Tuesday, November 19, 2002
1st quarter report cards are out. They are just as I expected which is good. I hate surprises. This is education week. You get to visit the classrooms one morning. Unfortunetly, both Rebekah and Matthew's classes had their open rooms yesterday. Since I volunteer in Rebekah's class all the time, I went to Matthew's. I will go to Rebekah's classroom on Thursday which is Grandparents and special person's day. I loved Matthew's class (it was the reading one, he has three different classes) and teacher. You can just tell she loves the kids and understands the development of a 5year old. My old complaint about Rebekah's kindergarten teacher included that she expected the kids to act older then they were. Matthew's teacher includes some sort of moving/music/learning thing every day. The day we were there they had 4 songs during this interlude/transition. A moving right,left song, a color song where you had to get up or down when the color of the thing you were holding was called, the freeze dance and another one. What a wonderful way to move, learn and listen! I hope his other teachers are this good, I think they are!
I also had my parent teacher conference with this lady. She is very happy with how Matthew has transitioned to the class. He understands how things work, the specific rules and he tries to do the independent work. He even asked for help a few times!!! She understands his fine motor and speech issues and doesn't hold it against him in any way. What a delight!
I am a little annoyed with how something was taught in Rebekah's class. The teacher had mentioned that she had trouble understanding it. I thought that was great, as most things she knows before they are tought. The teacher seemed to think it showed Rebekah wasn't as smart as I think she is. The problem was a math problem. When I brought the sheet up, I called it the sheet with the 3equations 3 unknown on it. Teacher looked at me like I had a hole in my head so I quickly figured out that is not how she looked at it. :-( I then told her they were the ones with the baseballs and horses. Then she knew.
Basically, these sheets said Toy 1 + toy 2 = 70
TOy 1 + toy 2 + toy 3 = some other number
toy 2 + toy 3 = some other number
The children had to figure out how much the different toys cost. I certainly think this is VERY challenging for a 2nd grader. Unfortunately, the teacher didn't show math to solve the problem. She just had them try different numbers till one worked. UGH Just another way of tricking the kids into practicing arithmetic. As soon as I showed Rebekah a LITTLE math behind it, she got it immediately. I don't know if the teacher understands the math behind it enough to teach the kids any of it. :-(
oh well... Today I have to go buy a bar for Alyssa's bed even though she doesn't need it because the old one broke and the $$$ is not worth the fight it would be to have her go to sleep without one...
I also had my parent teacher conference with this lady. She is very happy with how Matthew has transitioned to the class. He understands how things work, the specific rules and he tries to do the independent work. He even asked for help a few times!!! She understands his fine motor and speech issues and doesn't hold it against him in any way. What a delight!
I am a little annoyed with how something was taught in Rebekah's class. The teacher had mentioned that she had trouble understanding it. I thought that was great, as most things she knows before they are tought. The teacher seemed to think it showed Rebekah wasn't as smart as I think she is. The problem was a math problem. When I brought the sheet up, I called it the sheet with the 3equations 3 unknown on it. Teacher looked at me like I had a hole in my head so I quickly figured out that is not how she looked at it. :-( I then told her they were the ones with the baseballs and horses. Then she knew.
Basically, these sheets said Toy 1 + toy 2 = 70
TOy 1 + toy 2 + toy 3 = some other number
toy 2 + toy 3 = some other number
The children had to figure out how much the different toys cost. I certainly think this is VERY challenging for a 2nd grader. Unfortunately, the teacher didn't show math to solve the problem. She just had them try different numbers till one worked. UGH Just another way of tricking the kids into practicing arithmetic. As soon as I showed Rebekah a LITTLE math behind it, she got it immediately. I don't know if the teacher understands the math behind it enough to teach the kids any of it. :-(
oh well... Today I have to go buy a bar for Alyssa's bed even though she doesn't need it because the old one broke and the $$$ is not worth the fight it would be to have her go to sleep without one...
Sunday, November 17, 2002
Oh, I really meant to say. Remember that picture for the living room that went above my limit? Well, I got the new entertainment book and there is a coupon for this store for 25% off framing. That brings it below my limit! Some expenses have come up so it will wait a couple of months, but I will get my picture. :-)
OK... Rebekah has new glasses and I think it looks pretty good. She is really good at keeping them on and not abusing them. Remembering to put them on in the morning? Well, what are Moms for. :-) Sooner or later she will do it, I wont even answer the phone without mine on!
My Aunt seems to be doing very well. :-) Please lets not jynx anything and wish her the best and give her the strength she will need to get this new heart to work with her wonderful body. She has changed her birthday to be the day she got her new heart, what a wonderful idea.
My Mom... Remember I told you that every time she comes over, the kids give her a cold? Well, this time it was me, and it was a doosey. She caught my cold on her way to the eastern shore and by the time she got back to NY, she had pneumonia. :-( Please keep her in her thoughts. It sucks being sick.
Oops, it is 9:15, gotta run. Today we have Sunday school and then Alyssa has a birthday party at gymnastics to go to. Yesterday Alyssa had a birthday party at Safari Party from 11-1, then I drove home, dropped her of, and picked up Matthew to go to Safari Party for a birthday party from 2-4. LOL At least they did different projects and saw different animals in the show.
If we finally finish painting the living room, I will right immediately!
My Aunt seems to be doing very well. :-) Please lets not jynx anything and wish her the best and give her the strength she will need to get this new heart to work with her wonderful body. She has changed her birthday to be the day she got her new heart, what a wonderful idea.
My Mom... Remember I told you that every time she comes over, the kids give her a cold? Well, this time it was me, and it was a doosey. She caught my cold on her way to the eastern shore and by the time she got back to NY, she had pneumonia. :-( Please keep her in her thoughts. It sucks being sick.
Oops, it is 9:15, gotta run. Today we have Sunday school and then Alyssa has a birthday party at gymnastics to go to. Yesterday Alyssa had a birthday party at Safari Party from 11-1, then I drove home, dropped her of, and picked up Matthew to go to Safari Party for a birthday party from 2-4. LOL At least they did different projects and saw different animals in the show.
If we finally finish painting the living room, I will right immediately!
