Lice x 2!!
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Itch, Scratch, Arrrrgh!
The beginning of a pile. . .
The hum of a sanitizing wash. . .
Stripped beds. . .
Vacuumed mattresses and floors. . .
Bunnies in air tight bags. . .
And many things popped into the freezer to speed the process along. . .
The tool. . .
The pile after a full day of washing. . . yes, it is bigger now.
Any guesses?
Lice x 2!!
Lice x 2!!
It Feels So Good. . .
This week belonged to Savannah. She was a shining star in all areas of her life. Sunday, she ran her fastest race ever! Tuesday, she was moved up to swim with more competitive swimmers at her swim team practice. Thursday, I was contacted by her teacher who wanted to discuss meeting Savannah's needs in the classroom. Even in a new school, Savannah continues to operate well above grade level! I am very happy that learning is easy for her and she can enjoy the benefits.
In the middle of all this praise and success, Alex and I found an envelope waiting for us. Click to enlarge the picture in order to read the letter our little girl spontaneously scribed with love. She may run fast, swim with a mature stroke and out perform grade level expectations, but what I am most proud of is who she has become! Savannah is gracious, compassionate and over flows my bucket with love. Raising her is complete joy and ease!
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Number Rings and Paw Prints
One of Lila's goals this year is to be able to identify and order all numbers 1 - 100. This is a lofty goal as state standards only require Kindergarten students to use numbers 1-31. Our school district is typically above average in all areas and feels comfortable pushing their students in this manner. I agree that most students are able to do this task by the end of Kindergarten but it is certainly going to be challenging for Lila.
When she started Kindergarten, Miss Lila could order her numbers 1-10 but didn't have the automaticity to name them out of order. This was/is a result of her speech and language processing delay. After much practice, Lila passed and was given her numbers 1-20. To our surprise, she sailed through the teens which have a reputation to trip up many kids. We were over the moon when hearing this news. For Lila to be able to rattle off 20 numbers is a huge accomplishment, no matter how well she knows them. Again, her speech delay really holds her back in this department.
In order to reward her hard work, each time Lila passes her number ring, I take her to lunch. She beams with pride and can't wait until she passes again. Currently, she is overwhelmed by 30 numbers spread out in front of her and it looks like passing numbers 1-30 will take some time. Regardless, we are more than proud. She is right where the majority of her class falls. This I celebrate!
On the same day Lila passed her number ring, she came home with the paw print. This is an award giving to a child for doing something positive in the class - whether it be cleaning up, using good manners or just following directions. After Alex picked Lila up from school, he called with the both pieces of news and I had tears in my eyes. My little girl is in the mix. She is working hard to meet academic expectations while making sure she is minding her P's and Q's!
Oh how I love this girl!! Here she is with her new set of numbers.
When she started Kindergarten, Miss Lila could order her numbers 1-10 but didn't have the automaticity to name them out of order. This was/is a result of her speech and language processing delay. After much practice, Lila passed and was given her numbers 1-20. To our surprise, she sailed through the teens which have a reputation to trip up many kids. We were over the moon when hearing this news. For Lila to be able to rattle off 20 numbers is a huge accomplishment, no matter how well she knows them. Again, her speech delay really holds her back in this department.
In order to reward her hard work, each time Lila passes her number ring, I take her to lunch. She beams with pride and can't wait until she passes again. Currently, she is overwhelmed by 30 numbers spread out in front of her and it looks like passing numbers 1-30 will take some time. Regardless, we are more than proud. She is right where the majority of her class falls. This I celebrate!
On the same day Lila passed her number ring, she came home with the paw print. This is an award giving to a child for doing something positive in the class - whether it be cleaning up, using good manners or just following directions. After Alex picked Lila up from school, he called with the both pieces of news and I had tears in my eyes. My little girl is in the mix. She is working hard to meet academic expectations while making sure she is minding her P's and Q's!
Oh how I love this girl!! Here she is with her new set of numbers.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
A Bunny Secret
An Easy Dinner
Since Savannah and I are under the weather and Alex had Lila out on errands, I decided to take three of us to dinner. I knew it would be an easy dinner because two kids are always refreshingly easier than three. I didn't know it would be this easy. Cartoons were playing on big flat screen behind me. I had to remind the girls to take bites. I have to admit, I was a little bored!
