First Grade Tribe-November/December - Page 2

[flyingspaghettimama]

We had our conference today. It was great. The teacher says she loves having her in class, and is a very fun and wonderful kid. The only thing is that sometimes she gets done and really gets a bunch of kids going, being silly or ridiculous. But her teacher said it wasn't that big of a deal, and now she's sitting with a fairly studious, quiet bunch of girls. Poor kiddo!

Academically, she's just fine, but the teacher said that she might start pushing my daughter a little more to what she knows she's capable of (i.e. writing more stories, longer stories, etc). I told her that we were not the sort of parents that wanted her to be pushed so much, we mostly want her to have fun at school and do what she wants to do. So she seemed fine with that too.

So, it was good, overall. Apparently, we do get report cards with checks, minuses, or pluses on them (in the mail, or something). I think I'll just throw it away and not tell her about them unless she asks. She doesn't even need to know about this part of school, the grading and percentages and etc. : Can I shelter her forever?

[Mommabelle]

Good news on the conf. Flyingspaghettimama!

[Mirzam]

I am happy to read all went well with the conference flyingspaghettimama!

[Mirzam]

I can finally post about our P/T conference. It was fine. DS is doing well with his reading, he has a firm grasp of phonics (I started teaching him to read using phonics at home last year, so I was pleased to hear this), he has progressed from Bob books now. His writing and spelling are coming on nicely and he concentrates well on his work and does not get distracted. He understands math concepts well so his math teacher has been giving him more advanced concepts to deal with, for example trading. The school uses Investigations math but supplements with Montessori math, which is a great relief, because I don't particularly like Investigations.

As for the area of Compassion (friends and social interactions), Toby is doing really well. He is well liked and fits in with several groups: the soccer group (he is the school's star player), a couple of less athletic, querkier boys, and he is also comfortable playing with girls. His math teacher felt he still hasn't gotten to know the real Toby yet, but I was not surprised, as he is a very private child. But he shares in class and asks questions. His literacy teacher commented that he is beginning to "act out" in Spanish and this is a good thing (!) because it shows he is feeling comfortable to be himself without fear of being reprimanded. I just hope he doesn't go too far in his acting out! I think the fear of not wanting to get into trouble stems from last year in kindergarten, different school, different teacher (obviously) who sent him to the office for something that really didn't warrant punishment. The children were in the hallway and he was at the back of the line and was told to run and catch up to the other children. He did but couldnt stop himself in time and accidently crashed into a child so he was sent to the office for "pushing" into a child. This punishment had a profound effect on him, and he was terrified to do anything wrong which might get him sent to the office again.

I also told them his UC birth story which blew his teachers away, they kept saying how brave I was (NOT). They both felt that it helped them gain some insight into who he is.

[flyingspaghettimama]

What a fascinating conference, uccomama! I only wish I got that much info. I'm jealous of the combo of investigations and montessori math - I still remember the "trading" lesson from when I was a kid in Montessori. I think my issue with Investigations is that the Big Picture isn't always made explicit: my daughter learned about math patterns by making them, but she didn't understand why, or how she would apply the same concept to other situations in the future. And they are very important, but only if you understand the why and how. You know?

[mata]

glad your conferences went well, flyingspaghettimama and uccomama.

uccomama-thanks for putting the word compassion out there-it inspired me to do some things at home with dd in that regard.

[`guest`]

So it's tgiving, four days off, what are you going to do with your child/ren? I was thinking of doing some crafts, and making cookies, and playing in the snow (yes, snow is forecast, we live in Montana, actually my kids could not be more excited about that!)
Maybe some book reading, my son loves to play chess now...what are you going to do? (ideas would be excellent!)
Also, relaxing and doing nothing is okay in my book!

[mata]

Originally Posted by SMUM

So it's tgiving, four days off, what are you going to do with your child/ren? I was thinking of doing some crafts, and making cookies, and playing in the snow (yes, snow is forecast, we live in Montana, actually my kids could not be more excited about that!)
Maybe some book reading, my son loves to play chess now...what are you going to do? (ideas would be excellent!)
Also, relaxing and doing nothing is okay in my book!

sounds wonderful, SMUM! I'm a bit jealous about Montana and the snow-it's been in the 90s here. At least today and tomorrow will cool off a little-to the 70s. Where are you in MT? I used to go to ID and spent time in the southwest section of MT as well-gorgeous!

So far we hit the museums in LA-went to the LaBrea Tar Pits and the art museum to see the Magritte exhibit. Yesterday I took both of my daughters to see Happy Feet and we went out for lunch with dh. Today we've cooked some dishes for tomorrow (we baked a pumpkin pie, made slaw w/brussel sprouts, radicchio, pine nuts, goat cheese in a champagne/orange vinagrette-hee hee can you tell I'm a foodie-I have to list the entire recipe) and as soon as the wild rice is done we're heading out for a bike ride. I have some reading put aside as well for the afternoon-Mr. Rogers' The Giving Box, which is a compilation of various multicultural stories about giving-which seems appropriate for the holiday. Most importantly, my daughters have time to just be-to play together, to rest-I love not having to be somewhere or do something.

[`guest`]

Originally Posted by mata

sounds wonderful, SMUM! I'm a bit jealous about Montana and the snow-it's been in the 90s here. At least today and tomorrow will cool off a little-to the 70s. Where are you in MT? I used to go to ID and spent time in the southwest section of MT as well-gorgeous!

