BlogHer - K-12 - Comments

UUuhhhhhh.....

PunkyB — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 12:15:36 -0600

If it were to help kids with physical fitness, it would be one thing, but making all the kids do physical fitness tests once a year in front of their classmates actually has the opposite effect for those of us who were husky kids. There would be no real physical fitness for the rest of the year, other than standing in line for 20 minutes waiting to take a turn at hitting a ball or being brought out to the track to wonder around while the teacher reads. The worst was when they weighed us all in front of each other and called out their weight… What could be more terrifying for a chunky pre-teen than having to get on a scale in front of your classmates? It made me want to skip gym class any time I got the chance, so the people who saw me get weighed and not able to hold myself above a bar wouldn’t make fun of the heavy girl.

Ahhh… how stupid little things you do as a kid scar you for life. They shouldn't

embarrass a kid into into fitness... Wow, that test really messed me up.

Punky B

www.stuffpeoplebought.com

www.deadwalking.com

i hate bullies!!!!

notUrtypicalGma — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:58:26 -0600

yes, bullying is rampant. all of my girls at some point have been bullied and for the most part it has been short lived, because i have taught my daughters to stick up for themselves. they have handled it in different ways, one may talk her way out of it another has actually had to kick a boy off of her, let me say that he called her bad names and left bruises on her arms she just happened to be caught by the yard duty person. i went to to the office and we got to the bottom of it, this kid had bullied her for a while and she finally couldn't take it anymore. and yet anothers bullying was in junior high and she came home and told me and i went to the principals office and the three boys who did bully her were suspended, because they used remarks affiliated with gang behavior. i am glad that my kids are equipped to do the right thing, and if i ever saw them acting out on another child i have taken them aside and been really stern with them, for the most part it has been kidstuff. but if you do not nip it in the bud it grows into this unmanageable behavior that to me is unacceptable, as i was bullied from kinder to highschool. i finally got bold to stand up for myself, most times i did not confide in my parents and i think that is crucial. creating an environment of communication is soo important to really knowing what is going on with your kid. i agree with beverly as they get older the bullying can be worse, with the technology we have today it only allows someone to be destroyed with the push of a send button. i have tweens and teens and it is scary to me how much goes on, for the new cyberbullying i think having access to all of their gadgets and myspace etc is important i monitor my girls sites. i have seen cyberbullying firsthand when someone spread vicious rumors about my daughter from another mother, it destoyed her confidence and friendships and she is slowly rebuilding her life back to a normal for her. so i say know what is going on in your kids life and know who is in your kids life. and to all the former bullies out there who ever taunted me, hope karma was a *$#@! to you.

It gets more difficult!

Beverly Flaxington — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:48:06 -0600

Once they start texting, IMing and going online, it gets so much more difficult to oversee and manage. My 13 year old daughter has received threatening messages from "friends" and I've seen many situations where other children (girls especially) have to deal with the cyber-bullying. It's hard to go to school and not even know who is out to get you! And, of course, it is easy to punish someone when all you have to do is press "Send". On the note of younger children, the counselor at my youngest daughter's school last year (in Kindergarten) told me she was having to start younger and younger to teach them to be kind to one another. She said the bullying and gossiping used to start in 4th or 5th grade, but now it is the littlest children.

What did I do? In both cases, all I can do is try and explain to my kids that bullies are looking for attention. I try and teach them that "kill with kindness" is generally the best approach. Do they listen? Who knows!

Beverly Flaxington

Blog: Dealing with Difficult People

Book: Understanding Other People: The Five Secrets

Windows is just as easy, but don't forget gaming platforms

jkirschner — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:11:28 -0600

Parental controls are easy to set up on a Windows PC, as well. You can get to Parental Controls directly from the Windows Control Panel. From there, you can set web restrictions, time limits, game ratings, and block specific programs.

When thinking about parental controls, it's easy to forget that our children are getting online more and more frequently with game platforms, as well (Xbox, PlayStation, Wii). The ESRB put out a guide for setting parental controls on each of these platforms, which can be linked to here.

Josh Kirschner
Techlicious.com

My mother (a retired

Expat Mum — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:14 -0600

My mother (a retired teacher) always advises giving something teachers can use or eat. They have enough trinkets to last a lifetime. I usually give lovely tubes of handcream (not too smelly) which can be picked up for a few dollars from Avon, TJ Maxx etc. (If they have an allergy at least it's nice enough to pass on to someone else.)

