DU Parents: How are your kids doing this school year?

Lets hear it! I love hearing you guys brag up your pride and joys!! I'll clue you in on our three later.:)

I have him in a co-op kindergarten with 11 other kids. He has a dynamite teacher who's assisted by 2 other moms.

My 16 year old's in a public high school which sucks, plain and simple. His grades are ok, but not what he'scapable of bringing home.
I'm looking for alternatives for him.

Whats a co-op kindergarten?

in which parents assume responsibilities to keep tuition costs down. Duties of teacher's aides, file clerks, fundraisers, janitors, and so forth are handled by parents.

Thank you for asking! They both attend a tiny Roman Catholic elementary school. The sixth grader has six kids in her class. Six! And the second grader has 11 kids in her class. They are both thriving in that environment.

Now, tell us about your little dumplings! :)

After that I went on for 2 undergrad and a doctorate. To this very day I apply something I learn from the Catholic schools in my career and in my life.

Our little dumplings attend an awesome public school, a blue ribbon place. The prinipal there was selected for "top dog award" for the state, whatever ya callit, one of 50 in the country. More on them later....

And they are doing quite well, thank you very much. :D

is in the 8th grade now and is definitely a teenager. She's matured as far as schoolwork goes and has to me reminded but not forced to finish it. She's at a private school (starts Montessori and gradually goes mainstream) and does well. Math is her best subject, but he hates science for some reason. And she's doing a lot better at French since the disinterested students dropped out after the first year.

Renee Descartes

tracking thing going on. So that's a tad worrisome, since I oppose medication.

BUT she IS getting good grades, even while struggling to keep up. And her teachers are great. and the school really does rock.

and still does well at school, means she's a genius! Our daughter is sorta the same. They overcome their difficulties in their own ways, and that makes them smarter than the average bear. Thats the way it was explained to me anyways:)

average... The school was started by Freud's niece many years ago. So the kids there are far, far ahead of publics. In public schools, she would be a genius. But in this setting, she tends to think she isn't as smart as the other kids, and it's hard on her self esteem.

She'll be FINE!

well sorta, if she turns in two assignments in English.

English is her native language, unless you live in Quebec;)

is in her Sophomore year at Tulane University majoring in Neuro-Science. She has a 3.4 GPA in one of the toughest majors going. I'm VERY proud. You folks with pre-schoolers and grade schoolers....in the blink of an eye, they'll be in college. Take time to get involved with their lives, give them as much love as possible, guide them, but most of all allow them to be who they're intended to be. It's great to watch them become adults and know that you had a major influence in their lives.

not like its brain surgury or anything!~Does she like New Orleans?

My daughter is interested in medicine too.

My oldest child was on the front page of the local paper not long ago in a story about his high school's Model UN. Academically, he's around a 3.8 average.
My youngest is doing OK, but a little uneven. He's in middle school, which is like Lord of the Flies, only with adults around. His grades are a little above a 3.0, but it's orchestra that he really likes.

My wife and I are very proud of our boys.

My dad usta say, brothers are like pearls, the more you have the better off you are....

orchestra, wow, which instrument?

We are very proud of our children, even in the more (ahem) challenging moments of parenthood.

Our youngest plays viola.

Fantastic program!

11th grade daughter has been in it for years and loves it.

She has always been academically gifted and though she makes straight A's she complains about school stifling creativity. She has chosen as a book to do a report on "Lies My teacher Told Me."

She's looking to a career in the medical field and is also intent on learning Spanish so that she will be able to communicate with more of the people she will be treating.

She took part in a Duke University summer studies program this summer that was an introduction to medical science. She's wanting to apply to a similar program in Costa Rica this year...my baby! How can I let her go so far away! :cry:



My 8th grade son also holds his own academically.

Which is amazing and stunning in itself. He is one of the most courageous people I have ever known.

He was beset with one ear infection after another in his early years. Because of this his pediatrician warned us that he would be a late talker.

He started out just getting speech therapy in school.

Then everything went to hell.

They tried to pin every label on him they could.

They placed him in full time special-ed. A teacher there told me he was severely mentally disabled and it was lucky that he would be able to stay in school legally until he was 21 because she thought there was a chance "he may be able to be trained by the time he's an adult to do simple things like laundry. He'll never be able to read."

My son was 6 at the time.

I say..."Excuse me?! My son is able to sort and do laundry NOW! He can read a recipe and just this week helped in making bread."

She told me I was imagining things.

Now my son did give this woman hell. There is no question about it. He was one obstinate little Mo-Fo when his obstinacy did him harm.

It was a struggle to work to get him back in regular classes.

And he had a years long struggle to win acceptance of his peers.

Anyway, to shortcut to the end...

This kid who would "never be able to read"
won the "Top Accelerated Reader Award" last year.

