Reading with Larien and Art with Inwe

In all my ups and downs with teaching Inwe to read, I learned that you can't make a kid into a reader. You can teach them to read and give them a love of stories. I'm sure many would disagree with me, but as much as I might try, Inwe only reads the books she gets at school. She never picks up a book at home with the intent of reading it for entertainment.

This is not true of Larien. At bedtime, if she isn't sleepy, we leave the light on for her so she can peruse her stack of books. The ones she likes to read are non fiction books about weather, planets, and animals. She doesn't mind the fictional tales, though. Her default is always the nature books.

Recently, she has wanted to read to us at bedtime. Two nights ago, I picked up The Cat in the Hat. She told me that the foot book was easier. I suggested that she try the first page. She made it through those few sentences and surprised me by having the desire to read all of the story. I had to help her on a few words, but after a while she recognized even those. She read part of it again last night. The reason she didn't finish it was because I fell asleep. My Larien is a reader.

My Inwe is the creator. I bought, at Larien's request, a spin art machine. At $10, the price was right and I remember doing some spin art as a child. Larien, Finwe, and I spent some time making some art. When Inwe came home, she took over and not in a bad way. She took my suggestions and tweaked them to make her own unique style. I could see her working on ideas as she added paint and glitter. Her creations topped ours.

Finwe at School Photos

The preschool shares photos using Kodak Easy Share. These are lifted from there, so the quality isn't that wonderful. The above picture is him today. I forget which day he wore all blue, but it was this week.

The beginning of homework

Excitement for School (and even naps)

For whatever reason, Finwe went to school on Friday, but not on Monday. I know the reason, but egads it's a bad idea to have 1/2 the class come for one day and the other 1/2 come the next day, then mix them on the day in the far future. For the kids that got to go on Monday, that's not so bad. For Finwe, someone help me! He wants to go to school. He sagged on the way home from dropping the girls at school on Monday. Today, he's chomping at the bit just to go somewhere. He settled for the farmers' market.

Larien attends school every day, but on Tuesdays and Thursdays she'll only be going half day. My plan was to reduce the stress of the nap. When I told her this morning, she exclaimed, "But I have to be there for rest, because if I'm the best rester I get to rest in the lady bug sleeping bag."

Umm, didn't see that coming.

First Day of School: Finwe

My mom and I walked Finwe to school. He rode his tricycle, parked it at the door, ascended the steps, and waited for me to open the door. He rushed into his room, going directly to the toy he noticed during his orientation. I gave him a kiss after saying hello to the each of the teachers. I left.

During the day he did well, only having a fit during lunch and just before nap. He didn't eat. The teachers suspected the day's activities tired him excessively. He completed an entire day. Oh, I loved how his face glowed when he sighted me this afternoon. School will be good for him.

First Day of School: Larien

"Mom, can we leave now?"

With a less than three minute walk to school, my answer was not yet.

"Are you sure?"

I caved. We walked to school early.

As we entered the building, Larien told me that she knew the location of her classroom. I don't know how she did, but she went to the correct place. When the teacher asked her how are you, she responded, "Great. How are you?"

No worries for that one today.

First Day of School: Inwe

I expected Inwe to run to her friends in the play yard, one of the privileges of being in first grade is playing on the grounds before school. She hid behind me as some of her classmates rushed to greet her.

Let The Pool Begin

The last days of school are upon us. Larien finishes tomorrow. Inwe has a few half-days left, but she's pretty much done as well for the year of 2007-2008.

As I review this school year, I am both elated and saddened. Elated that we found a comfortable place with good academics for the girls and for Finwe for the next two years of pre-school. I am saddened because the girls effectively lost a year of education. I hear some of the moms say things like, "I can't believe my baby is going to be a first grader." To that, I have nothing to say. Inwe was in first grade. The move, and strict adherence to age policy, changed that for her. I have no elation that she's completed kindergarten. Neither do I have excitement that Larien will be in pre-K beginning mid-August. I wonder if I will feel this for all the years, this loss of opportunity.

