Our Roxaboxen Adventures

Fall Festivals & Fun

Here's a little smile box showing what we've been doing this season.

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

IQ/Ability/Social Testing....

So, we got back the results of Alex's testing in the above mentioned areas.

Originally we wanted the data to possibly get her some differentiation services
at our neighborhood public school. After visiting the school, we realized that it just wasn't a good fit due to our educational philosophies and its overall climate.

Anyway...where does one begin. I don't want to publish the actual numbers but will share which tests were given and under which categories she fell.

The first test was the WPPSI which measures IQ. There are two main areas that it focuses on, Verbal and Performance.  For the verbal section she scored in the "very superior" category. For the performance section she scored in the "high average" category. The only concern we had is that there is a more than 30 point difference between her verbal and performance skills score. The doctor told us not to be too concerned about this as different skills develop at different paces with really young children, a lot of  children have one area that's more of a strength....and lastly that the performance scores did still land within an high average range.

The second test was the achievement test- WIAT. The main categories & results were                                                                                                                                                                 Reading Composite- Very Superior          

Mathematics- High Average                                                                                                            Written Language- Very Superior                                                                                                        Oral Language- Very Superior

These scores mimic the IQ testing.....so it was no surprise. I was glad to see the math numerically was a bit higher here.

The third tests were the Child Behavior Checklist and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale

Basically these tests confirmed that Alex does show elevated scales with regards to Somatic complaints and Anxiety. Her ability to communicate (receptive, expression and written) was well beyond her years and other weaknesses came in the area of interpersonal relationships/socialization.... which we've seen via her preference to work alone vs. w/others or to strongly clutch on to one "safe" friend, having difficulty with change or how to respond to negative peer interactions/behaviors.

Well now that all this testing is done...what do I do with this information?
I'm still brainstorming....but here's what I'm thinking
1. Continue to encourage social situations & strategies with peers- possibly a Drama Kids class or team sport.
2. Foster more hands on math activities (she actually says this is her favorite subject right now)- interested in starting violin after Christmas which I believe is a great connection w/math.
3.Continue to encourage creative writing and reading of "good literature"....maybe use Junior Great Books curriculumn that I have access to.
4. Continue to make available montessori materials at home to enhance/practice concepts being taught at school.

Any thoughts, suggestions or feedback?

Afterschooling Montessori

School is still going well for Alex. I continue to be impressed with the amount of choice, mutual respect, and push for independence that the Montessori philosophy encourages. The anxieties around her immersion style Spanish class and presenting lessons to the younger kids have subsided. We're very proud of her. She's started a ritual every morning in the car where she prays aloud for the courage and strength to make good decisions and to ask questions when she doesn't understand something. Her teacher has also introduced her to Yoga and now she asks to do that in the mornings before school and I think it really helps her focus. Usually after her 10 minute yoga session (On Demand Kids Fitness TV), she plans out her work day while eating breakfast (usually something along the lines of- I'm going to copy a story in cursive, do some math work with a friend, maybe do a little pin punch continents work, read some autumn books, etc.)  At the end of the day, it's nice to be able to go back and see if she met her goals for the day or if something else captivated her interest. It's a great conversation starter into finding out about her school day.

Now the hard part- how to enhance learning at home when there's no mandated workplan for ME to follow. This is one of those mixed blessings. There are some areas that I think are best practiced daily regardless of what she chose to work on during the day- some form of writing, reading & math. I address these areas with a quick daily morning copywork exercise. She has a weekly chapter book that she reads aloud at bedtime before we read aloud to her. With math, she's to solve a few math problems (2-5) using her "bank" materials. This takes longer than say simply doing column addition but I think the visual and tactile part is important and ensures she understands value concretely. Already I heard her correct herself on a problem when she meant to write "12" but only had a "2" on the paper- she said- Oops, I forgot to put my tens down. Now I think most would have simply said they forgot to write the 1. We're currently doing 4 digit addition without borrowing (2544 + 6325).

