Loooooong reply.......
Posted By: Anita on 2006-04-14
In Reply to: My 4 yo is having trouble. - Lynn
Hi,
Just before coming online and reading your post, I was remembering my many years of teaching preschool and a little bit of kindergarten....
Some perspective: In my school we had 60 kids, including the kindergarteners in an open classroom.
--Each preschool "group" was made up of kids divided by age...3.1 mos. to 3.5 mos., 3.5 mos. to 4 mos. etc.
There were simply enough kids to divvy up according to that fine an age difference and skill/maturity level--and, even then, you could see that there can be some notable differences in just those few mos. in academic orientation and/or readiness, maturity, learning styles, etc.
--And, just as importantly differences in personality can account for a child's interests and readiness for different activities--academic-wise and "play as work"--wise which is essentially the business of ALL children--to play and learn through play.
--As well, my school was heavy into academics, even for the preschoolers and I felt that sometimes my fellow teachers took it waaaay too far and were waaay too demanding.
Otherwise, in school, I tried to develop an activity or academic-oriented lesson plan that took into account ALL the kids and all their differing abilities. It's not easy and it's a lot of extra work, but it's something that a good teacher does. Ask yourself (and ask HER teacher): Is her teacher doing that?
One child I had was well advanced on writing and recognizing her letters from memory (that child was clearly working at home with her parents and siblings). She was very, very bright, motivated, and I thought that it was a good and appropriate thing for her.
As a result, this was a child that I gave extra work to or work of a higher caliber than what the other children were doing so that she stayed challenged and engaged.
At the same time, I had a lot of other children who were just being exposed to letters and numbers pretty much for the first time--forget about writing ability! (I worked in Chinatown and almost all of our kids were from immigrant, monolanguage homes).
That said, here are some things to consider:
--There may be some level of teacher-child personality conflict--it happens. And, some teachers have a certain style or expectation of the kids fitting into their mold. Or, they may work well with particular types/person-alities of kids. Could this be a mis-match?
Is there another teacher or another school available that would suit your daughter better?
Schools, including preschool and kindergarten programs, can vary widely in quality as well as in approach, methods, and philosophies.
If you can, go observe a kindergarten class or two at the school she will be attending in future. Check in with the teachers of those classes about what they expect and would like incoming students to know already. Again, pay attention to different styles between any teachers you observe/talk to.
--Her current teacher is too demanding/expectations are too high. How long has she been teaching and what training has she had? (My first year, it took a while before I realized that I was demanding/expecting some things from my group of kids that were really unrealis-tic). I was the one who had to "get a clue" as it were....
Personally, I think that word recognition and any extensive writing at this age is a bit much, except for recognizing and writing their first names (and, for most of my kids, this would be their first exposure to it).
Any time they did a painting, coloring project, number worksheet, labeled their box of crayons, I "dotted" in their names which they would then trace to practice name recognition and writing.) You can easily expose this to her at home before her picture gets hung up on the fridge.
I wouldn't even begin to introduce reading, writing, and recognizing the letters of their LAST names until the latter part of the year.
In our kindergarten program, we would have usually 1-2 kids who were ready to start reading or who were absolutely reading by the end (if not the middle) of our kindergarten program. We usually had 1 or 2 who were on the verge by the end--the other 20 or so WERE NOT. And remember, we were already heavily academic in the first place.
So, what is the expecta-tion/demand in your child's school on this subject?
--Consider that some kids need or benefit most from "enrichment" at this age--psychosocial interaction, more play/imaginative time, exposure to different activities and experiences.
Further,"sit in your seat", "sit still", "repeat after me" types of demands are NOT the best methods for teaching this age group.
There is also research evidence that too heavy an emphasis on this type of learning for kindergarteners and even 1st graders is inappropriate and should be reconsidered.
I was academic oriented to be sure. Yes, I expected a lot from my kids academically and within what I thought was reason--they worked hard and usually I tried to ensure they had fun doing it.
When it was play time, I saw to it that they played hard. Sometimes I saw to it that they played more than they "worked/formally learned".
In sum, it is NOT AT ALL appropriate for kids this age to spend concentrated amounts of time "sitting still" and performing with pen and paper.
So, how much of their day is actually spent sitting down, being still, quiet....?
--Also consider that kids learn, and need to be taught, in different modes especially at this age, at any age really.
