Library

We just came home from the library with another stack of books. I have been learning slowly what to say to the librarians so they know what I'm looking for. I asked about the FableHaven books, and they said they're in the teen section. "Whoa!" I said. "I'm looking for something for a 6 year old!" So she looked them up for me and said that they're for 9-10 year olds, not really teens. So we decided J will be okay with them and she reserved the first one for me.

I also asked about Ribsy by Beverly Cleary. I haven't been able to find it anywhere! She found it online and reserved it for me, too.

Then I asked about books for Z, who is almost 4 and is a bit intimidated by sentences. He is just nervous, but he can do it if I can just get him to try! She asked another librarian, who found "Bob books." They have two nearly identical sentences on facing pages, and just the last word is different and easy to read. So I'll read the first part, and let Z read the last word. For example,

They march with a flag.
They march in the sun.

I really think it will help Z build confidence in his reading ability!

I've asked these very librarians almost identical questions and never gotten these recommendations, so it definitely pays to ask again and again!

Carried Away

J (6) was fake-laughing about his fake flatulence (they're smart, but they're still boys). He was really hamming it up, so Z (3) just told J, "I think you got carried away."

Parent-Teacher Conference

I talked to Mrs. G about J today. I think she was surprised that I wanted a conference with her, because she isn't having problems with J. Maybe it's because I'm a first-time parent, but I want to talk to her just so I know what's going on from the teacher's perspective.

She seemed a tiny bit defensive, probably because most of her Spring conferences are only if the parent thinks there are problems. She said that she still has to coach J on how to do things, and showed me his journal. She looked through and found the word "robot." She remembered having to help him spell that. And she shows me his handwriting, saying it still needs work. "Of course, it's way better than the other kids..." I got the feeling that she was trying to prove that she can still teach J something. Like he's not perfect yet. I hope I didn't come across as though I think he is. Of course his writing can improve. He's 6! And of course he doesn't know how to spell everything. Just because he can do a lot of things like a 2nd, 3rd, or even 5th grader doesn't mean he does everything as well as a 2nd, 3rd, or 5th grader. I think I need to show my appreciation for her more, so she'll realize I do think she's doing a great job.

I asked her about friends. She says J has lots of friends. She mentioned that he seems to be bored at times, and ends up being social because of it. It's not a big problem, though.

She says that she knows where I'm coming from, because she has seven kids who were all gifted. I asked her, "What did you do?" She said they were in the GATE program and they did lots of stuff at home. While the sound of that stresses me out, I realized on the way home that "enrichment" is a natural part of our family life. I don't even remember what our discussion was about, but both J and Z were engrossed, asking questions, and sharing their ideas. And it was rather deep, if I remember correctly.

J read a book to Z out in the hall while we were waiting for our turn. When we were leaving, Mrs. G walked us out. I turned the book to the page where he'd left off, and asked if he wanted to finish it before we went home. He did read it, but silently. Mrs. G flipped it open to a random page and asked J to read it to her, and he freaked out! His eyes got wide and he fell on the floor, the equivalent of hiding behind my skirt, I think. That surprised me, because J has no qualms about reading to our immediate family or his grandparents. He had no problem giving a short talk in church, either. And that was in front of about 50 people! I guess J really has no opportunity to show his stuff in his classroom, which I suspected was the case. How often would he have the chance to read the word "viciously" in the books his class is reading? (it was in the book he read in the hall, though) How often would he have the chance to show that he can multiply when the other kids are learning how to count past 30?

While I think he's doing fine in his class, I know that he has needs that aren't being met. He could learn so much more if he weren't the only kid like him.

Reconciling Science & Religion

This morning, J said, "I know that there weren't really any people alive when the dinosaurs were on the earth."

"That's right," I said. "Can you imagine what it really would be like if there were dinosaurs and people together?"

He ignored my invitation for a discussion on that topic and asked, "So when did Adam & Eve come?"

Ah, yes. Quite interesting. And while I'm no dummy, I am pretty sure I didn't start wondering about how evolution, the fossil record, and the Bible all reconcile until I was in college.

Twenty Questions.

We played Twenty Questions for the first time last week, and my boys eat it up! I started by choosing an animal for the boys to figure out. Then they wanted turns. Z chose a baby zebra (his favorite, because they have brown stripes that turn black later, he says), then J chose a kangaroo, then there was a horse and some other things. Then it was J's turn again.

I had learned that his animal had no legs, it was definitely not a pet, it had no tail, and he wasn't sure about if it had a mouth. Completely perplexed, I gave up.

"It's an ammonite. I saw it on Dinosaur Train."

And I was thinking that kangaroo was an unusual choice! J definitely stepped up the game!

I think we might have to put some restrictions on the animals, like ones that aren't extinct.

Easy Road Trip

Wow, let me tell you how wonderful it is to have a kid who can read on a road trip!

We drove from Idaho to Arizona last week. It took us two days. Late the second day, after the sun had set, J grabbed his backpack full of library books and a dollar store clip-on book light. He read two Magic Treehouse books and half of Beezus & Ramona in just an hour and a half!

When we got to Grandma's house, I hid the library books he hadn't read yet. I checked out the maximum 15 books, and I think he only has 2 or 3 left for the return trip!

Ophelia

We're visiting Grandma right now. Having struggled with getting some of her children to read well, she was very anxious to hear J read. I have no idea what they were reading, but I think Grandma was having fun, giving J obscure words to see if he could read them. She was properly impressed when he encountered the word "Ophelia" and didn't skip a beat!

J's Aunt, also visiting, was impressed with his skill at reading out loud. He really is quite good at phrasing and inflection. I remember working on that with him twice, and as usual, he picked it up very easily.

I was pleasantly surprised to find J in the back row of the van with a book of silly songs, with 2 cousins and his brother packed in there with him, leading them in singing a song about a food fight. On this trip, J has really enjoyed his reading skills, and I think he got his younger cousin really excited about learning to read, too!