Survivor
So.
The thing is.
We had the college entrance exam tutor at the house tonight, for Youngest. It was great to see him again with his bearded hippie looks and mild manners. Have I told you about the college entrance exam tutor? I'm going to now.
Five (?) years ago, when it was time for Middle to take the college entrance exam, I polled my mom-friends for the name of the local tutor. It's a tough exam but not because of the material - it's more because of how the material is presented. There's a method and scheme to it and once a student sees the method and scheme, the exam itself is far less challenging. Anyway, I got the name of the local tutor (there's a class at the high school too, but it costs the same amount of money as a tutor and kids don't get individualized attention) and made arrangements and brought Middle to see him one afternoon.
I think that was the first time since pre-school and the last time ever that I saw Middle near tears. When I picked him up after an hour with the tutor he was demoralized and upset. The tutor had scoffed at his practice scores and used humiliation as a prompt to do better. This teaching philosophy worked for many but only served to alienate my Middle. I researched again and found this guy: a musician who tutors kids who study music and the arts. Perfect fit! Soft-spoken, adorable and fun, he and Middle clicked and Middle's scores increased enough to aid his entry into Art School. (And we all know how that ended!) Tonight we welcomed him back to tutor Youngest, whose English scores were very very high but whose Math scores need some boosting. They came upstairs smiling, with Youngest eager to do more work.
What does this all mean for Survivor?
It means dinner was at 8:00 and I sat down to watch the vote at Tribal Council.
It was between Stephanie and Serita. Who went?
Stephanie.
Mom: too bad, I think she was cute.
Me: I think she was a bitch.
Mom: Well, there's something to that!
I don't think Redemption Island is an island at all.
Me: No! It's just Over There!
The thing is.
We had the college entrance exam tutor at the house tonight, for Youngest. It was great to see him again with his bearded hippie looks and mild manners. Have I told you about the college entrance exam tutor? I'm going to now.
Five (?) years ago, when it was time for Middle to take the college entrance exam, I polled my mom-friends for the name of the local tutor. It's a tough exam but not because of the material - it's more because of how the material is presented. There's a method and scheme to it and once a student sees the method and scheme, the exam itself is far less challenging. Anyway, I got the name of the local tutor (there's a class at the high school too, but it costs the same amount of money as a tutor and kids don't get individualized attention) and made arrangements and brought Middle to see him one afternoon.
I think that was the first time since pre-school and the last time ever that I saw Middle near tears. When I picked him up after an hour with the tutor he was demoralized and upset. The tutor had scoffed at his practice scores and used humiliation as a prompt to do better. This teaching philosophy worked for many but only served to alienate my Middle. I researched again and found this guy: a musician who tutors kids who study music and the arts. Perfect fit! Soft-spoken, adorable and fun, he and Middle clicked and Middle's scores increased enough to aid his entry into Art School. (And we all know how that ended!) Tonight we welcomed him back to tutor Youngest, whose English scores were very very high but whose Math scores need some boosting. They came upstairs smiling, with Youngest eager to do more work.
What does this all mean for Survivor?
It means dinner was at 8:00 and I sat down to watch the vote at Tribal Council.
It was between Stephanie and Serita. Who went?
Stephanie.
Mom: too bad, I think she was cute.
Me: I think she was a bitch.
Mom: Well, there's something to that!
I don't think Redemption Island is an island at all.
Me: No! It's just Over There!
Comments
Totally unacceptable.
I love the mental picture of Youngest coming upstairs smiling and eager. Bravo.
x
Humiliation as a teaching tactic has always made me crazy.
faint
Only three years!
http://blackbird17.blogspot.com/2008/03/in-which-i-fired-someone.html
jbhat
ErinH
I've definitely AGED at least five years over the past three, but let's not get into that right now...
Still, yay for happy test prepping!