School Days
September 23, 2010
My 11 year old is forgetful. He has always been forgetful in all areas of his life. He has left the baseball field without his brand new expensive bat. He has left the football field without his helmet. He has walked out the door to school without wearing shoes.
I call him Blondie because he is the stereotypical blonde that is the butt of all the jokes.
Two weeks ago I got an email from his “homeroom” teacher. (They don’t call them homeroom teachers here, but that is essentially what it is.) She informed me that he was forgetting to bring his things to class, not handing in his homework (because he leaves it in his locker) and talking too TOO much.
None of these things came as a huge shock to me, but I told her that I would have a talk with him, especially in regard to the excessive talking in class because to me that is just rude. He was required to stay after school one day to catch up. He was behind because he kept forgetting to bring his notebook to class to take notes into.
Every morning when he walks out the front door I remind him to bring his stuff to class with him.
So, yesterday I got another email from the teacher. She said he was doing much better. Except that he had forgotten to bring his pencil again and could I please have a talk with him so he knew we were “working together.”
So, I wrote back and assured her that I had talked to him. And then I said that short of coming to school with him there was not much I could do to make him remember his materials.
She wrote back that she would love to have me in the school anytime. That it might give me insight into what it is like to be a sixth grader. I guess the three siblings that preceded him did not do anything for me. Also, I wasn’t really suggesting that I was going to come to school with him.
I will say it right now. I am not going to the school and standing next to my son’s locker to make sure he brings his pencil to class. There are many things that are my responsibility, but this is not one of them.
So after talking to my son when he got home from school and getting input from my 14 yr old son, we came up with a solution.
We would tape a pencil to his hand.
Our first idea was to wrap his hand completely in a mitt of duct tape. The very idea of him showing up at school the next day and holding his hand up for his teacher covered in tape had us convulsing with laughter.
That idea did not pan out because 1) we couldn’t find the duct tape, and 2) the teacher might not think it was as funny as we do and call CPS on me.
So we came up with a second idea, which from a practical standpoint is much better.
Behold:
A new use for painter’s tape.
And he can actually write while the pencil is secured to his wrist:
Also, the tape color coordinates with his outfit. I did that on purpse. (No, not really. But wouldn’t I really seem like a super awesome mother if I did?)
I am already thinking of other solutions that can be remedied in this manner. A strip of tape across his mouth, his homework folder taped to his chest… the possibilities are endless.
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You are my hero.
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:02 amGlad to hear of another mother who believes school is the responsibility of the kid. Makes homework time a breeze. “I will help you if you need it but it’s not my job to get you to do it!”
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:14 amThat is an ingenious solution! You should patent it so mothers all over America may thank you.
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:22 amMy middle school child doesn’t get a locker so he
has to bring a backpack with everything in it to all classes. This doesn’t make him prepared so much as give him numerous locations in which to lose things.
PRICELESS! What a great solution! And seriously, she wants you to come to school with him?! Seriously?!
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:22 amOkay, this is one of the funniest things I have ever seen. And he clearly has a good sense of humor, too.
Was that teacher really serious for you to come to school with a frickin 11 year old? That would be ridiculous. Sheesh!
Love your parenting!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:23 amI have safety pinned a number of items to my daughter. Somehow the fear of embarrassment gets the little gears in her brain turning and she starts magically remembering things. It may be just girls though!
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:24 amI am all for this! Can’t wait to hear what the teacher had to say!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:24 amYour patience and sense of proportion are amazing. I’d have SO been in teacher’s face after the 2nd letter. And not in a “nice” way. I would have done the duct-tape thing (or a reasonable facimile thereof), and probably the mouth-tape and homework tape as well - just to show her how unreasonable her demands that YOU fix HER problems were.
I have lots of patience. I’ve never used any, so I have TONS of it saved up…
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:24 amMy mom used to do that for my brother - except it was milk money in the lunch box or a note for the teacher pinned in his coat.
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:32 amLOL
Loved this post!
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:33 amBetter tape a sharpener to the other hand, because you KNOW he’ll break the tip of that pencil in about two minutes.
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:37 amThis just rocks! You’re a genius!