He can also read music and was not just in band,
he was in the "Jazz Band"

Best of all he doesn't feel like a reject and outcast anymore and is actually enjoying school this year.

It's interesting to note that we have kids in the same grades.

Likewise, we are facing some of the same mixed emotions about the possibility of these (expensive) international trips. Our son might opt out this year, since the school district has been jerking the school around by delaying approval.

One of my old professors had a copy of a letter on his office door. Back in the early 1940s, his parents were told by his doctor that he (my old prof) was mentally retarded. Time has shown us who got the last laugh on that one.

Take care.

And I hope your son gets to take his trip.

I think kids really look forward to them as a break from a normally dull as dust academic year.

And it is usually the best and brightest educators who are involved with the extra-curricular academic programs and they're motivated and encouraged by kids who are excited about learning.

And viola... :wow: color me impressed.

I don't talk up my kids much here, but they're really smart, great ones. I just don't want to sound pompous, but this gives me an excuse.

My daughter is in 6th grade, goes to a magnet school that specializes in enviromental science. We just got a progress report and all A's so far except math. Now she's always been good, but she's also one of only 3 girls (out of over a hundred kids) in the "higher" math group and she's adjusting. Lot's of "she's a great kid" comments too. She had an injury to her wrist recently which halted basketball and the saxophone, but she also does those things. :)

Next is my son in second grade. He's always doing well. Reads at a 5th grade level and is capable of 4th grade math. He's pretty bored unfortunately. We will be talking at an upcoming conference about the fact that gifted kids are supposed to receive special sevices too. We paid some big bucks to go to a gifted program this Summer and he was one of two kids that actually could explain the concept of he project they did. In other words, most of the kids weren't gifted, just their parents shelled out the dough. Plays soccer too and a great defense guy. :)

Next is my son in Kindergarten. He does well on a cognitive level, but he has a hard time focussing. Too much like his mommy. He's the kind of kid that is good at everything he tries, but gets bored so easily. The worst was Tae Kwon Do this Summer. I mean, he kicked butt (well, not literally, but he probably could have). He was perfect. Whenever he was shown a move right away he could do it. His instructor was really impressed, but did he want to continue? No, so I didn't want to drag him kicking and screaming, so he finished out his session and that was it. This little guy needs his nitch. Right now he wants to learn to play the guitar and he loves girls. I sense trouble, :scared: but if that's what he wants I'll do my best to help him out. I just told him he has to wait until he turns 6 to start guitar lessons.

My youngest is 2. No school yet.

If you got this far, thanks for reading my book.

sounds like you've got your hands full. whats a magnet school?

Girls and guitars already? I bet ya' he drives a red sports car, convertable before you know it.

I don't sleep enough. Well, I sleep enough for me. I just tend to be a hyper person who always is going. My hands are full though for sure.

A magnet school is generally regionally funded (rather than by one individual school district) and operates like a private school, but there's no tuition. Often, there's a lottery to get in or some type of application procedure based on merit.

Girls and guitars. Tell me about it. At least he''s cute too, so I could actually see it for him down the road. Scary though, but as long as his head's on strait, whatever they dream, I'll support.

She's in a third grade dual language (English/Spanish) immersion. She just got a juicy part in the school play. PS 87, one of the gems of the NYC public school system, just a stone's throw from the Museum of Natural History.

Thanks for asking!

What play?

The beach is cool but wow, the museum sounds better

Biologicals-
Rudy is in 3rd grade and doing real well. This is the first full year he is on medication for ADD and it has been wonderful, his reading has always been good, and it is getting better. His sense of humor is the best part of the kid. Just got his yellow belt in tae quan do (or however you spell it). Working on his Bear badge in Cub Scouts

Eric is in 5th grade. He has gained control of his temper, which he gets from both of his parents (might be why we are not married any more) and grandparents. He is very smart and does not push to do his work. We could be forcing him to do everything, but this year before middle school starts is one in which we want him to take more responsibilty for his work, he is understanding this and is at times falling flat on his face, but keeps a B average. He plays cello, sings in the "select" chorus, also has a yellow belt and in his last year of Webelos.

Steps
Matt has fiinished his first year on the Varsity Soccer team. Not doing as well as expected in school, and in his first month of drug rehab

Steve
First year of College, doing well, we think. Claims to have been clean and sober for 2 years.

I will finish my School administration degree in the spring.

I've got three kids total. Oldest=junior in high school, middle=sixth grade (first year of middle school), and youngest=fourth grade.

Now here comes the brag ! All three made the honor roll ! I think this is the first time that all three were on the honor roll simultaneously. And the middle child made the principal's list. All A's !!!!!

Sorry lost my humility there for a second. I'm just really proud of my kids.

You hit the trifecta. You know this says as much about the parents as it does the children. Outstanding!

:-)