I remember the days of the Just Say No campaign when I was in elementary school. I remember Nancy Reagan urging children everywhere to stay away from drugs. The slogan is a little different, but turns out the message is still the same. Last week was “Red Ribbon Week” at Thomas’ school and there were different “events” for each day to highlight the cause.
On Tuesday the children were encouraged to wear as much red to school as possible. Thomas was eager to get on board and do his best. We found a red shirt and a red sweater…shorts with red in them, but that wasn’t enough. He wanted MORE. Luckily we found red socks. He was very… RED. I love that he’s still the age where he’s not “too cool” for all of this.
He was under the impression that the person wearing the most red in his class would get a prize, but that didn’t quite happen. Even so, he thought it was fun.
I don’t really share this hear to brag or share too much information, it’s just I don’t have many places to record things that I want to remember. So here I go.
Trey & I met with Thomas’ teacher this morning to get his report card and find out how he is doing in kindergarten. Turns out, he’s doing okay. He knows more than he is supposed to know (which frankly, I don’t think is all that hard (considering what they think he should know by now)…sadly.) His handwriting is improving; as is the effort he is giving to making more detailed drawings and staying in the line when coloring. Those things all relate to his fine motor skills, which still are a bit of a work in progress – but he is doing so much better. He is making an obvious effort to improve in these areas and it’s so cute to see him trying so hard to do these things right. He gets so impressed with himself when he does (and I do too!).
As for his reading, he is doing exceptionally well. Of the 22 students in her class, she decided to test three of them using a 1st grade assessment test (the DRA test) to gauge their reading level. Thomas was one of those three. She started him out at Level 8 (which apparently is the level of a mid-year 1st grader) and he scored a 97%. She then tested him at Level 10 and he scored a 99% (he missed one word…I think that was the one where he said “white” instead of “with” or something like that). The only problem with testing is that it bored him. He asked his teacher when she asked him to read the second book if he could go have his center time if he read it. She decided not to test him further after he finished that one (she said she will revisit it at a later date). But even so, he did better on the second (harder) book than the first. The only issue with his reading is that is sometimes just reading the words and he’s not comprehending what he is reading. We are going to keep working with him on the reading, but also throw in the element of reading comprehension (at home).
His main area of needed improvement is his lack of focus. This is absolutely no surprise to us; and unfortunately it may have been worsened recently by a new medication he is taking to deal with his allergies and mild asthma (his teacher let us know that it seemed to get a little worse after he started the med…and then it got REALLY bad when he had to use his albuterol inhaler daily for almost a week. That medicine makes him SO hyper.). The teacher said that we’ll just continue to monitor it (and try to help him improve!).
Let me preface my next statement by saying I frequently get annoyed when I hear a parent say, “My child is not being challenged at school!” But I think a bit of Thomas’ problems with lack of focus are that the work is easy for him (at this point) and he’d rather play than “waste his time” (from his perspective) doing something he finds so trivial. I mean, for example, in the first nine weeks, they have been working to “learn” how to recognize all of the letters and numbers. I’m pretty sure Thomas had this all figured out by the time he was 18 months old – he learned them in the bathtub! The teacher said they are working on writing the numbers 11-20 right now. Thomas can write his numbers to 100 (at least) now. Anyway, I know he’s not the only child who is repeating a lot of these things right now, and I also know that it’s good for him in some ways to “learn” it again.
But I do hope that as he moves into things that he is learning for the first time, he will have an easier time focusing (because he will want to gain the new knowledge). Only time will tell.
Anyway, the teacher said she’d be more concerned if he lacked focus AND had a hard time doing the actual work. But she said, “he is very bright” (her words, not mine) and he CAN do the work…he would just rather do something else. It’s basically the same stuff his 4s teacher told us last year.
Mrs. C also said Thomas is a sweet and kind child who has many friends in his class. She said he plays with many different children (which is good) and doesn’t just always stick around the same ones. And apparently he really loves to spend time with the sand table center.
All in all, it was a good conference and a great report card. I think he got the top mark (it’s not an A) in everything except for the one about staying focused (that one got a “needs improvement”). I’m eager to see how he’ll do over the next nine weeks.
Thomas is now officially 5 1/2. It seems like so much has happened in these past six months that I have to do an update.
Thomas has been reading small words and short phrases for quite some time now (since some point in his 4s class last year). But in the past month or two, his reading has really taken off. He can read books and words with more than two syllables. It’s almost like he has known how to read for quite some time, but he’s been keeping it a secret from us because he just…reads. He doesn’t really sound many words out (except for the ones he doesn't know right off the bat), he just reads and reads and reads.
