Another Unofficial Chatterbox Thread- Everyone is Welcome!

[Alex2kMommy]

Sorry - had to eat dinner....

The biggest concern right now is actually how he can communicate with the teachers so that they can understand that he is learning. The kindergarten skills are pretty easily identified by pointing, but once he gets into the intense reading it will be harder to identify.

Alecia is in 2nd grade.

I am losing a manager for about 8 months. He is having a pretty extensive surgery that will take about 2 months, with about a 6 month recovery.

On Alec: That makes sense. They test reading ability by having the kids read aloud, so I can see how that would be hard to test with Alec.

Wow, a 6 month recovery? DH is still recovering from his knee surgery in December, and that has seemed like forever! I can't imagine a 6 month recovery. Poor guy. I hope it goes well for him.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I forgot DH had to work late tonight.

I got a roast going in the oven around 4:00; it's small, so my mom thought it would only take about an hour or maybe an hour and a half. I let it go until 6:00, then checked the temp, and it was still too low (plus bled when I pulled the guage out!)

So good thing DH is late! (Of course, we're all starving in the meantime...)

Thought I'd also try some glazed carrots. I think that's what they're called. The recipe uses brown sugar and orange zest! Sounds yummy! I hope everything turns out.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

And good for Alecia getting her reading level up!

What was the deal with the earlier score? Did she not focus during the test (like the test wasnt' a real accurate read of her level?) She's such a bright kid, that would really surprise me, too! In any case, she is doing really well now.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

OK, going to try to get dinner finished and on the table. Might check in later and see if anyone's around.

 

[dizzyami]

Wow, a 6 month recovery? DH is still recovering from his knee surgery in December, and that has seemed like forever! I can't imagine a 6 month recovery. Poor guy. I hope it goes well for him.

The kid (he is 18 now) was born with one leg shorter the other, and I don't think he has any ability to move it (not that it slows him down any). I know they are going to stretch the bone, and then I think do a metal rod I don't know for sure, I didn't want to pry.

I forgot DH had to work late tonight.

I got a roast going in the oven around 4:00; it's small, so my mom thought it would only take about an hour or maybe an hour and a half. I let it go until 6:00, then checked the temp, and it was still too low (plus bled when I pulled the guage out!)

So good thing DH is late! (Of course, we're all starving in the meantime...)

Thought I'd also try some glazed carrots. I think that's what they're called. The recipe uses brown sugar and orange zest! Sounds yummy! I hope everything turns out.

My DH got home an hour ago - meeting with his boss on some new sandwiches we are rolling out. I had my attempt #3 on rice oriental - I think next time I will get it

And good for Alecia getting her reading level up!

What was the deal with the earlier score? Did she not focus during the test (like the test wasnt' a real accurate read of her level?) She's such a bright kid, that would really surprise me, too! In any case, she is doing really well now.

I am very happy. We were floored in October. We had Alec's conference first, and his grades were awesome and all was great - then to get the news that Alecia was reading below level - we were shocked!!! The thing with her though is she will only do what is expected of her. Once we made clear to her that we expected better, she got better . Same with her spelling. She missed a few on a test (ok, it was a pretest) , and we were pretty hard on her and made her study like mad. She has gotten 100%'s on the pretests ever since

 

[tinkermell]

Hi guys!

Well I'm all done with the Farm Show. We sold a ton of steak sandwiches!! Actually about 5 tons worth!

A record breaking year. Tuesday we did $48,000.00 and yesterday $54,000.00!! Not sure yet what today's take in was.

I am really really tired. Can you say exausted with a capital E!!

Anyways, just wanted to check in!

Megan, are you ready for those precious babies to arrive??

Wish I had time to catch up, but I just don't have the gumption!!

Have a good evening!

 

[funnygarcia]

Keep in mind that a standardized test is only a measure of how the student did on that day, at that time of the testing.
What if they didn't sleep well? what if they were in a hurry and skipped breakfast? What if the stress and anxiety of test taking means they color in any dot in hopes it's "okay" just to get thru as quickly as possible. Not to mention.. what group of people are the tests standardized for? Is it for every cultural group? (hubby ran into this for state testing last year when students were asking "what is....", they had no knowledge of the topic to grasp what the story was about. )

There is much stress placed on testing in all age levels, but really it's a poor way to measure achievement and progress.
NAEYC (National Assoc of Educators of Young Children) does not support standardized tesing for children birth to grade 3.. yet testing is federally mandated for preschoolers in Head Start and schools use testing as a tool to check progress and "track" children.

I've had training on the portfolio method, time consuming to collect materials and observe at frequent inervals. Lots of extra work for teachers but truly it shows what children have learned and acheived over time. Better tool for parents to see the actual progress than to stnad on thier head and try to intrepret a test report.