So far we hit the museums in LA-went to the LaBrea Tar Pits and the art museum to see the Magritte exhibit. Yesterday I took both of my daughters to see Happy Feet and we went out for lunch with dh. Today we've cooked some dishes for tomorrow (we baked a pumpkin pie, made slaw w/brussel sprouts, radicchio, pine nuts, goat cheese in a champagne/orange vinagrette-hee hee can you tell I'm a foodie-I have to list the entire recipe) and as soon as the wild rice is done we're heading out for a bike ride. I have some reading put aside as well for the afternoon-Mr. Rogers' The Giving Box, which is a compilation of various multicultural stories about giving-which seems appropriate for the holiday. Most importantly, my daughters have time to just be-to play together, to rest-I love not having to be somewhere or do something.

Yes, we live in the sw part of MT which is beautiful, Bozeman.

I used to live in LA, I remember the La Brea Tar Pits, what a cool place! Mmmm your food sounds so gourmet, your family is lucky. Sounds like a really nice day. Like you said, the most important thing is being together in a nice restful (for a change!) way.

[Mommabelle]

We've been cooking today too. We are going to my Mom's and everybody brings sides while she does mains. I made greens and lime bars with white chocolate on top. Mata...that slaw sounds yummy!
I hope all of you enjoy your day.

[1xmom]

While we are off, I'm thinking about taking dd to see Happy Feet. I think she will like that. We did some dancing today from the Between the Lions website. Of course it's lunchtime and we are still in our pagamas

[`guest`]

Originally Posted by 1xmom

While we are off, I'm thinking about taking dd to see Happy Feet. I think she will like that. We did some dancing today from the Between the Lions website. Of course it's lunchtime and we are still in our pagamas

Sounds fun! What is/are "Happy feet"?

[sea island mama]

I just wanted to gush a bit about my fabulous DD :...

Yesterday, when DH dropped her off at school, her teacher told him that she is doing really, really well...and here is the note he wrote in her agenda:

"Nicola did a fantastic job on her 'Share a Favourite Book' today! I was so impressed with her reading!
Congratulations Nicola - you're doing so well!"

They are given a week to write out the words (if it's a short book) or a summary of their favourite book, draw a picture and then write about why they like it. They practice at home, then present it to the class. (BTW, she was the first grade 1 to be chosen to do this)

She also got 11/11 on her spelling test (10 from this week & a 'bonus' word from last week)!

I'm so proud of her .

Oh yeah, this was the morning after she stayed up until almost 11:00 PM acting as a fabulous hostess at my Pampered Chef party - she was so great handing out food & drinks and helping the consultant with everything...she says she wants to be a Pamperd Chef consultant when she grows up (as well as an astronaut, a ballerina & several other things she's mentioned before) .

[`guest`]

oK, I just realized that Happy feet is a movie, I guess it's #1 or something (saw that while at the gym). I'm so unhip. it's just sad! It looks like a fun movie, hope you enjoyed it!

[Mommabelle]

Just checking in after T-giving. Sounds like all good news around here. We are tired this week after last weeks holidays. My DD is reading like a fiend and her writing has suddenly taken off...that has always been her least favorite subject. I think her teacher may be feeling slightly better these days. I hope she does ok over the holidays and doesn't get all depressed about things. Well...yippee only a few more weeks until the big winter break!

[wanderlost]

Hello! Hello! I just stumbled onto this thread and I hope it's OK if I join in?? I have a Ds in first grade, and I would love to talk to other mommas. I had just posted in this forum about tryng to get ds to take some pride in his work (he always hurries to get done and never cares if it looks neat or nice) - so it will be nice to connect with other mommas with kids - especially sons - this age (all my irl friends have little ones or dds)!!

[Mirzam]

Nice to have another mama to a first grader here. I too have a son in 1st, but he seems to be pretty careful and thoughtful about his work so far.

[mata]

hi wanderlost-nice to have you here-although my first grader is a girl, she hangs out with boys-so I'm sure we will relate just fine.

As far as I'm concerned our holiday has been extended-I'm not ready to put my head into school mode, and have encouraged dd to just coast/conserve her energy until 12/15 when we'll have 3 weeks off for winter break. In other words-we're goofing off! Spent yesterday and this afternoon at the skatepark, where dd practiced skateboarding until it got dark. Maybe I'll teach her how to pull an all nighter on Thursday night, when we realize we haven't looked at the homework folder all week.

[Mommabelle]

Welcome wanderlust! My dd has just started to be careful with her writing. I think writing bored her before..but now they are "publishing" books in her class, and for whatever reason that worked for and now her writing is looking good all the time. I think for my dd if something is boring or she already knows it..then she really can't be bothered and her work looks aweful. I really kind of understand that.
Mata...I hear you about hanging out until the big break coming up! I can't wait!
Hi to all the other 1st grade Momma's out there!
I've had insomnia for the last week. Thinking about drinking some red wine tonight. That usually does the trick.

[1xmom]

Hi all. Finally made it back from such a busy T-giving weekend. Dd is also taking off more w/her reading as well and instead of me reading her stories every night, we are taking turns. She also wants to write ALL THE TIME. It's nothing for her to have a little note pad w/her when we go out somewhere.
We didn't make it to the movies yet. The weather was so gorgeous here, we ended up at the park feeding the ducks most of the time. This weekend it's supposed to rain, so that may be our movie day instead.
The Monday night was Parent night at ballet and it was sooo nice. I can really tell how much she is growing in the ballet. They are really getting more into the form and positions and she is doing really well.