If we were learning about shapes, we did pencil and paper work, we walked around our school looking for that particular shape in our everday environment in school in our clothing, we took a field trip and while on our way to (or while at) the playground, the post office, the bakery, the art gallery, the kids would be asked to find the shape we'd been learning about, learning to recognize, pronounce, etc.
THAT is teaching and it's teaching the "whole child", the best type of teach-ing/learning for this age group.
As well, some of these things are easily adaptable activities for parents to share with their child at home and will help make them more "ready".
--When she says her hands are "weak" what does she mean? And, is she referring to gross motor or fine motor skills or both? And what examples is she prepared to give you on how to help her?
--ADHD--I didn't use to believe it existed. I thought it was just another billing trick--until I ran into it with a brother, and then later his sister, in my group; I then became a believer on the spot.
Additionally, with all the transcription I've done for psychiatrists, neurologists, and a pediatric developmental specialist, oh yeah. It exists and yes, it does often have a strong familial link.
However, even from your limited description of your daughter, it doesn't sound like ADHD to me, so don't let anybody back you into that corner so easily.
In sum, you've been crying and feeling bad, thinking that you and/or your daughter are failures. I beg to differ and have a whole lot of concerns about how her teacher may be failing HER.
In addition, at what point has she given ANY indication that she even LIKES your daughter, much less recognizes that she has any stregths or positive qualities. At what point is she prepared to help your daughter and how is she going to help her?
Because, it is AT THAT POINT that it is the teacher who is failing your daughter, NOT the other way around and don't be shy on calling her and her supervisor on it.
Now, go cry and get it out of your system. That's not a bad thing. It's only a bad thing if when you finish crying you don't go out and kick some butt on her behalf. I'll get off my soap box now....
{{{Much love to you and to her.}}}}
--Anita
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Email reply vs. Post Reply
Could someone tell me how to post a message and then have someone reply by email instead of just "Post Reply." I'm pretty new to this "chat" board. But I WOULD like to say it is VERY informative and helpful. Too bad some of the companies we work for aren't as helpful as one MT is to another MT. We'd have it made!!
Instead of clicking Post Quick Reply, go to the box further down on the left that says Post Reply to
  
thanks for your reply
and really sad too....
how's this for a reply
THE ARUBAN CASE INVOLVES AN AMERICAN, HELLO? Comparing this and the Idaho case is just plain stupid! She is an American and deserves to have Americans looking for her. God, give me a break!
Reply
Well I have only been working for 5 days now hard to say...
REPLY
Oh you are kidding!!! I just tested and was offered an IC position.. did you work for them long and they didn't pay you or if I am being too nosey please tell me.. I hear so much on this and other boards about companies not paying, you just don't know anymore about any of them!!
I have to reply to this LOL
That is not always the case sweetheart (see being nice). I have been sugary sweet to these people and it does not work. I have found that if it is a woman on the phone..my husband gets where we need to be and if it is a man on the phone, i get where we need to be. Sad but true!!
REPLY
Hello,
Please read my reply to Vanessa Satterwhite's post. If you are still interested in working for us, please contact me at smt_recruiter@yahoo.com
sm's reply
Give this newbie a break! Trust QA? You don't if you do all that research. What makes you think no research was done?
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Thats what i said..we don't know. So therefore, she needs to be aware that she should definitely do the research PRIOR to just leaving the job. If she hasn't then a new job is not going to do her any good other than show that she changes jobs often, which does not look good on a resume. As far as trusting QA...not ALL companies hire crappy QA. We again do not know. The QA COULD be right and COULD be very good at his/her job. You simply don't know, but telling her to move on before you even know the facts is just silly.
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Animal advocate, I really appreciate all your info you are putting out there, but I do take pause at your statement above that animals were meant to be consumed, I do not believe this. We are made to be vegitarians as our digestive tracts are not meant to digest meat, our intestines are too long thus the meat sits in our stomachs and rots before it is expelled. Yes there is a food chain, but I don't believe animal meat is part of that food chain for humans. Keeping on researching you will find the right answers for you, again thanks for your input.
reply to please help
Can you tell me what you were offered? If you don't mind.
