Myra Turner's comments

Conduct Unbecoming

04 Dec 2007 07:56 PM

As I understand it, one major issue is getting out of his seat too often. One of the classroom rules is to stay seated unless she you have permission to get up. Another thing he's really I think a lot of the kids are doing this and that's if one asks to get water or go to the bathrom then another will ask and so on. Remember this is a Catholic school and they are Very Strict. Even as far as the uniforms go and things like that. We got a letter last week that warned parents if they have outstanding fees that had not been paid by yesterday, their kids would not be able to sit for their exams on the 18th.

It's so hard to find a school for a gifted child in New Orleans. Ideally, I would like him in a gifted school as opposed to a gifted class within a regular school setting. Before Katrina options abounded but now... It's just soooo tough. Right now his school does not have a gifted class for the first graders. I don't know if the have any classes in the lower grades. I know the middle and high school does. What makes it harder I don't think he feels he's doing anything wrong. I guess all I can do is hope he settles down to the satisfaction of his teacher 'cause she's doling out the grades.

Single Gender Classes

09 Nov 2007 10:18 AM

The school my son attends is co-ed prek- through 8th grade. The high school is girls only. I guess they figure at that age, they want the girls concentrating on schoolwork and not the boy sitting next to her. It's also a catholic school.

8th Grader Attempts Suicide

06 Nov 2007 08:12 AM

Yes, it is so sad. I still feel teary-eyed. As of last night he was on life support.

Stranger Awareness: Is It Time for a Refresher Course?

18 May 2007 03:30 PM

In today's paper there was an article about a 60-year-old man who tried to snatch and 11-year-old girl yesterday as she was walking down the street. Luckily she kicked him and fought him which caused attention from people passing by. She also ran to the library which was a block away. The guy ran the other way. She called the police and her parents and when they arrived and canvassed the area some of the people, along with the girl, were able to give a good description. They found him quick, thank God. I was able to use that in my talk with Tyler. So it does happen.

I don't know if the woman was up to anything I just had this weird feeling and yes i would rather be safe than sorry.

Keeping a Message and Communication Log

09 Apr 2007 08:02 AM

I write down EVERYTHING in a five subject spiral notebook. It's the best way to keep track of your messages, thoughts, to-do's, etc. I divide each item by drawing a line across the page after each item. I have also found it handy to X out to-do's once I have completed them. Not x-ing out to the point that you can't see the information but a big x across the item. This way i can see what things I still need to follow up on. You an x out in such a way that you are x-ing between the text. I have been doing this for at least five years. I had one notebook for writing-related work and one for personal but i found it was handier to have everything in one place.

Counting Out

07 Apr 2007 09:32 PM

Most of the time I count to three but sometimes I count to five. So Tyler never knows, which is the problem apparently. I've decided that three should be sufficient. My mother never counted out. She had "the look". It was enough to stop any misbehavior. We knew that if we didn't she was going to spank our butts!

Five-Minute-Job Jar

05 Mar 2007 09:56 PM

No pay. These are jobs that can be done quickly. Most of which mom is probably already doing. It's a way to get kids more involved in helping out. Of course you can modify to fit your needs. If you pay for chores then you can write on the card the amount of pay for each job and have your kids present the card to you when they complete the task.

Accelerated Reader Program

09 Feb 2007 09:46 AM

My son participates in the program at his school. The librian administers the program though, not the teacher. He loves it. The participates had a party about three weeks ago for those who had earned a certain amount of points so far. They had cake and ice-cream and played music and danced and had a good time.

Father Tries To Poison Kids

07 Feb 2007 11:36 AM

Fortunately the kids survived but it could have been a truly tragic ending.

Getting Local Writing Work

05 Feb 2007 12:51 PM

Staying on top of what new local publications are being launched is one to break in. About three months ago I read that our local paper was launching two new speciality publication. One was a leisure/lifestyles mag and the other a parenting publication. I decided that as soon as it launched in January I would send clips and a letter of interest. I mailed my package on a Saturday, the following Tuesday I received a call from the new editor inviting me to become one of their regular freelance writers! I already have two assignments and the promise of regular i.e. monthly work. His idea is instead of working with a bunch of writers and paying them a few dollars, he will deal with just one or two writers and give us more money! He wants to keep the writers happy so that we will continue to work for him and the mag will develope a consistent voice.

A few years ago, I was also able to get a regular monthly column in a local business publication by simply contacting the editor and telling her that she really needed a column that addressed the needs of small business owners.

Local work is definitely there if you know where to look.