My first grader has come home with a bad note in his folder 1/2 of the days he’s been in school this year. He’s talking while in circle time, talking in line, fussing around during carpet time, etc. We talk to him about it constantly and have taken privileges away as well. It doesn’t seem to be getting better, though his teacher said she can see that he’s trying. At this point, though, I’m wondering if his teacher isn’t firm enough with him during class, if she’s just super picky, or if he’s really as bad as it looks on paper (he didn’t have half as many issues in Kindergarten). He says he’s trying and that he and just a couple others are the only ones who ever get bad notes written. We’ve got a conference next week; should be interesting.
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:39 amI love your posts! You always make me smile!
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:39 amThis is brilliant! I hope the teacher got a good laugh. And I hope he remembers his pencil. But you are right, at some point, the school has a responsibility for helping kids deal with school items. So until they can figure out how to make him clean his room at home, you can deal with the home stuff and let them worry about school.
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:44 amI love this!
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:44 amNot that I disagree with you on the going to school, but I wonder if the humiliation of having Mom follow him around and nagging him at school be enough to “Help” him remember his things! Ok, so this idea is more like the duck tape/oven mitt idea… really funny to think about the horror on his face than to actually go through with it….
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:52 amThis is hilarious. Chris, you completely rock!
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:06 amI was thinking more along the lines of like those pen necklaces where the pen is held to the necklace because the click-on cap is part of the lanyard… but this works just as well I guess hahahaha You totally need to let us know what the teacher thought of THAT one.
Maybe you can glue it to him with a ball chain like at the bank.
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:08 amOMG LOLROF Love it now you just need to patten it and you can make a boat load of money. I will buy at least 1 if not a few for my forgetfull 14 year old. (high school football seems to keep him a little more focused as i remind hm that he is a student first and don’t make me email your coach)
Let me know if you start production on the wristlet pencil keeper
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:09 amLook at that face!
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:09 amHe is so CUTE… wonder if that dimple would hold a pencil?
Awesome solution!
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 amIn the past week my son has forgotten/lost his jacket, his sandals and his swim goggles. I’d like to have taped them all to his body.
ps lord knows i spent a ton of money on silly bands why not something that will help are children in school
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:10 amAnother pencil solution could be a sport wristband where the pencil can be put.
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:17 amLove it! I wish I felt that was appropriate for my 4th grader (my 6th grader absolutely) as he tends to forget things too. Healso talks way too much, but it isn’t his fault he didn’t get his work done in class. ha ha ha
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:18 amAwesomeness!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:20 amoh Chris, I think I love you. I would *so* do that with my kids if they’d let me.
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:28 amI love this and am definitely copying the idea!
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:31 amI have an 8 yr old son who also forgets everything. And I have to laugh (or scream) because it is payback for when I was young. I lost glasses, library books, homework, etc. on a weekly basis. I am torn between reminding him and really wanting him to face the consequences if he forgets things.
Maybe she didn’t mean that you should hold his hand and force him to get his pencil but that if you came to school you would see how many more responsibilities they have than we did when we were that age… you know, like it would make you sympathize with the situation.
Email is such a funny thing. I love it, much prefer it to talking on the phone, but things sure can be misconstrued. Maybe she thought you were being sarcastic when you mentioned coming to school?
Regardless, I love the tape and please update us on her response!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:39 amI am laughing so hard! In my experience forgetful boys will be forgetful boys until they decide it’s in their best interest not to be forgetful… or when their frontal lobe matures, whichever comes first. I wonder if my son the high school freshman will let me duct tape his planner to his thigh?
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:45 amYou rock. That is one of the most awesome things I’ve seen. The teacher, however, may not get it. She seems a bit clueless - one wonders if she even bothered to find out that your son has older brothers?
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:50 amFabulous! I must file this away in my memory banks for when my 2 boys are in school. I expect I will need many more such tips. Keep them coming.
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:51 amMy sixth grader was having a tough time remembering to bring things to class - his planner, homework, pencils, etc. The school actually gives the kids detentions for not bringing their stuff to class. I guess to teach them a lesson?? Anyway, I bought him a big 2 1/2″ three-ring, zip up binder that he puts all of his notebooks in and several folders for papers - as well as a pencil case with pencils, pens, a calculator and his ruler and the all important planner. Now, all he has to remember to bring is that monstrous binder. Problem solved.
