Chit Chat in VOLTVILLE Thread #2 :)
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YEP - I resemble that one too . . .
However - Not in denial at all and honestly actually face reality everyday . . .
BTW: Some of Us are not as lucky as those who could just quite right away or with their first vape . . . Or else We would have . . . There are some of Us that are addicted - not only to Nicotine and the other over 4,000 carcinogens, but to the smoking habit physically, emotionally, and psychologically (including the MAOI's) . . . More Importantly, We NEED to get there are Own WAY and try to take it one day at a time to get where We NEED too . . . Oh and there is a very good thread here on ECF that can even point out these difficulties that many of Us still experience that you may want to check out if your interested in finding out some more about it:
AND - Then continued here:
I haven't given a tutoring report in a while because nothing too momentous has happened.
The little boy is learning more and more English, though he still doesn't understand more than a few simple things. One thing I've been doing with him is to give him a blank paper with lines for uppercase and lowercase letters, you know the kind. We all had them in first grade. The kinds with a dashed line in the middle of a solid line at top and bottom. Anyway, he gets ready with his pencil and I say, "Upper case I" and he has to print what I dictate. He was forgetting a lot of letters, so I let him look at a sheet with the alphabet in upper- and lowercase letters if he needs a prompt. His older brother thought maybe I should withdraw the cheat sheet, but I think that it's easier not to look if he knows, and if he's unsure, he can look. He'll stop looking when he's ready and no longer needs the cheat sheet. But maybe I should force him to remember more. Is the cheat sheet a crutch? What do you all think?
Also, with the youngest, I'm "reading" books to him, though we are still mainly looking at the pictures with me pointing out stuff and naming it and asking him what something is if I think he knows it. I usually bring 2 books from the library and let him choose which he wants to see. He chooses the ones with bright, more or less realistic pictures, preferably photos. Dr. Seuss's illustrations hold no charms for him.
The girl is doing well. She's still plugging away at The Jungle Books and, though reading it aloud to me is hard work for her, she says she enjoys it and wants to continue to read it. Kipling is no easy read for her. I think partly she is interested in the story, but also she likes the idea she is successfully reading something so difficult and that I'm proud of her. She's like my daughter was in this way. All you had to say to my daughter was, "I think this book may be too hard for you to read. Maybe when you're older." Those were a challenge to my daughter to get through the book by hook or by crook!
Anyway, I'm glad the girl likes the stories and keeps begging for Mowgli.
The older boy is doing well, but I wish I could spark his enthusiasm somehow. Recently, I saw his test scores on some big assessment test, and I was amazed that they were so low. Yes, I know he's not reading 5th-grade level -- that's the grade he's in now -- but I know he's doing the easier 4th grade reading with no problem. He reads aloud, sounding out words so well that I can't tell if he knows them or not. He tends to race through the reading and even the other exercises just to get it all over with. I have to constantly slow him down. But still, I heard he was really good in math, and his score in math on these big tests was slightly lower than his English scores. That makes no sense! So we discussed his test scores and why they were so low, and I think, from our discussion, he has test-taking anxiety. So I thought combatting this might be a good subject of reading, but he really wasn't interested. He gets very jittery when I correct his oral reading a lot, and he said that's how he feels when he does the tests. I have always slowed him down and told him to relax and take a deep breath when he gets too frantic, but the stuff I had him read suggested other techniques. I doubt he'll try them. I think he'd rather ignore the problem than deal with it.
So now, another decision. I'm hired to teach the kids English, not teach them to take tests, but that is part of doing well in school, so I have delved lightly into test-taking strategy. But do I want to focus on the boy's problem? He wants to ignore it, and I think I might be wasting my time till he's ready and serious about addressing it. I may just ignore it, too, and go on teaching him as I have been, trying to calm him when he gets tense while I'm with him. He seems to accept that.
The new girl is doing well. She doesn't have a totally photographic memory after all, but it's very good. She is a lot better at memorizing stuff than I ever was. I was particularly bad at memorization. I could understand a lesson and repeat it back in my own words in detail, but memorizing a simple poem? Nope!
The new girl speaks very well compared to her reading and writing skills. Her writing is especially poor for 3rd grade. I'd say beginning 1st grade level. Her reading is probably 2nd grade level. That's just a guess, since I don't really use scales of any sort like teachers do. I just read what I might give them for homework and decide whether they can handle it or not.
An interesting thing the new girl said to me last time. She said she doesn't want to grow up, she wants to stay a child forever. I said I thought growing up was interesting, learning new things and getting more autonomy. She said she didn't want to grow up because that meant she'd have to get married and have babies. When I told her that she wouldn't have to get married, and even if she decided to, she might opt not to have babies, she acted very surprised, as if she had never thought that was possible. I'm surprised she didn't know a woman had options. I wonder if the other girl know this.
