“How many can I have?” G asked.
When throwing a successful party for teenaged boys,… more
Posts Tagged ‘teachers’
3
Dear School Administrator
By Daddy Clay Thursday, October 6th, 2011
Dear School Administrator,
Ordinarily, my wife and I would never ask for any kind of special treatment for our daughter Pookey (last year’s letter was an exception), but I do have a few small requests on behalf of my child.
Frequently when we ask about school, Pookey complains that her teacher “doesn’t like me.” I am supremely confident this is not the case (who could resist Pookey?), but feel some gesture needs to be made before there is self-esteem damage. A note perhaps (if it were passed in view of the other students it would be best). Or, hey, let’s get “outside the box” — Would it be too much to ask that this teacher bring my child a bouquet of flowers? How about if I provide the bouquet of flowers? Read the rest of this entry »
Parenting News: Men’s Role as Caregiver, Same-Sex Marriage, Falls from Windows, ADHD, Parent Teacher Relationships
By Dad News Wednesday, August 24th, 2011
Recession Shifting Men’s Role From Provider to Caregiver: Wayne Moyer, a 39-year-old father of three, has a new appreciation for stay-at-home parents. After losing his job as an information technology support specialist in 2009, Moyer entered full-time fatherhood — a change that has challenged his stamina and his ego. (ABC News)
When Kids Bring Up Same-Sex Marriage: My son’s preschool friend, Noah, indeed does have two dads, who have become very much a part of our inner circle of friends. Yet, in that moment in the car, my mind immediately jumped to the subject of the birds and the bees, and I started to feel unsure about what the kids’ next questions would be, and how to thoughtfully and appropriately proceed. (CNN.com)
5,000 Kids a Year Hurt in Falls From Windows: We still are seeing over 5,000 children a year treated in hospital emergency departments across the country for injuries related to window falls, said Dr. Gary A. Smith, study author and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. “That’s 14 children a day. This continues to be a very common, important problem.” (CNN.com)
Writing Problems Common in Kids with ADHD: Kids with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are more likely to have writing problems such as poor spelling and grammar than their peers, suggests a new study. And the difference may be especially conspicuous in girls with ADHD. (Reuters)
How to Build a Good Parent-Teacher Relationship: Want to know how to build a good parent-teacher relationship? We share teachers’ top pet peeves, how to score brownie points with teachers and more. (Parenting.com)
Texas Day Disaster Dad Reads
By Daddy Clay Monday, April 21st, 2008
“Daddy, why were you wearing a napkin around your neck?” Ri-ri asked with such disdain in her voice that my stomach knotted. It was the most dispiriting criticism I’ve gotten since the Houston Chronicle declared my first play to be the dramatic equivalent of the process of evaporation. I was flattered to be invited back to read to my daughter’s class. My first visit was pretty successful, IMHO. I was able to pick my own material, and I went to the standby — Baloney, Henry P. Kids laughed; I read a couple more. So I wasn’t shocked that I got the return gig. I was asked to come back and read for “Texas Day.” Do New Hampshire school kids have “New Hampshire Day?” Does “Illinois Day” exist?
Here in the Lone Star State, the school children perform a pledge to both the federal and state flags each morning, and it just get loonier from there, culminating in Texas Day when all the kids wear boots and hats. You kind of have to live here to get it. So I got invited back to read for Texas Day. I didn’t get to pick my own material, but was sent a stack of Texas-themed books, and when I arrived at the school I was informed that by “class” they meant the entire first grade. AKA 125 6 and 7-year olds. I had them for 45 minutes. When they told me this, I about soiled my chaps. If I had been able to get those for my costume, anyway, but as my daughter pointed out, I was a little weak in that department.
Like any self-respecting native Texan, I always have boots in the closet, thought I prefer flip-flops. Straw cowboy hat — got it. But I’m light in the western shirt and bandana department. So I improvised. Napkin was the closest thing. I choose maroon. I thought it would be very Roy Rogers, but I guess it was more Fred Flintstone. I got really into the reading, multiple voices and accents, broad gesticulations. I even had some choreography for the kids to represent the stampede that Pecos Bill saves the town from.
The kids were very quiet, as if they were watching a grown man lose his mind, so I kept getting louder. When it was all done, they applauded, which was nice, but I noticed that none of the teachers would make eye contact. Ri-ri bounced up, gave me a big hug, and asked if she could go home with someone else. A friend. Artists take risks. Maybe a more subtle approach was called for. Maybe a red faced man shouting in a strange voice and getting pretty sweaty is not most first-graders idea of entertainment. Personally, I think it was the napkin.
