January - what are they doing now? - Page 2

[lonegirl]

We homeschool DS (5y) and he would be in SK were he in the public system.  DH is a sahd with him right now so is the primary teacher. 

He is an avid reader.   This makes me smile as I have always been a reader and would be the kid in the corner with a book in each pocket and one in hand reading.  His favourite series right now is Geronimo Stilton (with a lexile range of 480-700).  He also loves to read the simpler books that we used to read at night together.  He never minds re-reading the stories over and over.  I chuckle because I buy him a new book of his choice and by the time we get home he has read it.  He could easily read thicker chapter novels but still enjoys having pictures (at least everyother page) or fun lettering like in the Stilton series.

For Christmas he got 2 magnet sets and is having fun learning about them.  I picked up a magnet workbook and he and DH have been trying the experiments with them.

His math levels are also growing.  He is doing 2 digit addition and subtraction as well as very early multiplication. 

He does a lot of his school work on his computer and loves Elementary Advantage (grades 1-5) http://math-software-review-k-3.toptenreviews.com/elementary-advantage-review.html

He is a video game master (everything from Leapster Leappad-Nintendo DS-Xbox 360-Kinect) and can out play most people I know.  LOL.  Because of this his hand-eye coordination and reflexes are pretty crazy!  He also loves board and logic games as well as mazes.

He is working on his printing.  I believe he is at his age level for this but he doesn't like to have to do it.  So I have been trying to find fun ways to encourage this as hubby feels he knows how to do it and it is no big deal that he doesn't, where I feel he should be practicing anyways, because the main reason he doesn't want to do it is because it doesn't come as quickly/naturally as everything else for him.

So, that is where we are now!  Oh and he is super excited for our trip in March....we aredriving to Florida and doing a day at Disney World then a 1 week cruise.

[A-time-to-live]

I have to add one new accomplishment: She went to sleep by herself last night!  Completely self-initiated! Of course tonight DH is in there again lying next to her until she falls asleep but - she did it once so she will do it again...

Originally Posted by moominmamma 

First of all -- congratulations on the new little one!

Secondly -- this type of story-telling is totally normal and very healthy. My eldest dd used to re-tell all the emotionally charged incidents in her life as episodes in "Skeleton World," the place where everything worked out to her advantage, mistakes were the desired outcome, and people who she was resentful of had nasty things happen to them. In our family we still say "That's what you're supposed to do in Skeleton World" when we make embarrassing mistakes.  Dd is turning 18 this weekend.

Miranda

Thanks Miranda.  I didn't actually realize how much I needed this reassurance.  I've been thinking to myself "Skeleton World" every time she starts telling this type of story since I read your post.

Greenmama - I'm having her try out 3 different dance classes to see which she prefers.  I'm guessing that a creative movement class may be a better fit for her than ballet since it's really the story telling through movement that she seems most interested in.  

[ollyoxenfree]

Originally Posted by Casha'sMommy 

DD (16yo) has applied to her first choice college and is confident she'll be accepted. I'm also quite confident this will work out.

DS (2yo) seems to be slightly obsessed with trains, it's all we do. He either plays with his brio style trains (this often leads to frustration as he attempts to keep as many as 20 cars on the track but they always derail) or watches trains on the internet. He doesn't play with any other toys and I do mean any. with this one.

Congratulations! That step into college seems like such grown-up territory. I've seen some changes in my DS, who started in the fall. Outwardly, his clothes are (a little) less flamboyant. He's exercising regularly, cooking more, got his driver's license and he's seriously considering moving out on his own. He was the 2 y.o. obsessed with trains, so your post kind of bookends his life so far, lol! He used to turn all his other toys into trains or cargo on trains or train tracks or buildings/landscapes for trains to run through....

Originally Posted by A-time-to-live 

DD(2.5) became a big sister in November!  .....

DD(7 weeks) is adorable!  :-)  

Congratulations!! 

DS 18 y.o. did well in his first term of university. He's busy this week with recording another CD with his band. In December, he turned promoter for a rock show. He booked the venue, enlisted the bands (his own, plus 5 others) and advertised and marketed it around town. The ticket sales went well and made a profit, most of which went to the bands. He was able to pay for some new equipment with the proceeds. I had been encouraging him to take some business courses, along with his psychology, philosophy and other humanities, but I think he's learning a lot with some real world experience. 

DD 15 y.o. is back at school and plunged straight into exams. She's writing science (cell biology) and math (algebra) today. She was ill earlier this week, so she's a little stressed but handling it. She's thinking ahead to the summer - she's put in applications for some positions and is waiting to hear back about interviews. If they don't work out, she may travel to the west coast to stay with her aunt and uncle instead, so there are some good options for her. 

[ellemenope]

Congrats on the new baby and the new adult!

Mom2010-- That co-op sounds like a great opportunity for your DD, congrats!

DD just turned 3.5, and we love this age.  She is so imaginative and independent.  And, not as difficult-- just sweet as can be.  She is much easier than when she just turned 3.  And, she is reading so well.  It was only November that she advanced from BOB books and the like.  All of the sudden she is fluently reading ~first/second-grade level books (little bears, frog and toads, owl at home, the cat in the hat, green eggs and ham) with only a little help from me.  Her speed and fluency have shot way up, and her stamina is following.  I casually glanced at the Kumon reading workbook for first grade and it would be really comfortable for her.  And, her preschool teacher is beginning to notice her reading more.  She is also in love with poetry, Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutzky to be specific.  She has started to speak in rhythm and rhyme.  It is a very cute age.  I swear there is nothing more thrilling than when your kid starts to pick up real books and steadily works through them.