And I didn’t have to go to school…
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:52 amI agree the idea of you going to school with him to make sure he had his pencil is beyond insane. Are you going to go off to college with him? To me Middle School is the perfect time for kids to learn to take full responsibilty for their school work. Better they learn this now than in High school.
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:55 ami cannot WAIT to hear the teacher ‘feedback’ on this!!!! bahahahaha!!! wish i’d've thought of this when my son was still in school.
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:59 amLove it! Love your sense of humor! As a former High School teacher, there is NO WAY I’d be suggested parent come along to visit. Maybe that’s the difference between 6th and 9th grade, but in my mind, its the kids job to remember it by then. I wonder if she really has parents that would come do that? Or is she thinking having Mom there might embarrass a child into remembering? (I know you have no idea, but I’m just trying to get inside her head to understand why she’d even suggest that.)
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:07 pmMy 10 yo ADHD kid is exactly the same way as your 11 yo. It can be so frustrating for me because I feel like I spend all of my time reminding him “don’t forget!”. His problem is not just forgetting things and talking a lot. He can’t sit still in the class because he just HAS to tell the teacher something or any other number of things that he just HAS to do. He feels absolutely compelled to do these things.
I was very resistant to the ADHD diagnosis last year but since he started the meds, Hallelujah!! He remembers things! He can sit still! He can shut up when he isn’t supposed to be talking!! His meds don’t make him a zombie (which I was worried about). They just make sitting still easier for him so that he can actually do his work. They also help him to slow down so he can actually take the time to have the thought in his head of, “I need homework/pencil/etc.” Before, he just didn’t have time for those thoughts because his mind was already on to the next thing.
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:09 pmWhat a creative solution. I love it!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:11 pmSo the old adage sometimes the simplest solution really IS the best!
I am cracking up here! I hope you wrap around in the next few days and tell us if his teacher has a sense of humor!
PS - that Stars for Miles (with comments closed) begs the comment - He is so stinkin’ cute!!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:12 pmabsolutely priceless. and innovative. teacher should love this. So long as 11yr old keeps it on his arm all day!
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:19 pmOh my gosh I am dying that is so funny. I think I will show the pics to my 6th grader so she can know what to expect next time she forgets her gym clothes!
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:20 pmThat’s so funny! What a wonderful use of tape. It sounds like it could solve so many problems for a forgetful kid. Hope his teacher has a sense of humor!
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:20 pmIt’s entirely possible that this is the most brilliant solution I have ever seen. I love it and am contemplating applications for my 7 year old son. Only his main problem is staring off into space thinking about his chi and dragons instead of doing his work. Do you think taping his head to his desk (with room to swivel, as I am not cruel) would help?
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:21 pmThis stuff makes me nuts. Some kids just have trouble remembering the little details of life and despite their best intentions will always struggle with it. It’s just the way they’re wired. However, schools just don’t want to be accommodating. If your son had a vision problem they wouldn’t expect you to lecture him to try harder to see better. Why can’t the teacher just keep a can of pencils or other suplies in the classroom for all to use? That way everyone can focus on the learning that’s supposed to be going on. And no, the teacher won’t run out of pencils all the time because she can round up the ones that ar left behind after class.
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:57 pmoh how the heck do you keep your sense of humor in these situations? I need lessons!
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:10 pmI have to hear the follow on from this. I can’t wait to hear what the teacher thinks of your solution.
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:17 pm( I am a little concerned she may be lacking in a sense of humour if she didn’t pick up that you did not literally think going into school with him was a solution!)
So when I see a few rolls of painter’s tape on the Texas Schools Supplies List for next year, I’ll know who to blame.
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:45 pmWhen my older son was in high school. he had behavioral problems. I was soooo tired of emails from teachers and, honestly, embarrassed my kid was acting this way. After checking with the teachers, I told the kid any more problems and I was going to every class with him. Apparently, HE didn’t want to be embarrassed and the behavior improved. I would have done it for a few days, just to prove a point.