Thank you! for your reply. Must tell you
When I got the email telling me I passed my test, I had tears rolling down my face. My 10-year-old daughter said, "Mama what is wrong?!" I said, "I passed the test!" She said, "Why are you crying? You're happy aren't you?" The combination of the stress of testing and finding out that I actually do have what it takes, hit me all at once.
I've been home for a year now after doing inhouse for over 15 years, and it is the best decision I have ever made. I love it. The flexibility is great for my kids, not to mention that I'm saving a small fortune on gasoline!
I get your message loud and clear about looking things up. I have dozens of dogeared reference books and I am the queen of Google. I took a medical terminology class to help with areas I wasn't too experienced with and the instructor's main focus was, "Don't guess. Look it up!"
reply, thanks
Thank you for the feedback. any ideas on a company that is honest to work for?
If this reply was to me
It is because I still have the best I can get right now with the hospital, even though MQ did make it much worse, I can't afford to lose the benefits that we have. I went to work for MQ part-time on the side in the SAME PROGRAM and realized that it was EVEN WORSE, SO I QUIT MQ.
reply to above
if your life is so void of friends/family that you have to come to an MT board to discuss your personal issues. transcription is only ONE aspect of my life. I come to this board to discuss transcription issues and transcription issues only. I have other people in my life that I can discuss things like KATRINA with.
reply
you obviously don't live with anyone.
A reply...
Your assumption is that less profits for CEOs and businesses and MORE money funneled into services will alleviate poverty. I don't agree. That is still a Band-Aid to the problem. Since Johnson's Great Society in the 1960's poverty has not improved much at all. In fact, some of the core underlying reasons for poverty have now been enabled... Who needs to worry about having kids without the proper preparations, the govt will save you. We have a culture filled with rap music telling impressionable young people anything goes. And I don't buy the "parents should just not allow kids to listen to it if they don't like it" because the kids that it impresses are kids who don't have proper parenting at home. I'm all for funneling money into programs to get people onto their feet, to get educated, to help them while they achieve this goal, but to just hand it out to people who feel entitled without any effort in return is wrong. Poverty will simply continue and even worsen.
For you and WA see my reply below. I did this
because I needed a laugh too!
My microwave is broken again, so I had to order out for pizza.
I first called my sister and asked her what to do. I asked her how to use the big huge white appliance thingy with all of the dials on it that sits next to my refrigerator and has cute little covers over those "coily things" on the top. I told her that the dials and numbers are way to confusing.
Her reply to me was, "Oh my gawd, you cook?"
Glad I made you guys laugh or chuckle. With this job, we all need it.
Was your reply to
I am confused by your response.....I actually enjoyed the original posters "little jokes" about Walmart and someone had to come on here and say how ridiculous it is and how it wasn't funny and what not. I voices my opinion and she kept having come backs. I certainly always love a good laugh and just cannot understand how this Walmart jokester was so wrong in people's eyes. So, perhaps you should be addressing her and not me, because I have a good sense of humor and found it somewhat amusing.
reply
No, I have my college degree. All I was saying was that no job is certain anymore even with a college degree. I have met quite a number of people who have college degrees in areas such nursing who have gotten into transcription because what they were doing before was too demanding of their time and they had no family life. I wish people would stop knocking this profession. For myself this is a great fit for me. I just recently moved across the country from PA to CA with the same job totally intact. I have total freedom to move where I please when I feel like it without it disrupting my income or where I work. How many people can say that? Not many.
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what are people supposed to get paid??? $20 an hour? Sometimes I think part of the problem is that people think that just because they went to school that they should come out making $40K plus a year. Let me tell you something, even with my university education plus my MT education I knew what seemed at the time nil. I think people forget the saying -- if it so easy then everyone would do it.
My reply
I have two full time QA positions and I am not certified. I am salary on one at about $16 per hour. I am IC on the other at $20 per hour. The salary, I get paid the same amount each pay period no matter what volume comes through. The IC, I am paid to monitor the work as well as QA so for whatever shift I am on, I get paid, work or not.
I can't help you on average lines as I am not paid by line so I do not keep track of them. The amount of work required depends on your companies requirements. Mine are based on what platform and what account I am working on and they are not set in stone. Hope this helped. Good luck to you.