I never cease to be surprised at how little these kids know of the world and the way it works.
But the big breakthrough was, last lesson, the new girl finally got the hang of sounding out words. She's not good at it yet, still has a long way to go, but she finally started to figure it out. I think this happened when, the time before, she showed me a book she wanted to read that was far too advanced for her. But it had dinosaurs and Latin names of fish that even I had to sound out, and as I did, I broke down the syllables and sounded them out while she watched, and I guess she got the idea from seeing me do it. I'm focusing on this now, along with some other necessary things like subject/verb agreement. She still sometimes has trouble identifying the verb in a simple sentence. And we started on possessive pronouns (like mine, yours, its, his, hers, theirs). She caught on to that fast.
Last time, we read Ferdinand, about a bull that just wants to be peaceful and smell the flowers, but got into a bullfight in Spain and refused to fight. She didn't want to know about bullfights. I guess it's not PC these days to tell kids about animal cruelty. The lady at the library said, when I checked out the book, "It's been a long time since anyone took this book out."
The latest on the Egyptian kids is that they are still in Egypt for another couple of months, so that's on hold. It's OK, since I was wondering how to fit them in to my present schedule.
The little boy is learning more and more English, though he still doesn't understand more than a few simple things. One thing I've been doing with him is to give him a blank paper with lines for uppercase and lowercase letters, you know the kind. We all had them in first grade. The kinds with a dashed line in the middle of a solid line at top and bottom. Anyway, he gets ready with his pencil and I say, "Upper case I" and he has to print what I dictate. He was forgetting a lot of letters, so I let him look at a sheet with the alphabet in upper- and lowercase letters if he needs a prompt. His older brother thought maybe I should withdraw the cheat sheet, but I think that it's easier not to look if he knows, and if he's unsure, he can look. He'll stop looking when he's ready and no longer needs the cheat sheet. But maybe I should force him to remember more. Is the cheat sheet a crutch? What do you all think?
Also, with the youngest, I'm "reading" books to him, though we are still mainly looking at the pictures with me pointing out stuff and naming it and asking him what something is if I think he knows it. I usually bring 2 books from the library and let him choose which he wants to see. He chooses the ones with bright, more or less realistic pictures, preferably photos. Dr. Seuss's illustrations hold no charms for him.
The girl is doing well. She's still plugging away at The Jungle Books and, though reading it aloud to me is hard work for her, she says she enjoys it and wants to continue to read it. Kipling is no easy read for her. I think partly she is interested in the story, but also she likes the idea she is successfully reading something so difficult and that I'm proud of her. She's like my daughter was in this way. All you had to say to my daughter was, "I think this book may be too hard for you to read. Maybe when you're older." Those were a challenge to my daughter to get through the book by hook or by crook!
Anyway, I'm glad the girl likes the stories and keeps begging for Mowgli.
The older boy is doing well, but I wish I could spark his enthusiasm somehow. Recently, I saw his test scores on some big assessment test, and I was amazed that they were so low. Yes, I know he's not reading 5th-grade level -- that's the grade he's in now -- but I know he's doing the easier 4th grade reading with no problem. He reads aloud, sounding out words so well that I can't tell if he knows them or not. He tends to race through the reading and even the other exercises just to get it all over with. I have to constantly slow him down. But still, I heard he was really good in math, and his score in math on these big tests was slightly lower than his English scores. That makes no sense! So we discussed his test scores and why they were so low, and I think, from our discussion, he has test-taking anxiety. So I thought combatting this might be a good subject of reading, but he really wasn't interested. He gets very jittery when I correct his oral reading a lot, and he said that's how he feels when he does the tests. I have always slowed him down and told him to relax and take a deep breath when he gets too frantic, but the stuff I had him read suggested other techniques. I doubt he'll try them. I think he'd rather ignore the problem than deal with it.
So now, another decision. I'm hired to teach the kids English, not teach them to take tests, but that is part of doing well in school, so I have delved lightly into test-taking strategy. But do I want to focus on the boy's problem? He wants to ignore it, and I think I might be wasting my time till he's ready and serious about addressing it. I may just ignore it, too, and go on teaching him as I have been, trying to calm him when he gets tense while I'm with him. He seems to accept that.
The new girl is doing well. She doesn't have a totally photographic memory after all, but it's very good. She is a lot better at memorizing stuff than I ever was. I was particularly bad at memorization. I could understand a lesson and repeat it back in my own words in detail, but memorizing a simple poem? Nope!
The new girl speaks very well compared to her reading and writing skills. Her writing is especially poor for 3rd grade. I'd say beginning 1st grade level. Her reading is probably 2nd grade level. That's just a guess, since I don't really use scales of any sort like teachers do. I just read what I might give them for homework and decide whether they can handle it or not.
