Haley has now completed three weeks of FIRST grade! We thought about requesting this move ourselves at the beginning of the school year and then again at the end of the first quarter but decided to wait and see before pushing for any more acceleration that she was already getting (through reading and math class with first grade and AIG services once a week). Just as Haley's tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy recovery was almost over, the principal asked if we were interested in moving her on up to first grade. We thought about it hard, worrying mostly about her relationships with her amazingly sweet and positive teacher in kindergarten and her friends. We decided to make the move because, although we LOVE her kindergarten teacher, she hadn't really learned anything new all year and was developing more and more habits of just doing enough to get by.
Within one week of first grade her writing improved tremendously, she flew through over half of the 100 words to spell by the end of first grade (she could already read all of them on the first day-and I'm sure long before that if she had been tested), and continued to flourish in math and all other areas. We've had to work on her handwriting, correctly forming the letters just so on the lines. Her new teacher is quite a stickler for that.
Now, at the end of the third week she has only a small handful of the 100 words left to master the spelling of. She is adding and subtracting double-digit numbers, her writing is continuing to improve, and her reading ability continues to increase rapidly. (Although we have requested repeatedly that her reading level (DRA) be updated, we have met resistance to the timely meeting of our request. Hopefully in a couple of weeks this will be done. She is still labeled as being at a 10 but I know that she is at least at a 28 and probably higher than this). This weekend she read part of an article from a fourth grade National Geographic Discoverer with great comprehension. She is absolutely amazing!!!
I am looking forward to seeing what she is doing at the end of the year and then again at the end of the summer just before she enters second grade!!! :)
PS: She has been doing multiplication for a few months now using the skip counting strategy.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
First Dance Competition
Haley had her very first dance competition this weekend. She and the other four little ones in her group did GREAT! They were eating up the audience's cheers and claps! They performed a mixed song with the Little Red Riding Hood theme. It is amazing to see what their teachers can get out of them. They are 4, 5, 5, 6, and 6. They scored a platinum and won first place overall in their category. On top of it all, Haley spent quality time developing relationships with the other kids in her group and the "big kids" from Fancy Feet who give her lots of sweet attention and have really taken her under their wings. We are so proud to be a part of such a compassionate dance studio family!
We are really looking forward to next weekend when Haley performs to a line production of "Never Never Land" from Peter Pan. She is Wendy and the dance combines her group along with two others in the next age groups (the Tinys and the Petites). I think that they will blow them away!
We are really looking forward to next weekend when Haley performs to a line production of "Never Never Land" from Peter Pan. She is Wendy and the dance combines her group along with two others in the next age groups (the Tinys and the Petites). I think that they will blow them away!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Soccer Girl!
Haley and Zachary finished up their soccer season today with Little Kickers. They played a short "game" at the very end. Haley shocked her Daddy who sent me text message after text message as she scored, 1, 2, 3, 4 goals! Way to go, Haley!
As an update to her early kindergarten entry, she scored high enough on both the math and reading tests (TEMA and TERA) last week, qualifying her for consideration for early entry into kindergarten. We've set up appointments at Rockwell (where I teach), Locust (near Michael's work), and Carolina Christian School (a private school in Locust) to discuss this decision with the principals. We are excited about this important decision and the opportunities that it will bring for Miss Haley!
As an update to her early kindergarten entry, she scored high enough on both the math and reading tests (TEMA and TERA) last week, qualifying her for consideration for early entry into kindergarten. We've set up appointments at Rockwell (where I teach), Locust (near Michael's work), and Carolina Christian School (a private school in Locust) to discuss this decision with the principals. We are excited about this important decision and the opportunities that it will bring for Miss Haley!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Making Mommy and Daddy Proud
Today (July 9th) was an amazing day for Haley! She started off the morning with an aptitude test at Murray Psychological. We have always known that Haley is intelligent but, these past few months, she has really blown us away with her ability to learn. She has been reading a little bit over these past few months. For the first time this week, Michael and I have noticed her putting together multiple strategies (decoding, using the pictures for clues, and actually using the entire word rather that guessing based on the first letter). She is beginning to really take off with her reading. I am excited mostly because I know that once she can read, she is unlocking the potential to learn about anything she is curious about through books. Michael taught her to tell time to the hour this week, she picked up on this the first day. She is also subtracting using counters and her fingers. She is simply amazing.
