Homeschool Struggle
This is just a rant. I am not looking for judgements...Just need to blow off some steam. I love my SD so please dont assume that because I am ranting and annoyed that I am shitty person who has "it out" for her.
So with the schools shut down, my SD9 has been doing the homeschool thing with her dad. Because of my job, I am considered essential and leave to go work each day. Much of the work he monitors her, helps her, and keeps her on task. (math packets sent home to the kids, silent reading, and science packets etc)
However, some of her work, (and moving toward the direction of all it soon) is done on some apps. These are apps are ones the kids were using IN SCHOOL before the shut down. For this, she has been using MY IPad, As she is 9 and not always careful with things, I have been nervouse about her using it and I set guidlines. She must be on the couch (so she doesnt knock if off the counter onto th hard floor) and no food or drink while shes using it. If she wants a snack or a drink than she needs to do that in the kitchen and not the living room. NO FOOD OR DRINK WHEN USING MY IPAD!!!!
While she is doing the apps, my SO has been trying to get some outside work done. We have several acres and requires alot of maintence. He would go outside to do this while she did the apps because it was not really something he could help with. Most of the apps require her using headphones to listen to insturcions, stories, so not much he could do for her and he assumed it would be okay to get some of his own work done.
I get home from work yesterday, and see my Ipad just laying on the couch, her earhones plugged in, and her OPEN WATER BOTTLE laying in the couch RIGHT NEXT TO MY IPAD!!! I was PISSED!!!
she was in her room playing because she had finished her work. she had just thown it down on the couch with her water bottle and walked away. (insert growling noise here)
I talked to her about it and asked why she knowingly broke the rules and she just shrugged. However she did apologize.
I explained to her that if this rule was broken again than she could not use it until I got home and I would supervise her. This would also mean very little or no TV because the rule is no TV until ALL School work is done. So if she had to do homeowrk till bedtinem, no TV. MY SO backed me up on this 100%.
No damaged was caused to my IPAD but I was really annoyed that she decided that the rule did not work for her so she just decided to not follow it. I am also a little annoyed at SO for not monitoring her when she is using MY STUFF!
This is where it gets interesting. She does not know this yet, but the night before this all went down I had ordered her her own chormbook.I am worried that she could impression that she is getting her own computer as a reward for breaking the rules.
School is shut down for the year and electroinc learning is going to be the new normal. I figured this way I would not have to be nervouse letting her use my stuff (she tends to me more careful with her own things than other peoples.... another thing that annoys me). and if she wanted to do her work outside on the picknick table, or her bedroom... Fine its her computer. The other reason I wanted her to have her own device is that I have things I dont want her to see. I have a journaling app on there that I use... I have legal documents stored on it. Just things I dont want her to see.
Does anyone have any advice? How do I give her own computer and make her understant that this is NOT a reward?
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Have a Sit Down Discussion
I feel your frustration! I'd be so angry too! You are handling it very well!
Maybe have a sit down conversation with your DH first to establish boundaries and rules for her own device and then both of you approach her about the new Chromebook and the responsibilities attached to having it. Does she get an allowance? Maybe have her pay for some of the new Chromebook so it's not a reward.
Also, I wouldn't allow her to use yours for any reason anymore because she was careless with your property.
I hope it turns out well for all of you and you are all healthy and safe during this time!
I would explain to her that
I would explain to her that you had already ordered the chromebook for her HOMESCHOOLING ONLY. Or tell her that you bought it for yourself, as a back up. I would tell her that it is not HERS, it's yours, but she can use it for school. Same rules apply, no food or drink while working on it and it's only for school work.
Did she get any consequence for breaking the rules?
Yes. She lost some tv time,
Yes. She lost some tv time, not mention a pretty good lecture that included the "I'm disappointed"
your advice is much appreciated. The reason I went with the chromosome is I can use google link on it. I can set up her own children's google account and set peramiters. I can block sites, monitor her usage and let screen time limits.
That is all fine but I would
That is all fine but I would let her know that it is not HERS, it's for her to use for school work.
Later, when she shows some responsibility, you can let her use it for other things (or even "give" it to her), if you wish, but not now, not after what she did with your Ipad.
Love it. Thank you
Love it. Thank you
I feel you
I feel you.
Both of our kids have their own pc, although we didn't buy these new for them. They use our old ones that are still functioning fine.
If buying a pc solves your issue I definitely say go for it. But, if an iPad is suffice for your SD's hw, maybe consider buying a pre-owned iPad will be a better option?
I said this because with iPad you can do a lot more with the parental controls whereas PC you will have to buy some software to do that. We recently bought two pre-owned iPad Air 2 just for the kids to read and listening to audible ( because libraries are closed). These used iPads still run pretty decently and they are lot cheaper (about $160 each) than getting a new pc or even a new iPad. If you decided to get pre-owned iPad like we did, just be sure to buy from reputable sellers and you should be good to go
Make it a family computer
Make it a family computer that she uses for school work. That's what we did with our kids.
This crossed my mind because
This crossed my mind because my SO and I bought a windows laptop in January. But that computer did not work for some of the apps she needed. The apps the school has he using work in iOS or android but are very clunky on windows. That's why she was using my iPad... a windows device just did not work for what she needed. Which is incredibly frustrating.
I'm answering as a teacher
I'm answering as a teacher that is doing remote learning. I don't think you should take the computer away completely. She needs the computer in order to complete her assignments. Come up with a set time when she is doing school work. Once that time is up, the laptop is locked away.
This way she has her own device to complete her work, but she still receives consequences for not following your rules and respecting your property.
Thank you. Not just for your
Thank you. Not just for your reply but for your dedication to teaching in this crazy time. You are a special special person
going back to tech talk... That is exactly why I went with the chrome book... I can set time limit