MATH DOESN'T SUCK: How to Survive Middle School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail
Did the dog eat the homework... what do you think?
Umm…the dog ate my homework? I don’t know about you, but I TRIED that excuse with my teacher once. Guess what…she didn’t buy it! Big surprise there right? She just gave me a big speech about how homework is supposed to be fun, and I need to ‘Catch the Reading Bug’ and get rid of all the coulda, shoulda, woulda excuses I had lined up and ready to fire. Dang it. So I figured I better give YOU guys the heads up before you try some lame-o excuse on YOUR teacher!
#1 Excuse for why the dog ate my homework
I coulda done better if it had been more fun! Ok, so really…homework CAN be fun. Surprise your mom tomorrow and ask her to:
Take you to the library and browse through the books.
Take you to garage sales – rummage through the book table or book box for cool book treasures. (See page 2 of June '08 Buzzletter for garage sale tips.)
Better yet, if you can talk her (or dad) into it, go to a book store (new or used) and choose some cool books on subjects you like. It’s likely the dog ate my homework won’t be an excuse you need anymore!
Pick just about any school subject, and you can find a fun way to learn it.
If reading doesn’t float your boat, you can wipe out the ‘dog ate my homework’ excuse in a ton of other fun ways.
Movies (Seriously you can find a movie on ALMOST any subject!)
I shoulda paid more attention in class. Dang it again! Ratted out. Ok, so I do a little day-dreaming sometimes. Don’t you? Especially when Ms. G talks all about boring stuff. Sheesh. Don’t they know by now that if you want us kids to learn anything you gotta:
Pique our interest!
Stir our imagination!
Give us challenges!
#3 Excuse for why the dog ate my homework
I woulda handed it in on time, BUT the dog ate my homework. No more excuses! Mom, Dad…you gotta make learning fun and easy for us! So I have some tips for you:
Give us our own study space or cool work zone; jazz it up with:
Bins with our names on them
Supplies – personalized pencils, pens, note pads
Presentation folders and folders to organize our papers
Flower boxes on interior walls make great book containers
Have music playing softly (Let us choose the music please!)
Posters
A little friendly competition never hurt:
Make copies of worksheets
Kids vs. Parents… we LOVE to beat you guys
Set a reasonable winning goal (Keep quality though - spelling, penmanship, etc.) -OR-
We can compete against our own time from a previous test or competition!
Hmmn…Bribes? Ok, ok…INCENTIVES for reaching goals (we all need ‘em!):
TV programs
Play video games
Ice cream treats
Mom, Dad, trust us! Do these things and the dog ate my homework is the LAST excuse you’ll ever hear again. And just in case...
#4 Excuse for why the dog ate my homework
The dog really ate it! I dropped my PB&J on it... next thing I knew the dog was ripping it to shreds! I brought what was left, Teacher, but you can see it's kinda messy.
Okay you guys, did the dog do it?Tell us what you think or what excuse you used. Buzzing Kids World would like to know.
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