I really really want to be........mortgage free!

ourcornercottage

AlexLK wrote: »

Excellent re. the OPs. For some reason we seem to have overspent this month (not even sure how) and won't be able to make an overpayment. Really need to get organised with the finances at some point.

It's one month, don't sweat it, just jump straight back on the OP horse next month. Last year I had a very slow start but got there in the end. Any amount OPd is good as you never pay interest on that again.

Anyhow is been a ***** awful week.

(Insert expletive)^^^^

Firstly our shop managers Nan sadly died which was very sad so she's had a few days off.

the very important meeting in London got cancelled but not before the BF was on his way already, wasted £120 on train tickets, actually make that £240 as them rebooked for this week.

Minioccs tutor got called into hospital in the middle of his lesson very ill by all accounts, Miniocc took flowers for her mum to give to her.

Saw a dog get run over, not knocked over actually run right over. Ran Away from owner in front of us BF stopped but car coming other way drove right over it. Awful awful awful.

Family being not nice regarding minioccs decision to play football this weekend instead of going running. I'm not making him do it, they haven't trained and aren't dedicated so why should he be.

It was my birthday Tuesday, I was ill and I asked for vouchers for my birthday as I want to save up for a new Rodney (our Irobot Hoover) but got presents I don't want/need.

Have had some real passive aggressive customers in the shop. Awful.

Miniocc lost his new football hoodie, should I say someone else took it, it's been located now. His brand new aged 9-11 (he is big!) taken and a really old faded age 7 left in its place. Don't think that was an accident.

Was supposed to go to football bingo tonight be didn't go, was in too much of a bad mood. A couple of valarium have helped!

Shopping done for 2 weeks of meals and a stock up of pantry. £94 spent. Not bad at all

Norwich city won, even better.

Went to bed at 6:45 as fed up of the day/week. Awesome

AlexLK

Yes, I'd like to budget properly for next month and make a £500 overpayment. My (just about only) motivation for overpaying is not paying interest on that amount.

Sounds like an awful week, really hope next is better for you. Easter is only around the corner too. Do you have an Easter holiday with your work?

newgirly

Oh bless you occ, that does sound like a b*gger of a week!

Belated happy birthday anyway and I hope you have a nice relaxing Sunday tomorrow X

ourcornercottage

newgirly wrote: »

Oh bless you occ, that does sound like a b*gger of a week!

Belated happy birthday anyway and I hope you have a nice relaxing Sunday tomorrow X

Thank you NG it has been a trying week. Tomorrow is early football match but then rest of the day lounging around cannot wait!

hiddenshadow

That week sounds rough, OCC! I hope all the bad things are out of the way now and you have a stretch of easier times.

Happy belated birthday.

ourcornercottage

Thanks all

Off to an Okish start to the week. Once again not a great parents evening. Miniocc is very behind in maths, probably now about a year behind. I would say the work I've been doing with him has had a minimal improvement. The private tutor is still very poorly so will not be available for weeks or even months. Mini really likes her so it's probably worth waiting til she is better. I did remember when he was at preschool he did reading eggs a fun online program which he really liked so I thought we might trial maths whizz to see if he likes it. You get 5 free lessons then it is £149 per year which is a lot but will be worth it if there is any improvement at all. I thought I'd try this with my work with him for the 5 lessons and see where we are. Need to think outside the box and try a few things out to see what works for him. I'm a bit cross at myself for not intervening sooner as I thought I should have at start of y2 but was put off by his teacher. Anyhow better late than never.

In money news nowt going on!

AlexLK

Sorry to hear re. the Maths.

If it's an engagement issue rather than struggling with the work, you can try applying concepts to life / things he understands and enjoys. Often kids can get very behind because they aren't engaging with the work at school. I teach Music to a few children that I've been told struggle terribly academically, are slow to pick concepts up etc. etc. and yet are OK with the music theory work I set (a lot of applied Maths) because it's something they are engaged with. If you son is struggling (including engagement issues), you need to be asking what interventions the school are putting in place to help him.

SueP19

How old is MiniOCC ?? 7?

I agree with Alex, my DD school was appalling teaching wise (long story was good when she started)

Find the right language and it will click, I remember using store cupboard things to help her physically see the maths.

Even now when we talk business strategy we talk in terms of levels of clothing brands :rotfl::rotfl:

ourcornercottage

Thanks Alex and sue

Yes mini is 7, 8 in October. He is a visual/kinetic learner although mostly kinetic, which obviously for the most part doesn't match with the classroom environment. He has also always has an issue visual overload, he can't seem to filter out the important sensory stimuli. Up until year 1 this was a real benefit and he was considered super bright as he absorbed lots of information, now he can't process it quickly enough so it becomes all jumbled in his head. Add to that the attention span of a newt (probably because of the above) it's a perfect storm for falling behind. Despite this he is about average or just above in literacy and reading comprehension but is very behind in maths and also remembering spellings.

His level of general knowledge is extremely high.

He's liking the maths Whizz program so far; it is very repetitive at the moment which is really good for him. We have also started a marble rewards jar so he can get a significant reward for doing extra work and concentrating more. Over the holidays we can really try to get a grip on the maths. It's a real shame the tutor has fallen ill but that is what it is.

I have asked his teacher again to have another talk after the holidays and I am going to request some one to one for him at school. I am also going to try and get a plan of action into place. I am hopeful the maths whizz helps as it suits his learning style in many ways.

Any suggestions would be gratefully recieved.

AlexLK

Would your son be interested in undertaking simple engineering projects? My thought being through the process of making things he will be forced to apply some Maths.

Regarding the visual overload, learning material needs to be broken down further. I see this a lot with pupils struggling with sheet music (they see TOO MUCH INFORMATION and it overwhelms them). By breaking it down, the following process is usually followed: interpret the rhythm by clapping through counting aloud, interpret the pitch by firstly reading the notes then humming through. Go back and put the rhythm with the pitches by singing through (may have to build this VERY slowly, sometimes less than a bar at a time). Sing through THEN apply instrumental technique (that's a whole different set of things to learn )by playing through. I know this is music but such techniques of breaking a problem into it's component parts can be used in any discipline and will be useful for a child's problem solving skills (teach them HOW to break it down rather than doing that for them). Also, if your son is being distracted by pictures / irrelevant information in the books he is working from ask for the teacher to write things out without such distractions.

Just a thought, has your son been assessed for potential dyslexia / dyscalculia? IIRC you've mentioned in the past he struggles with fine motor control / handwriting as well as with his Maths and spelling.