Kelby’s Learning Style

I’m frustrated because I don’t know how Kelby is doing in school. This  happened last year at this same time. We’ve been plucking along and doing fine, but for some time now I haven’t received any graded work for Kelby. The trouble is that graded work is my only pre-report card gauge of what she is learning and if she is understanding it.

I think, overall, that she is doing just fine in school. It isn’t her favorite thing to do. She’d rather be drawing, but I think she is growing each year at a normal pace. She had a couple tests to rate her growth in reading and math and apparently tested above her grade level, so I shouldn’t be too worried right?

She has been assigned a Washington report due at the end of this month and it has been a challenge for her and me. We got a list of what was due when, but I’m just not sure what quality and quantity of information is expected from her. How much is she expected to do on her own? The way she is doing it is not how I would do it…but I’m not a fourth grader. I probably shouldn’t hold her to my standards.

She picked the topic of “Lewis and Clark in Washington”. How much information is needed for each paragraph, how much am I supposed to help her, and what will the report will be graded on? I’m STRESSED out about it! There is only a fine line between helping her do it and doing it myself.

Kelby’s challenge self-managing her time and being motivated to get work done. Grades don’t matter to her, so they don’t motivate her. When I was a kid, on the other hand, I was totally motivated by grades. I wanted perfection. I’d do all the extra credit I could, plus I truly enjoyed learning and doing just what the teacher asked me to do. We are pretty opposite, so I don’t know how to help her. 

Kelby is such a good girl. She doesn’t make bad choices and doesn’t wander around the classroom. Her class had a substitute today and the boys were just floating about the room trying to see how far they could go before they got in trouble. I watched Kelby just sit and work at her math quietly. She flies by under the radar. She’s so quiet and shy that I’m sure she doesn’t ask questions when she has them. What can I do to help her?

I think that when the teacher is giving instructions, Kelby might have a hard time paying attention or remembering the details. She doesn’t seem to know what is expected of her. I can’t imagine that the teacher isn’t telling her, so it leads me to believe that she just isn’t retaining the information. I don’t have any way to help her since I don’t know what is expected of her. So, my only conclusion is that she needs to start using some tools for recalling the information. She could make herself lists (like us grownups have to use!) Maybe the teacher could send home written, detailed expectations or a sample of what the work should look like. That would be more work for the teacher, but I’m sure it would help other students besides just Kelby.

Expectations should be clear and at least two forms of communication should be used to get that information to sink in..for Kelby it should probably be more visual. Also, if I know what the expectations are, I can hold Kelby accountable to what the teacher wants. I’m ready to back up the teacher’s rules/requirements if I know what they are. Even if I have to enforce some consequences, I’ll do it.

So why am I sharing this on my blog? Well, I guess I’m trying to get my thoughts straight before talking to her teacher. I do love her teacher, by the way…she is an awesome lady. I’m not blaming anybody for Kelby’s troubles…which might not even be real troubles at all. I think there is just a little tweaking that needs to be done to help her succeed to her best potential and recognizing what those tweaks is the goal. I’m nervous for 5th grade because the grades are “real” and more ridged. It is too easy to be apathetic.

If anyone has experience with this or has good advice for me, please comment! I’d love to hear it.

Girl Scout Activities and More

Tegan’s birthday last Friday night was a great success. The girls slept well and were off to their own various Saturday activities by 9:30 am. We had to make it a short morning because me and the girls were headed up to Bellingham for a Girl Scout Build-a-Bear adventure.

 

The girls had a really good time with the troop getting new stuffed animal friends. Tegan picked a nice bunny named Carmel, Kelby got a new zebra named Zee, and Anika got a sparkly pink unicorn she obviously named Sparkle. The girls got to choose $20 worth of animal or outfit paid for by the troop and then had to pitch in for anything more they wanted. After the fun, we had a little picnic at the park.