Yet, I don't dwell on it as I know this problem is mine to own and to keep within around the children. Inwe is age-matched with quite a few girls and shows excellence in both reading in math. She's not well co-ordinated, but neither is her father. Larien, while not well-matched in her current group, will have girls closer to her age in the fall. As usual, I will use the summer as a way to learn reading and more mathematics as we splash in the neighborhood pool we joined.

As we'll be outside quite a bit staving off the heat of summer in the deep South, I won't have much time to blog. I'll attempt at photo taking, but imagine yourself as the mom of three at a pool. Cameras don't mix well. Still, my goal will be to post swimming or jumping or something photos at least once a week. As other moments arise, I will write about it. Certainly, I will document the visit of the fabulous T next week. The girls rub their hands in glee each time I remind them of her visit.

Please accept my advance apology for less writing these next few months.

Begin the Beginning Again

After having a break from school since November 20th, both Inwe and Larien experienced their first day of school again at their new places. Inwe arrived complete with a borrowed uniform. She chafed a bit at the fit but acquiesced when I told her that the purpose of uniforms was that the students could pay attention to the lessons, not what each other wore.

Larien's report from her half day left me wanting, "It was terrible, horrible." The teachers had a different story. Honestly, I'm not convinced that she is in the proper level. Trial only at this point.

Inwe, oh, Inwe. Her response to my question of what was good? "Mama, everything was good. In fact, it was great. Really, quite fabulous."

I Saw The Red In Her Eyes

I heard her skipping down the stairs this morning singing, "Happy Birthday to me. Happy Birthday to me." I knew that the visit to the school this morning would shock her.

Yes, I told her about it. Yes, she had excitement about the visit, but she clung to the hope that I would remain with her. That was not to be.

When G (that's the name all the girls call the admissions director) told her about the few hours she would spend with her new class, red splotches appeared on under her eyes and her cheeks. How she kept the tears at bay . . . She did even as the rest of her family walked out of the gate to drop off paperwork at Larien's part of the school.

G phoned later saying that Inwe was smiling and holding hands of her special friend for the day. I think I'll bring White Dragon when I fetch her later this morning. She'll appreciate that.

Oh, White Dragon gave Inwe her own type of present: sleeping on her bed last night. She hadn't done that since we left Charlottesville.

The Mind is a Terrible Thing

(Saturday Night Live totally ruined those commercials for me. I can no longer finish the sentence with "to waste".)

On Friday I toured the lower school for girls' just four blocks from our house. My worries regarding Inwe's grade level were assuaged by that visit. This kindergarten exceeds my expectations. Plus, more than half of the first grade class are 12-15 months older than Inwe. She's smart, but her confidence would shatter in the face of brains with more than a year of maturity on her own. If Inwe is comfortable with her visit this Thursday, we'll place her in the school for a Dec. 10th start date.

Today, with Larien alongside, I toured the nursery school, which houses a preschool for two and three year old children. (Larien misses the lower school's age cut-off of Aug. 31st by 3 days.) While the facility and teachers toured well, I left less than satisfied that Larien would fit in that class room. I fight with my own thoughts regarding just where she should be educated.

Yuck. I want this resolved, but I am not willing to simply accept what I am told.

Last Moody Day

Friday was Finwe's last day of school with Mrs. Moody and Mrs. Moore. All the kids know him as Finwe Finwe. Moody calls him Pooh Bear due to the size of his tummy.

When he left, he decided to turn back into the room to give Mrs. Moore a kiss. Sweetness defined.

The years may say almost 6

but she can be so much older when needed. She is my responsible one, my eldest.

I am still wrangling with schools to accept her for who she is instead of how many years are under her belt. Oddly enough, the school down the street from us in NOLA has grudgingly decided that Larien can participate in the pre-K class although she is three days past the cut-off date. This would put Inwe and Larien a mere year apart if I lose the battle between K and 1st for Inwe.