[KaliShanti]

Originally Posted by ellemenope It was only November that she advanced from BOB books and the like.  All of the sudden she is fluently reading ~first/second-grade level books (little bears, frog and toads, owl at home, the cat in the hat, green eggs and ham) with only a little help from me.  Her speed and fluency have shot way up, and her stamina is following.  I casually glanced at the Kumon reading workbook for first grade and it would be really comfortable for her.  And, her preschool teacher is beginning to notice her reading more.  She is also in love with poetry, Shel Silverstein and Jack Prelutzky to be specific.  She has started to speak in rhythm and rhyme.  It is a very cute age.  I swear there is nothing more thrilling than when your kid starts to pick up real books and steadily works through them.

ellemenope: This sounds just like my son! At 3.5 he read his first bob book. One month later he was reading about a 1st grade level. Two months after that he was reading books designed for 3-4th grade. Over the summer, right after he turned four, he read a 110 page novel. It is really really cool to see them just zoom off like that!

DS, 4, Is going to be on the local news tomorrow for his chess playing abilities. A friend of ours was talking to her friend (the news anchor) about our son and she thought it would make a fun piece. Very cool! He is going to a regional tournament this weekend.

DD, 2, just had her first gymnastics class. She was already able to do almost everything the instructor introduced to her. She seems very agile for her age- most of the other kids in the class were older and had been attending a while and she was already doing things they could not do.

Are there ever any kids that are gifted in other ways than mentally/academically? My daughter seems advanced physically and musically. She has lots of songs memorized and has pretty much always had the rhythm correct when she sings, from when she was very young. But it was easier to see my son's "giftedness" (or whatever it is- I haven't had him tested) because he had all the "signs". But some of her abilities with music or physical activities do seem rather advanced for her age.

[JollyGG]

I'm late to this thread this month.

DS (age 8) had some stomach issues all fall, missed a lot of school, failed to do a lot of other homework, and really didn't do very well in school. The school really wanted to meet in December but I pushed them off until earlier this month because I didn't think we could have anything resembling a productive discussion until his health was better. So we met this month and they were very impressed with his organization, and plans to make sure work got done this semester. They said he did much better in school at the end of December once he was feeling better. He had another bout of stomach issues this week, so I hope we didn't get set back to much. However, I think now that they have seen the difference between the well him's ability and the unwell DS's ability they might cut us a bit more slack getting back up to speed this time. Other than the health stuff he's doing great and just keeping busy with his normal activities. He discovered ebooks and my parents gave him an old one of theirs so he's been reading a number of classics (since I won't buy him books so he has to settle for free public domain books).

As for the toy thing - DS never has and still doesn't play with toys. Sometimes with friends he'll play with toys they want to play with but honestly has just never been into toys. I remember when all my friends kids wanted nothing but cars, he wanted nothing but books. Now that other kids his age are into Lego and such he really could care less. He likes books, he likes video games (now that he's a bit older) and despite an overflowing toy room has never really been that excited by toys.

DD (age 5) is also doing great. She's thriving in Kindergarten. I don't think we will be requesting testing this year. We are still playing things by ear with her. Her straights tend to be more in problem solving and creative thinking. So she's not as much of a early reader and ahead in academics like her brother. We will probably wait and request testing for her once the reading has cemented itself with her. Though we will probably shoot for the full time gifted program that starts in 2nd.

Edited by JollyGG - 1/20/12 at 3:02pm

[ellemenope]

Originally Posted by KaliShanti 

ellemenope: This sounds just like my son! At 3.5 he read his first bob book. One month later he was reading about a 1st grade level. Two months after that he was reading books designed for 3-4th grade. Over the summer, right after he turned four, he read a 110 page novel. It is really really cool to see them just zoom off like that!

It is just awesome, isn't it?  I am having a hard time getting over it.  LOL.  She is reading more and more everyday.  

Yesterday, my mom, who works at DD's school, told me that she heard DD could not tell her teacher what letter her name started with for their little evaluation. Like it was some huge disappointment!  DD would only give the letter sound. (letter are not even casually introduced until next year.)  I just shrugged my shoulders.  I said she is kind of stubborn about letter sounds right now.  She loves phonics.  I then wrote out these random sentences:  One day I will be a big girl.  The dog was running in the woods. and  Giraffes like to eat green leaves.   DD read them without stumbling.  I said it is working for her, so I am not too worried.  Of course, DD was not asked to read anything for the eval. 

[Tigerle]

Originally Posted by ellemenope 

It is just awesome, isn't it?  I am having a hard time getting over it.  LOL.  She is reading more and more everyday.  

Yesterday, my mom, who works at DD's school, told me that she heard DD could not tell her teacher what letter her name started with for their little evaluation. Like it was some huge disappointment!  DD would only give the letter sound. (letter are not even casually introduced until next year.)  I just shrugged my shoulders.  I said she is kind of stubborn about letter sounds right now.  She loves phonics.  I then wrote out these random sentences:  One day I will be a big girl.  The dog was running in the woods. and  Giraffes like to eat green leaves.   DD read them without stumbling.  I said it is working for her, so I am not too worried.  Of course, DD was not asked to read anything for the eval. 

DS is currently zooming off, I think...He started out sounding out only all-caps words around Christmas. Last week, my inlaws (who I think until now have rolled their eyes a little at my worries about elementary school) told me, somewhat bug-eyed, that he'd read them a children's bible story he'd not seen before. Tonight, he read two easy bedtime stories out loud to himself - haltingly, but it is definitely not just decoding any more. I'd say it's early first grade level according to what I hear first graders do around here (academics start later than they would in the US). It is fascinating and a bit scary, even when they're five already...