1 year ago
Cheers to Tot and Tales! Braeden is doing so well in Kindergarten and I credit a lot of that success to his teachers at Tots and Tales. The whole time that Braeden went to Tots and Tales(and we were paying all of that tuition $$), I often asked myself, will this all be worth it. Well, I can now say, ABSOLUTELY!
At Delaware Ridge, the K-2nd grade students do not get A, B, C, D, F grades. They get EE(exceeding expectations), ME(meeting expectations), AE(approaching expectations), BE(below expectations), but they also get an overall percentage grade for each subject. Braeden was at or above 95% in everything and even earned some 100%s. Ed and I were just so proud of him!
The conferences are actually called Student Led Conferences and Braeden went through and explained to Ed and I everything he has learned this semester. My favorite thing he described was how his handwriting has improved. He showed us a paper from the beginning of the year where he wrote his name repeatedly. Then he showed us how he can write his name now "with quality". He actually said that! "This is how I write my name now with quality."
They have this board in their classroom where they keep track of which number they can count to and identify. Each student has a star that has their name on it and as they count higher and identify more numbers, they can move their star. The entire class is over in the 10's and 20's. Braeden's star is all by itself in the hundreds. He worked on his numbers a lot at Tots and Tales and it has really helped him out. I know all of this sounds like bragging, but it such a good feeling to see your child doing well and succeeding.
The one thing that his teacher said he needs to work on is taking over too much in a group situation. She said he likes to take charge and doesn't like to give other group members a voice. A small part of me was actually proud of him for this. Everyone who knows me, knows that I am quiet in a group and not really a leader. I was sort of impressed that he was a leader, even if it was too overpowering! His goal for the second semester of school is to let others have a voice in a group setting and not be as overpowering.
One thing that I was disappointed in was his grade in P.E. Yes, I said P.E.! He only got an 88%, which kind of pissed Ed and I off. Who doesn't get an "A" in P.E.? Our neighbor actually contacted the P.E. teacher at progress report time because her daughter didn't get great marks either. He plainly said, "not everyone will get an "A" in P.E.!" Well Mr. P.E. teacher, my child is in Kindergarten, so what is it that you expect him to be able to do that he can't? Does he participate? Does he have good sportsmanship? Is he disruptive in class? What are you basing your grades off of? The only reason I am not going to contact him myself is because I don't want to be that parent YET. I will give it one more semester. My sister and I are two of the most nonathletic people you will ever meet and even we got "A's" in P.E. class!
I thought that once I started my new work schedule of Mon-Wed, I would have much more time to do things like "blog". Not true. It seems like with more "free time" just comes more commitments. We just take on more and more and really there is no extra time. Therefore, it has been weeks since I've updated this blog. Ed left for New Orleans this morning and the kiddos are watching a Scooby-doo movie, so here I am with some quiet time.
Braeden has been doing so well at school. I can tell he is learning so much and really enjoys being there. He has weekly spelling tests and has done so well with those. We even continue to practice past spelling words, just so he won't forget what he has already learned. He told me yesterday that he thinks we might be the only ones who practice the "old words". :)
This week is Homecoming for Bonner Springs, so he is going to dress for spirit week. Thursday is Twin Day. He needs to find someone in his class to partner up with to dress alike. Try explaining this concept to a Kindergartner. He just doesn't get it and it is so funny. "Mama, you want me to wear clothes like my friend?"
His class is studying Leadership this semester. One of his assignments was to invite a leader in his home to lunch next week. Who did he pick? DADDY, of course! My feeling were hurt for a bit, but I know the two of them will really enjoy their lunch together on Friday. I told Ed he would be having chicken patty with mashed potatoes and green beans. Memories of school lunches!
