us with 15 to do the rest. Tonight there was less, but we didn't get it all done last night so it was double duty. It's frustrating. They really put way too much on these kids. And why is that??? Standardized testing. No child left behind. The teacher's are under tremendous pressure. The kids are supposed to like school. A place to play, talk with friends and maybe learn a thing or too. Instead they are force fed a gross amount of information and expected to regurgitate it at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the parents are fighting Monday through Thursday for up two hours a night to get through homework, make dinner, do dishes, and get them to bed at a reasonable hour. The teachers are helpful, they offer suggestions to help take away the stress of getting through it. I appreciate it, but seriously...if you want to help me, come over, sit with my child, mind the 4 year old, help the 12 year old when she needs it, make dinner, answer the phone, do the dishes....etc.
To Emily's credit, as much as she struggles, she does it. She may not like it at times, but she does it. She is a trooper. She has way more homework than Kristin. It doesn't seem fair. And it's not, there is simply too much for these kids.
#2) My life at present has me days away from closing on my first house. I have three beautiful children. I live in Southern California. Married 16 years to my eternal companion. Rewind 5 years.
I was either just pregnant, or about to become pregnant for the third time. We had been trying for 2 years. My doctor even offered to refer me to the fertility clinic. I quickly declined. We had two beautiful girls. I wasn't worried. Now show me that picture.
Look at my son! He is sooo cute! Look how lovely Kristin is becoming. Look at Emily trying so hard to be like her big sister, and at the same time be her own person! Look at that house. I never dreamed I would live in a house like that. And so close to mom. I can push through two more years of VA now. I know I am coming home. I know there will bumps and slumps along the way. But the end result is worth it!
3.) "What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet." My name is Lourie. I was named after my father's mother. Lourene. My parents simply shortened it. Grandma Lourene was the sweetest kindest woman a person could know. She would open her door to anyone, make sure her family ate before she did, and she had the most even demeanor. I can honestly say, I never heard her raise her voice.
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Picture of the Day
Brand new shelving under the sink. Why? Because there was dry rot. We dished out $405 yesterday to replace this shelf plus some dry rot that was under the eaves outside. *sigh*
Comments
And I am not looking forward to the homework battles at all.
Loved your post today. Covers all parts of life. The good, the sweet the bad and even the ugly.
Congrats on the new home,and your kids are very cute!
stopping by from SITS
Visiting from Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.