Those of you who have been around my children in person may wonder at the wisdom of that, but Phill and I aren't shocked (maybe dismayed, but not shocked). We know that Inwe will find something to do if she is bored in class because she is beyond her peers' level. Art remains an outlet for her. She decorates her pictures with words in stylized fonts and experiments with color combinations.

Larien, if in a 3 year old preschool class again, would become a behavior issue. I know it, and not even Maverick should protest at that. Larien likes involvement, needs the answers to her endless questions of why, and requires real answers . . . not a pat "just because".

Do I sound like a crazed, my-children-are-better-than-your-children mom? I am not. My children are just who they are.

I have lost the point of my post. Figuring out their educational needs causes that in me.

Bleck

First Day of School: Year 2

The accuracy of my predictions?

Inwe, instead of hanging on me until I told her stop, walked into the class beside one of her close friends who she met in the parking lot. There was no evidence of angst or anxiety. I left with a quick kiss and well wishes.

Larien acted precisely as I predicted.

Finwe left the school happily. He did play for five minutes in Inwe's classroom and explored Larien's for a short time.

It's a big step

Today the kids' school had an open house for the children. We, the parents, had our open house on Sunday with parent-teacher conferences yesterday. All three of the children will be attending Charlottesville Day School. Inwe and Larien attended last year. This will be Finwe's first year.

Are you asking yourself why I am putting a two year old in preschool when I'm a stay at home mom?

Don't worry. I ask myself that daily.

The answer is simple: When we knew we would be moving, Phill and I decided that I would need time to get lots done without the chunk of boy hanging with me constantly. He'll only go for two days, but on those days I'll be busy. Bon bons, which I can't stomach anyway, won't be a part of it.

Back to the open house for the kids. Inwe was excited to see that she had her own locker and that her two favorite 2nd grade girls were in her class as well. (The first and 2nd grades are mixed as are the 3rd and 4th grades.) Her time in the classroom was short as she is a slow adjuster. I wasn't going to push her on what was to be a fun day for easy exploration.

Larien displayed a small amount of trepidation when she first entered the classroom. Her moment of shyness arose because she doesn't have the same teacher as last year. In typical Larien fashion, she brushed off the jitters and began to play independently of me. After a few minutes, she informed me that I could take Finwe to his classroom.

In an effort to prepare Finwe for his entrance into a school environment, I have been talking to him about his teacher, Mrs. Moody. This lady is a kid magnet--even more so than my sister. When we left the house this morning, I told him that he could meet Mrs. Moody.

"Moody, yeah," was his immediate reply. He nodded his head slowly to show that he understood.

My preparation worked, or Mrs. Moody's kidmetism worked, or the wooden trains on the circular rug as we walked into the room worked. Either way, he was comfortable with the classroom, and, honestly, I don't know a two year old who wouldn't love this room. Everything is tiny. Nothing is forbidden to touch. Everything on the walls is hung at two year old level. Spectacular. Even the fully-plumbed potty is miniature. Finwe will love that. I predict that he'll arrive home one day asking for a tiny potty.

When he met Mrs. Moody, Finwe said, "Moody, hi." I was shocked when he hugged her. Hugged. Wow. Kidmetism. That's what she has.

Thursday will proceed like this: Inwe will hang on me until I forcefully tell her to sit. Larien will give me a short hug and begin to play. Finwe will cry as I take him out of the school because he doesn't attend class until Friday.

Friday: Inwe will cling, but with less force. Larien will leave me at the steps not needing a hug. Finwe will run happily into Moody's room.

I promise to tell you if my predictions are accurate.

Class Pet

In Inwe's classroom was an assortment of creatures that were called class pets: Night crawler earthworms, guppies, snails, mudpuppies (immature salamanders), and tadpoles.