Granted, his DESIRE to sit and read by himself is still a work in progress and he still fights us a little bit when we ask him to read a story at night. But he can. And I’m hoping his love of reading will continue to grow as he gains more confidence in his ability to do it.
I have a two-minute video of him reading last night, but I think the file is too big to upload. I edited to a 30-second version that I will post below. This is a book that we hadn’t read in months to him and he has never tried to read by himself. He did need help on a few words (like “gorge” in this clip), but he knew words like squeaking, squealing and panicking, but he needed a little help with “scampering.” :)
I'm having a bit of a problem with uploading videos...but here goes the third try. And if that doesn't work, try here.
In addition to reading, I’m interested to hear what his teacher will tell us when she gives us his report card on Wednesday and we meet with her for our first parent/teacher conference. From what I see, his fine motor skills still need some work (coloring in the lines and handwriting), but he has improved tremendously. He used to HATE coloring and writing, but now he is actually ASKING us to let him do these things!
I think in preschool he was frequently allowed to give minimal effort in doing these things (which was probably fine for that age), but it was a bit of a rude awakening when his kindergarten teacher started asking him, “Is that the best you can do?” and pushed him to try harder. I’ve started giving him extra “assignments” at home to help him with his focus and his skills, and it seems to be helping him in those aspects and also creating a desire in him to do more of these things. He LOVES to be praised for his hard work and effort; so I think a lot of times he asks to do these things just so he can be praised. Fine with me!
Sometimes he still wants to take shortcuts, but he sticks with it. Last week he wanted to watch a tv show and I told him he had to write “I want to watch television” in his best handwriting first (I wrote it for him and he had to copy it). He kept saying, “Can’t I just write ‘tv’”? Funny boy.
He still loves to dress up and he has now passed this love along to his brother as well. Lately when one or both of the boys are in costume out in public someone will usually say, “Oh getting ready for Halloween?” and I think, “Nope, just a regular day in our house!”
Thomas loves to play and he loves to be goofy. We’re trying to always remind him that there’s a time and place for everything, but in general, I adore his enthusiasm.
In other random news, he continues to be a better eater. Like my mother always did with me, I make him take at least one bite of everything at dinner, and it seems to be working. Now his one little bite has turned into at least three bites and a lot of times, he does it without too much complaint (mostly with vegetables like broccoli, lima beans, green beans—his least favorites). AND, Trey decided, rightfully so, that if we make him eat foods he doesn’t like, why are we letting him not drink milk just because he doesn’t like it? He now drinks a cup of milk with dinner…and that is HUGE progress in our house!
I’m so proud of the little boy he is becoming. He is usually sweet and kind and I love and adore his innocence and hope it lasts a long time. He loves his brother and they are absolute best friends. I cannot believe how much he is growing and learning; it’s truly amazing and heartwarming to see. He is such a gift and a blessing and I remain eternally grateful that he is our son.
Thomas’ second class field trip was last week—a trip to the pumpkin patch on John’s Island. So now, two months into school, he has already been on two more field trips than he ever had while at his previous preschool. :) He’s loving this part of his new school. And, he gets to ride a school bus (even though it brings about a whole new level of anxiety for his mother…who has spent the last six years making sure her children are properly restrained in a car in the best carseats available!).
Last Tuesday it was a balmy 80-something degrees…so not the best weather for a fall day at the pumpkin patch, but we enjoyed it anyway. I met his class there and it was fun to see the kiddos come off the bus. Thomas’ class was wearing red shirts. He’s toward the end of the line.
Siblings were not allowed to come along, so thankfully Parker was able to go to a friend’s house and Thomas got my undivided attention. He was happy about that.
Here’s his class (you can click on it to make it larger)…
First the children were instructed to head into the “patch” and find a pumpkin. This was Thomas’ selection:
Then we walked around and saw some animals in a small petting zoon (like rams, chickens, pigs, goats(?)). I actually don’t remember what was there because I was a bit distracted. Thomas was just not acting like himself. I am not sure what it was, but he kept saying he wanted to go home. I think it was hot and the gnats were bothering him, but it took him a little while to start enjoying himself.
After that we jumped on a hayride and rode out to a pasture to feed the cows. The cows were an eager bunch, but Thomas was pretty grossed out by their gnarly tongues and the fact that flies were all around them. He definitely wanted to keep his distance.
Nope, I think we can scratch “farmer” off the list of possible future professions. He was much happier when he moved to the middle of the trailer and observed.
After that, we returned to the main area and all the classes had a picnic lunch. Then it was time to play in the playground. That was RIGHT up Thomas’ alley and he perked up considerably.
A few times Thomas has told me that his “best friend” in his class is one particular little girl. This is the one below:
And this little girl sits at his table (the desks in the classroom are grouped in fours (for the most part), so there are three other children next to Thomas). She also lives across the street.