A reply
You don't shop there...Good for you. I never said you SHOULD shop there if you have personal reasons not to. If they're breaking the law, the law will deal with them. If they are TRULY the evil company that you say they are, that will be their eventual downfall. One class action suit on a company that big? Hardly a shocker. As for Chinese products? Please check the labels on the stuff that you DO buy at where ever you buy it (other than Wal-Mart) and tell me where it's made. EVERYTHING IS MADE IN CHINA! Why? Maybe because Americans and their unions didn't help the situation by demanding big bucks for little skill. You arguments doesn't hold up either, at least as far as Chinese products go.
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It is www.ustranscription.com
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So what you're saying is that everything can be arranged for except for keeping ice. That brings us to who needs ice? I can live without ice. The only people who must have it are people who have meds such as insulin that must be kept cool. Were those lines full of people on medications? I doubt it. As for the way the storm hit, I guess people should assume the worst and be glad when it doesn't happen. No offense though, but I can't see how anybody wants to live in the state of Florida. I've been there. It's awful. Hot, sticky, flat, expensive, and riddled with bad weather. I'll keep on freezing my butt off up here in the Northeast (with my 4 cords of wood piled up for our 2 woodstoves just in case the blizzard of all blizzards keeps us trapped this winter).
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I use the phrase, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." Then I tell them that I wouldn't have to actually kill them, but it IS confidential and sorry, but I am not able to discuss it.
End of discussion.
(I just couldn't stand hearing ONE MORE PERSON say, "Oh, I know how to type! Maybe I should do that!" Grrr!
Reply......
 Actually, I have known and worked on many projects with the owner of USA Type before they owned this board and Sheri is a great gal to work for and work with.
In reply...sm
I appreciate the supportive posts, I really do. Sometimes it's hard to tell folks how much their words of encouragement are needed.
For the other posters, well what can I say. Thanks for kicking an old dog when he's down. FYI, I am a good MT, probably not the best, but I am a hard worker and have always given 100%. Not that I have to defend myself - I took the test as I would have transcribed it. This company was a very small company in Alabama and the person who owns it wants the best MTs. The pay is excellent. I was very upset I did not pass the test because obviously I am not the best. But I have heart and wanted so much to succeed at this career. Now, I don't know. I looked up real estate tonight!
And concerning the 1/2 cc...0.5 mL - Especially the ***hole who told me to keep up with my profession....per my copy of the revised safety rules..."use one-half or 1/2" depending on the way it is transcribed. Also, it is mL now, not ml. No mention made of cc being acceptable. So I followed my AAMT BOS standards. But it was drilled into my head over and over at MQ too, VERBATIM! Change only the obvious stupid stuff. On this test, one dictator spelled cephazoline...I changed it to cefazolin.
Thanks to the MTs who encouraged this nervous MT and the first nervous MT and piss on the other holier than thou MTs. I wish all former MQ's good luck.
reply
Possibly meaning skin type II
Your reply
I think this is great. Thanks for your opinion. I really appreciate the time you took to reply. I am kind of lost right now, to get professional MT's opinion about business I think is wonderful.
Yes,I have been bombarded this morning with EM from people concerned for my health and wanting to take over my account. Maybe I did not make it clear in my original post. . . but I really wanted to know if anyone has sold a MT business and how they went about it.
Thanks,
G
reply
Thanks so much for your help and encouragement! How long have you been there? Do you like it there? Any idea what the starting pay is? Is it extremely frustrating at first?
Thanks again!
Thanks for the reply.
x
reply:
What do you mean by platform? I've used a couple of in-house systems for pathology. Could you be more specific? Perhaps I could help.
reply
1. Have long have you been using TransNet? Is it hard to learn?
I don't use it anymore, but I used it for 18 months. It was super simple to learn. It just downloaded my work when I told it to.
2. Does it work with Word 2003?
It did for me.
3. Do you d/l the files through a modem or through a cable or DSL line?
I did it with cable internet.
4. If you have a cable or DSL line ... how long would it take for you to download, say, all of the Alta Bates or Sequoia reports. I ask about those only because I can translate that into lines in my head. IOW, "it takes 1 hour to d/l a full day of Alta Bates." This way I could figure out where things would stand on one of the accounts I work on.
I am clueless here.
5. Would you rather use TransNet or C-phone? Why (whatever your choice is) <-- this is the critical question, so feel free to go into detail
I've never used a C-phone. TransNet is easy software to download and use.
