Well, was in in class those days? Check that out first of all.

Then, see what the assignments were, and whether CJ can do any extra credit assignments, after you ask if there's anyway the papers has been misfiled. I know in my massive piles of assignments, I did lose or misfile papers.

If not, then tell him his best option is NOT to get frustrated with the teacher -- that is counterproductive. Ask him to ask her/him if he has a history of not turning in classwork, and if not, if s/he could give him either the benefit of the doubt and look again, and if not joy, then to resubmit the assignments or an alternate assignment.

Tell him you know it's frustrating, but he is taking on enough adult resposibilties to know that shit happens, that things happen that aren't always fair, but that his good grade and his mature response to it are like keeping calm at a crisis, and that that is what is more important in the grand scheme of things than proving right or wrong.

And that a calm, mature "how can we work together to reach a solution?" is WAY more likely to get him slack with the teacher than "It's not fair! BITCH MOAN."

He's 15; it may work, it may not. But appeal to "Would you say "This isn't fair" in a crisis/rescue situation" or would you figure out how to deal?

It has been 6 weeks in this progress period. Most of his other classes have had more assignments, but for whatever reason, this class has had only 7. Parents have access to grades that have been loaded into the grading database. Some teachers are more prompt about entering grades than others. His grade in History looked great until the day before the end of the progress period when the teacher marked those two as missing with a zero grade.

He swears he remembers handing her both assignments. One is vocab related and the other was a "Viking Comparison". He hasn't missed school during the progress period, so that isn't an issue.

He does get stuck on this "It's not fair" and "It's not my fault". I have tried to tell him that it is still his responsibility. I have also encouraged him to show the teacher that he cares about his grade and wants to do what it takes to fix things.

I'm frustrated because he has never struggled with History before. English and ASL, yes (though ASL is improving), but not this. (Thank heavens he has finally got Algebra figured out).

And if CJ's school frustrations aren't enough, K-Bug is having boy issues and is having a rough night.

Where is my f*cking magic wand? Or a clue-by-four. Shit, I need both.

Aw, Suzi. I offered to cluestick Laura's boy tonight; Colorado is closer than Florida.

Hrm. But it's colder. Got a hot tub? I am a slut for hot tubs.

I said I found it ironic that an African American kid, who 170 years ago would have been denied any possibility of getting an education, was perfectly happy giving his up.

You are so my hero for calling out your students on things like this. Dang.

Just saw a 2 hour presentation on middle school options. That was a LOT of information to take in.

Reading a bit before bed turned into staying up all night to finish Mockingjay. Damn. I'm kind of broken right now.

Reading a bit before bed turned into staying up all night to finish Mockingjay. I'm kind of broken right now.

There really is no just reading a bit of Mockingjay or at least there wasn't for me.

I've already dropped the cat at the vet and had my blood drawn. Fighting the urge to get back in bed now.

Damn. I'm kind of broken right now.

One of us!

Timelies all!

So much rage-making news out there. I think I'll pet the cat.

Ugh. Yesterday morning there was an accident involving a school bus and a dump truck in NJ, and one child was killed -- one of three triplets. I can't even imagine what her sisters must be going through. A couple other kids are still hospitalized, too.