An interesting thing the new girl said to me last time. She said she doesn't want to grow up, she wants to stay a child forever. I said I thought growing up was interesting, learning new things and getting more autonomy. She said she didn't want to grow up because that meant she'd have to get married and have babies. When I told her that she wouldn't have to get married, and even if she decided to, she might opt not to have babies, she acted very surprised, as if she had never thought that was possible. I'm surprised she didn't know a woman had options. I wonder if the other girl know this.
I never cease to be surprised at how little these kids know of the world and the way it works.
But the big breakthrough was, last lesson, the new girl finally got the hang of sounding out words. She's not good at it yet, still has a long way to go, but she finally started to figure it out. I think this happened when, the time before, she showed me a book she wanted to read that was far too advanced for her. But it had dinosaurs and Latin names of fish that even I had to sound out, and as I did, I broke down the syllables and sounded them out while she watched, and I guess she got the idea from seeing me do it. I'm focusing on this now, along with some other necessary things like subject/verb agreement. She still sometimes has trouble identifying the verb in a simple sentence. And we started on possessive pronouns (like mine, yours, its, his, hers, theirs). She caught on to that fast.
Last time, we read Ferdinand, about a bull that just wants to be peaceful and smell the flowers, but got into a bullfight in Spain and refused to fight. She didn't want to know about bullfights. I guess it's not PC these days to tell kids about animal cruelty. The lady at the library said, when I checked out the book, "It's been a long time since anyone took this book out."
The latest on the Egyptian kids is that they are still in Egypt for another couple of months, so that's on hold. It's OK, since I was wondering how to fit them in to my present schedule.
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Moanin', Volties.
Uncle, the reason I vape is that I am an addict, too. In my case it's the "mechanics" of smoking. The hand/mouth things and the habits of after meals and so on. I fully appreciate the addiction problems of smoking and, with the enhancements in tobacco, the addictive properties of nicotine.
I guess I am lucky enough to be able to put the tobacco products down and rely on vaping to handle the addictions without a problem. For me, it was a question of mind over matter. Ending up on an oxygen tank mattered more to me than a cigarette and vaping allows the "rituals" to continue without the bad effects of tobacco. I applied the same mindset when I was diagnosed as diabetic and managed to get a firm handle on that as well.
It's a matter of individual traits I guess and I've been lucky with being able to control things as well as I do. In terms of addiction to vaping, rituals, I have enough supplies to carry me for about ten years at the moment if the FDA stopped it all tomorrow, LOL.
Uncle, the reason I vape is that I am an addict, too. In my case it's the "mechanics" of smoking. The hand/mouth things and the habits of after meals and so on. I fully appreciate the addiction problems of smoking and, with the enhancements in tobacco, the addictive properties of nicotine.
I guess I am lucky enough to be able to put the tobacco products down and rely on vaping to handle the addictions without a problem. For me, it was a question of mind over matter. Ending up on an oxygen tank mattered more to me than a cigarette and vaping allows the "rituals" to continue without the bad effects of tobacco. I applied the same mindset when I was diagnosed as diabetic and managed to get a firm handle on that as well.
It's a matter of individual traits I guess and I've been lucky with being able to control things as well as I do. In terms of addiction to vaping, rituals, I have enough supplies to carry me for about ten years at the moment if the FDA stopped it all tomorrow, LOL.
I kept smoking a couple of ciggies a day for quite sometime. I still miss them to a certain extent. I have considered trying to find some of that juice with the MAOIs in it to quell that feeling that vaping isn't quite enough. On the other hand, I have managed to quit smoking and the last ciggie I had at a friend's house several months ago [I've had one ciggie about every 6 months since I quit] really did taste like an ash tray.
Without vape, I know I would go back to smoking.
It has rained and rained here - off and on. Not much in total precip but nice to have some rainy days!!!!
Without vape, I know I would go back to smoking.
It has rained and rained here - off and on. Not much in total precip but nice to have some rainy days!!!!
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Sometimes I get the urge for a cigarette, too, Lizzie. The triggers are strange though. It can be someone in front of me, on the highway, tossing a .... out the window. Or the smell of a freshly lit one as I walk by. Then I think about the smell, the tar on everything, the burn holes in the clothes and the hacking and coughing and discard that thought as fast as I can. I will say going from tootle puffing to whomping has it's disadvantages as well. I'm forever cleaning the windows, mirrors and TV/computer screens to get the VG film off of them.
