Our meeting with Zacharys Teacher

This morning we had a parent teacher meeting with Zachary's teacher. It went as well as what we expected. We know just by doing homework with him every night that he is struggling. Here is what she typed up for us: "Zachary is reading on a DRA level 4 which is below the level expected for this time of year. (He should be at a level 8) He is working on using phonemic awareness skills to decode unknown words. He is inconsistent with his skill and this effects his fluency and comprehension. Zachary is often able to read a story more fluently after reading it several times. He is having difficulty with comprehension after reading books on the expected level for this time of year. In writing, Zachary is working on writing in complete sentences and having the sentences make sense. His difficulty with sound/letter connection makes it hard for him to do "best guess" spelling when writing. In math he seems to understand most new concepts with just a little extra small group instruction. Zachary has difficulty sometimes understanding and following directions given to the whole group. He also does not always ask for help when he needs it or does not understand. We are placing Zachary on a Progress Monitoring Plan. Continue to read with him each night having him retell the story. Read again even if he needs to take the same book home again the next day. Work on sight words to help build fluency. Practice handwriting and writing in complete sentences. Review math papers for concept understanding. We are also having him tested for Language Screening." With the PMP he will be placed in very small groups where the teacher works with him for 90 minutes a day. I don't know if he will be held back next year, but it looks like a very good possibility. I really think that we should of waited before we put him in kindergarten. He is the second youngest in his class and I don't think he is mature enough yet. I cant imagine these parents that force little ones into school just because they don't want to pay for daycare anymore. We didn't pay daycare, and didn't HAVE to put him in, and now looking back I really wish I would of followed my instincts. But he seemed like he was ready, he knew his ABC's and numbers etc, and seemed so smart. (Everyone always said he was soo smart), but I really think he isn't mature enough. There is the possibility that he has a learning disorder. However unfortunately they don't test for that until the child is 7. So we will see first what the extra time in school does for him. Mike and I help every night with homework, (we DON'T do it for him) but sometimes he does need alot of instruction and gets frustrated easily. We also read every night, but sometimes he will see the same word over and over again and will forget it each and every time. The teacher gave us some ideas to work with hard words. These words are: with, when, that, where, want. These are definitely words he should easily know at this point but EVERY time he sees them he forgets how they are pronounced. There are also of course a dozen other words, but these ones I have been working with him since day 1 of first grade. So I am making flashcards of them and putting them on the TV, the playstation, the refrigerator, the shower, his bike etc and he has to say them three times before he can get whatever it is. We limit TV and playstation, these are special times only. Same with the computer. I try to make him play learning games, and not the other ones. I am so thankful that the school has these options and that he has a teacher that is on top of it. Last year we only heard good things. I don't know if it is because Dysart has lower standards, or his teacher didn't pay much attention, or if its just starting to show because school is getting harder. But I don't want him struggling for the next how many years because he has trouble keeping up. I really wish they has something like this for Christina. She struggled with reading and all her school suggested was "She needs to try harder" She was... "She has ADD she needs med" NO she didn't.... She just needed extra attention and time to process the information. She does well now, but she really struggled 1-5 grade. And now she understands that when she doesn't understand, to ask for help. Today Mike, Caleb and I are going to go have lunch with him. He will be so excited to see us. I think I will make that a twice a week fun thing for him. (At least until he is old enough that he doesn't WANT mommy coming to school to sit with him) :) Tomorrow I will post the pictures of them at the Grinch Show at IOA. It was a lot of fun! But I gotta head up to the school to surprise him!

