Everyone is sick. . .

Jack was home on Tuesday and Thomas was home on Wednesday and came home early on Thursday.  What a week we have had.   With all the tummy issues we still had several tests, projects, and pages of homework.  So glad it is Friday!!  Thomas brought home his data notebook on Monday which has all the work he had done the week before and their grades.  He had only 2 papers in there because of all the Cogat testing they did last week.  He had a 95 in reading and a 90 in math.  I am so glad to see that.  I know that Sylvan did not do that much in only two visits but, I do believe they are increasing his confidence in himself.  He did well on his visit on Tuesday he did not make his visit on Thursday since he came home from school early.  We will have to make that day up later.   I am hoping we have banished the sickness from the house.  I hope Mark and I don't get it.   There is a lot going on this week and weekend.

Leap Year. . .

A friend posted on facebook today about the fact we are in a Leap year and gave a good little exercise to do with your kids about Leap Year.  Here is what she said.
Have your kids write what they think they will be like in the year 2016, the next Leap year.   Have them tell about things they think they may be doing and what age they will be and how they think the world is going to be.  I know it is only four years,  but to kids that is an enternity.   Take a picture of them too.  Then take their note and seal it away to be opened on the next Leap year 2016.
My kids are upstairs doing this now.  I think it is a neat idea and it gets them thinking about their future.  Yes, you are only looking four years into the futrue but for Thomas that means teenagerdom.   I have taken my pictures of them and they are busy writing their thoughts. 
Jack says he will be in High School and driving.    Thomas has only said he would be 13 years old.    I cannot wait to read these.  We will seal them and put them away.  I only hope I can remember where I put them so I can retrieve them in four years.    Thank you April for sharing this great idea. 
Ladies good luck and have some fun.  If your kids are not old enough to write things down then help them out it will be fun even if you do it yourself.

Sylvan day 1

Thomas had his first visit to Sylvan for a class on Thursday.  He was very excited about it and I am so glad.  The ladies that run this particular center are really nice and they truly love what they are doing.   Thomas will go for one hour twice a week to get up to date on his math.   They started him out with learning cardinal and ordinal numbers.  This is something he should have gotten in the 2nd grade.  I do declare, I do not remember this from Jack or Thomas.   The kids earn tokens that they can use in the "Sylvan store," this is a little place at the center that has little items the kids spend their tokens.  They have toys, games, cards, t-shirts, and water bottles ect. . .  The night Thomas took all of the tests he earned 18 tokens and he spent them all that night.   They give tokens for different things.  They can earn them for having a good attitude, working really hard, doing well on a test, and if they have a Sylvan shirt and wear in to class they get 5 tokens.  Thomas earned 18 tokens again on Thursday.  He decided he would bank those and see what happens the next session.  They can bank their tokens and save for something big.  They get a check register to help them keep up with their tokens that they bank.  Thomas felt like a big kid when he got to fill out his bank register for his tokens.
Here is another tidbit.  They have a free online website called Book Adventure.  You can go online and search books for your child's reading level, they read the book and then take a test.  They earn points not associated with the Sylvan Learning center but online.  Have not looked real close at this yet.  Jack has logged in on it and has already earned 700 pts.  He was taking tests on the Percy Jackson series of books.  This is like the old AR reading tests the kids used to take in school.  Jack loved that and of course they have done away with that at school.  I think that was a big mistake but that is another post.  This little reading testing thing is good to get the kids ready to take the EOG and do the reading portion of it.  Thomas has not done it yet but, like I said Jack loved it.  It has over 70,000 books that you can test on of varying reading abilities.  I love anything that gets my kids excited about reading and learning.  My favorite quote, "Reading is fundamental"  http://www.bookadventure.com/
Moms stand tall and keep encouraging those kidos!!

The Work continues. . .

Today the 3rd grade is taking the Cogat test.  I am praying that all goes well.  I am praying that Thomas has a good experience with this since in May comes the EOG.   I do not believe that Thomas does well testing on the computer.  I found out that all of the benchmark tests are done on the computer.  I am praying that since the EOG and this Cogat is paper and pencil that Thomas will do well on them.   I know these kids have to learn to work with computers but, with something so important as a test that could pigeon hole a student I feel it should be done with paper and pencil.  Call me old fashion, call me behind the times, these kids will have plenty of time to learn to take tests on computers.  Let them practice taking them on the computers but don't rely on those computer test results to decide whether a child passes or fails. 
I did not realize how much a childs' confidence impacts their school experience.  Moms' here are your marching orders.  Build those kids up praise, praise and praise them.  Brag on them to someone else when they think you don't know they are listening.   A kid with confidence will go far.  I have seen what a lack of confidence can do.  It is not pretty.  We are working now to build Toms' confidence and it is not easy if it has been dashed.  If you are a teacher, I beg you praise those kids even if it is only for a small task.  Their little egos need it.   Please be in prayer for all of the 3rd grade. 

Sylvan test results. . .

