Grades, Projects, and Tardies

Image by jesseducation via Flickr

The local  middle school has made our lives as parents a little bit simpler by using a website called SnapGrades. This site is updated by each teacher daily or weekly(when they have time) with each students progress. Homework, projects, tests, tardies and missed days. Including PE, you can see how well they run the mile each week. If a student is falling behind the teacher can contact you via this website and stay on top of your child, and if they need to talk to the student about something they can leave a note on the website for both parent and student to see.

I am able to log on at anytime and see my child's current grade in each class. Any missing assignments, and their current GPA. I also receive a weekly email with current information.

Middle school is a difficult transition, and with help of a simple website like this, we can all keep our children on the right track. If your school doesn't have this type of simple communication maybe it's time to suggest it. I only wish they had it in my daughters high school. *Sigh*

Here is the website. If you watch the demo it will give you a nice introduction.

http://snapgrades.net/

Easy A

Comedy night here we come.If you're a fan of John Hughes movies, then Easy A should be your next movie. This movie is geared around a high school nobody who chooses to lose her virginity to get a reputation. Although, the movie is based around sex it wasn't the base of the movie. I had an under 13 year old with me, and I wasn't covering her eyes for those type of scenes.

The movie lived up to its hype as another great teen comedy. The theatre was full by the time the movie started so don't wait until the last minute to get to your seats.

Rate: A (easily)

Buy: Theatre if you can, rent or buy when it's out.

PG-13 I took under 13(this is high school ages, so expect language).

Middle School is for Growing

Last week I attended back to school night at my daughters middle school. The parents had a twelve minute visit with each teacher gathering information about each subject they will be teaching this school year.
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My daughters third period class is Advanced Art. After the information portion of her presentation she became very solemn and proceeded to tell us that last year the school had lost two students. The first one was a sixth grade girl who had an aneurysm in her sleep and passed away. The other student was her own son. He was an eighth grader who was hit by a car while riding his bike. She claimed that she wasn't telling us these stories to make us sad. However, she wanted us to be aware that middle school grades are not looked at for college. That each moment we have with our children is precious, and this is not the time to push them with grades, even it they come home with a bad grade.
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Think about this... We only have our children for eighteen years until they go off to college. The days become weeks, and then years. Once we open our eyes they are adults and time has passed us by.
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Love your child(ren) every minute you can. Life is lived daily, and they deserve our best.

National Suicide Prevention Week

Image by Hannah Elizabeth. via FlickrLife is Precious. 


September 5th-11th is Suicide Prevention Week, and we are reminded(via Hopeline) that each year, 32,000 friends, sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers in the U.S. take their own lives. 


If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, acceptance, or anything that is making you think about suicide. Please call for help. You are not alone, and there are so many people willing to listen. Call any of these numbers listed on this blog. Hopeline: 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)


Service men and women coming back from Afghanistan, and veterans alike need to be aware there are people who can help. Military members helpline: Hopeline: 1-877-Vet2Vet (838-2838)


The Trevor Project is focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Lifeline: 
1-866-4-U-TREVOR (1-866-488-7386)

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Please call if you are in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

The Kristin Brooks Hope Center - Hopeline is dedicated to raising awareness of suicide prevention, and providing support for those seeking help. Please pass on the word, help, and donate if you can. www.hopeline.com 

If we can help one person, 

then we have done our job as a human being.

See the Twitter, Facebook, Myspace, and .com sites:

To Write Love on Her Arms - http://www.twloha.com/

Hopeline - http://hopeline.com/

The Trevor Project - http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

SAVE - http://www.save.org/

NoH8 - http://www.noh8campaign.com/

AFSP National - http://www.afsp.org/

Don't Jump - http://www.facebook.com/pleasedonotjump

Take 5 to Save Lives - https://twitter.com/Take5SaveLives

(and so many others...)

Another Reason To Love a Kindle

Image via CrunchBase

When I got my Kindle, I read on it daily. So many books and playing with the 3G. Reading in direct sunlight, and laughing at the text to talk feature. 
As the apps began to come out for the iPod Touch and iPhone my girls were able to load the Kindle app and read the stories that are appropriate for them. I had already downloaded many free books for them to read.


Yet, it wasn't until this week that I really saw first hand the beauty of the Kindle. Two of my children were reading Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Each could read the same story at the same time and not lose their place. No fighting over a physical book, and you can read as fast or slow as you wish. My other daughter was reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins at the same time as I was. She reads much faster than I do, and can take her book anywhere she goes as it is also her phone. Very convenient.
Keep this in mind when you go out to purchase a new phone. Look for one that you can use an app on. My choice for you is obviously a Kindle. But to each their own.