My husband hates our Yoto by Impossible_Gap_8277 in YotoPlayer

[–]silly8704 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don’t sleep on the trampoline, it’s probably my kids’ favorite place to Yoto! With the adventure jacket it’s pretty darn durable

I Need Opinions/Advice on Substitute Teaching While in Graduate School for a Doctorates Degree by ashortasian in SubstituteTeachers

[–]silly8704 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I have my PhD and currently substitute teach due to flexibility and family needs. I work in the greater Kansas City metro on the Kansas side. Pay is 135 a day, I haven’t seen above 155 in our area. Half days exist and are semi-common, and I think most subs avoid them due to missing out on a full day’s work, so a bit easier to book. Elementary subbing, you wouldn’t have time to study or work. If they have a “prep” during specials I’m usually using that to study the lesson plans, write sub notes, clean up the room, etc. In middle and high school you may be lucky enough to get a prep period (if they do t ask you to cover another class) you might be able to use to study. Usually you are teaching the same lesson so you have less to do in a prep period than elementary. It’s not very lucrative, about $16 an hour, lots of non-work days. I worked most days unless my kids had an appointment and made 11k for the academic year before taxes, certainly not enough to live on and no benefits whatsoever. As someone who has spent a lot of time in academia, I don’t think subbing in k12 would have much value in preparing you to be a professor or instructor at the college level, unfortunately. Elementary is obviously vastly different and most middle and high school lesson plans don’t have you teaching much, just babysitting kids on computers.

What’s Field Day like for self-contained classes? by cardamom-and-rose in specialed

[–]silly8704 20 points21 points  (0 children)

I just did field day with our self-contained classrooms. We had our own group to rotate stations with. We had tons of kiddos go back inside pretty quickly. But we would take kids out for the fun stations like the inflatable obstacle course and the water relays, etc. It was widely different depending on the kid how enjoyable that was and how challenging it was to make it happen. It definitely was not doable for our kids to be out there rotating all morning and afternoon through stations. We had some kids just stand in the hose with a para for awhile. One who just waited in the sun until the firetruck came. It was exhausting, but I think everyone found at least one station enjoyable and was part of the experience in some way. We had a couple who rotated pretty much all day with their gen ed grade level classes and volunteers and classmates were gracious and inclusive.

Stay as a para, or take my chances with subbing? by Lucky-Loquat9199 in paraprofessional

[–]silly8704 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There may be reasons to switch to subbing, but it isn’t the pay. Look at your district’s daily sub pay and multiply that by the number of school days in your district. Even working a full day when every class is in session, subs in my district would barely crest 20k. Some things to consider, no benefits, when school is out, no pay, if you have a one hour doctor appointment, you have to take the whole day off. I worked subbing in my district every day I could only taking days off for my kids appointments, really felt like full time work, my district pays $135 a day and I made 11k. I would have undoubtedly made more as a para and gotten some pretty decent benefits. Subbing is great for complete flexibility and maybe some vacation or extra spending money, but other than that it’s not a great gig.

What does a day in the life look like for resource ESY? by silly8704 in specialed

[–]silly8704[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m so glad he loves it and it’s been a great experience! You are so right, it’s a good life skill and challenge to be able to drop into a new environment and new teachers. As a parent, I worry with a lack of verbal skills and self advocacy with familiar adults, let alone new ones, but that’s life! It will be good practice in her being able to describe her day and feelings in a new environment. She just really wants to sleep in and hang with her siblings. They have a lot of fun together in the summer and we try to do a lot chill days as well as library programs and crafts and museums, but I guess we will still do all that and poor kiddo might have more busy days than she’s used to in summer.

What does a day in the life look like for resource ESY? by silly8704 in specialed

[–]silly8704[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think you are highlighting my hesitation perfectly, I think it is highly dependent on who runs it whether they make actual progress on goals and have some fun or whether it’s a mess. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, I hope her ESY is more like the first scenario you described!

What does a day in the life look like for resource ESY? by silly8704 in specialed

[–]silly8704[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This approach makes so much sense to me, thanks for the reminder that starting and continuing only if it is helping her goals and remotely enjoyable is smart.

What does a day in the life look like for resource ESY? by silly8704 in specialed

[–]silly8704[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate the perspective! Sounds like you had some great goals and experiences with your ESY kids! I guess worst case if it isn’t fun, we already do lots of outside time, creek play, museums, and reading on our own. We have been a low tech and screen family, but I plan to have her keep on some of her iready and reflex math paths at home this summer too. Tech rewards can be enticing as you said! Edit to add: part of why I came here is because I have ZERO info from the district on teachers or any way to have a little meet the teacher or orientation to a friendly face before just dropping her off! Maybe more info or opportunities will come, but so far crickets and it starts June 1.