Brenna is doing well too! She has started going to the dance class we originally enrolled her in and is enjoying it. No more Mommy and Me with 18 month old kids! She is in class with little girls her own age. She has really come a long way in the last couple of weeks with her crying and carrying on every time she goes some place new or meets new people. I hope she is coming out of this phase. Braeden and Brenna attend AWANA at church every Wednesday night. I never thought she would participate in AWANA becasue she is in a class without her brother, but she is loving it! She is becoming more comfortable being by herself.
She still loves make-up, dressing up, putting 10 or more barrettes in her hair, being a mommy to her babies(who are now taking a nap in the play pen...oops, one is crying now!), and bugging her brother! She is starting to do better with recognizing her numbers and letters. We are still having a really tough time teaching her how to write her name. Both her and Braeden are lefties, so Ed and I have trouble understanding that they form letters differently than we do. She will completely write her name backwards and every letter will be backwards. Her teachers are really trying to help her too.
Next weekend, one of my good friends is getting married and I will be a bridesmaid in her wedding and Carson, my sister's son will be turning one. They have a big party planned for him! Once again, just a full week and weekend to look forward too.
Last night all of my family had a BBQ at WYCO lake and hung out at our aunts' and uncles' (the Myer's and the Cook's) boat dock. It was such a beautiful night and we always have so much fun together. We ate, drank, talked, and relaxed. Later in the evening, some of the family decided to take a boat ride.
Braeden was "driving" the boat and had so much fun! I stayed behind, but Ed went with the kids on the boat. When they all got back, some people were getting on the boat for the second ride, while others were getting off . Ed had gotten off and Braeden was still sitting in the driver's seat. Out of nowhere, Braeden puts the boat in neutral, turns it on, and RAMS the boat full throttle into the dock!! WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED??
All of the women were screaming! My cousin, Miranda, ran up the dock and about had a heart attack. She was shaking. I sat there with my mouth opened and my eyes bugging out of my head. My sister was freaking out because she was on the boat with her infant son. It was such a shocking moment!
Then there are the men...cool as cucumbers. One of my uncles said, "wow, he knew to put the boat in neutral before starting it." The incident was no big deal to them and kind of funny. They were all pretty much laughing. Ed obviously had to yell at Braeden because he needed to know that what he had done was not okay and if any damage had occurred, it was on us.
The whole situation just really got me to thinking about the different reactions of men and women. I don't think one way was right or wrong, just different. It seems like we balance each other out. We can't help the way react in a split second. We just do what we know to do. For women, I guess we tend to do the screaming thing...or at least us Poole women. :)
How do you know when you use your debit card too much?
When your daughter brings you a Dave and Buster's game card and screams, "Look mama, I found some money!!"
Last week was Brenna's first week of part-time preschool. She goes to Tots and Tales, Monday-Wednesday. I thought she would enjoy staying home with me, but when we woke up on Thursday morning and she realized she wasn't going to school the tears started rolling down her cheeks. Of course that made me feel like a million bucks, but I will have to say that the day did get better. We attended out first Mommy and Me dance/gymnastics class at Byrd's that morning and she decided that it was okay to stay home. She had fun!
Last Thursday was Brenna's first dance class with other 2-3 year olds. We didn't even make in the door and the screaming and crying started. The director decided it might be best if we started coming to the Mommy and Me class to get her acclimated. The Hello Kitty earrings I bought her as a bribe to behave at dance class didn't even work! So now here I am on Thursday mornings participating in dance/gymnastics class. We are in the class with 2 other Moms and their 18 month olds. After class all I heard was, "That was fun!" She asks everyday if we can go back to dance class, so I am hoping she will get brave and go to her original class with girls her own age.
This is a picture of Brenna and I making cupcakes together. I am excited to be doing more of these kind of activities with her.
Another change for Miss Brenna was her first haircut. She has never had her hair cut and it was just getting way too long and was such a headache to wash. As you can see in the picture, nothing is ever easy with Brenna and she did NOT want to cut her hair. Once again, a bribe was in order and she got some chocolate!
She had 5 inches cut off and once it was all over...a smile appeared!
