Writing letters to religious

[NadaTeTurbe]

Chromebooks ? What is this sorcery ? 

In my school (primary and until the middle of middle school), we had special class to learn how to write, write well, write fast, taking notes, etc... They used a special method by a specialist of handwriting. The method began at 3 years old and ended at 11 ! I have two disabilities who involved difficulties to handwriting, and never had any (well, I wrote in mirror until my 15/16, and I still can.) Handwriting is very complicated - it requires to use the whole body, different parts of the brain, etc... Teachers need to be formed about it. 

I have found taking notes on a computer horrible. I can't remember what I write. I just write under the dictation of the teacher. I have to re-write everything when I get home. It's very, very, very long. 

[Gabriela]

In college, when I took exams that had essay questions I felt very bad for whomever was reading my exams.

I am that person and thank you for your sympathy.

Chromebooks ? What is this sorcery ? 

https://www.google.com/chromebook/

It's basically a laptop that can only do stuff online. You have to use Google apps for everything (word processing, spreadsheets, etc.).

Pretty much all American classrooms have wifi these days, so these could work most of the time. Except for when the wifi is down. Which is, like, all the time here.

[NadaTeTurbe]

But it means that the little students spend their days on a laptot ? But how can it be good for their eyes ? And how can they learn to write if they don't practise ? And how do they pay this ? And it means that parents have no choice but to let their children using a computer (I know a lot of catholic parents who are against their kids using screens - any screens) ? So much question. Thankfully, my country is 30 years late when it comes to technology, so when we will have these, I'll stop teaching. 
My university is amazing. When we don't need the wifi, it's here. When our teachers want us to do work on a computer, the wifi is gone. Every single time. 

[Gabriela]

But it means that the little students spend their days on a laptot ? But how can it be good for their eyes ? And how can they learn to write if they don't practise ? And how do they pay this ? And it means that parents have no choice but to let their children using a computer (I know a lot of catholic parents who are against their kids using screens - any screens) ? So much question. Thankfully, my country is 30 years late when it comes to technology, so when we will have these, I'll stop teaching. 
My university is amazing. When we don't need the wifi, it's here. When our teachers want us to do work on a computer, the wifi is gone. Every single time. 

Yeah, but it also means that they can conserve a massive amount of paper and so trees, store all their stuff in the cloud so they don't have to schlepp 200 pounds of notebooks and binders around every time they move house (like I do), save their backs because their bookbags are much lighter, etc.

But generally, I think you're right: They can't write and they just sit in class staring at Facebook the whole time. I would also rather remove computers from the classroom, except when being used for an activity. (This is, in fact, my classroom policy, even in a class I'm teaching about technology!)

The real problem is students' self-control. They just don't have any.

[Nunsuch]

I prohibit computers or tablets in my classes, unless students explain to me why they need them out. [I don't want to single out those with disabilities.] But once a student has permission, I have a "one strike" policy: if they are observed on any website other than one containing documents, or on their word processing program, permission is at an end. People complain at first, but they do find that they have better listening skills!

 

[TheresaThoma]

I love getting handwritten letters and exchanging them with friends. I also love that you can tuck little things into letters, stamps, a holy card, dried flowers. One of my friends and I actually had a thing going where with each letter we would include a random piece of paper that was on our desk. One never knew what would show up next. Another friend wrote me a letter while in Rome on the back of an program for a religious service she had been to. You can't do that with an email!

[HopefulBride]

I love getting handwritten letters and exchanging them with friends. I also love that you can tuck little things into letters, stamps, a holy card, dried flowers. One of my friends and I actually had a thing going where with each letter we would include a random piece of paper that was on our desk. One never knew what would show up next. Another friend wrote me a letter while in Rome on the back of an program for a religious service she had been to. You can't do that with an email!

So ummm does that mean a certain Sister should try and strive to get her "letters" out to you more often and also handwritten?

p.s.  I still have a "letter" to you announcing my vows and other things on my desk... lol which I am determined to mail out to you.  Now that E came and went and even sent you pics from said event I guess I can scratch sending you pics of that event.

 

To answer the OP I do enjoy getting mail but the issue for me was keeping up with the response.  AS TT can attest, very often a long time would go between me getting a letter from her and sending out a response (as a matter of fact, our mutual friend E once had to stalk me through a letter from TT because there was such a long silence from me, and it wasn't even Lent!!!!) and to fix that, I would just do a nice succinct but very informative "letter"; well more like a newsletter and enclose with it a quick handwritten note so that things don't keep piling up.

This helped me to balance my formation schedule, house duty schedule along with the time allotted for correspondence and not drive myself nuts with guilt over not answering the letters.  I always thought that once in vows I would have more time to respond to the letters, but as the time for that neared I realized I was kidding myself, because the last three/four months of my apostolic year showed me that yeah... the whole newsletter idea was GENIUS!!! though I felt a bit like I was cheating those who were writing to me by not putting pen to paper... but I really wanted to

Edited November 16, 2015 by HopefulBride

[chrysostom]

Thanks for the response!  I actually got around to writing the letter and it is long...but I haven't posted it off in the mail yet since it is the weekend.  Perhaps I should include a postscript clarifying that I'm not expecting a long note back, and by the way, here's my e-mail address if you want to pop off something quick, etc.

[TheresaThoma]

So ummm does that mean a certain Sister should try and strive to get her "letters" out to you more often and also handwritten?

p.s.  I still have a "letter" to you announcing my vows and other things on my desk... lol which I am determined to mail out to you.  Now that E came and went and even sent you pics from said event I guess I can scratch sending you pics of that event.