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:52 pmOMG that’s hilarious and uncannily timely. I got a note to sign from my 10-yr-old’s teacher that said I needed to help him put his papers back in the folder. The folder that lives in his desk at school.
How am I supposed to police what he does at school???
ps–I use Sharpies on his palm when I need him to remember something. Not enough space there for all the reminders he needs!!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 1:56 pmAwesome!
Very ingenious 
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:01 pmLove it, my daughter is the same way. Maybe a pocket protector would work..:)
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:20 pmI took the teacher’s second request for you to talk with him to mean that she just wanted to reinforce to him that you and she were still in contact and don’t think you can go back to your forgetful ways, mister.
I DO like the attached pencil though…my mind keeps wandering to what products besides painter’s tape would work… maybe just put a piece of painter’s tape around his finger every morning will work similar to tying a ’string around his finger’ as a reminder.
My daughter (7th grade) isn’t quite that forgetful, but in an effort to not have to juggle so many things she assembled a multipurpose binder for each class - inside, attached to the three rings are a folder, notebook, and pencil case with a collection of writing instruments to rival your daughter’s collection of silly bandz.
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:29 pmWhat a great idea. My adhd daughter is the same way, I may need to make her one in pink !!
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:38 pmLove your approach - I might try the tape-solution for some of my more forgetful students…
September 23rd, 2010 at 2:44 pmI ‘m a teacher but I would NOT suggest that you come to school with your son to remind him about pens, notebooks and the like.
You are the best mom ever! I want to be you when I grow up (not that I’m much younger than you but my oldest is in kindergarten where they provide his pencils for him). I think we may be in for a lot of forgetfulness with him so I’ll have to remember that one.
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:00 pmMy 10 year old daughter made this this summer. I have no idea why, since she never forgets things, but she loves “inventing”. I’ll get her to work on his forgotten homework problem, lol.
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:27 pmI once taught sixth grade, and I had a very forgetful student whose parents felt they had tried everything to make him take responsibility without success. So, she did come to school with him, every. day. She figured that at that age having his mom come to school would embarrass the heck out him and force him to shape up. Worked for her, but I see your point. Brilliant solution by the way.
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:46 pmThat is totally excellent.
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:52 pmI can’t wait to hear how the teacher reacted! Please post an update!
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:53 pmIf she knew anything about what it’s like to be a 6th grader, she’d know that the WORST THING IMAGINABLE would be for your mother to show up at school and nag you about homework.
September 23rd, 2010 at 3:56 pmGood for you, Chris. I don’t know why teachers think it’s okay to treat children who are certainly old enough to take care of things themselves as though they were two years old. When my son was in 9th grade I got calls from ALL of his teachers saying he wasn’t handing in his homework and would fail his classes if he didn’t. When I replied that they were talking to the wrong person, because I already had a high-school diploma, all of them were flabberghasted. I said he had a desk and a lamp and was reminded at home to do his homework and offered help if needed, and I felt I’d done my part. I also said I’d talk to him but, ultimately, it was his responsibility.
In spite of teachers who thought I was the world’s worst mother, my son managed to get his act together and graduate with a very good grade average and is now a responsible adult.
Hang in there, because you know you’re right and your son will eventually either do what he needs to do or suffer some consequences — here in California kids can’t participate in sports if their grades fall below a certain level. That usually does the trick.
September 23rd, 2010 at 4:19 pmWhen I taught middle school, I encouraged parents to come to school and walk around all day with a student who wasn’t doing what he/she was supposed to do. It usually took one visit. One awesome mom came to school in a ratty gown and robe, curlers in her hair, and held her son’s hand all up and down the hall between classes. She sat by him in the cafeteria, cut up his meat, and tried to feed him. She stage-whispered things like “Raise your hand, sweetheart; you know the answer to this one!”
Worked like a charm. He never behaved in such a way that I would tell his mom she needed to come back. I loved that woman so much.
September 23rd, 2010 at 4:46 pmoh my gosh. how very timely. because just yesterday MY 11-yr-old lost his music book, which entailed a huge tv-worthy dramatic meltdown, me driving him to the music store, and him buying a new one with HIS OWN MONEY. then, as an added bonus, he realizes he has LOST his fundraiser envelope - both order forms AND $$. nice. oh well, i didn’t really need a $20 pen.