Now the fun areas to afterschool. The teacher assigns a musician and artist of the month. This month is Picasso & Bach. I've checked out several books on both. We have started a mini unit study on both which I'm hoping will end with some  product that she will design and create (with my assistance of course).  I'm thinking maybe some little skit that she performs pretending to be each, or something technology based (voicethread). I'm open to any ideas some of you may have out there in cyberland.

Kindergarten Updates

Just wanted to say that we're still adjusting to our new schedules. Alex had a few days of tears her first week back (it's now their 3rd week) but now is looking forward to going to school most days.  She's met some new friends and really likes her two teachers. Here's a quick pic. the teacher sent me of some work she and a friend were doing on the hundreds board. She really enjoys the independence that Montessori allows with the biggest  being that she can go to the bathroom whenever without waiting for a scheduled time, etc. and that she can fix her own drink/snack whenever she wants (that's actually more freedom than I have as a teacher).   I suppose at 5 or 35 years old- those are the biggies :)

She also really likes that in the afternoons there are only about 8 kindergarteners and they get to do all the "big kids" work.....plus it's their choice. I think her new school is a good fit for her.

Hope everyone else's first week or so back has been a good one as well.

Pirate Festival, Blessing Announcement & Upcoming Posts

We went to the pirate festival last Saturday and wanted to post some quick pics.

Make a Smilebox postcard

Blessing Announcement: Hubby & I are expecting baby girl #3 in December.....we're naming her Kennedy. This is the first time we've found out the gender beforehand (we were praying for a boy), however we're thrilled regardless. This will be the last addition to our family and we're currently trying to figure out how this may change our work situations since we'll soon have 2 daycare bills and 1 tuition bill.

On a side note, as the fall (or beginning of school) creeps up quickly- here are some things I'm thinking about but just haven't had time to post in detail. Alex will be starting Montessori Kindergarten, Jordan returns to the Child Development Center, and I'll be returning to teaching 8th grade Civics & Advocacy to students with Learning Disabilities- all to start on the 31st.

1. Bento Box Lunches (have you seen these wonderful creations, we purchased a box for Alex yesterday as we're required to send her lunch daily)

2. IQ/Ability/Social test results and what does it all really means for us

3. Afterschooling/Enchancement activities & curriculumn

4. Toddler "play/work" for Jordan and re-activating my early toddler blog sites.

Day Trip to Monticello

Yesterday I decided to take the girls to Monticello. It's about an hour away, so I thought why not? We packed lots of food and hit the road. We enjoyed ourselves immensely. I will say that the grounds are not very stroller friendly and the heat required lots of "cool down" breaks- but we still have lots of fun. Back in April, they opened up a new visitors complex, complete with a Discovery Room for kids. We spent the last hour there with the girls touching and playing on everything.

Here's Alex trying to decode a secret message using a Jefferson Cipher.

 

Jefferson also invented this "copy" machine. It has two pens (or feathers) and the one would create a duplicate of the other.

Admiring portraits Jefferson had in his home, and early colonial games.

 

Spending time in a "slave" space on the mat bed and pretend cooking in slave cabin.

We did the family tour of the house, which I highly recommend if you have little ones. They make the tour more of a scavenger hunt and give each child a "prop" at the beginning. Then as they go through the rooms, they try to figure out which person has an item that matches something in that room, and the guide tells a little story about it related to Thomas Jefferson or just something from that time period. Unfortunately, no pictures are allowed in the house so I don't have anything to show. I can say that the most interesting room for Alex was the library. Thomas Jefferson had over 9000 books. He would read to his grandchildren often and they would pick straws. The child with the longest straw would read a page, then so on and so on. At the end, the child with the shortest straw would actually get to keep the book. It was amazing to see actual books from his collection, I spotted a beautiful leather bound Don Quixote and some early dictionaries.

I'd also recommend a walk through Mulberry Row. This is where most of the workers and slaves lived and the center of plantation life.. You can also tour the large farming gardens overlooking the mountains. BEAUTIFUL!