Saturday night we took our tent trailer over to Gramma and Grampa Wright’s house. I did a really bad job of making plans, but in the end it worked out to have dinner and cupcakes over there and popcorn by the campfire. The next morning Mike came over and made Eggs Benedict for me, his mom, and his sister. It was delicious. That was when the news of Grandpa came. We went as a family over to visit Grandma and had a very nice time looking at family pictures.   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week was a little this and that. I had a meeting for Girl Scouts on Tuesday night. I’m going to be an official Girl Scout troop leader next year, so I’m finding out what that all involves and making plans for it. I can’t wait! We also have a big encampment weekend coming that first weekend in June. Tegan and Kelby get to spend stay at a camp nearby for two nights. I’m excited I even get to teach some crafts for a couple sessions for it.

We had to miss our Girl Scout meeting this week because our car was in the shop. It is making a horrible noise that seems to be getting worse. I got a bit of run around though because they couldn’t hear the noise at first and sent me to the transmission guy. They said it was the engine and sent me back. On Monday I’m getting an oil change and an additive added hoping to make the sound quiet down because if that doesn’t work we’re looking at thousands to fix it. We might just have to run it until it dies. We’ll see…all that matters is that I have a trailer towing vehicle!

Yesterday we got to go with the Girl Scout troop down to Seattle Pacific Science Center. I didn’t drive this time because of my car noises. I didn’t want to get stuck in Seattle with a bunch of Girl Scouts! We got to have a birthday party package that included building rockets out of film canisters and Alka-Seltzer…they popped off perfectly every time. They also made ice cream with liquid nitrogen! The girls were very impressed. We spent a couple hours touring the facility and saw all kinds of bugs and butterflies and hands-on exhibits.

 

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While we were at the Science Center, Mike’s mom and dad were over here helping Mike with my “Mother’s Day” present. I wish we hadn’t had that Girl Scout thing planned so I could have stuck around with them. Ever since we moved in to this house I have wanted to finish the ceiling on our back covered patio. It has been open to the rafters and didn’t look very pretty. It looks SO fantastic now! Thank you so much to George and Debbie for helping Mike to do that!! They gave up their Saturday to help. Thank you. Doesn’t it look beautiful?!

  

Today our church had a special service that was a Christian band concert. It was a group called “The Lads” from New Zealand. The 3rd-6th graders use their music in their Studio A program. It was a great concert. We brought our neighbor Savanna and Kelby’s friend Taylor too. Both girls have been over most of this afternoon playing too. The weather is beautiful, so they are on the Slip‘n Slide. I actually had to use sunscreen on them today!! Maybe summer will really come. Only 4 1/2 weeks left of school.

Kelby and Taylor with Mark from The Lads

Fun in the Sun!

Grandpa Wright Goes Home

You don’t hear from me directly very often.  Usually I’m just a mention in one of Shawna’s posts, but today I thought I’d hijack an entry to talk about my grandpa.

Yesterday Grandpa Wright finally got to leave the earthly body that has restrained him from being himself for so long. He leaves behind a very proud family, and while we'll miss him dearly we know our loss is Heaven's gain. He is the first of my grandparents to pass away. I can no longer brag that Shawna and I both have all of our grandparents, or that my kids have all of their great grandparents. I'm glad he was here long enough for them to get to know their Great Grandpa Chester. Those of us who were fortunate enough to know him as  simply "Grandpa", “Grandpa Wright”, "Grandpa Chester", or even "Grandpa Howdy", knew him as a reserved but always fun loving grandpa, always ready with a joke. For the past few years you’d still catch glimpses of Grandpa occasionally, but to really be himself he needed his full sight and hearing, as Grandpa always performed best in front of a crowd.  He was quite a grandpa as I knew him, and as I think back about my memories of him, I realize there are some things about me that I think can probably be directly attributed to him.

From the time I was a wee lad I remember Grandpa always had corny jokes and puns, something which I'm certain my dad has inherited, and I believe I have a bit of too, but I'm not as fast as my father or Grandfather. Perhaps that comes with age. Likely it needs to mature, or fester, as the case may be (ha!). While certainly my dad has enough puns to keep us rolling our eyes for years to come, I'm sure I'll miss it, and have missed it for some time now, as it was when it came from grandpa with that added good ‘ol boy Tennessee twang. I think as kids we never grew tired of laughing at grandpa telling us that various vegetables we'd eat would, "put hair on our chest". It was especially funny because the statement was not precluded from being applied to my sister simply because of her gender. He also consistently impressed upon us the notion that we could only strive to be as physically attractive as him, but would most likely never be able to attain such perfection. "If you eat those beans you might just grow up to be as ‘purdy’ as me," he'd say. Grandpa was always looking for a laugh.