September 23rd, 2010 at 4:51 pmSo MANY application possibilities… a painters tape “belt”, with strips hanging down with paper clips attached for all the forgotten homework hanging handy to turn in; painters tape ankle straps attached to shoes–they can still walk barefoot, but the shoes clunk along behind, never lost again! And on and on…
September 23rd, 2010 at 5:18 pmI had a high school teacher who charged 10 cents for pencils. One kid bought one everyday.
September 23rd, 2010 at 5:21 pmI am glad you opened comments for this one, because you have come up with the best idea. Ever. Thank you.
September 23rd, 2010 at 7:14 pmI love it. I might have to try that for myself. I usually leave myself notes on my purse, the door to the garage and then on my steering wheel and still end up at work without what I need.
September 23rd, 2010 at 8:27 pmThis is HILARIOUS!!! I have taped students’ pencils to spoons or flowers so they won’t get lost in their desks, and I have attached pencils to desks using yarn, but this is brilliant. I have a new plan of attack now, thanks!
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:32 pmThis is awesome! I told this story to a friend who is a 5th grade teacher and she laughed on the phone until she was crying.
I know one thing that helped when my brother was his age was having a pencil IN every different notebook. He’d either jam one down in the spiral part of the notebook or slip one in a pocket folder/binder pocket.
September 23rd, 2010 at 9:59 pmHad a diving coach that taped my head bent forward so that I could do the somersaults in a more tucked position - it was a great idea . . . until I surfaced and couldn’t pick my head up.
BTW, where I live, duct tape is fine — CPS isn’t called until staplers are used.
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:04 pmi didn’t like school when i was in it and i don’t like it any better with my 10 yr old son… i hate the homework (don’t believe in it to begin with and memorizing bs stuff makes me crazy) and feel it is just mostly busy work bull shit. wish there was another way but home schooling would end up with murder and mayhem…
September 23rd, 2010 at 10:37 pmAs a 7th grade teacher, I think this is most possibly the greatest idea ever, and also, your son’s teacher might be a bit idiotic. I would never suggest to a parent that they come to class to help a kid remember.
My solution to kids not having a pencil? (or paper or a pen etc.)
One of three possibilities:
1) they borrow from a friend
2) they choose not to borrow and get a 0
3) they borrow from me, and in turn, I take their shoe until the item is returned. They want to leave my classroom? (which is a portable, and I work in Seattle, so it’s usually raining) they’ll need their shoe. It works pretty well.
It is entirely the kid’s choice.
The only problem is that by spring, many kids just get used to walking in, and kicking their shoe off and grabbing a pencil for the period. Maybe I should re-think this plan…
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:13 pmLove it!!
(And I might have to steal the idea in a few years!)
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:26 pmYou are funny.
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:33 pmHilarious!She’s going to love you.
September 23rd, 2010 at 11:46 pmOMG, first, I can’t believe someone drove me to type OMG, but you did. Talk about convulsing with laughter. There are few things on the Internet that make me laugh out loud when I’m the only person in the room. This was it. Fricking hilarious. And isn’t the forgetting so bloody annoying? I was going to resort to stapling things to my children, but the painters tape does seem more humane. Still snorting with laughter….
September 24th, 2010 at 1:09 amThis is why I love you. I don’t think I’d have the balls to do that, but I wish I did. My kids are still young enough where I care what the teachers think, although less and less as time goes on.
September 24th, 2010 at 4:11 amHi Chris! I have a forgetful ADHD child. This year he’s in 7th grade. What we decided to do this year is give him a string napsack with his morning book and supplies in it and an afternoon string napsack with his afternoon book and supplies. Please note he has two large notebooks one for the morning classes and one for the afternoon. The teachers wanted a binder notebook for each class but my husband and I knew that didn’t work for him last year. It seems to be working. When I look at his notebooks all the stuff is in the correct place. This idea also saved us a few bucks. Living in NY the heavy duty binders are $10 each that would of been $90 just for notebooks (crazy).