Two weeks ago, Inwe made the request of bringing home the tadpoles that hadn't gone through metamorphosis. I agreed. We do have a fish pond where we could release the frogs (or toads if that what they are).

She brought them home in a jar. We bought a Backyard Habitat for frogs and bugs from Target and set up the water. Inwe added three small snails from her aquarium, one of which you can see in the first picture. We feed them a fish flake or two about every other day. I, at least, enjoy watching them eat.

The tadpoles have begun to sprout legs. Three of the four have rear legs, and their bodies are widening. We are taking pictures for Inwe's summer journal, making it easy to share the progress of the development with her classmates in first grade.

I've included an extreme close up of the first picture.

End of Year Evaluation

Yesterday I received the end of the year evaluation for Inwe. I suppose we could call it a report card, but it isn't as grades aren't used. The teachers used their observations to answer the questions posed under each category (e.g. reading, math, writing, etc.). These observations are 1) Often, 2) Sometimes, 3) Continuing to work on. Also indicated was her reading level of 10 (first grade) based on the Developmental Reading Assessment tool.

Under her teacher (who is the paragon of Kindergarten teachers), Inwe received all "O" observations with one exception. Inwe sometimes monitors her own reading and self corrects. Her marks for physical education were nearly all at the highest level. Inwe is continuing to work on catching, throwing, and dribbling. At least she's getting game strategy.

Her art teacher adores her and her work. I know this from many conversations with the art teacher, who organized an art gallery of the students' work for the last day of school. The parents brought in breakfast foods so that there was an incentive for all the parents to attend. The atmosphere was just like a gallery opening with the students and parents chatting about the artwork over plates of food. Very nice. High marks all around.

Music . . . hmmm. Either the teacher is a hard ass (I suspect this is true) or Inwe just isn't that great in music class (probably also true). It's not like she got any continuing to work on observations. Inwe only sometimes does most of the objectives in music class. This teacher does have high standards as evident in the presentations that the children do during whole school circles. Apparently Inwe only observes classroom rules sometimes as well as being courteous and considerate. That doesn't sound like my kid. I feel the need to ask other parents about the marks received from the music teacher. One bright spot--Inwe uses materials responsibly.

Step Up Ceremony

It wasn't a graduation, just a recognition of moving from one grade to another. The two year old and three year old classes walked as a group across the parent made bridge. The pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd grade classes were called individually by name. Inwe's teacher, who thinks that Inwe could be president one day, had a description of each child. Inwe was described as a glamor girl with amazing sparkle. Although I don't want to admit it--Yeah, she is. However, I heartily endorse the fact that she SPARKLES!

Afterwards was a whole school lunch and pool party. We managed for two hours before Finwe began to explode.

This was a good year for my children as well as a good year for the school--its first year in existence.

Half of a Home School

The end of school is on Wednesday for Inwe and Larien. I am looking forward to seeing the activities of the last day, which include an elementary level art gallery, a step up ceremony at the whole school circle (perilously close to a graduation, shudder), and a pool party.

I will also be happy to not have to fill lunch boxes each day and the corralling of children out of the door to make it to school on time. Yet . . .

(The words hereafter are more explanatory of me than of my children. Geez, I'm driven where education is concerned.)

I already have a plan for our summer days. Yes, we'll go to the pool for play. We'll swing on the swingset. We'll draw chalk figures on the back patio. Hopefully, my little ones will realize that sleeping later than 7 AM is desired during the summer.

(Here's the "Yet . . ." part.)

Each morning will start with some play followed by reading lessons. After reading we'll do some art that has a theme--science or geography or math. I'm planning math lessons as well. Because both girls like to write words, I'll help them with penmanship. With Inwe, I'll have her work on typing skills. There's a really fun computer game based on Timon and Pumba from the Lion King. Rafiki does the tutor sessions. Interspersed with all this will be playing, lunch, and down time in front of the television.

I just can't help myself. They will have to be learning something. I've already begun on the geography lessons. Can you tell?