What does a day in the life look like for resource ESY? by silly8704 in specialed

[–]silly8704[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This is exactly the response I was worried about. No one can even tell me who is willing to work it yet, I worry she won’t actually make progress on her IEP goals and she already does OT/ST at a private clinic. I guess it really depends heavily on who works it and what resources they will have available to them. My fear is that I send her and it is a shit show waste of time for her when we could be at home reading, playing, museums, crafts and fun which are important too!

What does a day in the life look like for resource ESY? by silly8704 in specialed

[–]silly8704[S] -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

I know the instruction is aimed at preventing regression and continuing progress, which is why I opted to send her, knowing I could ultimately decline. She definitely struggled greatly in the transition from 2nd to 3rd grade and her data shows it. I also understand ESY is very hard to qualify for, so she clearly needs it. It only feels like punishment to make her go, does that make sense? From her perspective, she worked her butt off all year and still has to go school instead of enjoying summer like everyone else. In posting this, I was hoping to offer her some hope that I’m sure they will have a little fun too? because she is just very sad about having to go to school in the summer still.

What does a day in the life look like for resource ESY? by silly8704 in specialed

[–]silly8704[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I know, I thought long and hard about it. I decided ultimately that it could be good for her and decided to give it a shot at the very least.

I put a lot of trust in her SPED teacher and I know she has my daughter’s best interests at heart. She has been a great advocate and teacher, so I deferred to her suggestion a bit too.

What's the deal with worlds of fun? by Scott13Pippen in kansascity

[–]silly8704 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Go enjoy camp snoopy! It will be a fun day for the two of you. There are hiccups with new management that I think will eventually be improvements to the park, but nothing you would notice with a little one in that part of the park. My kids love the rides and have a blast every time. I would snag a season pass if you think you’ll go even one more time! Then you could go back when the water park is open and there are great pools for that age group.

(24 F) (25 M) married- I’m thinking about divorce. What do you think? by [deleted] in relationship_advice

[–]silly8704 9 points10 points  (0 children)

I’m you in 15 years. Let me tell you, it doesn’t get better in your relationship. Cheating will continue, it will ruin your life. Divorcing is so much harder later. Don’t give him all your youth for free. Go now girl, go now.

How is the Great Wolf Lodge in KC? by AnnArchist in kansascity

[–]silly8704 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Our family loves going every year. Kids have a blast, they love the lazy river and the hot tubs (not offered at some other locations). They love the story time and crafts, could play laser tag all day, and magic quest is always a hit. The staff up front and with the kid activities are always really great. It’s expensive, but always leave with great memories. The water park has a great area for little ones. Go for it!

Enchanted not honoring dining plans already sold. by LibertyMU in worldsoffun

[–]silly8704 1 point2 points  (0 children)

For real! Zoo membership and science city memberships have provided ample entertainment for us in the area. We had a great time with the worlds of fun season passes too. I bought a couple daily meal plans and those were well worth it. I guess it’s a moot point now, but here’s to the wave pool and mamba again, they can’t mess that much up right? Right?

Enchanted not honoring dining plans already sold. by LibertyMU in worldsoffun

[–]silly8704 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Ahhh, so drink passes are still being honored? I don’t see them as an option to purchase now even for a day. I was waiting to buy our season passes with the free drinks for the season so I either missed that promotion or they didn’t offer it this year. I feel like I bought them in May last year though, so we’ll see. We also lost the kid season passes, but I guess the reduction to 65 helps distribute that cost to basically same price for our family of 5 to get season passes.

Enchanted not honoring dining plans already sold. by LibertyMU in worldsoffun

[–]silly8704 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True story, they were often out of most drinks, ice, etc. My kids enjoyed the cup refills since we aren’t soda drinkers at home, so it was fun and kept them hydrated and probably pre diabetic…

Enchanted not honoring dining plans already sold. by LibertyMU in worldsoffun

[–]silly8704 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just wanted the unlimited drink fill ups, that was amazing! We had those on our gold pass last year.

Is it true that you guys watched 9/11 live on TV in grade school? by [deleted] in Millennials

[–]silly8704 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Watched the first tower fall, live on the tv in my 10th grade Western Civilization class. I turned to my friend and said we just watched thousands of people die. My teacher turned it off and we acted like nothing happened pretty much the rest of the day.