The "mechanics" of smoking seem to be a big part of my addiction as well. I've been slowly but surely cutting the nic until I'm down to 3-6mg in most devices, especially the high wattage and tc. My eRolls are my mainstay now though even though I've got many other things. I think it's mainly because they so closely simulate smoking being automatic and perfect size. Also my pipes for coffee ritual and bedtime vaping. I have noticed lately if I don't have one in my hand or hanging from my teeth for longer periods of time it doesn't seem to bother me nearly as much. I still keep devices around with 18-20 for the occasional trigger/urge/craving, like after eating or some of the other ones you mentioned. About three hits and a few minutes later I'm buzzing lol. I'm considering going nic free eventually or at least 1% but have no intention of giving up my vaping. I enjoy the flavor and the handling too much as well as the social aspect. I regularly get together with several other vapers and wannabes which makes it an excellent opportunity to help others.
Guess who is coming over tomorrow? Don't tell Pony Baloney but the vet is coming to geld him around 9 or 10am.
Gonna reply to a couple of post, but one at a time . . .
First @SandySu . . .
As someone who has what is termed a learning disability and is a "Visual"/"Auditory" person, when taking test it became very difficult to remember all the different formulas/techniques - especially when being forced to produce or "sprew" repetitive "stuff" on paper . . . AND - Most of the time it was not because I couldn't do the work, I could comprehend and understood the information, it was the pressure of accomplishing a task (taking a test) under duress (probably very similar to the boy as "You" mentioned) . . . Given this, when I was in college (25 years after graduating HS), when it came to taking test/exams I was allowed double the time that was normally expected to take a test/exams, or write an essay . . . Also, depending on the "professor" certain "Cheat sheets" (especially in statistics - the professor actually reviewed all the formulas before the final exam and wrote them on the blackboard - then barely erased them so everyone could still see what was there) or items (a Dictionary - since I am a horrible speller) were allowed . . . Matter of fact, One professor (who it turned out also had a learning disability) actually gave "Me" both a written, multiple choice, and a verbal exam with the same questions - guess which one's I passed (A) . . . Needless to say, I not only did pass "My' exams, I actually won a few academic awards and graduated with honors too . . . So when "You" ask about the use of "Cheat Sheets" as a crutch being a viable resource for a student, IMO - it really depends on the person and the situation . . . Also - Some additional questions should be asked before making that decision - The most important one being: Can the student understand and do the work that is expected . . . Or are "You" asking them to just memorize information to "Spew" out what they learned . . . Matter of fact, the more someone showed "Me" how to do something correctly - and encouraged what I was doing correctly, instead of focusing in on what I was doing incorrectly - the more I learned how to do it correctly too. . . . Just Sayin' . . .
BTW: A real funny thing about this all is, although I still have huge problems with grammar & spelling, I can actually notice and correct others grammar & spelling mistakes much better than I can "My" own . . .
WOW ! ! ! That's GREAT she is determine to read these books . . .
Matter of fact, that is just one of the ways (both when I was younger and even today) that I was able to learn a lot about the words that I didn't understand - nor know how to spell too . . .
Just Sayin' . . .
AND - Now @awsum . . .
I Agree - Usually it is "Mind over matter" with a number of issues/situations for "Me" too . . . Also - Like "You" I have learned and with little effort have been able to control "My" Diabetes right off the bat . . . I also stop drinking alcohol long before I felt had too (although I am told I can have an alcohol beverage every now & then - I Do Not Drink - because I rather not have to go through the eventual results) . . . AND - Now with the newer physical health problems I am experiencing and still facing (Stomach & now recently "My" Heart), I have been able to modify certain habits and possible addictions to specific foods also (can no longer eat a lot of foods that would not normally affect other people at all) . . . So - I am also still working on these other newer health issues that have arisen over the past year too . . . However, when it comes to vaping and using an "E-Cig" - even with having all the equipment, a number of different "Flavors" (one of the best was one "Wuzznt Me" made for "Me"), getting/using WTA, and changing certain "triggers" - I just haven't been able to "feel" as satisfied (especially even after changing brands & getting the most disgusting tasting/smelling tobacco products I could) and totally stop smoking cigarettes yet (although I did cut back a lot for awhile too) . . . But, even with that said, I am determined even more than ever that I will eventually quit smoking, even if it is the last breath I take . . .
First @SandySu . . .