There were lots of things to do on the playground in addition to the swings and slides.
The best (as far as Thomas was concerned) was definitely saved for last. There was a mini-maze of hay bales and he thought it was great. He and some other children loved ducking between the bales and crawling on the ground to squeeze their way through small holes. He has asked to go back several times. By the way, that’s his teacher in the background in the picture below (and the girl running by also lives in our neighborhood…and she was in Thomas’ 4s class last year).
It was a fun day at the pumpkin patch and I enjoyed spending time with Thomas and his class. Now we’ve just got to get Parker to the pumpkin patch before Halloween arrives!
Monday was Parker’s “Fall Break.” It was in the low 80’s and hardly a cloud in the sky. It didn’t feel much like fall, and the leaves aren’t turning any colors around here…so we did what any wise Charlestonian would do. We headed to the beach with some friends.
Parker and his buddies had a ball in the sun and sand.
Not the best time of day for taking pictures at the beach…especially for a novice like me. The sun was just overhead, but slightly behind them. It created lots of shadows and dark faces. I tried to lighten them up…but it was SUNNY!
Parker just adores his buddy/girlfriend Rory (they’ve been in the same class for two years).
At some point in here they found a dead crab and kept burying it and moving it until it was dismembered and totally nasty. Silly kids.
Then they were off to search for more “treasures” (dead crabs or other creatures).
No luck! Oh well.
It’s so great living so close to the beach. And I’m so thankful for beautiful days like this when we can get out and enjoy the beauty around us (and fellowship with good friends). Even if it’s not remotely close to feeling like Fall!
We recently took the boys to a USC football game and I’m happy to report that a great time was had by all. The boys had fun and the Gamecocks beat Kentucky 54-3 (and the three points were a total gift). Not a bad day.
It was Parker’s first time at Williams-Brice stadium; and Thomas’ second time since he went the last time Kentucky was in town two years ago.
We had four tickets, but two were on the East side and two on the west side. I took Thomas and we sat on the west (where this picture was taken) and Trey and Parker sat in his Dad’s seats on the east side. At first I wished we were all together, but the more I thought about it, I think it worked out for the best. If we had been all together, the boys would have been stir crazy and rowdy and people around us probably wouldn’t have been as happy!
I did have to treat Thomas to Italian ice (which he soon spilled into my pocketbook…luckily my $3 pretzel absorbed most of it) and cotton candy (he only ate a little of it. I told him he couldn’t eat too much…but on his own he ate a small amount and then said he didn’t want any more because “It’s not healthy, you know.”)
Parker apparently really loved cheering and seeing the fireworks every time we scored (with 54 points there were a lot of fireworks!), but he got a little bored in the second half. Luckily I had packed his DVD player and that kept him occupied until Trey walked him down to see Cocky and then over to find us just before the end of the game.
Since I have been going to games for as long as I can remember, I will always be happy to share this fun with our boys. I hope they grow up to love college football as much as their mommy does!
Thomas has started a new season of soccer and so far, he is enjoying it. I wanted Parker to play too, but we switched from the city league to the James Island league and that means an extra practice a week (one day with the “daddy coach” – like the city, and one day as a group (all U6 teams) practice with soccer pros (whatever that means). There was no way I could manage four practice days and two games on Saturday. Not yet, at least. Besides, Thomas didn’t start playing until he was four, so why should I feel like Parker needs to play now?
Saturday was his second game and he had fun. He didn’t exactly score a goal, but he’s getting better and he has a good time. There are four boys and two girls on his team and the girls do 90% of the scoring. It’s awesome.
The kids spend a lot of time all crowded around the ball and no one can kick it anywhere. Then someone finally gets it and it takes a while for everyone to figure out where it went.
Thomas’ buddy Henson is on his team again (they’ve played soccer and t-ball together). He’s on the right; and turns out the boy on the left was someone Thomas knew from his preschool (they played together on the playground since they weren’t in the same class).
Like last year, Thomas gets in a bad habit of goofing off and falling down.
The coach this year is much tougher though. At one point he told him on Saturday that if he fell down (intentionally) again, he was out of the game. That ended that. His buddy fell down and I could see Thomas thinking about it, but thankfully he thought better of it.
There was one time Thomas kicked the ball down the field and he ALMOST scored a goal. But it didn’t work out. Oh well.
Soon after, he kicked a good pass to a teammate and he scored. He was happy enough with that. He said later that it doesn’t matter who scores because it’s all for the team. Good answer.
Speaking of soccer professionals…here’s our little man looking serious. ;-)
He has games every Saturday morning at 9:30 from now through November 12. So if you have the itch to see a fun/funny game of soccer, come out and watch!