One thing I didn't get from my grandpa was his ability to get to know anybody right on the spot. It didn't matter where it was or who it was, if Grandpa got a hold of your ear, you'd be lucky to get it back. I remember times as kids when we'd be somewhere like the beach or the grocery store parking lot, and grandpa would be able to strike up a conversation with a complete stranger. We'd take a deep breath, let out a long sigh, and resign ourselves to being there a while. I'm not sure how he'd do that. It seemed to me he must have something in common with just about everybody in the world. I suppose if there's something I wished I could take from him that I haven't, it would be that ability to relate to people so easily, as if he had known them for years even though he probably didn't even know their name. As I got older I suspected one thing he did talk about with all the folks he struck up those conversations with was probably us kids. Much of my family news comes from Grandma and Grandpa. It is how I find out what my cousins are up to these days, how my aunt is doing, and how various distant relatives out in Tennessee whom I never really knew are doing. He always spoke with great pride of all of them, and so I hope such was the case when he spoke of me to them over these past years.

Grandpa did like to talk about the things he loved though. He loved to tell stories of things from his past. Sometimes of his growing up in Tennessee, occasionally of his time in the Navy during WWII, but mostly from his years raising his own kids in and around Diablo, WA while working for Seattle City Light on the upper Skagit. There were some stories I may have only heard once or twice, like the time he and his crew crash landed on a runway somewhere in the South Pacific, barely escaping with their lives as they ran from the plane while it exploded behind them. Like something out of a big Hollywood production; or the time he met Grandma, if I recall correctly, at a roller skating rink somewhere in Mt Vernon. Most stories though, were repeated over and over, and were set somewhere between Newhalem and Ross Dam. I'm sure if my grandpa was dreaming these days before he passed, it was probably of he and his buddies hauling an injured man down from above the Stetattle Creek Falls after he had broken his leg, scaling Sourdough Mountain to run cable to an  antenna to bring TV reception to the little town of Diablo, or walking the tunnel that raced water for power generation from Gorge Lake down to Gorge Powerhouse. Now, as I bring my own kids back to the Ross Lake National Recreation Area to camp in the summers, just as my parents did me, I suppose some of those stories that I heard repeated so many times will come to mind more frequently even than they already did. No matter where I go or what I do I will always have a special fondness of that same area between Newhalem and Ross Dam that helped define my Grandpa and my dad alike.

Grandpa also helped to teach me some very practical life lessons, perhaps even without knowing it. Although I think I’ve loosened up a little in the past few years, I think those of you who know me well might describe me as cheap, or at least a little tight with money. I think one of the most important things my grandpa help give me was the value of properly managed money. Grandpa was happy to help, but no free rides were given. I learned early from both my parents and grandparents that money and property were a thing to be earned and respected. I recall when I was about 15 years old I had this budding interest in computers. I’d taught myself MS-DOS on an old 8086/XT my parents had drug home one Christmas, tearing it down and building it back up on multiple occasions. It had surely peeked my curiosity, but I had definitely reached the saturation point of what knowledge could be gained from that old technology. One Sunday my grandparents were over and I was looking through an ad in the paper at some Microsoft Windows based 386 computers, talking of my interest in computers and how perhaps that is the thing I may like to go on to do with my life. I think with most 15 year olds the future, and what they want to do with it, is not necessarily clear, but I think my grandpa saw a potential in me that I didn’t necessarily see. What to me was really mostly a hobby and a way to play video games, I think he saw as gift, and a way to earn a living in the future. I distinctly remember him pulling Grandma aside and I heard some whispering that was something of to the effect of, “do you think we could help Mikey get that computer?”  I was quite excited by the whispering which is why I remember it.  It was moments later that Grandpa offered to help me purchase the computer in the ad.  Not by giving me the money, mind you, but by giving me a loan.  Like any loan, that would also include interest.  Granted Grandpa’s interest rates were well below that which you’d find any bank offering, but they were enough to teach the concept.  I’ve never bought another computer since. Oh, sure, I’ve had computers, but after that I built them all myself after using that first computer to amass a wealth of knowledge on the subject. There are still many days I sit at work, and I remember that day, which my Grandpa, and Grandma, saw that potential in me and unknowingly started me down a path that would support my family today. I sit, and I remember that day, and wonder if I’d be sitting at that desk, or behind that server, or managing that whole IT department, if it wasn’t for that first real loan I got.