As someone who has what is termed a learning disability and is a "Visual"/"Auditory" person, when taking test it became very difficult to remember all the different formulas/techniques - especially when being forced to produce or "sprew" repetitive "stuff" on paper . . . AND - Most of the time it was not because I couldn't do the work, I could comprehend and understood the information, it was the pressure of accomplishing a task (taking a test) under duress (probably very similar to the boy as "You" mentioned) . . . Given this, when I was in college (25 years after graduating HS), when it came to taking test/exams I was allowed double the time that was normally expected to take a test/exams, or write an essay . . . Also, depending on the "professor" certain "Cheat sheets" (especially in statistics - the professor actually reviewed all the formulas before the final exam and wrote them on the blackboard - then barely erased them so everyone could still see what was there) or items (a Dictionary - since I am a horrible speller) were allowed . . . Matter of fact, One professor (who it turned out also had a learning disability) actually gave "Me" both a written, multiple choice, and a verbal exam with the same questions - guess which one's I passed (A) . . . Needless to say, I not only did pass "My' exams, I actually won a few academic awards and graduated with honors too . . . So when "You" ask about the use of "Cheat Sheets" as a crutch being a viable resource for a student, IMO - it really depends on the person and the situation . . . Also - Some additional questions should be asked before making that decision - The most important one being: Can the student understand and do the work that is expected . . . Or are "You" asking them to just memorize information to "Spew" out what they learned . . . Matter of fact, the more someone showed "Me" how to do something correctly - and encouraged what I was doing correctly, instead of focusing in on what I was doing incorrectly - the more I learned how to do it correctly too. . . . Just Sayin' . . .
BTW: A real funny thing about this all is, although I still have huge problems with grammar & spelling, I can actually notice and correct others grammar & spelling mistakes much better than I can "My" own . . .
WOW ! ! ! That's GREAT she is determine to read these books . . .
Matter of fact, that is just one of the ways (both when I was younger and even today) that I was able to learn a lot about the words that I didn't understand - nor know how to spell too . . .
Just Sayin' . . .
AND - Now @awsum . . .
I Agree - Usually it is "Mind over matter" with a number of issues/situations for "Me" too . . . Also - Like "You" I have learned and with little effort have been able to control "My" Diabetes right off the bat . . . I also stop drinking alcohol long before I felt had too (although I am told I can have an alcohol beverage every now & then - I Do Not Drink - because I rather not have to go through the eventual results) . . . AND - Now with the newer physical health problems I am experiencing and still facing (Stomach & now recently "My" Heart), I have been able to modify certain habits and possible addictions to specific foods also (can no longer eat a lot of foods that would not normally affect other people at all) . . . So - I am also still working on these other newer health issues that have arisen over the past year too . . . However, when it comes to vaping and using an "E-Cig" - even with having all the equipment, a number of different "Flavors" (one of the best was one "Wuzznt Me" made for "Me"), getting/using WTA, and changing certain "triggers" - I just haven't been able to "feel" as satisfied (especially even after changing brands & getting the most disgusting tasting/smelling tobacco products I could) and totally stop smoking cigarettes yet (although I did cut back a lot for awhile too) . . . But, even with that said, I am determined even more than ever that I will eventually quit smoking, even if it is the last breath I take . . .
I will admit to an added impetus for me to put down the cigarettes...not wanting to disappoint Mrs. Awsum by continuing to smoke them. Yeah, it was tough and there were days, in the beginning, that were harder than others, but my will ower, I guess it was will power, prevailed finally. I had quite twice before, once with the patch and once with Nicotrol, but only stayed off them for about a year at a time, then regressed right back to them. Then, Mrs. Awsum suggested electonic cigarettes. I found SI first, the ECF and the battle was won.
Without question smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome. What works for one, won't do diddly for the next person. Vaping offers an alternative, sort of a grey area. While vaping probably isn't totally hazard free it is, by far, safer than tobacco.
I went the flavor route at the beginning, too, but have settled on tobaccoish flavors entirely. Thankfully, I DIY or I'd be going broke buying liquids.
Without question smoking is one of the most difficult addictions to overcome. What works for one, won't do diddly for the next person. Vaping offers an alternative, sort of a grey area. While vaping probably isn't totally hazard free it is, by far, safer than tobacco.
I went the flavor route at the beginning, too, but have settled on tobaccoish flavors entirely. Thankfully, I DIY or I'd be going broke buying liquids.
As someone who has what is termed a learning disability and is a "Visual"/"Auditory" person, when taking test it became very difficult to remember all the different formulas/techniques - especially when being forced to produce or "sprew" repetitive "stuff" on paper . . . AND - Most of the time it was not because I couldn't do the work, I could comprehend and understood the information, it was the pressure of accomplishing a task (taking a test) under duress (probably very similar to the boy as "You" mentioned) . . . Given this, when I was in college (25 years after graduating HS), when it came to taking test/exams I was allowed double the time that was normally expected to take a test/exams, or write an essay . . . Also, depending on the "professor" certain "Cheat sheets" (especially in statistics - the professor actually reviewed all the formulas before the final exam and wrote them on the blackboard - then barely erased them so everyone could still see what was there) or items (a Dictionary - since I am a horrible speller) were allowed . . . Matter of fact, One professor (who it turned out also had a learning disability) actually gave "Me" both a written, multiple choice, and a verbal exam with the same questions - guess which one's I passed (A) . . . Needless to say, I not only did pass "My' exams, I actually won a few academic awards and graduated with honors too . . . So when "You" ask about the use of "Cheat Sheets" as a crutch being a viable resource for a student, IMO - it really depends on the person and the situation . . . Also - Some additional questions should be asked before making that decision - The most important one being: Can the student understand and do the work that is expected . . . Or are "You" asking them to just memorize information to "Spew" out what they learned . . . Matter of fact, the more someone showed "Me" how to do something correctly - and encouraged what I was doing correctly, instead of focusing in on what I was doing incorrectly - the more I learned how to do it correctly too. . . . Just Sayin' . . .