6. What happens if you've download a batch of files and your hard drive crashes? Are those files gone forever or are the "originals" still on the master system?
The files are still on the on the master system. When my system crashed, I could load up TransNet with my files still waiting for me after reboot.
reply to ww
It's for IC, PT, not sure about headers and footers-- do you mean like patient info? no benefits
Reply to both below...
I have only one account, but it is a huge acute care hospital. I could have different doctors every day. I do use short hand, and I am expanding my dictionary almost daily. It has helped tremendously. I just can't seem to type the correct way. My hands move around quite a bit. When I keep them still, my left wrist kills me. Sometimes I can get in those modes where I am flying, but they are not consistent.
Well, I think in my situation it would probably not be something that would help tremendously. Thanks for the info though. Maybe I will invest in a really good typing program!!
reply...sm
Overall, I really enjoyed being an MA. I liked working hands-on with the patients. I liked working side-by-side with the doctors, too.
I left MAing because we wanted to have another baby...not because I didn't like it. I also learned a lot, which helped me out when I wanted to do MT... hope this helps and good luck!
Thanks for your reply. sm
I'm going to look into it in case I decide to work part-time or whatever. I think it will give me some freedom job-wise not to have to worry about having insurance through my work.
Thank you for your reply. :) nm
NM
Reply...
You're so sure that US MTs are all less bright or well-educated than you. That sure makes a lot of sense when you talk about "outlook" (or shall I say "outlike"?)
Insular? Econmomy? Enounter? Just a few other misspellings in your letter. I don't think anyone here truly puts offshore MTs all in one boat to speak of, as you seem to be doing to us. I, for one, am angry only at the US MTSOs (transcription companies) who allow US MTs to lose their jobs, selling them out to save pennies and, in some cases, (note I said "SOME") trade their years of training and diligence for quality. Yes, I have seen the quality difference firsthand (having edited both Indian and US MT for some years now), as well as seen firsthand breaches of confidentiality involving offshore MTs.
Thanks for your reply.
I will do that.
Reply to you
My husband and I made a flyer at 5 a.m. this morning with a picture of our lab that said he was killed by two pit bulls that were loose in the neighborhood last night. We put our phone # on it and put it on doors around the houses where the dogs live. The house is a rent house where these dogs are. We are trying to find out the owner of the house to report it to them. We filed a police report, so I imagine they will hear from more than just us. People called us all day with stories of these dogs being out all week. They had called animal control as well. I am so mad and upset it is hard to breath. I just miss him so much.
reply
You're lucky we all don't come down there and show these load mouths some mannors.
thanks for your reply (sm)
I had a little pep talk with myself in the meantime. I'm just going to do what I need to do and not worry about how others get by without recourse. I need the money and have been with this place for 4+ years. It's just new people have been added to the account, so who knows. Maybe the less I have to deal with them, the better. I'll just do what I can to avoid any type of situation like that.
Sometimes it helps just to get it out there and maybe someone will understand; someone who has been there and bought a few T-shirts in the process.
Thank you so much for reply-nm
nm
Thanks for the reply.
I will have to try to sweet talk one of the guys in rad dept. to give me access to my lines. Thx.
Thanks for your reply!
My reply to those
who complain about prices and/or try to knock them down below reason - came from a long-time business man in another field -
"I have no quarrel with those who charge less, they know what their work is worth"
Thanks for your reply! (s/m)
One of the things that shows me how stressed I am at work, is how unstressed I get when I've been away from it for a while. I learned long ago that when I have a vacation scheduled, I'm so wound up from working that I can't just jump on a jet that night or the next day and fly somewhere and have a good time. The last time I tried that, I came down with a bad migraine! Now, I routinely add 1-2 days so that I can "decompress" before I even feel like taking the vacation.
I, too prefer my own bathroom (even though the toilet doesn't flush very reliably!) And the thought of changing my commute from driving like a maniac on the freeway to try to get to work on time to simply stumbling from my bed, to the kitchen for some coffee, and over to the computer in my jammies, definitely appeals to me! ;D And wow-- I thought my office was the ONLY one that started monitoring bathroom-breaks! That really is the last straw, isn't it?
Thanks again for your helpful replies - I'm going to save it and add it to my "pros" file!
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Netgear works well for me. I am over 200 feet away from my computer that is connected to the router.
Good luck!
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