The most popular gift I give is a hand made scarf from the beautiful, fluffy yarns you can get at the fabric and craft stores. It costs between $5 and $10 and if you can knit in plain stitch, you can do it. Take a big pair of needles (I use size 15), cast on about 20 stitches and you're good to go.

For someone really special, you can then pick up (or make) a pair of beaded ear-rings to match.

That is too funny

sassymonkey — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:54:19 -0600

When I started reading this post I was totally thinking about those tile coasters on Skip To My Lou. lol

We didn't have to give to multiple teachers and really only did it until I got into junior high (seventh grade). So we spent a little bit more. It was usually a gift certificate to the restaurant my mother worked at (enough for one meal, which didn't cost so much at the time) accompanied by a rose.

Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.

thanks for chiming in

Mir Kamin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 07:03:16 -0600

I'm so grateful for the different perspectives we can get here, Rachel, because I've had so many teachers tell me the opposite! It's good to have the reminder that it's somewhat a matter of personal preference, and your best bet is always to ask (either obliquely or straight out, as is appropriate to your relationship). I think a lot of the teachers who ask for stuff "for the room" probably have received a lot of popsicle-stick creations. ;)

--
Mir Kamin (BlogHer contributing editor) Personal: Woulda Coulda Shoulda Having it all with less: Want Not

As a former teacher....

Rachel May — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:47:48 -0600

I can unequivocally say that my very favorite gifts are those that included a heartfelt note from the parent or student. After eight years of teaching (and I'm not teaching this year), I still pull out those notes when I'm having a rough day.

I'm not sure how to put this without seeming kind of rude, so I'm just going to throw it out there on behalf of other teachers, too -- I actually don't like getting gifts "for the classroom". I'd much rather receive a gift certificate to someplace for *me*! Granted, I was a high school teacher, so elementary teachers may feel differently.... but for my son's teachers, I'd rather give them something that's specifically for *them*, not for their students. It seems a bit backward, actually, to give something that will ultimately be for my kid instead of for the teacher.

My son and I will be mixing up huge batches of dry spiced tea and hot chocolate mix, and packaging it in fun jars -- very frugal and also something he can help make. I'll include a note, and ask him to dictate one, too.

Great Ideas!

SpinDiva — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 06:43:25 -0600

I love some of these ideas. Thanks for sharing, I better get to it or the end of school will be here in no time.

http://www.familyinshape.typepad.com http://w

'Round these parts...

alladither — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:27:06 -0600

...which is Seattle, we give coffee cards. Always in fashion. And they can be used for coffee, yes. Or tea, cocoa, maybe even a MUG!

Angie www.AllAdither.com www.HalfAssedKitchen.com

Buy bags!

Beverly Flaxington — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:20:44 -0600

I have three children involved in multiple activities (and don't forget the bus drivers) so there is no lack of people to "gift". I also buy on sale and stash away in my attic, but my newest favorite gift is to give those fold-up, foldout bags to use at the store instead of plastic. You can get sets of them for $10 for 3 at the www.animalrescuesite.com (and then I give each person one), or go on to a site like http://www.reusablebags.com/ and get adorable bags for $4.95 and up. They often have sales also. I have received rave reviews from recipients for these and I also feel like I am doing something good for the environment!

Beverly Flaxington

Blog: Dealing with Difficult People

Book: Understanding Other People: The Five Secrets

Time limits

Susan Getgood — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:15:04 -0600

Yes, time limits can be very useful, especially if you have multiple kids sharing a family computer.

Susan Getgood blogs at Marketing Roadmaps, Snapshot Chronicles and Snapshot Chronicles Roadtrip.

This is why I love having a

CentsibleLife — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 12:09:46 -0600

This is why I love having a Mac, it's SO easy to set up parental controls, and my favorite part is that I can set time limits, so no fighting about getting off the computer!

If you are looking at a new computer, I would highly recommend a Mac.

Kelly Whalen

twitter.com/centsiblelife

Protecting our children

justmommy2 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:33:36 -0600

There are several browsers designed for children which screen websites and inappropriate language. You can also raise your pc security levels which gives you additional safeguards. Keeping the computer in an open area of the home and monitoring your childs online activity is a must. My daughter does not know the login password to our computer or to the sites that I allow her to visit. Thus mom is always present.

Rhonda

We use this...

ablogbybrit — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 10:04:13 -0600

This is a subject that relates closely to us... I'm not just trying to promote this product, but it has been a huge blessing in our lives.

www.mykidsbrowser.com

My brother in law made this software to protect kids from the internet. We use it all the time, and I love it becasue it REALLY protects my kids online.