Where the Deer and the Antelope Play - Living in the USA (visitors welcome)

[SuperBunny]

East Coast
MaNanny - Boston
Twinmommytobe - Boston
MuminCT - CT
Greatgooglymoogly - NY State
Yesthereare4ofthem - NY State
Brooklynmom - NYC
alarkaspree - NYC
MKG - New Jersey
Mummimamma - PA
Poetmum - PA
Twirl - MD

South
Earlybird - TN
jabberwocky - AR
Sunchowder - Florida
Marls001 - Bentonville, AR
Tinpot - NC
MadameDeathStare- AL

Midwest
SuperBunny- Chicago
Dodgykeeper - Dayton, OH
Chocchipcookie - Ohio
MonkeyLover
KickAssAngel - Ann Arbor, MI

Rockies
Alipiggie - Boulder, CO
Ribena

Northwest
AnnieLaurie - Seattle, WA
Dooneygirl - Oregon City, OR

California
SittingBull - nr San Francisco
Califrau - Milpitas
loopsngeorge - Brentwood, LA
Syd - Manhattan Beach, LA
SofiaAmes - LA
LATyke - Redondo Beach

Texas
Texan - Dallas
Tiggyhop - Houston
Vixie78 - Houston
BananaPudding - Austin
Cosmicdust - East Texas

Canada
Hellish - Ottawa
Shouldlistenedtomymum - Hamilton
Nooka - BC
Jacksmama - Langley

Exotic Islands
Anorak - Bermuda
cp - Trinidad
Barefeete - BVI

Brazil
Albert

It's a different world, isn't it?

When I first moved here, I was the second teacher in a class of 16 They were children of Yale professors so quite privileged and not hard work at all.

Then I moved to Chicago and was one of 3 adults in a class of 8 (max) but they had severe behavioural problems and often we had to call for back up as one of the kids was throwing chairs/ breaking windows/ wrestling a teacher to the floor. Fun times. I actually miss that job quite a lot.

Dooney, I am always shocked that you don't need any teaching experience or qualifications to be certified as a sub. It's ridiculous.

Dooney, I am always shocked that you don't need any teaching experience or qualifications to be certified as a sub. It's ridiculous.

Much respect SuperBunny.I had a friend that taught older children that had been basically thrown out of the school system, and she was obviously both very good at it and enjoyed it immensely. She had a similar ratio.

My children always had at least one TA in the UK, but I'm not sure whether they belonged to the whole class or to specific children most of the time. In NYC they didn't seem to do assistants at all, but they had separate science, maths, art and music teachers, so the teachers must have had at least an hour every day without children (no morning/afternoon breaks though). Here is Canada they don't seem to have assistants either, but they have four or five student teachers at the moment, so the teaching staff seem to be having quite a relaxed term

No idea how I posted twice

Nooka, that's the type of place I was working. The next option was jail/ care home.

I was going to be shocked at 43 kids Cali, then I remember teaching in England and when the other teacher in my year group was off/ on a course, the Head would make us put both classes together so I'd end up entertaining 50 -60 children in a classroom designed for 30. And I say entertained because it was almost impossible to teach properly. It's really quite unacceptable. The thought of my baby being one of 30 with only 1 teacher is quite worrying. I know he'll be ok, but I think he deserves better than that. They all do.

Max class size of 20 sounds great. Is that all the way through school? CA always seems so civilised compared with other states.

Very impressive.

Ours is also a max of 20 unless they have an aide for part of the day. Then they can have 22.

Me neither

Why's the writing all pale? Why is it different?

I do NOT like change.

It's horrible isn't it! I've tried to reset to classic, but it's still just all WRONG!

So info on CO schools. Preschool for my little men was $415 for an afternoon or $950 for 8.30 to 2.30 - that's monthly. This was a brilliant Montessori school. Now DS1 is in 1st Grade goes 8.30 to 3pm and DS2 is in both K-Care ($380p/mnth) and then the 1/2 day Kindergarten. Roll on next year when both a full-time and my costs are less.

Don't like new Mumsnet. I know I've been rather pre-occupied this week, but seriously did everything have to change?

Poor Tech. I wouldn't want to be the one responsible for upsetting a bunch of slightly hysterical mothers.

Where's AL? Isn't she due tomorrow? DO you think she had her baby yet? And hows baby bunkup?

I have watched an entire season of Lost in a week. Good use of time, no?

Ok, I handled it when they did minor changes, and even customized my board to have unlimited messages on one page, and oldest post at the top. But this one is UGLY, and it makes me feel like a grandma, since I can't hardly read it. I went to change to MN classic, and it says I'm already on it. MAKE IT STOP. Not that I'm complaining or anything.

Hey, Bunny, have you ever perchance happened to use banana leaves in your cooking adventures? You're the only person I can think of that might. I need to know where to find them. (I know I should think of you as SB, or SuperBunny, but I always think of you as Bunny. Pronounced bun-KNEE.)

it's not that i mind that much what it looks like, but just why bother? if it ain't broke ...

I don't like it either! Couldn't find you all.

Am thinking about pre-school for DS since it would be so lovely to have a bit of time just with baby. Also good for DS as he's nearly 3. Do people chop and change in the middle of the year do you think?

Just not sure if he'll be the only new kid and so find it hard also not sure how easy it will be to find a space. Everyone seems to think in terms of the whole year (rather than terms like in UK)

Baby still nocturnal and since parents are here we have no spare room for dh to escape to (he's back at work already). Not actually got as far as coming downstairs and putting tv on or something but probably might as well as she has one 3 hour wide awake stint every night!

Still hooray for the weekend!

Here, some preschools start at 2.9 but most children go at 3 (or when potty trained). DS is one of the few who didn't start this year. He'll be four in September.

Am glad you have people there, Bunkups - hoe it is helping. Where's AL? I suspect she has had her baby now. Hope all is well.

Still feeling a bit sulky about these changes and cross about the cold and snow. Am just a bit of a misery really.

They did have a pre-k 3 class at ds1's school last year. I'm pretty sure they had to be potty-trained. Ds2 goes to Mother's Day Out. He's only 2 so no problem with being in diapers. He really loves it. I hadn't thought about sending him this year but at first we couldn't find a nanny when we moved here then as the economy worsened we realized we couldn't afford it atm even if we did find a good one. Call around at the local churches. Ds2's program is really good.

yep, a lot of the churches run 'community' ones, not just for the congregation, at least round here they do.

SB - it's meant to be getting warmer tomorrow, may even get to 0C!! wow!
(mind you, forecast was -4 today, but apparently was -8. we all have colds so haven't even opened the door to find out)

0'? Wow, I'll have to find my shorts

Don't suppose anyone knows about filing for bankruptcy over here?

SB you okay? Going to snow here again tomorrow from 60 to 30 overnight .