It was a good day.

Our Wonderful Nature Class

Once a month we attend a family nature class at our favorite garden. It truly is our favorite scheduled family learning activity. This months class focused on Food & Dyes. It's a very small group (which is great for us) but I do worry that without more participation, they may not continue the class. So, if you have 1 free Saturday per month and in the Richmond area, won't you considering joining us?

Before I post pictures from the class, I have to do a little *brag* alert. Guess who made the garden website for our Drop In and Dig Class?  She's also in the Discover Richmond annual magazine for the science museum (shark exhibit). Sorry no electronic picture, you'll have to pick up a magazine to see it :)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Not crying wolf....

Bedtime routines with a 5 year can commonly include several attempts to get out of going to sleep at the last minute....requests for more stories to be read, more hugs/kisses, numerous trips to the bathroom, etc.

So last night when Alex kept calling me, knowing daddy had left to go grocery shopping (yes, sometimes he goes late at night so we don't have to spend our family time on Sat/Sun doing it)- I figured she was up to her old ways of attempts to stay up later. The conversation which was yelled from upstairs to downstairs the house went something like this. The time is about 10pm. Bedtime was 8pm.

Alex: Mommy! There's something in my room

Me: Something like what, Alex?

Alex: A big bat is flying around my bed and keeps going into my closet

Me: Alex, there are no bats in the house

Alex: It's a bat or a really big black bug

Me: Alex, I promise you, there's no bat in your room. I'll have daddy come check when he gets back home. Go to sleep.

Alex: Mommy, there it goes again, it just flew out into the bathroom....now it's back in my room.

Me: I "angrily" get up, go upstairs, take a quick glance around her room- restate there are no bats, giant flying bugs and order her to GO TO SLEEP.

And that's the end of our conversation. I don't hear another word....until daddy comes home and discovers this in the dining room.

Click Here to Download She wasn't crying wolf...  Disclaimer: I am normally all about animal rights, but last night around 11pm, I just wanted it gone.

Needless to say, afterwards I immediately went up and apologized to Alex for not believing her. I can't imagine how scared I would have been as a young child watching a bat fly around my room at night. Alex said it was okay, the bat had landed on the rug beside her bed and she just watched him for a while, then he started making noises and flew away.  My poor baby....or as Alex says-"I can't wait to tell Grandma and Uncle on Sunday"   PS- the bat was safely captured in a blanket and released outside.

Letterbox Outing

Yesterday I took the girls on our first letterbox outing. I had been eyeing various websites .this summer, and since we had nothing planned, we decided to go try our luck. I had heard there was a letterbox hidden at Walkerton Tavern (about 15mins away) and was really hoping someone would actually be there to help us along. Hence, our friend Bob. He works at the Tavern and really went above and beyond helping us get started. He gave us supplies for Alex to make her own signature stamp (I went totally empty handed), gave us an inkpad, our own starter book, writing utensil and of course, the directions. Then he walked with us as went went through all the clues.

   

Alex chose to make her signature stamp a music note...They actually drew this on a piece of foam, cut it out and taped it to the block of wood.

 

The end of the search led us to look here....

 

Placing the "Tavern" stamp into her book.

 

Placing her music note stamp into the "Tavern" book and leaving a message for the next seeker.

Showing off her first letterboxing accomplishment of many to come......with thanks to Bob.

 

On the way out we were introduced to this plant.... to see what it does, click on the link.

Download The Sensitive Plant

Living Collage part II

Just more pictures and one-liners showing more of what we've been up to.

Chinese Folk Dance 

Nature Crafts with Aunt Celeste

Book Series Art Show by Alex (Beowulf)

Place Value Math

Vocabulary

Cursive Writing

Swimming Lessons

Pretzel Rolling Class w/another "Alex"

 

 

Reading Books

Puppet Shows

 

And lots of playground time bonding as sisters

...