Uncle, I think you misunderstood. I'm using the cheat sheet with the little boy, who is 5 and hardly knows any English. I gave him a paper with the entire alphabet, both upper- and lowercase letters, and had him say the alphabet. (He had learned the ABC song first.) So then he got to more or less identify each letter with its name. I had him point to a letter when I said it. The next step was to get him to write the alphabet, both upper- and lower case. And now, I'm getting him to write them not in order when I just tell him which to write. So he needs to look at the alphabet paper I used to decide which letter to write.
Last lesson, I tried taking away the cheat sheet, and he looked so distressed that I relented and let him use it. Also, he dutifully copies words I want him to learn, but he still had trouble recognizing anything but his name. I remember when I was playing the game of telling him to write assorted letters, and I spelled out his name w/o telling him I was doing it. He didn't realize, so I pointed out that he had spelled his name, and he seemed thrilled. But I've been working on writing and spelling out the colors, which he can identify verbally. I write the name of the color in a crayon of that color, and he has to copy it. But he still can't recognize it when it is written out. Sigh!
His older brother, now in 5th grade, is the one with the test-taking anxiety. No cheat sheets. I'm hoping I can talk him into not being so nervous about those big assessment tests, but I doubt it'll work. He has a lot of anxiety about doing well, but he doesn't want to work hard. His handwriting is sloppy because he is always in a hurry. He wants to get it over with. I realize that my lessons with the kids are not the most fun things in their lives, but while they are with me, I wish they would try as hard as they can, not just try to get it over with.
Even his sister, a much better student, doesn't want to do the exercises and worksheets, but her motivation is to get to the fun part, which is last: reading The Jungle Books. I wish I could find something her older brother was as interested in. We tried Harry Potter, but it was just too much for him, too many words he doesn't know, too many allusions he missed. I had to explain so much along the way that the story was hardly intelligible. But if I didn't explain, the story would have been hardly intelligible, too.
Last time, we read about the Inuit, and he seemed fairly interested. I told him how the movie I emailed him the link to showed things, and I think now he's more interested in seeing it. He said he started to watch it, but his iPad ran out of battery power, so he only saw a little of the beginning. Maybe after I talked about what he would see, he might be more interested. I need to find something to really inspire him!
Good morning, Voltpeeps.
Geez, it is chilly out there at 37 degrees. Yes, I am up ridiculously early. Hubby is worried about Rusty so he tried to make Rusty come back in by whistling and hollering about treats for five minutes so now I am awake. He finally got the dog in the house. Rusty is limping. I got the dog a tramadol and then Rusty insisted on going outside again. I say let him stay out there if it makes him happy. Poor guy has arthritis and a bad shoulder. I may have to bump his arthritis medication back up to the pre-summer level.
Hubby took him with him to the neighbor house where apparently Rusty jumped in and out of the truck several times. The dog probably shouldn't ride in the truck anymore since it is hard on his shoulder to jump down from the truck.
Pony Baloney got gelded yesterday morning. Poor little guy. He behaved really well. The vet checked his heart First, the vet injected him with a tranquilizer while I held him by the lead rope. Then, she gave him ketamine. He went down fast. She covered his eyes with a rag and tied his leg up so she could see the area. Then she cut the testicles and then she cut out part of the scrotum so it would drain well. so it is basically an open wound.
We walked back to the truck and talked and paid the nice lady. Then, when we got back, Glitch was up and standing there in the pen.
I threw him some hay and his appetite was not affected by the surgery at all. He was doing okay after his surgery but, at first, first he refused to talk to me. He looked towards his back end like "What happened to me?" Towards evening, he got some carrots and decided he could speak to me again.
She said if there is any swelling to make him exercise.
She also said he weighs about 340 pounds and that he is still fairly underweight. Since he has already gained weight, it seems to me that this little horse was severely underfed at his previous home! She said he could gain maybe even another 60 pounds. I'm not sure about that much weight gain but he obviously has a way to go to be at his proper weight.
Also, the horse is taller than the 36 inches stated by the sellers. He is 45 inches tall or 11.1 hands high. That means that Wiseguy's cart really won't fit him and I have to look for another cart. I will be watching the Craigslist like a hawk hoping to find one. Otherwise, I'll have to see what I can find to pick up in Sacramento.
