mickeym: (misc_stabbitystabstab)
mickeym ([personal profile] mickeym) wrote2009-03-16 04:40 pm
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I really need a more expressive icon for times like these

I didn't even get a chance to clear the threshhold of my door before Matthew announced he has two (not just one, but TWO!) book reports due... TOMORROW.

Book reports he's known about for NINE FUCKING WEEKS.

And can I please do them for him, because I type better and faster than him. I said I'd be happy to type up whatever he dictates, but he owes me something big for this, because he's known for NINE FUCKING WEEKS. *dies*

So now, I'm sitting here checking my email and I said (casually), "by the way, you DO have an outline/guideline sheet to follow for this, right?" And he got this... look...on his face, and now he's digging through his bookbag in what is NOT a reassuring manner, muttering "maybe it's down here at the bottom".

I suspect he's going to be one unhappy boy...

Yep. I'm right. He can't find it.

ETA: And he just keeps making it better and better. He doesn't even have all the reading done. He then told me he has "one done, but I couldn't type fast enough", and got all tongue-tied when I asked "why did you tell me I needed to type two for you?" He finally admitted that no, he doesn't actually have any done. Or all the reading. So I suggested to him that he go upstairs and pick out some books from his bookshelf, and he said "so you're saying I should just plan to do four?" (If he doesn't turn in two tomorrow, he then has to turn in four, to make up for it.) I said yes, exactly, and I would help him with the reading.

He said "I'm not doing it. I don't care if I get an F, I'm not doing it." So I told him he was to go up to his room and stay there until he catches a clue -- without turning on his TV, or his radio, or any gaming systems.

I'm not going to do the goddamn book reports for him. I will help him with his reading/comprehension, because he has a lot of trouble with those. I will type the reports up for him -- but he has to work on the reading and he definitely has to have an idea in mind with the reports. Typing them and doing them are two different things, and I'm not doing his damn homework for him. Not when he's had two months to do it.

And upon further consideration, I think this icon I'm using sums things up nicely, actually.

[identity profile] mickeym.livejournal.com 2009-03-16 09:07 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay, the general book report outline you gave is very helpful, thank you. (It's been 28 years since I was in the 8th grade, so, I have no clue, seriously.)

As far as the length of the book and him reading them... he's in the eighth grade, but he reads at about a 5th grade level. On a good day. But okay, this gives us a direction. And he's come downstairs now, with less attitude and more "ready to do this", so that's a step in the right direction. :)

[identity profile] deathbymutation.livejournal.com 2009-03-16 09:17 pm (UTC)(link)
this is a pretty generic book report outline

>> http://wombat.cusd.chico.k12.ca.us/~obryson/BookReport.html
>> http://www.schoolfamily.com/print-and-use-tools/document/642-book-report-outline

Occasionally there's the required "create a newspaper article about the events" or make a brochure for the setting in the book. Etc etc.

Always a good idea to have one of those ready and if he can get to class a minute or two early, maybe he can ask a classmate.

Or maybe he's got a classmate he can call that would have the outline? Not sure about his school but some of the ones I went to, the teachers' phone numbers were given to the parents so they could call them if something like this happened.