GOOOOOD MORNING!

samtzu · Post by **samtzu** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 11:06 am

mffphgguuuhgh...... Mornin'....

gigglesnort · Post by **gigglesnort** » Sat Dec 04, 2004 11:18 am

good afternoon

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 2:29 am

Good morning. I just gotta wonder how good a morning it's going to be for all the Santas and elves who did the Portland stomp last night. Off to the bar.

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 5:14 am

remaining awake for 18 hours in order to sleep a straight 8 doesn't seem worth the effort.

good morning.

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 8:53 am

Good morning! There is a rare blanket of mist covering the Spanish Springs Valley here in Sparks Nevada. Considering the cold weather lately, it is conceivable that the Black Rock desert is socked in too. Imagine breating that in on a still, dustless morning on the playa.

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Sun Dec 05, 2004 7:13 pm

Good morning Moscow! It's a little after 6am in the Russian capital. Get outta bed.

geekster · Post by **geekster** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 12:21 am

g'mornin' and g'nite

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 3:47 am

December morning to you. Quiet. Sun's coming up. Dog's snoring still.

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:14 am

good morning, still dark...

changed all the passwords on the computer.

the teenagers lost their tv, x-box and computer privledges due to poor grades.

another day in paradise.

III · Post by **III** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:17 am

good morning.

busy computing grades so that kids can lose their privileges.

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 4:23 am

Simply Joel wrote:good morning, still dark...

changed all the passwords on the computer.

the teenagers lost their tv, x-box and computer privledges due to poor grades.

another day in paradise.

Think that'd work with my employees?

(My man Joel, always on the spot with the ideas.)

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:06 am

actually, here is the plan... i'll run it past all of you.

I intend to get poker chips.
identify each with a set value
blue=$1.00
red = $ .50
white = $ .25

daily chores done completely, correctly, on-time=1 blue poker chip
(possible weekly payoff $7.00)
daily chores not done completely, correctly on-time or requiring a "re-do"= 1 red poker chip

passing grades, completely, correctly, on-time per quarter
A=5 blue chips
B=2 blue chips & 1 red chip
C=1 blue chip
D=minus 2 blue chips & 1 red chip
F=minus 5 blue chips

Incidents of disciplinary irresponsibility. forfeture of privledges (privledge identified by individual, approved by parents)

payday is the 2nd and 1th of the month, in cash.

i am trying to keep it simple, yet teach the value of a dollar, work, responsibility, success...

thoughts?

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:16 am

Too right, Joel! My nine year old recently came back with poor grades and a teacher review that recommended she be tested for the Gifted and Talented program. Smart/creative kids can be the worst at boring tasks like homework, and I think that was me back then too, it just puzzled everybody.

I really like the poker chip idea, and since you asked for some input, what could you do to tie it in to some thing or activity they really want?

Maybe offer them a chip to make up a goal sheet with pictures or clippings and a checklist for chips to achieve it. Or mount the pictures on the outside of a jar so they have a chip bank that ties into something they are passionate about. "Visualize the prize" sort of thing. On payday you could count their chips with them and celebrate how close they are getting.

I hope my girls are still talking to me when they become teenagers. If anybody tries to tell you that you are being too hard on them they are wrong. Cheers, Joel!

Zulegoona · Post by **Zulegoona** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:48 am

And by introducing the poker chip as currency you create opportunity for theft, blackmail, counterfeiting, a black-market, or maybe just subcontracting, and the like so if they do flunk out they'll be on the path to an underworld occupation, so you don't have to worry about them being able to make a living.

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:11 am

Zulegoona wrote:And by introducing the poker chip as currency you create opportunity for theft, blackmail, counterfeiting, a black-market, or maybe just subcontracting, and the like so if they do flunk out they'll be on the path to an underworld occupation, so you don't have to worry about them being able to make a living.

unfortunately, i believe they have been exposed to all those behavorial traits for "theft, blackmail, counterfeiting, a black-market, or maybe just subcontracting" from Grand Theft Auto, Vice City.

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:21 am

The poker chips may work, but it'll be a temporary fix. They'll learn an expectation of being paid for chores and grades, a great disservice when they hit college and their own place. No one will reward them then.

