As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
Thank you to each of you who were a part of this community. You made it possible.
And a very special thank you to our Guides (moderators), past and present, who kept our forums a happy place to be. You are the glue that held everything together, and we are forever grateful to you. Thank you aliceinwdw, Caldercup, MrsM, WillCAD, Fortissimo, GingerJ, HiddenMickey, CRCrazy, Eeyoresmom, disneyknut, disneydani, Cam22, chezp, WDWfan, Luvsun, KMB733, rescuesk, OhToodles!, Colexis Mom, lfredsbo, HiddenMickey, DrDolphin, DopeyGirl, duck addict, Disneybine, PixieMichele, Sandra Bostwick, Eeyore Tattoo, DyanKJ130, Suzy Q'Disney, LilMarcieMouse, AllisonG, Belle*, Chrissi, Brant, DawnDenise, Crystalloubear, Disneymom9092, FanOfMickey, Goofy4Goofy, GoofyMom, Home4us123, iamgrumpy, ilovedisney247, Jennifer2003, Jenny Pooh, KrisLuvsDisney, Ladyt, Laughaholic88, LauraBelle Hime, Lilianna, LizardCop, Loobyoxlip, lukeandbrooksmom, marisag, michnash, MickeyMAC, OffKilter_Lynn, PamelaK, Poor_Eeyore, ripkensnana, RobDVC, SHEANA1226, Shell of the South, snoozin, Statelady01, Tara O'Hara, tigger22, Tink and Co., Tinkerbelz, WDWJAMBA, wdwlovers, Wendyismyname, whoSEZ, WildforWD, and WvuGrrrl. You made the magic.
We want to personally thank Sara Varney, who coordinated our community for many years (among so many other things she did for us), and Cheryl Pendry, our Message Board Manager who helped train our Guides, and Ginger Jabour, who helped us with the PassPorter-specific forums and Live! Guides. Thank you for your time, energy, and enthusiasm. You made it all happen.
There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
We go on to discover new frontiers
Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
Moving on with a spirit born to run
Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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I think I said earlier, schools are designed for little girls, not boys. My middle child had terrible fine motor control as well as being "young." He was actually one of the very youngest boys in the grade. He could not color in pictures and it wasn't something we did at home as I felt it stymied creativity and the kids drew their own pictures. He did well when he had teachers who let him use the computer instead of writing. it's hard for me to believe in this day and age, kids need to color and write. My older son did not write his exams in law school he took them via computer.
Just an update, I had Evan's spring conference and things went well. He is doing better behavior wise but is still struggling with his reading. He is in a program called Reading Recovery where basically he gets a private lesson every day. He has been going for about a week and a half and I already see a big improvement in him. I think I'll ask that teacher to tutor him over the summer too. He is not below grade but is at the bottom level for his grade. I'm amazed as he is reading WAY more than I ever did in first grade and is considered "low". It really is crazy what these children are required to do at such a young age.
His behavior has improved. He is getting 4 or 5 stars out of 5 almost every day. I think in the past month he only missed it twice. He is by no means perfect I think he is just "getting it” more. He had a growth spurt so I'm hoping that means he had a maturity spurt too.
He has been working hard and I've been trying like crazy to keep to a routine at home. He is not only showing improvement at school but at home too. Listening more and being responsive the first time I ask him something.
I'm so proud of him!!! We are having a little issue getting his homework done during the after school program but I read him the riot act last night, he lost all screen time and I spoke to the counselors this morning so hopefully that issue has been resolved.
A lot of people told me he will grow out of this stage and I'm hoping he has, or almost has. It has been a long road since Oct/Nov when all this happened.
Hey new season (SPRING) maybe that means a new attitude as well.
Thanks everyone for all your advice and just letting me have a shoulder to cry on.
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What a great update. Hope it keeps up!
My son also did Reading Recovery in 1st grade. It did help him to get closer to where he was supposed to be, but I agree with you that schools are pushing young kids to do things that their little brains might not be ready for. Not all kids are ready to read at that age.
Glad to hear things are on the upswing! I totally understand you on this. My son is turning 7 today and man, I can agree that school is not designed for little boys. Thankfully my son does well behavior wise, but when he gets home it is full out energy burn for 4 hours or so! I hate that he is so cooped up all day. And the reading! Crazy! My son is middle of the pack and he is reading short chapter books! The way our schools do reading levels, he came into 1st grade a level D (where he was supposed to) and by the end of 1st grade he is to be a level J! 6 levels! It's so crazy to me. I remember my little "See Sam run, See Sam walk" books. And don't even get me going on spelling words. He already drags his feet with homework so I dread the next 11 years! Continued best wishes!
Good news! Asking the teacher for summer tutoring is a good idea. Even if she doesn't do that sort of thing, she can probably put you in touch with someone who will do it for you. You're a good mom!
You are doing it all right. And I'm not surprised that things are turning around at home as well. He'll catch up on the reading I'm sure. It may just be a matter of finding what he LIKES to read. Is is mystery stories, time travel, animal stories, sports stories. If he's wanting to read it, he'll read it more. Good luck. It's a journey. :-)
Good news, Holly! He's lucky to have a mom who's on top of these issues before they get out of hand. I think the summer tutoring is a great idea, so he can start school more in the middle of the pack.
7 is a tough age for little boys. I have two and we went through it with both of them at about 7. It may just have been life as my mum died when my first was seven and we moved home when my second was 7 but I think it is more emotional than that. 7 is about the age when their emotions kick in and they are more emotive than girls and have less ability to handle emotion than girls. 7-10 are tough years then they calm down as maturity kicks in. 7 is usually when they have nightmares and if you listen it is usually about something bad happening to their parents or siblings. It's when they first find fear and don't know how to deal with it.
I would take advice from the school and continue to do what you do. i would try and not punish too much as some of it is outwith their control. Talking and understanding go a long way as does tolerance.
What the lady above said is so true the school system we have now is so directed towards girls needs (I think in the whole developed world) and it seriously needs a shake up. We have chosen single sex school for both our boys next year and will see how we get on with that. My first boy was bored senseless for all 7 years of primary education doing much better now he can get seriously into science and maths.
Good to hear he's doing better. One suggestion that worked for me (two boys and a girl, now adults and all doing well and well educated) is to not do home work until morning. Like someone said, boys (and many girls) need to release energy after a day in a classroom. Let him do that at the after school program. He may just not be able to sit so much. I cannot imagine a job where I would be at a desk all day.
I would also talk to the teacher about how much of the homework is necessary-does he really need repetition? Is it adding to his learning or just busy work? I think teachers sometimes assign work just to assign it, not for a helpful purpose.
I have had kids in Reading Recovery through my professional work. It is a great program. Ask them if they have a summer program or if there is a free tutoring agency in your area. here the Masons run a program. And give him time. all kids do not learn in the same way or at the same pace. My older son, now a securities lawyer, was not a phonetic learner. His school taught phonics based reading. He started first grade a good, strong reader but only tested a little above average at the end of the year. He was placed in an average group in second grade and by mid year was telling the teacher he could read much better than his group. She did not believe him but at the end of the year, he tested highest in the entire six second grade classes. Teacher than admitted that he may have jumped ahead earlier when he was saying he did.
Listen to you son. And remember his acting out is probably not him being a bad kid but the school being a bad fit for his developmental level (which will change all the time)
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Holly: 
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
great news!
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