<p>kmccrindle – S2 has learned the 21st century version of that: look on Wikipedia for various topics related to a paper/assignment and use that as a starting point for additional research sources, articles, etc. Helped him to wrap his arms around a big project. I was also a journalism/polisci major and do a lot of writing in my current work. Spent lots of time with both kids on writing and editing skills as they were growing up, because there was seldom enough of it at school.</p>
<p>He also finds Wiki really helpful for studying bio.</p>
<p>NM – WOW on both of your D’s successes! You must be bursting your buttons with pride. :)</p>
<p>We got my daughter’s first semester “comments” and grades. Her best report card ever. Intellectual maturation, hard work, ritalin and extra time all contributed and the ritalin enabled the hard work to be productive. Plus she got rave reviews for her modern dance from the teacher, who used to be part of Twyla Tharp’s company. Still inconsistent in two of her courses, but last year she was inconsistent in all of her courses and overly self-conscious in dance.</p>
<p>kmccrindle, he remembers what he has read. His issue is that he has to laboriously read each part of the page while my eyes scan quickly to see if there is something relevant. Not only is his method much slower, but reading tires him out so the process will be fatiguing. Although writing down anything you find that may be useful is a good idea so you don’t have to retrace your steps to find it again.</p>
<p>Thanks all for the words of encouragement and support! So often H and I seem to take
D1’s accomplishments in stride, just expecting her to work hard and do well. She has always been a good student but not a tippy top student. Her strengths include perseverance, hard work and the ability to build strong positive relationships. We are so very thankful she has a job offer already in this economy! It was nice to hear of her recognition since we have spent most of this past year focused on D2! D2 is now able to breathe a small sigh of relief before she starts worrying about merit aid! It was mentioned in her acceptance but she has to fill out some applications that are arriving via snail mail. It is now all up to her to meet the deadlines. (I hate waiting!) Now if we could just get her to talk to adults… sigh…</p>
<p>I just have to say again how impressed I am with all of the parents here who have advocated for their students and guided them through the years of educational chaos! I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers. I know your kids will find their way…everyone here is cheering them on!</p>
<p>Congrats NM! Well done!!
Sad news here. D texted to tell me that a good friend of hers won’t be returning second semester because he was just diagnosed with cancer. Don’t know what kind but he is optimistic and certain he will be back next fall. Breaks my heart.</p>
<p>Shawbridge, in McSon’s case, it’s an exercise in retention, but what I meant for Shawson is that it might be an exercise to train for better speed in determining relevancy or discrimination of material. Maybe if he tried to google a highly relevant string of keywords for a topic idea, the search engines could help him short cut it by turning up abstracts from journals or books, which would then give him a wider pallet to choose from at the library (or online journal resource) for closer examination or ultimate selection of what to read in full. Eg. when I google something fairly specific like ‘arachnoid cyst of left lateral ventricle’ I am inclined to turn up any major research paper that addresses that specific topic and cases with that specific set of circumstances, which shortcuts endless expository skimming. In other cases, Google will return a page of a book, which then gives an exact location of relevant keywords. Just a thought.
(Then again, the fact that he has to slog through so much meaning, while less than ideal from him, likely contributes to producing superior work ; )</p>
<p>Congrats to NM Ds! All positive thoughts and support to those who are struggling.</p>
<p>My first coherent thought after D was born, and again when S was born, was: “I will be D’s/S’s mother forever.” The reality of that is, I’ll never stop worrying about them, no matter where they go or how independent they become. It goes with the “job description.” And, as others have already said, it really does take a village – cyber or otherwise. Love this thread.</p>
<p>I used to be a big critic of Wikipedia (and still hate for my kids to cite it in a paper); however, with some of the obscure things on which my kids have had to write papers lately, it is certainly a great starting point.</p>
<p>Woody, so sorry to hear about the friend’s cancer.</p>
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<p>On Monday, we heard word that the “[name of city] Hobo” had been killed while crossing the street. He was an old guy that most of us had seen around town. It broke my heart to read about him in the local paper. He was a mentally challenged 72 year old man who had an apartment but mostly walked the streets, often pulling toys behind him. The tear jerking part of the article (for a mom) was how he had come from a locally prominent family but that his parents and siblings were all deceased. His mom couldn’t be his mom anymore, so he died crossing a busy street. How very sad!</p>
<p>I’ve really taken a “virtual” break from all my forums. Glad to be back. Really glad to hear all the good news about kids their transfers and their return to school.</p>
<p>We are packing DD to go back tomorrow. Books have been ordered, shopping will continue and we hope that this semester is even better than last one.</p>
<p>I would have loved to go to Spain (yes native language speaker here) Love the wine and would have stopped at some of the Flamenco and tapas bars as well.</p>
<p>oh woody…so sorry to hear about your D’s friend! </p>
<p>Had a dream last night that I was back in school. First HS then college. It was not a good dream…lots of things going wrong. Guess I need to quit worrying about school stuff! ;)</p>
<p>Yow. Just got a call from Fang Jr’s school. They’re sending him home for a long “medical leave” of at least a quarter and probably more, which is actually him completely failing to function at college because of his Aspergers. </p>
<p>Now I need to go get him (by plane, a nuisance) and find him a local therapist. And hope he can make enough progress in independence and responsibility to go back in the fall.</p>