 

To answer the OP I do enjoy getting mail but the issue for me was keeping up with the response.  AS TT can attest, very often a long time would go between me getting a letter from her and sending out a response (as a matter of fact, our mutual friend E once had to stalk me through a letter from TT because there was such a long silence from me, and it wasn't even Lent!!!!) and to fix that, I would just do a nice succinct but very informative "letter"; well more like a newsletter and enclose with it a quick handwritten note so that things don't keep piling up.

This helped me to balance my formation schedule, house duty schedule along with the time allotted for correspondence and not drive myself nuts with guilt over not answering the letters.  I always thought that once in vows I would have more time to respond to the letters, but as the time for that neared I realized I was kidding myself, because the last three/four months of my apostolic year showed me that yeah... the whole newsletter idea was GENIUS!!! though I felt a bit like I was cheating those who were writing to me by not putting pen to paper... but I really wanted to

Hehe! No it is fine.  I did love the pictures on Facebook and the ones E sent me. 

[HopefulBride]

[vee]

HB!

 

[HopefulBride]

HB!

 

VEEEE!!!!!

How goes it my friend?

[vee]

VEEEE!!!!!

How goes it my friend?

ohmygosh l I still remember you on here struggling to fund raise and then I see pics of you making vows and going stand up paddling and such and Im just amazed!  I stopped discerning and even participating here because my mom had cancer and then died and I was her primary caregiver but now I am in the application process with a community so  hopefully, FINALLY, Ill get a real chance at going! :D  Continued prayers for you!!

[HopefulBride]

ohmygosh l I still remember you on here struggling to fund raise and then I see pics of you making vows and going stand up paddling and such and Im just amazed!  I stopped discerning and even participating here because my mom had cancer and then died and I was her primary caregiver but now I am in the application process with a community so  hopefully, FINALLY, Ill get a real chance at going! :D  Continued prayers for you!!

I Know!!! it still feels surreal.  This morning in meditation I was looking back on all these graces and blessings and I still cannot believe how good He has been.  I am sorry to hear about your mother, I remember when you shared about her illness.  I pray that you will find yourself on the other side of the walls soon and I will be the one amazed at how quickly time seem to have passed and how it was only yesterday you were making preparations for entrance.  

I mean look at LC, she is what? in her 3rd year of vows, and I remember when she was making rosaries for fundraising etc..

I was re-reading some things from Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence and I remembered some of the difficult part of my journey and in hindsight I feel consoled and I pray that I continue to see His Divine action throughout the hard times as the years progress (because as I am sure y'all know there will be hard times, it up to us to see beyond the veil...)

I pray that these words of de Causade comfort you...

“There is not a moment in which God does not present Himself under the cover of some pain to be endured, of some consolation to be enjoyed, or of some duty to be performed. All that takes place within us, around us, or through us, contains and conceals His divine action.”

I found it interesting that I was reading this again today and was also reminiscing about my journey to get to this point.  Thank you Vee, DS and all my PM pham for all of the prayerful support!!!! I don't think I can say enough of how thankful I am

Vee, I shall definitely pray that it is in accordance to His will for your entrance day to be rather soon!

 

[John Paul]

But it means that the little students spend their days on a laptot ? But how can it be good for their eyes ? And how can they learn to write if they don't practise ? And how do they pay this ? And it means that parents have no choice but to let their children using a computer (I know a lot of catholic parents who are against their kids using screens - any screens) ? So much question. Thankfully, my country is 30 years late when it comes to technology, so when we will have these, I'll stop teaching. 
My university is amazing. When we don't need the wifi, it's here. When our teachers want us to do work on a computer, the wifi is gone. Every single time. 

Our whole class hate the chromebooks.We do right notes in our notebooks we have our textbooks on it and I think that is unfortunate cause you have to log in choose which book type the page wait for it to load ect.

[Maximilianus]

. . .

aktyalizasyon avatar ou!

 

 

 

 

[HopefulBride]

aktyalizasyon avatar ou!

 

 

 

 

Maximo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[vee]

I Know!!! it still feels surreal.  This morning in meditation I was looking back on all these graces and blessings and I still cannot believe how good He has been.  I am sorry to hear about your mother, I remember when you shared about her illness.  I pray that you will find yourself on the other side of the walls soon and I will be the one amazed at how quickly time seem to have passed and how it was only yesterday you were making preparations for entrance.  

I mean look at LC, she is what? in her 3rd year of vows, and I remember when she was making rosaries for fundraising etc..

I was re-reading some things from Self-Abandonment to Divine Providence and I remembered some of the difficult part of my journey and in hindsight I feel consoled and I pray that I continue to see His Divine action throughout the hard times as the years progress (because as I am sure y'all know there will be hard times, it up to us to see beyond the veil...)

I pray that these words of de Causade comfort you...

“There is not a moment in which God does not present Himself under the cover of some pain to be endured, of some consolation to be enjoyed, or of some duty to be performed. All that takes place within us, around us, or through us, contains and conceals His divine action.”

I found it interesting that I was reading this again today and was also reminiscing about my journey to get to this point.  Thank you Vee, DS and all my PM pham for all of the prayerful support!!!! I don't think I can say enough of how thankful I am

Vee, I shall definitely pray that it is in accordance to His will for your entrance day to be rather soon!

 

LOL I remember LC making rosaries to fund raise too.  Luckily both of your communities are on facebook etc so currently I can follow you on there, and remember you in my prayers as well!  The community I am interested in doesnt have facebook, twitter etc so no social media stalking

Thank you so much for your prayers and the quote from de Causade it is a good reminder and a comfort. 

Im so glad you can post here a bit!