From Frugal Foundations to Fortified Family Future

badmemory

Maybe the new head should be spending time in each class.  The problem is that if you get too many mucking about in class nothing gets done & then to keep everyone up to speed the only way is homework.  They are not able to do the practice in class so it has to be homework.  I am very sure quite a few of them do not do it.  Then there comes the BUT.  When they go to high school & there are what 5 classes per year, they will probably be grouped per subject, which with luck will mostly keep LG away from the unpleasant ones.

Cheery_Daff

I suppose technically LG doesn't HAVE to hand in their homework... (I'm speaking as a non-parent here...). What would the consequences if they don't? Do they learn something from doing it? Could they put in a bit less effort and still achieve the same overall result (ie 'some homework handed in')? 

I'm not saying this is an ideal solution. I don't like homework for young kids either, and as you say it's really problematic give varying home situations. And I get both the many pressures on time outside education, and  the complete lack of motivation.

Speaking as an educator of young adults, I confess it is practically impossible to force them to do anything outside of the classroom (and often impossible to force them to get in the classroom in the first place, but that's a different problem!) I'm in a different situation, but literally have NO sanctions for people who don't do 'homework'. HOWEVER... I see the benefit to the people who DO do it. It's circular of course - the ones who are motivated are the ones who do the work. But they're also the ones who are less confused later, the ones who learn more, and who become overall more interested in what they're doing.

I do realise this is all different to forcing a small child to fill in yet another maths worksheet or draw a picture of the inside of the hoover cupboard (or whatever passes for homework these days). I suppose I'm just reacting to you saying it's unfair that LG has to do homework when others don't. It might well be - but hopefully they will reap some benefits. (And if they don't, maybe YOU will reap some benefits in the form of a nice big halo in the afterlife!)

(Sorry, just got to the pub after a very long day and am in waffling mood!)

Greying_Pilgrim

Dearest Cheery - I think you are right - I don't think there is a 'sanction' as such for not doing homework.  It would be back pedalling of personal performance, and the knock on (or not) of consequences for that.  Secondary school is such a placement lottery anyway, it (seemingly) doesn't matter if you're clever or not, it's where you live and whichever way the wind is blowing on 'decision day' 🙄

The head goes on about attendance - a lot.  And yes, for a wide variety of reasons, there are some children who's attendance is..... not consistent.  I have no idea what - if any - help/support/sanctions are used to try to improve kids being in class.  But one thing I do know, is that if you turn up everyday, and cause few, if any, problems, keep your head down, and do your work, you get absolutely NO recognition, no rewards, nothing.  

Greying X

beanielou

There's no need to go for a composite door.  They are very pricey.

Greying_Pilgrim

beanielou said:

There's no need to go for a composite door.  They are very pricey.

Agreed beanie.  This particular surveyor was talking about composite with the rationale of 'safety'.  Now, none of us wants to feel unsafe in our own homes, and the surveyor pointed out 'weak' spots in conventional UPVC doors.  But honestly, if someone wants to knock your door down for whatever reason, they will.  In terms of a casual burglar stoving our door in, they're gonna be disappointed on what there is to nick from our house - I don't think there's much of a market for random stones from a beach, a bookcase of paperbacks sourced from a chazzer, or a plastic steam pudding bowl.......  But what I want/need a new door to do is a) close/lock easily and b) stop the ingress of cold/damp air that 'falls' into/onto our house.  So an 'insulated' door is of far more importance to me, than a model that wouldn't be out of place in Fort Knox.  

We're lucky that the front door is currently functional, so we can at least look into the factors that are important to us to determine which type of door we go with.  Whether that is fitted with some or all of the windows, or at a later date.  

Wet start with us.  An opportunity to clear some homework out of the way, but LG ain't buying it 🙄

DH has gorn off.  Lunch will probably be soup.  Not too sure about tea - the rugger is slap bang in the afternoon, which always makes food prep difficult, and I wish I could just pick up the phone and order summat scrummy.  

I've been having a bit of a wince over budgets.  Trying to work out how we can fund things for our little holiday in HT.  I know we're super lucky to be even considering a holiday, and there are things that we are foregoing to go off.  But I'm also keeping an eye on what's coming up with school - in terms of trips or events - and allowing for the fact school never tell you how much a trip is going to be, I've got to have some pennies in reserve - not that LG necessarily wants to go to some trips, but staying behind at school isn't a super brilliant experience either.  It's annoying that school trips are normally ill-thought out and never capitalised on in terms of work eminating from the experience, and they are always so expensive.  I know we're lucky in that we plan and do stuff outside of school with LG and some kiddos don't have that, but it puts pressure on finances to fund what LG "has" to do, versus what they might want to do, or what we might want to do with them.  

Ah well, onwards and upwards.

Greying X

badmemory

Unless you live on millionaires row & have the odd diamond in your knicker drawer I doubt you will suffer a home invasion.  My thing with the stable door is more about stopping the people that knock & want you to give as I have had one on the verge of stepping in to "show me" stuff.  They think because you avoid being rude that you are interested.

Greying_Pilgrim

Agreed badmemory.  I just had a go at 'designing' a door from an online firm that 'specialises' in composite doors.  According to them, my design cost £729 + vat.  I fully realise that it has to be fitted (and the old door removed), so that wouldn't be the final cost, but it's good to have an idea.  

So LG asked to walk into town to pop some money into their bank account.  I couldn't refuse, as LG asking to do something as 'boring' and 'practical' as that is virtually unheard of.  Thankfully, they heeded my words that we had a small window of opportunity to walk into Greying Town without getting drenched.  There was a light mizzle at times, but we were lucky really, and the mizzle only started to get heavy as we were coming back through the estate - which was the time the forecast had given for the weather to get worse.  And at least LG acknowledged that dear auld mum was right, and 'here comes the rain....'.  

I picked up some apples, toothpaste, flavoured coffee and a birthday card for a school chum too, so we did well.  The worst thing about the journey wasn't the rain.  It is incredibly mild, so of course, we were both sweating cobs in our waterproofs.  But at least we got out, got some exercise and completed some chores.  Win.  

Off to amend siggie figgie.

Greying X

rtandon27

What a sweet child your LG is - methinks you must be doing something right dear Greying!

Greying_Pilgrim

rtandon27 said:

What a sweet child your LG is - methinks you must be doing something right dear Greying!

Ha ha - dearest rt - there was an ulterior motive, LG is saving to get some form of computer tech so that they can begin gaming.  We have fits and starts to this saving, sometimes the lure of the sweetie aisle is just too dang much, but the trip into town was very much 'because it suited' 😉 However, to be absolutely fair to LG they avoided temptation in hB, and didn't buy any sweeties or biscuits.  They did point out some branded chocolate bars, perhaps in the hope I would buy them, but at nearly £3 for 6 or 7 bars, I suspect they knew in advance what mumma's reaction would be........

Greying X

rtandon27

haha - we all have our motivations my dear  - but fundamentally LG is exercising their life lessons very well!