Since Mike and I are teachers and parents, we have a special understanding from both perspectives. I have to say though, a huge end-of-year project that is worth a significant portion of the grade, which you are only told about by your child 10 days before it is due, and for which the actual informational packet is only sent home 7 days before it is due, and having it actually due just a few days before school is out for the summer, is just NOT COOL.
Apparently Alex was supposed to research a Colorado historical figure, write a detailed report with research references, write a 2-3 minute speech from the report, create a 3-D display of a building associated with this figure, and dress up as the figure to present the building and give the speech! It was so frustrating! Mike and I had to take turns every night helping him along each step, keeping him focused, while the other one helped with homework, cooked dinner, and put the other three to bed, for the entire week that we were given.
All of my frustrations about this aside, Alex did a great job and his teacher even saved his General William T. Palmer report as an example for future classes. He made the Antler’s Hotel (original design, before the fire!), complete with the Palmer statue that is actually stationed at the intersection of Platte and Nevada in downtown Colorado Springs.
At least Alex was happy about it all!
