What is the HIG? ETA: Never mind. Figured it out via google. :) That's very interesting about your kids and enVision. I guess it depends on what they were using prior to enVision. It's been a change for my students since we used Everyday Math. When we first began piloting enVision, it was 10x harder for my students. As the years go by and we see more students who have been exposed for several years, it's not as hard, but it's still challenging for them, especially the writing/problem solving aspects.

Just curious how Crimson Wife's example has be debunked many times? I (and the other 7 grade level teachers) see this same thing within our enVision curriculum, which is modeled after Singapore math. We go through problem after problem of same denominator addition; then suddenly, they are expected to know how to change the denominators to common multiples. It is a jump in concepts and that concept is never covered in full (or again) 4th grade math. It's covered in 5th.

nm

If I remember correctly, they will be recorded so you can watch them later if you can't view it during the live session.

Definitely signing up for the intense child. She's already showing signs, so I'd better get my arsenal ready. Going to look through them a bit more later. Super excited for this.

This sounds like my team leader. She hates how much she is out of the classroom. We have to use our break time or after school hours to do our IEP/504 meetings. It's frustrating at times, but so much better than having to miss so much instruction time.

I do think you have a very strange situation and I can see how incredibly frustrating it is to have to deal with that. It may seem worse since you'v already had the frustration of last year and now you're dealing with it again; still, the fact that it's going on again is a bit worrisome to me. Seems excessive. As to them going on leave, that's a tricky situation. Long-term/short-term leave is usually only granted in my area for maternity or surgery. Just because they have a lot of subs, it doesn't necessarily mean they qualify for leave. Around my area, the conferences are not as prevalent during the summer or spring break because the majority of teachers want (NEED!!) those breaks and won't do the training. Also, I know my district won't pay for conferences during the summer, so I'm certainly not paying the registration fee to attend. I've only attended one conference outside of school hours - it was on Saturday. I personally requested it. The majority of my PD hours, however, have been during school for a half day (like this Friday, I have a half day curriculum meeting at Central Office) and/or on a day where students were already out. Sorry you're going through this. I can't imagine the frustration. If it makes you feel better, the teachers probably hate it as well because they have to make sub plans which pretty much means, as you know, that nothing of importance gets done and you have to double up the next day. I would rather teach on my death bed than be gone. :thumbdown:

No worries. I knew what you were saying. Just giving a different perspective for consideration. I agree, though, it is odd that they are out as much as they are. Illnesses and family emergencies, I get. But, even at our max out of classroom assignments, we don't get near what the OPs school is having them miss. It's very strange.

Or, it could just be that those teachers are both having a crap year, too. My first year at my school, I was induced early, so I ended up not even being at school at the end of the year. Missed some of April and all of May. I also had a very difficult pregnancy, so I was often out for drs appointments. Then, the next two years, my daughter had many illnesses, so I completely exhausted my sick leave and then some. This is the first year out of the four that I've taught in this district that I will actually not be docked pay for exceeding my sick/personal days (and none of the times I exceeded my leave were the days used frivolously). We have one teacher here who has cancer and has had to be out for chemo and reconstructive surgery. She also had a death in the family. She's been out a LOT. Just a crap year for her. Thankfully, the parents are understanding.

It's very normal in my school, especially if they are on leadership or curriculum teams. My team leader is gone 1-2 days a month for team meetings and she's going to be out 4 more times this month for the interview team. I have been pulled out about 5 times this year for curriculum planning. The last few years, I have also missed for training sessions - some I've requested, some I've been assigned. More often than not, these are not at the request of the teacher, but of the district. Often times, we feel the frustration of missing instruction time just as much as the parents...sometimes more because it takes way more work for us to make sub plans and then have to reteach what the sub decided not to do or taught wrong (though sometimes we get awesome subs that do a great job). Our teacher "prep" days are in conjunction with school breaks or holidays. So, no substitutes are needed. This is very normal, though some districts to demand more professional development days than others.