Teen-agers value autonomy, creature comforts/entertainment, and oddly, adult attention. Find a way to harness those as your rewards. Better yet, ask them to help design their punishments and rewards. Kids can be remarkable self-policers given boundaries and goals.

I could also be completely full of crap, but I know how poorly external rewards work in a classroom in the long run. Honestly, I'll be interested if your plan works Joel.

Oh, and good morning, could someone please turn up the heat?

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 9:28 am

AntiM wrote:The poker chips may work, but it'll be a temporary fix. They'll learn an expectation of being paid for chores and grades, a great disservice when they hit college and their own place. No one will reward them then.

Teen-agers value autonomy, creature comforts/entertainment, and oddly, adult attention. Find a way to harness those as your rewards. Better yet, ask them to help design their punishments and rewards. Kids can be remarkable self-policers given boundaries and goals.

I could also be completely full of crap, but I know how poorly external rewards work in a classroom in the long run. Honestly, I'll be interested if your plan works Joel.

Oh, and good morning, could someone please turn up the heat?

These guys are operating in a deficit mode when it comes to life lessons.

my biggest concern is their inability/unwillingness to understand "this is their life they are fooling with"

Post by **AntiM** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:22 am

Simply Joel wrote:

These guys are operating in a deficit mode when it comes to life lessons.

my biggest concern is their inability/unwillingness to understand "this is their life they are fooling with"

Sounds like normal kids to me. Scary.

I didn't mean to sound too discouraging, you have a tough job and obviously care very much about raising them right. It is easy to give advice when I'm not the one in the home with the kids, I don't know how bad they are or if there's more than poor grades and undone chores.

Still, sit them down and ask them what they think about grades and chores, and keep at them until you get more than "I dunno, I don't care."

They'll never be too old to make diasterous decisions. I'm still at it.

"cheerleading mode on": GOOOOOOOO Joel!

theCryptofishist · Post by **theCryptofishist** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:31 am

AntiM wrote: They'll never be too old to make diasterous decisions. I'm still at it.

Me too. The truth is that I'm better and happier and more willing to take risks now that I"ve realized that I'm not permanently dinged for my mistakes. The pressure of trying to be perfect for fear of being killed for unworthyness really put a damper on my ability to live. And work.

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 10:32 am

all i am asking for is "c" grades... then we can work on other issues.

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:12 am

good morning.
the weather is illinois is great for ducks.
wind swept rain, partly cloudy later in the day.

didn't sleep well.

so it goes...

Alpha · Post by **Alpha** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:44 am

Not well today. Too much work to do, to take a sick day.... Good morning anyway.

gigglesnort · Post by **gigglesnort** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:52 am

Hey, it's our second day of sunshine and no rain in two months! Woo hoo!

but I'm stuck inside on this damn computer all day, adn my back hurts. Bah humbug.

Donita · Post by **Donita** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 7:39 am

Gooooooood Morning! The weather here in SacTown, Calif, is windy and rainy. Had to go outside in the middle of the night to retrieve my windchimes 'cuz it got so darn noisy. Today's my Friday here at work and I am one happy woman! Have a great day!

PS: I totally love whoever it was that made coffee this morning at work.

buckethead alien · Post by **buckethead alien** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:49 am

Good morning, but where
the fuck is Joel already?
Should we be worried?

gigglesnort · Post by **gigglesnort** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 5:04 am

Good point BHA. This seems highly abnormal.

sputnik · Post by **sputnik** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:22 am

The ePlaya is oddly quiet this morning.

Simply Joel · Post by **Simply Joel** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:48 am

good morning.

joel was a bad man last evening.

joel severed the power cord (near the plug, so it can be repaired) of the youngest devil spawn's television at 10PM last night.

i bet you are wondering why i am depriving the child of television.

four "F's" is why...

get good grades=get some television
get failing grades=no television

Alpha · Post by **Alpha** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:03 am

Good on ya, Joel. But why so late today? Did he retaliate on your computer? :-)

Mister Jellyfish Mister · Post by **Mister Jellyfish Mister** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 7:12 am

Joel, the terrorist of teenagers strikes again. Good for you.

Mine's getting C's. Should I just cut half of the cord? Just kidding.

GOOOOOD MORNING!

Mist

Poker Chips

Go Joel