Homework Stinks
December 10, 2008 
I know as a good mom I am supposed to do all those wonderful things to support my kids education. Like explain to my kids how improtant homework is, how beneficial it is to spend all night pouring over the books, how it is important to learn good work habits, be responsible and all that stuff. But lately I think that the homework thing is really going overboard. It seems to me that teachers have forgotten one important fact and that is they are dealing with kids. Not little machines that need to be programed and pressured to perform to their maximum potential. They figure if you just add two or three more assignments every night those test scores will sky rocket and everyone will be so “WOW”ed . They forget that kids need time to relax and just be kids.
I love the book The Homework Myth: Why Our Kids Get Too Much of a Bad Thing by Alfie Kohn. I wish I was gutsy enough and rich enough to buy a copy for every teacher my kids have ever had. In it Mr. Kohn points out the damage homework does to children and families. He also quotes studies that have shown how little benefit kids get from the homework they are required to do. Two other books I have yet to read but that are on the same lines are. The Case Against Homework: How Homework Is Hurting our children and what we can do about it. by Sara Bennett and The End of Homework: How Homework Disrupts Families, overburdens children, and limits learning. by Etta Kralovec. I will be adding them to my forever growing list of books to read.
In our family homework is too frequently interrupting family time, causing lost sleep, and making it so my daughter has no time to unwind and play. I wouldn’t like it if my husband spent all day at work only to come home with 4-5 hours worth of more work to finish. Yes, there are jobs that require this, but if they did he would probably be looking for work elsewhere real fast.
Thanks for letting me gripe! I needed to get that out. Now I can go back to “trying” to be a good mom and supporting my daughter the best as I can.
Remember When
Do you remember when?
Here are the rules.
1. As a comment on my blog, leave a memory that you and I had together. It doesn’t matter if you know me a little or a lot, anything you remember! If we’re only blogging friends or if you’re a blog hopper who happens upon my blog regularly…leave me a comment. There must be reason you keep stopping by! Say something! If you don’t have a blog or don’t know how to sign in, sign up for an account! You won’t regret it!
2. Next, re-post these instructions on your blog (if you have one) and see how many people leave a memory about you. It’s actually pretty fun to see the responses. If you leave a memory about me, I’ll be sure to write one about you… either on your blog, in my comment box, or I will email you back!
BO has a blast at Space Camp
BO went today on his first mission to Space Camp.
http://www.spacecamputah.org/
Bo and his Phoenix crew mates.
He was one of the younger kids there but he seemed to have tan awesome of time. He has thanked me over and over this week for sending him to space camp and he came out saying “I want to do that again Mom!” ‘
He got to be the Tactical Officer on the Phoenix.
There were 3 other ships (One main ship and 2 other support vessels)
He had a n intense adventure getting sucked into a nebula, fighting off aliens and dealing with his equipment not doing what he wanted it to.
Next time I hope I am able to stay and watch. It sounds like it would really be something to see.
My Nerds Converge
Still Catching Up….
October 24th I held our second meeting of the Riverton Science Club. BO really enjoyed the club he participated in a club last year, but the it was a long drive away so this year we decided host a club of our own. We have about 10 boys ages 8-12 who each prepare a science presentation to share. Travis says they sound like a bunch of geeks (he has to put in his two bits) but I personally have been so impressed with the preparation and enthusiasm that the boys bring to our club. We have learned about every thing from electromagnetism to horny toad lizards.
This time BO shared his Snake we had dissected together (http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=158208&id=856125470 ) and shared some of the things he has learned as he has been doing a Unit Study on Snakes the past 8 weeks.
These are boys we are talking about though, so after an hour or so we have a little recess to burn off the extra energy. They love the tramp can you tell?
I have really enjoyed the opportunity to work with these guys. They are pretty awesome kids and it has been fun to see them share with each other.
This is the Place
I am behind in getting things posted but we have been up to a lot lately and I wanted to share all of the fun we have been having with Ya’all. (I know that the one or two people who read this are thrilled). Anyways, Last Thursday me and a few of my kids (Cub was at school and Travis was at work) had the opportunity to join a field trip to This is the Place Historical Park. I really was amazed at all they had up there and we had a lot of fun, though I wish we could have stayed all day. Alas, as goes my life I didn’t have time, or the bread, to pack lunches to bring with us and so once the kids got “starving” we had to head back home. Maybe someday we will have to go back as a whole family and spend the day up there.
