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Post by LitlBaa on Nov 15, 2003 23:32:32 GMT -5
My dd12 just told me that she has to get her math notebook set up perfectly for a notebook check or she is going to get an F because she hasn't been correcting her work (her teacher allows them to correct homework assignments for full credit, and tests for half credit) and hasn't turned in three assignments. I hadn't gotten around to a conference with the teacher, but it seems like a good time, so I emailed him to set up an appointment. Now I have excessive melodrama, I've just ruined her life forever, her teacher will be on her all the time, boo hoo cry cry, gonna go eat worms... any suggestions on what I should specifically ask the teacher to do? It seems to me he's being more than accomodating, at least that's the impression I got from back to school night. Or maybe the question should be, any suggestions on how to motivate Katie?
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Post by TexasMom on Nov 16, 2003 1:38:06 GMT -5
Money always works for Steven.  He gets a $20 for an A and $10 for a B. Maybe you can work some positive re--enforcement out for your daughter. |
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Post by homebody67 on Nov 16, 2003 2:02:36 GMT -5
Hi Litlbaa, I use a token/consequence/reward system for my ds13. I use it for behavior, but since he has such a hard time with missing assignments, I incorporated schoolwork into it as well. I indicated in his 504 plan, that I expected progress reports once a week. (requested a meeting with all teachers, and they agreed Friday would work for all of them) Every progress report I get, each assignment listed as turned in (whether A or F) received +1 marble. Every missing assignment was deducted -2 marbles. (Just increased to -3 marbles) When pre-agreed amount of marbles are earned, a reward is given. It's worked really well as far as motivation. And the ability to see increases in his "marble stash" have really been a morale-booster. (It has also helped at-home behavior drastically!) I figure once we get the missing assignments licked, we can work on the grades! (They kind of go with one another!) Also, with the weekly progress reports, I have a better idea of what I need to make him do at home so that he doesn't get too far behind. (Just a tip, I always do the turned in assignments first...so that he can see the marbles mount up, then I do all the missing assignments so that he can see the pile go back down. I find that this helps him visualize the consequences) Good luck, Terri P.S. For tips on modifications, visit addinschool.com they have lots of great ideas! |
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Post by LitlBaa on Nov 17, 2003 0:36:19 GMT -5
Thanks, Terri, I like the marble thing. Hopefully the teacher can see me on Monday and then I can get that set up.
Money does work for her, my mom (Nana) pays her for her grades and she's working on Grandma too.
We had to back to school tonight because she suddenly remembered that she had a math paper that's due tomorrow and she can't find it (what else is new?) and of course it's not in her locker so ... melodrama, scream, cry, life is horrible, don't talk to the teacher, he'll hate me because you talked to him, I'll get to school early and borrow a paper from Heidi...
It's so painful to be 12!
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Post by adhdtimes4 on Nov 17, 2003 9:10:28 GMT -5
I HATE NOTEBOOK CHECKS! They are always the downfall of my boys, and I'm warning you, in high school LOTS of the teachers have them.
The only thing that has come close to working for us is for me to check behind them every single day to make sure everything is labeled and in order. I start every nine weeks all rarin' to do better, and each time I fall short. I spent two hours on Veteran's Day at the school with one of my sons while he copied down all the Algebra assignments he was supposed to have - and their dates. (THEN we discovered he had copied down the Geometry classwork, and he had to recopy.) Then I checked behind him to see if he had copied correctly (he had a couple mistakes.) Then we went through a stack of unlabeled papers and matched them up with the assignments. Mixed in were all the tests and quizzes and warm-ups that he ALSO was supposed to have kept organized, but were scattered all over his bookbag and shoved in textbooks. The good news was that he had almost everything. That's not always the case...
I'm just trying to get him to LABEL his stuff so it will be easier to file. And I'm trying to motivate myself to check behind him everyday. He's fifteen, and he is not going to do it on a consistent basis no matter how I try to motivate him. This is a battle I've chosen not to fight.
Instead I'm concentrating on fighting for him to copy the homework correctly, do it, then actually show it to the teacher or turn it in. I've been fighting this battle since 4th grade. I will tell you that he is WAY more motivated to do well since he has matured a bit. That is a wonderful milestone in our lives, and you WILL get there!
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Post by Allanque on Nov 17, 2003 9:15:54 GMT -5
I hated notebook checks. The worst thing was the teachers who wanted you to keep EVERYTHING in a separate notebook, then turn in the entire notebook. Ha. If I have 6 different notebooks, I can guarantee you that the one I take to class will most often not be the one for that class. I had everything in one 3 or 4 inch notebook. Most of my teachers would either tell me to run get a 1-inch out of my locker before the bell rang or keep a few extras in their room for "anyone" who happened to need one, i.e., me.
