Grades. . .

I know I am a little late for this post but, for those following up about Sylvan I felt I needed to share this with you.  Thomas got 2 A's and 2 B's.  I am very proud of him for this it was a difficult nine weeks.  He brought his C in math up to  a B.   I did recently have him tested in Reading with Sylvann and it reinforced what I knew already.  He has a very good vocabulary but there are still some gaps in his skills that he is just not getting. 
I am very much against the kids being tested on a computer for Reading.  These children have enough problems reading the printed page much less trying to scroll through a story with the mouse or up and down arrows.   Thomas has yet to pass a bench mark test either in Reading or Math.  Yet, he is testing off the charts on the California Achievement test at Sylvan and is making A's and B's.   Do the schools not see a problem with this?  I  guess not since they continue to test.  Thomas did well on his Reading test like I said he does have some problems in comprehension but the problems he has is merely compounded by being tested on a computer.  I know I need to get off my "soap box" and move on but I cannot.  This is my child and if we don't stand up for them nobody else will.  Then you run the risk of them falling through the cracks of our messed up education system.
So Tom's trouble with comprehension is; he does not get the details of the story and the fine points.  Well, scrolling up and down on a computer would only make things worse for him as far as I am concerned.
I would love to here what anyone else has to say.  Any educators out there?  I would love to know your opinion on this.

School and Sylvan

School is still a struggle even though Thomas seems to be doing well at Sylvan.  Not sure what is going on there.   Thomas is in third grade and they are learning measurements using standard inches, feet, and yards plus they are having to learn the metric system of measurement.   They did all that in one week.  This week they are working on volume.  Using the standard gallons, pints, cups vs. metric; liters and milliliters.  Does anyone else think this is a little fast?  Or is it just me?  I would love to know your thoughts on this.  You may post anonymously and that is fine with me.  I would just love some feed back on the subject.  I do not remember Jack doing these in the third grade.  I was told today that the EOG could be given on the computer as early as two years.  Thomas is not doing well on the computer bench mark tests now and they are going to give them a test that they put so much emphasis on, on the computer.  I do not like this push of technology on these kids.  Sometimes we depend too much on technology.  I would love to know your thoughts on this one too.

Wrestling tournament

The boys competed in their first official tournament on Saturday.  It was interesting, I had only been to see one last year but it is different when you are competing.  Jack won two out of  the three of his matches and he was not that interested in going.  Thomas was ready to go but did not have success.  He lost all three of his matches but, he wrestled hard and did well.  I was terribly proud of both of my boys.  Thomas lost two matches by a pin and one in points.  The one in points he only lost by two.  He was so close.  They both had fun even Thomas.  I think they each learned something new.   Jack and Thomas were wrestling kids 8-10 lbs. heavier than them so that was a little harder.  Jack took the Silver in his weight class.  He was so excited about that and he didn't really want to compete.  They have a Takedown tournament this weekend that they are looking forward to.  
I was not really ready to be a "mat" mom but I guess I am.  There are a lot of life lesson that the kids can pick up with this sport and any sport really.  The one big lesson Jack learned was that it didn't matter how much bigger your opponent was you could still win.   He also learned not to give up and to keep trying and fighting to the end.   Thomas had a few hard lessons to learn.  His lesson was to keep trying and fighting till the whistle blows.
I am very proud of both boys, they held their heads high even when they lost and they kept their good sportsmanship attitude.  Thomas was disappointed but I think he will work harder next time.   It is easy to win and be a good sport, anyone can do that.  It takes character to loose and be a good sport.

Progress Reports. . .

Have the progress reports for both kidos.  Jack all A's  and Thomas 2 A's and 2 B's  Yeah!!   He brought his C in Math up to a B.  So glad for him.   He is having such fun and learning a lot at Sylvan.  I do recommend Sylvan if your child is struggling in any thing in school.   I have learned with Jack to never take the Schools' word for anything.  You have to do your  investigating, and never take anything at face value.   Don't get me wrong, our school system is better than most but they all have their issues and need to be checked up on.  So Moms stay strong and always look further into things before you accept someone elses word.  I took the bull by the horns and had him tested independently of the school and am glad I did.  His confidence is on the rise as well.  I am so glad for that too.   Our kids need confidence if they are going to go out in this big old world and stand against the enemy.  It takes confidence to say no to things. It takes confidence to resist peer pressure.  It takes confidence to stand up for what you believe in.  It takes confidence to step out of the box and make it in this world.  That should be number one or two on the Moms' job description, build your childs' confidence because without it they don't stand a chance.    Kids today must face more things earlier than when I was little.  My teachers were always loving, caring, and somewhat mothering of all the kids in class.  Today the teachers are a bit abrasive and they do not reassure the kids and some don't care how they talk to the kids.  Kids are smart and pick up on these things.    It is hard to explain to your child why his teacher is making fun of his writing.   When you know deep in your heart she should not be.   Encourage, encourage, encourage, Love, love, love those kidos!!!!

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!!