Can you tell I don't like testing?

Alas, it's not a perfect world. Federal dollars are tied to those crummy tests.

 

[staley7580]

Melody... I am beyond ready. I go to the Dr on Wednesday, and I will be 34 weeks.. So I am going to see if we can schedule an induction. She will probably want to wait until the next appt. though. I dont know how far out she will schedule me. With my other two I was scheduled for the same week.. So I might have to wait another week or two after this. Im so freaking ready.

 

[Alex2kMommy]

The kid (he is 18 now) was born with one leg shorter the other, and I don't think he has any ability to move it (not that it slows him down any). I know they are going to stretch the bone, and then I think do a metal rod I don't know for sure, I didn't want to pry.

Wow. There was a kid in my elementary school (obviously a looong time ago, LOL!) who had a procedure done for the same thing. I am sure amazing progress has been made since then.

That's a big deal, I sure hope the best for this guy!

I am very happy. We were floored in October. We had Alec's conference first, and his grades were awesome and all was great - then to get the news that Alecia was reading below level - we were shocked!!! The thing with her though is she will only do what is expected of her. Once we made clear to her that we expected better, she got better . Same with her spelling. She missed a few on a test (ok, it was a pretest) , and we were pretty hard on her and made her study like mad. She has gotten 100%'s on the pretests ever since

Yeah, we've had similar issues with DS8. He was getting 100s on his spelling tests, then started forgetting the spelling list so we couldn't study together, or couldn't do his homework involving the spelling words.

A stern lecture and a few cut privileges did wonders for his memory.

 

[eatmypixiedust]

 

[staley7580]

Soooo... Alex has a girlfriend. She lives in our building, and is in his class. They bought each other other suckers for Valentines Day.

 

[staley7580]

Hey Pix!

 

[eatmypixiedust]

Soooo... Alex has a girlfriend. She lives in our building, and is in his class. They bought each other other suckers for Valentines Day.

Aww... cute!!

 

[eatmypixiedust]

Hey Pix!

So what's happening everyone?

 

[staley7580]

Aww... cute!!

I know, huh! I told him I didnt want to hear about him kissing any girls though.. He also bought a sucker for his sister.. THAT impressed us. Such a sweety!! He gave it to her, and was all.. Happy Valentines Day Mikalah!! and gave he a big ole kiss. Then he bought one for himself. But I ate it.

So what's happening everyone?

Nothing here. Everyone is sleeping at my house. I think my husband has finally passed out after not sleeping for the past few days. He is supposed to go out with his friend tomorrow.. But he is a little leary of leaving me here. I told him I would be fine!!

 

[eatmypixiedust]

I know, huh! I told him I didnt want to hear about him kissing any girls though.. He also bought a sucker for his sister.. THAT impressed us. Such a sweety!! He gave it to her, and was all.. Happy Valentines Day Mikalah!! and gave he a big ole kiss. Then he bought one for himself. But I ate it.

What is it with you and eating your son's candy inventory?


Awww....he's so sweet to Mikalah. That's really cool


Nothing here. Everyone is sleeping at my house. I think my husband has finally passed out after not sleeping for the past few days. He is supposed to go out with his friend tomorrow.. But he is a little leary of leaving me here. I told him I would be fine!!

Awww... I think he's just as anxious as you are. Heck, you make me anxious. I just keep waiting for you to tell us your twins are bustin free

 

[eatmypixiedust]

I can't wait until your babies are born!

 

[staley7580]

Awww... I think he's just as anxious as you are. Heck, you make me anxious. I just keep waiting for you to tell us your twins are bustin free

At least this time I asked before I ate it.

I know. My mom and my sister are calling me ALL the time to make sure I am not having any babies yet.. I havent mentioned going to the hospital for the contractions to my mom at all.. I know she would just be a basket case if I did.

Ugh... I must have dragged my belly across some toothpaste on my bathroom counter. Its all sticky.. and minty.

 

[eatmypixiedust]

At least this time I asked before I ate it.

I know. My mom and my sister are calling me ALL the time to make sure I am not having any babies yet.. I havent mentioned going to the hospital for the contractions to my mom at all.. I know she would just be a basket case if I did.

Ugh... I must have dragged my belly across some toothpaste on my bathroom counter. Its all sticky.. and minty.

 

[staley7580]

I can't wait until your babies are born!

Me too!! I cant even tell you how excited I am! I so want to meet them, and see who has been making me SO uncomfortable for so long! Also... I cant wait to not be pregnant anymore. It sure will be nice to be able to give my kids real hugs.. and hold them in my lap again. And it will be nice to be able to wipe my butt without dislocating a hip.