Geez, it is chilly out there at 37 degrees. Yes, I am up ridiculously early. Hubby is worried about Rusty so he tried to make Rusty come back in by whistling and hollering about treats for five minutes so now I am awake. He finally got the dog in the house. Rusty is limping. I got the dog a tramadol and then Rusty insisted on going outside again. I say let him stay out there if it makes him happy. Poor guy has arthritis and a bad shoulder. I may have to bump his arthritis medication back up to the pre-summer level.
Hubby took him with him to the neighbor house where apparently Rusty jumped in and out of the truck several times. The dog probably shouldn't ride in the truck anymore since it is hard on his shoulder to jump down from the truck.
Pony Baloney got gelded yesterday morning. Poor little guy. He behaved really well. The vet checked his heart First, the vet injected him with a tranquilizer while I held him by the lead rope. Then, she gave him ketamine. He went down fast. She covered his eyes with a rag and tied his leg up so she could see the area. Then she cut the testicles and then she cut out part of the scrotum so it would drain well. so it is basically an open wound.
We walked back to the truck and talked and paid the nice lady. Then, when we got back, Glitch was up and standing there in the pen.
I threw him some hay and his appetite was not affected by the surgery at all. He was doing okay after his surgery but, at first, first he refused to talk to me. He looked towards his back end like "What happened to me?" Towards evening, he got some carrots and decided he could speak to me again.
She said if there is any swelling to make him exercise.
She also said he weighs about 340 pounds and that he is still fairly underweight. Since he has already gained weight, it seems to me that this little horse was severely underfed at his previous home! She said he could gain maybe even another 60 pounds. I'm not sure about that much weight gain but he obviously has a way to go to be at his proper weight.
Also, the horse is taller than the 36 inches stated by the sellers. He is 45 inches tall or 11.1 hands high. That means that Wiseguy's cart really won't fit him and I have to look for another cart. I will be watching the Craigslist like a hawk hoping to find one. Otherwise, I'll have to see what I can find to pick up in Sacramento.
moanin', Voltavilians.
It was 43 here this morning, a welcome change. Yesterday it was 27 and everything was covered with frost. It did warm up very nicely and got into the low 70's by the afternoon and today is supposed to be warmer yet.
I'm sitting here waiting for the guy coming to check our boiler. It was replaced last February and is supposed to supply domestic hot water as well as heat. We have an electric water heater, as well, that is actually our main source of hot water but we noticed that the boiler wasn't running when we used the hot water one we turned the boiler back on. It's not a big deal, but something isn't quite right, it's almost brand new and should work right. No charge for the service call because it's still under warranty.
I feel bad for Glitch, poor guy. It may help with training him though and you probably wouldn't be using him for breeding anyway.
It was 43 here this morning, a welcome change. Yesterday it was 27 and everything was covered with frost. It did warm up very nicely and got into the low 70's by the afternoon and today is supposed to be warmer yet.
I'm sitting here waiting for the guy coming to check our boiler. It was replaced last February and is supposed to supply domestic hot water as well as heat. We have an electric water heater, as well, that is actually our main source of hot water but we noticed that the boiler wasn't running when we used the hot water one we turned the boiler back on. It's not a big deal, but something isn't quite right, it's almost brand new and should work right. No charge for the service call because it's still under warranty.
I feel bad for Glitch, poor guy. It may help with training him though and you probably wouldn't be using him for breeding anyway.
Stallions are pretty useless for your average person. Glitch is better off and I am better off.
Hope the guy gets your hot water boiler fixed.
Hope the guy gets your hot water boiler fixed.
Good morning, Voltmaniacs.
Yesterday was a mess. Both my clients complained of feeling not quite well and cancelled until tomorrow. The little horsey has an attitude and I am trying to figure him out. I'm thinking a little lazy, I don't really have to listen to you and I don't know how to relax and enjoy myself.
We will work on it
The day was beautiful and I started winterizing the drip system but, of course, I have to look for hose to pipe adapters. They should be in the shed.
Yesterday was a mess. Both my clients complained of feeling not quite well and cancelled until tomorrow. The little horsey has an attitude and I am trying to figure him out. I'm thinking a little lazy, I don't really have to listen to you and I don't know how to relax and enjoy myself.
We will work on it
The day was beautiful and I started winterizing the drip system but, of course, I have to look for hose to pipe adapters. They should be in the shed.
Lizzie, the horse training (and kid training, too) goes up and down without a steady climb upward. When it goes down, of course we worry and try to think what we did wrong, but sometimes, it just comes back, unless we are really doing something wrong. When I trained Penny, I had no idea of how to train a horse, but it worked pretty well by me just backing off hen we hit a snag. Of course, every horse has a different personality, and you have to figure that into what you're doing, and ponies have a particularly assertive personality. Still, if you make contact with you and him enjoyable, then it should go OK. Right now, he may have lost trust a bit since you let him be hurt (the gelding), but horses are very forgiving, and I think he'll come around.