That loan also taught me that when you’re on the hook for a loan, you’re on the hook for a loan, even if it is just Grandpa and Grandma. In fact, if it is just Grandpa and Grandma, and a loan is serious business with them, then what must it be like to deal with a bank? I spent the next 12 months, I believe it was, working to pay back every cent of that $1200 or so loan. It taught me to manage my money in a way that made sure my debts were paid off first, because I wanted my grandparents to be proud of me. I also learned I didn’t particularly like being on the hook, something which I carry with me today. I think partially because of that first loan I rarely choose to get into debt on anything unless there is some more practical purpose to the acquisition of the item than just something “nice to have”. At the time Grandpa I think saw the practical purpose, while I was looking at the “nice to have”. However, to this day you won’t find me purchasing much of anything that I can’t pay for in cash, and you’ll still find me talking with Shawna about how we can get out of that mortgage a little faster than the bank would like us to in order save on some interest 20 years from now. I’ve found over the past several months as the economy has become a mess, that the financial lessons I learned from my grandparents, and my parents, made it so that the only heartache my family has had to suffer over it has been the viewing of the nightly news. We drive only used cars we can buy in cash or short term loans, we buy only the houses we believe we can comfortably afford even when the bank tells us we can go bigger, we put nothing on the credit card that can’t be paid off in full when the statement arrives. It’s quite liberating. Live life well within your means; that was Grandpa’s philosophy I think, and so far it has also served me well, even if some people do think I’m cheap!

I know as I look back, and I can see where I came from. A history of loving God which thereby leads to committed marriages, solid work ethic, strong family ties, and social, moral, and ethical responsibility for ones actions. I was fortunate enough to have a grandpa, as well as all of my grandparents and great grandparents, who has left me with a legacy and a responsibility to continue teaching my own children how to make a stranger’s day, how to keep their sense of humor, how to manage life, love, and money, and how to use God to glue it all together. Grandpa will certainly be a part of those lessons.

I was thinking about these things as I ran the 17 miles home after he passed away yesterday.  I considered the various impacts he’s had on me and how although it’s certainly sad and strange to not have him in the same world as me anymore, I’m glad he has all his senses back, isn’t in pain anymore, and probably has a heck of an audience for his cornball sense of humor.  As I passed folks out for a bike ride or walking their dog, I noticed I often look up give them a smile and greet them. I don’t usually greet them with a ‘good day’, ‘hello’, or ‘hi’, but usually with an enthusiastic, “howdy!” As I did that yesterday I realized that I carry a little piece of Grandpa that I have unknowingly picked up, and will carry with me for the rest of my life. Though it doesn’t sound as cool as that, “HOWWWW-day” my grandpa delivered with his Obion County drawl, I’ll often think of him when I say it now and try to hear it the way I heard it for so many years coming from him. I suspect over the coming weeks especially, that those who pass me at work, on the road running, or in the store, will probably get even more howdy’s than usual. Who knows…maybe one day I’ll be called “Grandpa Howdy”.

Your epidermis isn’t showing anymore, Grandpa, but I suspect you’re still the prettier one.

 

Kelby’s Reading

I forgot to mention that I found out today that Kelby has raised her reading level to a sixth grade reading level over this year! That is truly amazing. I can’t believe it. They take a test at beginning and end of the year. She was close to her own grade reading level (4th) in the fall. I knew she was enjoying reading more, but I didn’t know she’d made that much improvement. We are very proud of her.

Tegan’s Birthday

Tegan is now eight years old. Weird really, watching the girls grow up so fast. We started the day off with a special donut for the birthday girl for breakfast.