I was good about labelling things because otherwise I'd never remember what problems I needed to do!
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Post by adhdtimes4 on Nov 17, 2003 9:20:21 GMT -5
I just got this email, along with notification of Allanque's reply. Talk about timing:
I tease this teacher because she always closes her emails with "Have a good day."
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Post by homebody67 on Nov 17, 2003 10:18:13 GMT -5
I, too, have been trying to get ds13 organized a little better. At this point, I have to go through his binder and assignment book every evening. Organize any loose papers, usually homework to be done or assignments forgotten to turn in. When we determine what needs to be turned in, I paperclip them together, holepunch them, put them in the rings in the front of the binder, and put a brightly colored sticky note on them to remind him to turn them in. I do the same thing with work that needs to be done. (If he doesn't finish them that night) It is helping....little by little. He has said that the sticky notes do help him remember. Other people decide to keep two separate folders in their binders, one labeled "work to be done" and "work to turn in", I couldn't talk him into that one, though it seems like it would be a lot easier. For assignments missing in his assignment book, I email the proper teacher. It's about all I can do. I have also requested from the teachers that they try to discreetly remind him to copy it down before the end of class. Make sure and explain to the teachers what you are doing there at home to ensure success. I have found, (In my limited experience!) that the more you are willing to do at home, the more they are willing to do in class.
Good luck,
Terri
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Post by sierra on Nov 17, 2003 12:12:43 GMT -5
Good lord I'm not alone! Misery loves company right?  |
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Post by tridlette on Nov 17, 2003 22:16:21 GMT -5
I had an IEP meeting with the district today. The main idea was to set 13 y.o. DS up for success. So, we make all kinds of great notes. Then comes organization. He has always had 1 3-ring binder for all classes. Every night he comes home, yanks everything out of it and throws it up in the air to see where it lands. (And ther it stays for weeks). New supervisor wants separate notebooks for each class, with pockets. I just read the truth above, more notebooks to be lost or forgotten. For kids who don't use notes, why do they have to keep a note book??? I never used notes. If it isn't in my brain the first time I hear it, reading it later won't make it stay there.
My suggestion:
Give him his note packets, handouts, etc. When he gets home each night, file it into the 3 ring on the bookshelf here at home. When the teacher is going to have notebook check, he can bring it in to school for just that day. Our school has NO study halls anywhere in the district, so having a notebook to study from is pointless. He needs the notes here at home should he ever decide to actually look at them!
Of course, this idea just came to me now, so I have to try to change the IEP before it gets written up. But, maybe if he doesn't have to carry all that *^%&% back and forth everyday, maybe he will learn to place a little value in it. If not, he will at least, hopefully, learn how to file away important papers (like for tax purposes, etc.) He likely won't see the sense in keeping the junk, but maybe someday he will appreciate it. Just a thought, I don't know how it might fly, so take it for what it is worth!
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Post by adhdtimes4 on Nov 18, 2003 20:31:54 GMT -5
For one of our guys, we actually do have a flexible three ring binder for each class, along with a folder of the same color. We punch holes in the folder and put it into the binder, along with dividers as neccesary. He hasn't lost one yet, Hallelujah. I do like the idea of leaving the notebook at home.
Right now one of the boys has a major packet of papers with study guide questions - they are supposed to fill it out as they study. I copied it and left one copy at home - as he fills it in during class (IF he fills it in at all) he recopies it at home. That way we don't lose several weeks worth of work! Same way with vocabulary cards. I just let the teacher know they are done, and the cards stay under our roof.
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Post by LitlBaa on Nov 18, 2003 21:18:02 GMT -5
Thanks, everyone, for the suggestions. I met with the teacher, with Katie there, so our stories would be the same...basically, she had all the worksheets but doesn't know what happened to the pages from the math book! I told both Katie and the teacher that I do not expect perfection, I don't expect straight As, but I do expect that she does her best, and Ds and Fs are not her best, and that whatever was happening now wasn't working, so we needed to make some changes.
This teacher sent home a questionnaire the first day of school asking how he could best help my child learn. I told him then and reminded him yesterday,she needs repetition and she has to show that she knows it because otherwise she'll say I know I know and then she doesn't. He is giving up his break to make sure she understands what the assignment is and how to do it. Now I have to get in touch with the language arts teacher, I just signed another paper for a failing grade...
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