Reading Really Works
These last six months I have struggled finding age appropriate content for Savannah's reading level. Most kids have their nose in Junie B. Jones but I don't care for the poor grammar, especially with an emerging reader. Savannah was powering through Magic Treehouse books, one a day, but then they just seemed too easy. Books like, Charlotte's Web, were too hard but the interest level was on the money. Luckily, we found Ivy and Bean books this summer. Savannah read each one in the matter of two weeks. During this time I was reading Ramona books to her because they were a stretch for when reading independently.
By the time Savannah was done with her new found friends, Ivy and Bean, Savannah was able to read Ramona books! For the first time, I was able to see that reading does make one a better reader. Usually, kids make these leaps over months and, as an educator, I have had to question whether it was the other instruction during their day, maturation or truly a product of reading. Since Savannah wasn't in school and it was just a matter of weeks, I can say it was READING. I started reading the Ramona series to Savannah, but she finished it independently, and in record time. Yes, I am always checking for understanding etc. Miss Savannah loves her new found world that has many more titles to choose from. Good bye Magic Treehouse, hello Beverly Cleary.
If you ever want to know what Savannah is doing with her free time, this is a pretty good clue. Except this wasn't taken during free time. Savannah was supposed to be setting the table.
May her sisters fall in love with books the way Savannah has.
By the time Savannah was done with her new found friends, Ivy and Bean, Savannah was able to read Ramona books! For the first time, I was able to see that reading does make one a better reader. Usually, kids make these leaps over months and, as an educator, I have had to question whether it was the other instruction during their day, maturation or truly a product of reading. Since Savannah wasn't in school and it was just a matter of weeks, I can say it was READING. I started reading the Ramona series to Savannah, but she finished it independently, and in record time. Yes, I am always checking for understanding etc. Miss Savannah loves her new found world that has many more titles to choose from. Good bye Magic Treehouse, hello Beverly Cleary.
May her sisters fall in love with books the way Savannah has.
Words From the Youngest
Miss Lila has been pretty sweet lately. There is a lot of stress that surrounds her since her early entrance into Kindergarten. Luckily, amid the stress and rigor of learning, she keeps our buckets full.
For example, after a long week of school where crankiness was in full force, I told Miss Lila, "You need to stop acting this way and fill my bucket." In the midstream, she turned to me and said, "I love you mommy. You are the best Mommy. Now do you feel better? Is your bucket full of my love?" It certainly was and the crankiness mysteriously left our house!
Last night at dinner, Lila said grace. Her first two lines on a 75 degree and cloudless, blue sky day were, "Dear God, Please keep us safe. Keep us safe from the thunder." Pennsylvania made its way into the prayer as well but I don't remember the context. It was quiet cute.
After Lila passed her Number Ring at school for the first time, we celebrated with a special Mommy and Lila lunch. After telling me countless times how thankful she was to go to lunch with me, Miss Lila looked up at me and said, "What do we call this?" I asked her to clarify. She responded, "What do we call a Mommy and Lila lunch?" I told her, "Special Mommy and Lila time," which made her smile from ear to ear.
When watching Savannah run her race last week, I shouted out to Savannah that a girl was gaining on her and going to catch her. Once the girl caught and passed Savannah, Lila broke into tears. I couldn't imagine what could be wrong. Once she explained her emotions I was touched. "I didn't want that girl to catch Savannah. I wanted Savannah to win." Love their love for each other.
My bucket overflows! Bobby's does too, whether he likes it or not.
For example, after a long week of school where crankiness was in full force, I told Miss Lila, "You need to stop acting this way and fill my bucket." In the midstream, she turned to me and said, "I love you mommy. You are the best Mommy. Now do you feel better? Is your bucket full of my love?" It certainly was and the crankiness mysteriously left our house!
Last night at dinner, Lila said grace. Her first two lines on a 75 degree and cloudless, blue sky day were, "Dear God, Please keep us safe. Keep us safe from the thunder." Pennsylvania made its way into the prayer as well but I don't remember the context. It was quiet cute.
After Lila passed her Number Ring at school for the first time, we celebrated with a special Mommy and Lila lunch. After telling me countless times how thankful she was to go to lunch with me, Miss Lila looked up at me and said, "What do we call this?" I asked her to clarify. She responded, "What do we call a Mommy and Lila lunch?" I told her, "Special Mommy and Lila time," which made her smile from ear to ear.
When watching Savannah run her race last week, I shouted out to Savannah that a girl was gaining on her and going to catch her. Once the girl caught and passed Savannah, Lila broke into tears. I couldn't imagine what could be wrong. Once she explained her emotions I was touched. "I didn't want that girl to catch Savannah. I wanted Savannah to win." Love their love for each other.
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