Anika took pictures of the decorations and presents for us. She’s taken to taking pictures lately.

Kelby had another hobby fair at the school today. She made earrings and horse prints. She sold out pretty quick. Even the adults liked the earrings that she made!

 

The birthday party basically started right after school. She has three  friends to spend the night tonight. We picked a cupcake theme and we gave her a cupcake party kit as her present. I let her open that right away.

I didn’t have to make any cake because that was their job! They mixed the batter and frosting and got the cupcakes ready to cook. It was really a lot of fun and I think they all enjoyed it.

Then it was time for pizza, presents, eating the cupcakes, and now they are all watching the movie “Bolt”. I’m experiencing a sugar crash, so they must be going to experience that soon too! I’m sleepy.

 

Tomorrow we have to cut the party short by 9:30 am. We are going to Build-a-Bear with the Girl Scout troop. The girls are very excited about everything happening this weekend.

I still don’t know for sure how we are celebrating with the rest of the family, but we might take and camp the tent trailer at Gramma’s house or have cupcakes after church on Sunday.

All that to say, it has been a busy week preparing for the hobby fair,  birthday, and Mother’s day. I had a lot of fun making things for Tegan’s goodie bags….all cupcake related. You can see them on my Smile On My Heart Art blog.

May Day

I posted this blog the other day and didn’t realize I posted it to my other “artsy” blog and not here. Oops. Here I thought I was on top of things.

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I need to record here what, to me, is a great milestone in Kelby’s life. Last Sunday I taught Kelby how to fry an egg. She would always prefer an egg over cereal or oatmeal, but that wasn’t what I was making. So I said, “If you want to eat something different than everyone else you’re going to have to make it yourself.” She followed each step and was very proud of herself when she was done. After church  she wanted an egg for lunch and made it herself! A couple times this week she’s even made her egg. It is so weird…just a huge right of passage it seems. She’s growing up,  taking on responsibilities and learning…all this even on a gas stove! 

Our week was nice. On Monday evening we went out to the tulip fields. The weather has been pretty nice, so lots of people have been out there visiting the tulip fields.

We really live in a beautiful area. It is amazing how beautiful the canvas of nature can be sometimes.

Anika had a special program for preschool on Wednesday morning. She was so proud of herself. They sang some songs and told us what they like to do. Each kids told what the like to do. Anika said she likes “to do crafts with mommy and play hide and seek with daddy.”

That afternoon I had to take Kelby back down to Children’s again for a dentist appointment. That tooth is really a problem. She has a lot of sensitivity in the tooth, so she doesn’t brush it well. I have been brushing it for her, but I hate doing that because it gives her so  much pain. It isn’t all better so we have to go back again to see the Periodontist again. He’ll look at the gums and tell us if he thinks a graft will help. I’m not sure what all that involves, but if he doesn’t think it will be worth it they may pull the tooth.

On Thursday we had Girl Scouts. The girls got to deliver early May Day bouquets to a retirement center. It was the same one we visit at Christmas. It was a nice gesture and I was impressed with how 28 girls did in that closed and quiet space!

Saturday was my monthly ladies’ “brunch”. This time we did a tea party theme and several ladies each decorated a table. Mine had a book and flowers centerpiece. It was so fun. I took in my actual pretty tea cups and set the table very nicely for the ladies. We had a really great time.

 

We got to have some friends over for dinner  tonight. We had a great time playing games. They brought my new favorite game called “Ticket to Ride”. I really enjoy playing it, so we need to get our own so we can share it with other friends and family.

The weeks are speeding by incredibly fast. We have only a month and a half of school left now. It is speeding by like a whirlwind. This first week of May is always busy for me it seems. Friday is Tegan’s birthday, but at least I’ve been thinking ahead a little for that. We are keeping it pretty simple with a small slumber party with just a couple friends from school. This week is also teacher appreciation week. I don’t know what we are doing as a parent group for that, but I’m sure I should be in there helping them with that. Then, of course, it is Mother’s Day on Sunday. Maybe that means I’ll get to relax, but not before I take care our our mommy’s!

Don’t worry, I’m not stressin’. I’ll just go with the flow and see what happens. It always seems to work out that way.