Saturday, January 13, 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!

Well, the new year is well underway and so far going well. We had a great Christmas and as usual we all got way too much and spent way too much money. We went to Montreal over the holidays and watched the Canadiens beat Tampa Bay's butt. Yes Kirk Montreal won! I am not really much of a hockey fan but it is really cool being in a stadium with over 21,000 people all cheering for the same team. We were in Montreal for 5 days and had lots of fun except Chris and I were totally neglected by our children who are obsessed with their aunt and uncle. We knew it was only going to last a short time and I am happy they are so close with them.

Now that the routines are somewhat back to normal and everyone's returned to their jobs, mine will be ending in three weeks. It is a bittersweet thing I guess. I am kind of excited to be done, but I will miss the kids and I actually will miss being busy. I am hoping I will be more focused on youth though. I guess just spending my whole entire day with loud, active kids kind of ruined youth for me. So hopefully my motivation for that will return once I am done work.

I am thinking the new year is going to bring many different decisions that will have to be made. Chris and I have been discussing selling our house, getting out of debt and rebuilding. So that is #1. Number 2- that has been on my mind lately is about homeschooling either one or both of my children. For Isaiah I am realizing through different things, that teachers are ill equipped to teach children at the level that they are at. Especially from reading James Dobson's book Bringing Up Boys(thanks Cass) that teachers are not prepared for boys. Yes there are the so called "good" boys who sit quietly, pay attention and pick up things easily; but watch out if you can't sit still for a half an hour on a carpet with your legs folded, those boys are labeled disruptive, unfocused and flighty. Not that Isaiah is labeled that but I am thinking he is being taught in a way that is unappealing to him in Gr.1, so how is that going to affect him throughout his school years. Anyway, I will have a lot to pray about and would appreciate some prayer over these things.

Anywho, ta ta for now and I still love you all! P.S. Thanks Scott and Heidi for housesitting we appreciate it!!!

14 comments:

Em Bass said...

Haha well don't worry about not being around loud active kids! If you're more focused on going to youth, that's all you're getting.(atleast @ Jr.youth)

Anonymous said...

I have to admit, I found your post rather offensive as a teacher (but I love you). First of all, if you have a problem with Isaiah's teacher, you should talk to Isaiah's teacher. Secondly, perhaps the problem is not that teachers are ill equipped but rather that government is the problem. How can you realistically expect a teacher to devote the time necessary to the type of children you were talking about if these teachers are expected to teach 20+ students, 1+ grades, go to four hundred meetings a month, etc., etc. The problem may be the teacher, but I doubt it. The problem is the system. Which doesn't really solve anything for Isaiah, but it also doesn't do any good to blame the problem on teachers who are already trying to do their best and getting little credit.
I'm just saying.
Love you!

Kim said...

I figured you would have something to say about that. I have a problem with Isaiah not so much his teacher. I agree teachers do the best they can it is just for me it is hard to see my child struggling and I have been around the teachers meetings enough to hear how teachers do label and talk about the kids that are not brainiacs. And I love you too!

Kim said...

Oh and Em, thanks for showing up for youth last night!!!! I would have appreciated you being there when I nearly broke my tailbone! Sniff, Sniff!

Anonymous said...

Yeah, those kids are frustrating to us, but not because we don't like them or think they are braindead. It's hard to know you are responsible for a child's education and not have the means or resources to reach that child. I personally feel that there are children who would benefit from more one-on-one time with a teacher in a quiet environment. And so would the rest of their class. However, we have prioritized their self-esteem over their education. Personally, I would rather that my child was taken out of class and taught to read than spend the rest of their life struggling because they did not receive a good education. What is more important in the end in our society? Being part of the group or achieving personal success? Grow up, government. In my opinion, it's time to re-evaluate your values. Less children in the classroom, more positions for resource-type teachers, and permission to try alternative methods for children who would benefit from them.

Anonymous said...

Poop.

Em Bass said...

Well, atleast you missed me:P
And i love the new template, very nice.

Scottie said...

yay for resource teachers!!!

Kirk said...

I agree with Not Neves last comment "poop" It was the best comment I had read on here so far.

Kirk said...

Oh wait now my cmment is the best one I read on here.

Anonymous said...

I was going for levity. Glad you appreciated it.

Scottie said...

frig... now i have to go look up the word levity...

Anonymous said...

With any luck, Mr. Webster will not have deleted that word from his dictionary. Oh wait...the dictionary is non-fiction...full of facts...I doubt he crossed any words off his list if he found them unpleasant...

Cassidy said...

I like the word poop as well. And Stephanie hunny, you ramble.