Just this evening, I was thinking how what I learned in horse training might be valuable in teaching the kids, especially the youngest one, who to my way of thinking, is as nonverbal as a horse. I have to separate out what I say to him yet. If I ask him to spell something, and then ask him what it spells, he hears the word "spell" and tells me the letters, not the name of it. I was thinking I should say, when I want him to tell me the word, "What does that mean?"
And the new girl and I had a showdown this evening. I wanted her to do the work I had prepared. She had studied her spelling words and wanted me to quiz her, so I did. She got some wrong, an she wanted to immediately write them till she learned them, but that was something she could do after I left, so I wanted to move on to the planned lesson. She insisted on writing the words 10 times apiece or so. I realized that it would take too much time, and she could do it w/o my help, so I insisted on moving on. She argued, and at one point, I threatened to just walk out and tell her mom that she would't cooperate. She immediately capitulated.
Telling their parents seems to have a great deal of effectiveness. I wonder what the parents do to get such cooperation.
So we moved on and had a good lesson, but I sure wish the new girl would cooperate more without threats.
The others are falling down in the quality their homework. They rush through it just to get it done. Recently, I took then back to the restaurant and they did their homework there -- beautifully-- but since then, they can't cope with doing it at home. I think they need more supervision, which it seems they are not going to get.
On the way home driving, I Iistened to the public radio station, as usual, and there as an interesting guy who did a TED talk on happiness. He said that letting your mind wander only caused unhappiness, because mostly people think of regrets. So staying in the moment and thinking about what you are doing now is better. I thought, "Wow!" It's true, at least for me. My happiest moments are teaching the kids or preparing their lessons for next time, since I'm totally focused on the task at hand. Something to think about that surely resonated with me.
Just this evening, I was thinking how what I learned in horse training might be valuable in teaching the kids, especially the youngest one, who to my way of thinking, is as nonverbal as a horse. I have to separate out what I say to him yet. If I ask him to spell something, and then ask him what it spells, he hears the word "spell" and tells me the letters, not the name of it. I was thinking I should say, when I want him to tell me the word, "What does that mean?"
And the new girl and I had a showdown this evening. I wanted her to do the work I had prepared. She had studied her spelling words and wanted me to quiz her, so I did. She got some wrong, an she wanted to immediately write them till she learned them, but that was something she could do after I left, so I wanted to move on to the planned lesson. She insisted on writing the words 10 times apiece or so. I realized that it would take too much time, and she could do it w/o my help, so I insisted on moving on. She argued, and at one point, I threatened to just walk out and tell her mom that she would't cooperate. She immediately capitulated.
Telling their parents seems to have a great deal of effectiveness. I wonder what the parents do to get such cooperation.
So we moved on and had a good lesson, but I sure wish the new girl would cooperate more without threats.
The others are falling down in the quality their homework. They rush through it just to get it done. Recently, I took then back to the restaurant and they did their homework there -- beautifully-- but since then, they can't cope with doing it at home. I think they need more supervision, which it seems they are not going to get.
On the way home driving, I Iistened to the public radio station, as usual, and there as an interesting guy who did a TED talk on happiness. He said that letting your mind wander only caused unhappiness, because mostly people think of regrets. So staying in the moment and thinking about what you are doing now is better. I thought, "Wow!" It's true, at least for me. My happiest moments are teaching the kids or preparing their lessons for next time, since I'm totally focused on the task at hand. Something to think about that surely resonated with me.
Good morning, Voltmaniacs.
Hey you woke me up, Tritium! Just teasing. How have you been doing?
Are the kids able to do homework at the restaurant more often? Maybe, they do need more supervision.
Pony Baloney and I are doing okay but he still looks grumpy a lot of the time I think If I keep going out and working with him, we'll be fine. He is doing better than when I got him. I am trying to figure out his personality.
Also, I would like to introduce him to Wiseguy over the fence next week. I think they will get along okay and it would be better for the winter if I have them in the same pen. I only have one heated water bucket.
I have to work today. I'll be thinking about the money since I would rather stay home!
Hey you woke me up, Tritium! Just teasing. How have you been doing?
Are the kids able to do homework at the restaurant more often? Maybe, they do need more supervision.
Pony Baloney and I are doing okay but he still looks grumpy a lot of the time
I think If I keep going out and working with him, we'll be fine. He is doing better than when I got him. I am trying to figure out his personality.Also, I would like to introduce him to Wiseguy over the fence next week. I think they will get along okay and it would be better for the winter if I have them in the same pen. I only have one heated water bucket.
I have to work today. I'll be thinking about the money since I would rather stay home!
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