My elementary school did Rosetta Stone for awhile. Headphones were always being broken. I know we used several variations of a USB headset with microphone. Most of those were still somewhat pricey, though. I do see several on Amazon that look like could work for a fraction of the price. This is what we used.

I so wish she had been my math teacher. My Algebra 2 and Geometry teachers made me feel like I was the dumbest person on earth. It's taken teaching math to my students and a husband who kindly reteaches me things for me to even begin to think that I MIGHT actually be able to do math.

My district was using Everyday Math when I first came here. Half of it, I couldn't understand! It is one of the most horrid math programs out there. We've since moved on to enVision (very similar to Singapore Math). So much better! I will never regret leaving EM in the dust.

My 4th graders come to me barely knowing how to spell and they can't write a proper sentence to save their lives. We do not teach science or social studies other than the meager 15 minutes where they read a leveled reader that is supposed to (poorly) integrate these subjects into Language Arts. Additionally, our end of quarter testing rivals that of a college end of semester testing period. It's ridiculous. My students groan and whine and I don't blame them. So, my daughter is only about to turn 3. I have to work 2 more years and during that time, she's going to go to a fun preschool where she will get the basics. I will be able to come home when she's 5 and from there, the plan is to homeschool. I want her to love learning, not just know how to ace a test.

With a fork! :) I love mine on brats as well. If you are craving a Reuben though, you can do "reuben in a bowl". It always settles my cravings.

Sheets, towels, shower curtain Coffee pot, coffee cups, spoons (It SUCKS looking for the coffee pot first thing of the morning. It's always unpacked first for me now. haha) A cookie sheet for toast (or the toaster). Maybe a pot or two. Like someone said above - the crockpot for easy foods I always get a good supply of paper plates/bowls, plastic cups/utensils, and napkins. We eat off of those until we are well established in our move (usually a few days). I hate having to stop unpacking so I can do the dishes. We tend to have sandwich fixings, easy breakfast meals, easy dinners (Stouffer's lasagna, pizza, take out, etc). I love the fly lady list mentioned above. I used that when I was moving! Helped so much.

Jimmie Lanley (a blogger) had an only child and chose to homeschool her. They seemed to do just fine. Each family is different and you just need to feel it out and see what your child needs. Like others have said, seek out other opportunities - club ball, theater, choir, etc.

If it's a church potluck, I'd take a casserole, a selection of rolls, a veggie/carb side, or a dessert or a combination of a couple of them. Unless a theme/type of food is specified, then there is an assortment of foods. My church life group does a "potluck"-esque dinner every Sunday. We all provide an appetizer, a main course, finger foods, desserts, etc based on a theme. We have a general idea of what to expect, but there's still a random selection of foods.

Not math, but I tutored 1st and 2nd graders in reading and charged $20/hr. This was 6 years ago as well. I wouldn't do $50, seems high. But, I second what a PP said about the $15-$25 rate.

edit for tmi - So, Stephanie, I guess we're about an hour and a half from each other? (I always get Marshfield and Mansfield confused. haha I'm not originally from here. That's my excuse!)

I agree with the suggestions to go to another pulmonologist. I have had (diagnosed) asthma since 4th grade and I was ALWAYS sick with some form of respiratory infection. I can still pretty much guarantee that a head cold will drop to my chest within 2 days and I'll be out for a month, however my number of infections has gone down drastically as I've gotten older. Like the PPs said, properly treated airways go along way in warding off this type of infection. They still happen, but not as frequently.

Holy moly! You are way organized. I will need lessons from you when I get started!

Very, very true! (to the melting and the pilgrim)

We must live close to each other (or in neighboring states). We had rain today, freezing rain starting at 4am, then snow all day tomorrow.

We JUST had our snow melt off from the last two snows. What's coming tonight? Freezing rain and 4-6" of more snow. GAHH!