I went today for my conference with the director at Sylvan Learning Center.  Very informative.  I was very concerned for Thomas in math because his teacher told me he scored a 50% on his math benchmark test.  These tests are done on the computer.  I know kids are more computer savvy than we are but sometimes I think we should be testing the old fashion way.  Good ole paper and pencil with lots of scratch paper to do your figurin.  Toms' teacher also said he was at risk for not passing the EOG (paper and pencil test).   This is what lead to the Sylvan Learning center.
The director sat me  down and first said what a sweet boy Thomas was and how much she enjoyed getting to know him and working with him the other day.  I sat there waiting for the shoe to drop.  She then said he was a very smart boy and that I would be pleased with his results.  Again, waiting on that shoe.  They did a test on the computer to test his vocabulary.  It was a point and click on the picture that goes with the word.  He scored 88% on that.  This equates to an 11 year olds vocabulary, Thomas just turned 9 this month.  I was thrilled with this one.  So we move on to the CAT test.  They only tested him in math and he scored very well.  He scored 90%, 81%, and 88%  in the different categories of math.     They also did the "Fast Fact" test in math that checks his addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division facts on a timed test.  He did awesome again.  He did have some trouble in division  he only scored 87% and 85% in that.  The others were 100% and 95%.
Needless to say I am very happy with the results.  He does still have gaps in skills from second grade and the first of third grade.  They have set up sessions so that they can work on these skills and get him back on track and help to build his confidence.  I am pleased with the results so far for the Sylvan Learning center.  Thomas begins his sessions on Thursday so I will keep you posted on how that goes.  He is very excited and so am I.  Stay tuned for further info  on our adventure.

Testing. . .

We went for testing at Sylvan learning center.   Thomas endured tests for two hours.  He did not complain at all on the way home.  He talked about how neat it was.  I will not get the test results back until Tuesday.  I go in for a conference with the director to find out how Thomas did.
They have a great set up and I think if he needs to be there it will be a good experience for him.  I had told the director how down Thomas had been so she really made him feel welcome.   She was very positive about everything and she showed us the "store" where the kids get to spend their tokens they earn for doing well in the program.  Thomas earned 18 tokens last night for various things and of course he spent them all before we could leave.   The director was very positive with both Thomas and myself which made me feel better.  I have to admit it is a scary thing taking your child in to be tested because you are afraid he has fallen behind in school.  I found out though that there are more kids doing this in our area than I realized.   Several of Toms' friends have told him they are going there.  I think that made Tom feel better too.
This will be an ongoing adventure here on my blog so stay tuned.

Kudos to all Moms

It is hard to be a Mom.  No matter where you are in motherhood it is hard.  As a Mom you have to be the cheerleader, disciplinarian, teacher, nurse, friend, and sometimes that Big Mama Bear you hear me talk about.  Those are hard hats to fill all the same time and only another mother can give you sympathy when you are going through such trying times. 
It is hard to watch your child struggle with something and knowing that they must struggle to learn.  We watch and hope and pray for the best.  This could be something as simple as learning to walk all the way up to dealing with bullies in school.   It is hard to watch your child struggle with the learning process they must go through in school too.   Your child first starts school and loves it.  They are making new friends learning new things and they love going to school.  Then one day that zest for school is not there.  They are not happy going to school and there is no spring in their step as they go out the door.  It is odd that a childs' confidence can be dashed by one bad grade or one not so nice comment by someone in authority.   A childs' confidence plays a big role in their schooling.  If a child looses their confidence, for whatever reason, it could affect their grades and their whole outlook on life.  I know, you say, they are only children they will get over it.  Well, as Moms' we need to be sure we keep that confidence high.  I know the difference it can make.  I have one child that is over flowing with confidence and one that is needing confidence.  The one with over flowing confidence does very well in school and could use a little humble pie at times.  The other is struggling.  I know they must find their own way but it is so hard when you see your child hurting and you cannot take that pain away.  It is not that physical hurt that you can give an Advil to help.  
Here's to all the Moms!  You keep praying, cheering and loving your kids. 
. . ."and lo, I am with you always. .   Matthew 28:20

School struggles. . .

I know I have asked this  before but, why is 3rd grade so hard?  It has been a real struggle with things from kids in the class to school work.  I am very concerned that Thomas is falling behind.  His grades have dropped and punishing him is not what I think I need to be doing right now.  He is trying, it is not that he is being lazy.  He really is not understanding the work.  I talked with his teacher at length yesterday and she is worried he will not pass his EOG.  That is not something a Mom wishes to hear.  Obviously I needed to hear it, especially if there is a problem.  I have called the Sylvan learning center and have not heard back from them.  I am asking for prayers with this matter, please?  He has gone from A's and B's to a C and borderline C's.  Thomas is a smart kid and I do not know what is going on.
Please pray for my guidance in this matter and for the Lord to show me a path to help for my dear sweet Thomas.

Wrestling. . .

The boys had their first scrimmage last night.  All in all they did ok.  Thomas won 1 and lost 1 and Jack lost both of his.  It is the first time they have faced kids other than their friends.  I think it was a little intimidating.  Jack went hard at his guy but got pinned quick the first time.  The second time he fought a little harder.  He really did not know what to expect. 
Thomas is good on defense he just needs work on his offense.  He can get loose from a hold but he is unsure of how to attack and pin someone.   Now the coach knows where he needs his help.
This was a learning experience for all of us.  I still don't know if I could go and watch a real match.  This scrimmage was pretty intense. 
The boys enjoyed it even though they lost a couple.  I think it built Tom's confidence.  I am proud of them I hope that they will continue.