Yesterday morning Caleb was looking outside and started yelling "Reindeer!! Santa's Reindeer are here!" Sure enough there were 4 does out back eating the grass. I ran in to grab my camera, but with Caleb yelling about Reindeer they took one look at us and scampered back into the woods. I did get this picture of the last one leaping to safety from my boys yelling at them. Here is a picture of a rocket that blasted off from Cape Canaveral the other day. It was a pretty neat sight. We went out front about 2 minutes prior and the boys were yelling: "10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 BLAST OFF." They were like "how come its not taking off yet?" Finally we saw it and they were cheering very loudly. The neighbors that were outside were laughing at them. Here is a snake that was out in front of our front door. It was a vicious little thing. It kept rearing itself up and 'striking' at us. It was pretty funny. Ive seen garden snakes before, but never had one that kept trying to strike us. Of course I'm sure it didn't help that Mike was poking at it with a stick, the boys were screaming, and I was taking pictures of it. Today we are going to Universal Studios to see the How the Grinch Stole Christmas Show that they have and they also have the Macy's parade floats there at Sundown. So I'm sure there will be lots of pics to post tomorrow!

80's flashback

Are the 80's already making a comeback? Is it true that those dreaded LegWarmers are back? Yep, it is! I about fell over when Christina came home from the mall with legwarmers. Then I seriously fell over when she asked if I still had my old ones. Ummmm....NO!!! I tossed those in the 90's! She gave me a hard time for tossing them. Who knew they'd come back in style? She loves them and wants every color!

She finally made her gingerbread cookie. Yummy!

Caleb is finally brushing his teeth without screaming the entire time. I don't know why he had such a problem, but ever since he was little that was always a big battle. We are still fighting him on toilet training. He did good for about a week, then when we were out of town, he had diarrhea and wouldn't sit on the 'big' potty, so we put him back in diapers. Big mistake. Now he refuses to use the potty again. *sigh* It had become a battle because we KNOW he knows how to go in his potty. I haven't put a diaper on him, but he keeps pooping in his underwear. Yuck. So FINE if he wants to be in diapers then so be it. I would rather change a diaper than have to keep cleaning out underwear. Mike and the boys are doing a 'science experiment'. Not sure exactly what... Something about a tornado.

Here is Zachary's letter to Santa. He wrote it all by himself! In case you can't read it, it says,

I quote:

"Dear Santa, I hope you bring me a lots of presents. I want dols and pokeman cards and I want little cars a kitchen and two stuffee and stickers and colorbrook and spongeybob and patrick 3 cookies and 6 chocolate bunny."

This was exactly how he wrote it all by himself. I think the 'stuffee' is stuffed animals.

I can't believe he wants Pokeman cards. Some kid on the school bus gave him 4 cards, and so now it has started. Christina collected them for about 1 year when she was like 9, and at the yard sale we had just before we moved, I sold the big book she had about half filled with them. I sooo don't get them. I don't let him watch the cartoons, and am not really happy he has this new interest. It pretty much bored Christina. Then again she is a girl, and they were NOT Barbies.

Zachary is back in school today. We took him into the class room and all the kids started yelling "Zachary!! Your back!! Are you OK? We missed you!" It was so cute it brought tears to Mikes and my eyes. Last week they all made him Get Well cards. So far, knock on wood, he is feeling fine. Tomorrow we cut back the breathing treatments to 2 a day, for a few days, then once, and then only if he needs it. I tossed all our harsh cleaners and ordered Get Clean from my friend DeAnna. She has sworn to me for several years now that I should try it, now I AM!!! Here is the web site in case anyone is interested in trying the products as well.

http://www.shaklee.net/deannabass/product/59262

We are also steam cleaning our carpets and I am looking into getting a better vacuum. I've read about the Dyson Animal one. We need a strong one to get out the pet dander, pollens and of course dirt. Our vacuum is only 2 years old and it blows so much dust into the air, that it can't be good. I'm also looking into getting a steam mop. I know you don't use any cleaning solutions with it, so that would be a plus. I feel like I spend all my time now on the computer researching. But it will be worth it in the long run.

So even tho it is a few weeks away, I am starting on a New Years Resolution. Getting us healthier by changing the way we eat, clean and live in general. And if it all helps the environment, then that's even better!