“Sunshine” carding some woolWe visited the Fairbanks house and learned about wool and the steps it takes to get the wool from the sheep to blankets and clothing.
“BO” getting a ShaveWe visited the Barber and learned about all of the roles a barber played in a pioneer village. Cutting hair, pulling teeth, political sounding board, and blood letter.We went to the Petting Zoo here is “Pickles” and “Whammy” petting a little goat kid.“Z-Bert”‘s favorite part of the petting zoo was watching wood chips floating down the creek.Our field trip ended with a great ride on the train. We had a great time and learned a lot together.
Tribute to Grandpa Norris
I was asked to speak at my Grandfather’s Funeral this week. It was a difficult task to put into words the great things that his life contributed to this world. But I did what I could. I just wanted to share my Grandpa with Ya’all,
“It is with great honor and humility that I represent the grandchildren of Grandpa Norris this day. As we celebrate his life, our minds are drawn to the example he gave for us to follow, as well as the memories of the many joyful times that we were able to share with him. I would like to share just a few of these with you this day.
Grandpa was always a harder worker. It was with great patience that he would take us at his side and teach us the right way to plant potatoes, how to mow the lawn or why we shouldn’t sneak out to the garden and pull up all the carrots. We learned that work can be fun when you work together. Such as when we would meet at potato picking time, racing up and down the rows filling our buckets with freshly turned potatoes.
One of our favorite memories is of mowing the lawn with Grandpa. He would fill up the wheelbarrow with grass clippings and then pile us kids on top, giving us rides out to the barn and back.
Grandpa was always full of fun. He always had a joke or two that he was anxious share when we came to visit. None of us girls could pass by him without him checking on the status of our relationship with Fat Albert.
Grandpa taught us about service. Often helping out the neighborhood widows with their plumbing and other problems. He would willingly take a week out of his schedule to escort some young and naive grandchildren and their rickety trailer packed full of household belongings all the way to Kansas. He was sure they wouldn’t have made it on their own- He was probably right.
Grandpa taught us the joy and importance of family. Some of our fondest memories are of the fun times we had together. It was great excitement for us children to pile into the back of Grandpa’s truck with all our cousins as we bounced, sang and, yes, screamed all the way down the highway. We remember going fishing with Grandpa up at Strawberry Reservoir in our big orange life vests. We have great memories of camping at Zions and Capitol Reef, sitting around the campfires, singing songs and telling stories.
He shared with us his love for Rock Hunting. He even let us haul home a few buckets of “Leaverites” to throw into the rock tumbler. He masterfully created works of beauty out of the rough and dirty.
Grandpa showed a special love for the littlest of his grandchildren. He was always willing to have us or our children climb up on his knee for a big hug.
Grandpa had a great love for Grandma. We will all miss him getting up at Golden Corral and sharing with us the story of how he met Grandma the great love he had for her. The tears he shed were a great testament of how much he truly cared for her.
Grandpa always had a way of showing each of us grandchildren how much he cared about us. Even when it got hard for him to get around he still came to our Birthdays, Baby Blessings, Graduations, and Weddings. He painstakingly penned a letter in his shaky all cap’s handwriting to tell a grandson how proud he was of him. He made it clear to all how much he loved each and everyone of us.
One of the greatest examples of Grandpa’s love was seen each morning at his breakfast table. Living with Grandpa as a young and very hungry child, I don’t know that I always appreciated Grandpa’s Prayers as much. But as I grew older they grew very dear to my heart. What a blessing it has been for each of us to know that whatever we are doing, and wherever our lives took us, Grandpa was at home praying for each and every one of us BY NAME, invoking the blessing of the Lord in our lives.
Like our Father in Heaven with whom he has returned to dwell, he knew what was happening in our lives, he cared about us and love us. What a blessing it has been for his posterity to have the example and love of such a great man from which to draw strength. What a blessing to know that our Father in Heaven too is mindful of each and every one of us. He loves us and wants what is best for us and looks forward to that day when we can join together as a family in the eternal realms, to dwell in glory and joy forever.
On behalf of all the grandchildren, it is my prayer that we can all live our lives in such a way to allow us to be worthy of this great honor. Quoting Grandpa’s often repeated prayer, I too petition the Father “Please bless, MaryAnn, and Grandpas and Grandmas and pray that we can all be together again someday”
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ Amen. “