Love you sis!
Braeden's first day of Kindergarten was Tuesday, August 17, 2010. He attends Delaware Ridge Elementary School and he is in Mrs. Munford's Kindergarten class. He was very excited to start school and enjoyed his first week very much. He likes to take his lunch to school(in his new Iron Man lunch bag), but also likes to eat the school lunches. We read the menu each night and he decides which he would like to do. He feels like such a big boy when he gets to make his own decisions!
I, on the other hand, did not find his first day as exciting. I was quite emotional all day. My boss's wife asked me about it and I burst into tears. After the first day, I was fine. I think that I just needed to see that Braeden was going to adjust okay and that was comforting to me.
I love walking him to school. It is so convenient to have school so close to us. Wednesday evening I got home as Ed and the kids were getting out of the car. I noticed that Braeden didn't have his backpack and I asked him and Ed where it was. Braeden said he didn't know. I asked Ed if he got it from school and he told me that he didn't get it when he picked up Braeden. We have to sign Braeden in and out of after school care, so we actually have to go inside the school to get Braeden. Ed just left his backpack there. Ed then proceeds to tell me that Braeden was talking about some sort of homework that he had, but didn't know where that was either. Probably in the backpack??? Ed said, "Oh well, we can just get it tomorrow." I DON'T THINK SO! Our child is not going to already miss a homework assignment on the 2nd day of school. I immediately jumped in my car and went up to the school to track down his backpack. His after-school teacher told me that she would try to make sure that he went home with it from now on. I told her that was not her responsibility and that his father needed to pay attention to that. All she said to me was, "Good luck with that!"
Brenna was very excited for Braeden's first day!
Braeden wasted no time jumping right in and playing with the other kids!
Wow! August has brought about so much change and it is making me emotional, stressed, excited for the future, and thankful for all we have.
First of all, I can't believe that tomorrow morning I will be walking my little boy to elementary school for his first day of Kindergarten. Where did the last 5 years go? I have had a lump in my throat all day just anticipating tomorrow. I am excited for him to be meeting new friends, learning new things, and beginning this stage in his life, but I just want him to stay a little boy.
I don't want him to have to experience all of the negative things that go along with school. I won't be able to be there to protect him from teasing, or heaven forbid bullying. I am nervous for him. I want him to continue to have his innocence.
To sum up this Kindergarten stuff...I am a mess. I have a thousand different emotions, thoughts, and concerns flowing through my head. I hope Braeden handles his first day better than I will!
Brenna is now at Tots and Tales by herself and we are going to try just sending her 3 days a week instead of Monday-Friday, which is what she has been doing for the past year. I am cutting down to three days a week at work, so Brenna and I will be hanging out together on Thursdays and Friday. Hopefully we will enjoy our mother-daughter time together. I am looking forward to it. I will have to say, when I asked Brenna if she would like to spend a few more days at home with me or continue to go to school everyday, she said, "I want to stay home with Daddy." She always knows just the right words to stick it to Mommy!
Brenna will also start dance class at Carol Byrds this week. She was a crying, screaming mess when we took her to enroll. She wanted nothing to do with it, so I am very stressed about how she will behave at her first class on Thursday. I know this is not a very "ideal" parenting thing to do, but I took her to pick out and buy new earrings and if she behaves on Thursday, she can have them. Yep, a bribe! Whatever it takes!
Along with a lot of change, comes a lot of expense. Enrollment fees at Delaware Ridge Elementary, a technology fee, lunch fees, school supplies(my child needs 12 glue sticks, seriously?), enrollment fee at Tots and Tales, enrollment fee at Byrds Dance, new school clothes, shoes, tap shoes, ballet shoes, leotards, presents for bribery...it just goes on and on. Oh, and our last name starts with "M", so our car tags are due as well.
Enough. This blog has been all over the place, but I guess you can just say that is how I feel. My mind is everywhere. I am ready for August to be over.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