September 24th, 2010 at 6:29 amGo to school with him? What is that teacher on?! But then again you live in a place where teachers make house calls, so…
September 24th, 2010 at 7:48 amI think at one point I had a pen on a cord around my neck. That was the 80’s though.
September 24th, 2010 at 8:46 amThis may be my favorite post ever.
September 24th, 2010 at 8:53 amYOU ARE MY HERO!!!!! WHAT A GREAT IDEA!!
September 24th, 2010 at 10:32 amOne good thing that might come out of threatening to go to school with him might be the embarrassment factor…the idea of his mom tagging along could possibly joggle his memory.
September 24th, 2010 at 10:35 amYou have to give us an update as to how the teacher reacted to your ingenuity.
September 24th, 2010 at 10:51 amYour awesomeness is endless.
September 24th, 2010 at 12:56 pmHilarious, and yet practical, solution!
Sometimes I think the forgetful thing can be just developmental. When my older son was in 6th grade, he forgot something every single day of the year. We tried everything to help him remember. Finally, I just said, eh, screw it, and gave up fighting that battle.
The next year, he didn’t forget a single thing ever.
September 24th, 2010 at 4:52 pmI love you. I’m in college and frequently forget my pen or pencil and have to charm one of my peers/friends into lending me one for the day. But now I’m wondering if I could rig up one to a rubber band and put that on in the morning when I shuffle off.
And for the record, why in God’s name would you NEED to go to school with your kid? Sorry, but if at eleven he can’t remember to bring a pencil, he either needs to work on his bribery skills to acquire one or suffer. “Insight into being a sixth grader”? …I don’t even know what that MEANS!
September 24th, 2010 at 6:30 pmSounds like your kid is just a dreamer. He lives in the abstract and doesn’t care too much for details. Not to worry. Dreamers are much more valuable to this world than those who remember their pencils every day. They’re the ones future students will be reading and writing about–assuming they don’t forget THEIR pencils!
Also–maybe you should tell that teacher to get with the times! Pencils are SOOOO twentieth century! Why aren’t your kids learning on laptops!
September 25th, 2010 at 12:25 pmI have to jump back in here and make an obligatory “I’m a teacher and…” comment. I love reading all these comments and seeing how teachers are perceived. To the people who complain about the teachers telling you things that you can’t police at school, please know that for every one of you that are like “My kid needs to deal with that and accept the consequences, I’m not going to baby him” (which, GOD BLESS YOU. I feel the same way.) we have billions of parents who react in the total opposite way. Total opposite. I am still receiving emails demanding that I give their child full credit for an assignment they lost in August. I’m not sure what is up with that. How are the parents who freak out that their child keeps losing things, is disorganized, does not turn in their work, etc. teaching the kids to be responsible for themselves and accept the consequences of their actions?
I do want to help children. I do. I’m not trying to be inflexible. But there comes a point, much earlier than middle school, that kids have to learn how to navigate in a world where they will have to make their own choices.
There has to be a middle ground somewhere. Thanks to all the parents for all these comments - it is cool to hear it from the other side.
September 25th, 2010 at 2:09 pmYou’re much nicer than me, I always threaten to staple things to them. Maybe I should start with tape, then work my way up.
September 25th, 2010 at 9:58 pmToo funny - I love this. I wonder if you can devise a strategy for my son who can’t remember to use his fork at the dinner table….
September 27th, 2010 at 8:22 pmI’ve been teaching a long time, and I SO would have laughed out loud if he’d come into my classroom with a pencil taped to his hand.
Then, I would have loaned him a pencil and gone on with the lesson.
If he came with NOTHING? No book, no pencil, no paper? As if he were not headed to class?
Then, we would have to talk.
September 29th, 2010 at 1:04 amI agree with Chris that she cannot do much more to help her son remember to bring his pencil, but boy do I disagree with those who say it’s not their job to make sure their kids do their homework. I would also be flabbergasted (as was a teacher who called one of the commenters above) if I called a parent to report that the student was not turning in work and if I was told to talk to the student. There’s plenty of evidence to show that teenage brains are immature. If teens are not doing their homework, they need parental guidance.
October 1st, 2010 at 12:09 amFricking brilliant!
October 12th, 2010 at 3:42 pm