The decision to have her aptitude test administered this summer comes as a response to our desire for her to enter kindergarten this fall, a year early. The cut off for early kindergarten entry is for the child to turn four before April 16th. We've got this by two days! They also have to score 98th%tile or above on both an aptitude test administered by a psychologist and either a reading or math achievement test. We've made it with the IQ test, now we will have the achievement tests administered next week. If she does well enough, we will present her for kindergarten entry. Three months ago this would have never even crossed our minds but, having more time to spend with Haley over spring break and the summer has really opened our eyes to her abilities and potential. We feel like it is our responsibility to see that she is nurtured in a way that will enable her continued growth, without wasting away the potential of this next year.
After her test, we ate at Red Lobster with Aunt Jen and "Uncle Helmut". Haley shared crab legs and lobster with Aunt Jen as we sat in between two fish tanks. It was fabulous and a meal that I doubt she will ever forget.
Later that afternoon we were off to dance class with the "big girls". The summer class is for 5-8 year olds. I was a little nervous about Haley's little tiny four year old body being able to handle the "big girl" dance moves. Ms. Paula let us watch through the door, a rare opportunity as it tends to distract the dancers. I was beaming the entire time! Haley did perfect! She was beaming too, being able to dance with some of the bigger girls who she plays with in the halls during Mommy and Daddy's dance class was really cool for her!
Finally, after dinner, Aunt Caroline, Aunt Jen, and "Uncle Helmut" were over for a late night visit. We broke out the gymnastics mat, which had been being used as a tent for the past thirty minutes, and started tumbling. Haley learned how to do a handstand in no time. Aunt Caroline grabbed one leg to keep her from falling over but Haley got her straight legs and pretty toes up there on her own. She also worked on her cartwheel, improving it dramatically. I think Aunt Caroline needs to be her second gymnastics teacher.
What a day to be Haley's parents. We are so proud of her! I went to sleep thanking God, once again, for the many blessings that he bestows upon our family! What an amazing day!
The decision to have her aptitude test administered this summer comes as a response to our desire for her to enter kindergarten this fall, a year early. The cut off for early kindergarten entry is for the child to turn four before April 16th. We've got this by two days! They also have to score 98th%tile or above on both an aptitude test administered by a psychologist and either a reading or math achievement test. We've made it with the IQ test, now we will have the achievement tests administered next week. If she does well enough, we will present her for kindergarten entry. Three months ago this would have never even crossed our minds but, having more time to spend with Haley over spring break and the summer has really opened our eyes to her abilities and potential. We feel like it is our responsibility to see that she is nurtured in a way that will enable her continued growth, without wasting away the potential of this next year.
After her test, we ate at Red Lobster with Aunt Jen and "Uncle Helmut". Haley shared crab legs and lobster with Aunt Jen as we sat in between two fish tanks. It was fabulous and a meal that I doubt she will ever forget.
Later that afternoon we were off to dance class with the "big girls". The summer class is for 5-8 year olds. I was a little nervous about Haley's little tiny four year old body being able to handle the "big girl" dance moves. Ms. Paula let us watch through the door, a rare opportunity as it tends to distract the dancers. I was beaming the entire time! Haley did perfect! She was beaming too, being able to dance with some of the bigger girls who she plays with in the halls during Mommy and Daddy's dance class was really cool for her!
Finally, after dinner, Aunt Caroline, Aunt Jen, and "Uncle Helmut" were over for a late night visit. We broke out the gymnastics mat, which had been being used as a tent for the past thirty minutes, and started tumbling. Haley learned how to do a handstand in no time. Aunt Caroline grabbed one leg to keep her from falling over but Haley got her straight legs and pretty toes up there on her own. She also worked on her cartwheel, improving it dramatically. I think Aunt Caroline needs to be her second gymnastics teacher.
What a day to be Haley's parents. We are so proud of her! I went to sleep thanking God, once again, for the many blessings that he bestows upon our family! What an amazing day!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Charlotte Nature Museum Camp
This week Haley is attending "Nature Nibblers" at the Charlotte Nature Museum. She's learned about birds and how they avoid predators and insects. She made a bird feeder yesterday and a model of an insect today. She was sad because when the kids dug for worms she said, "I didn't find a good place. Everyone else found a worm but I didn't find one". We'll have to do a little digging in our back yard for worms this week. She also amazed me with her sensitivity. "Aunt Jen" from Vienna is visiting and Haley discussed how the other kids at her table were being mean during snack. They were saying that another girl at their table wasn't their friend. I asked Haley what she said and she said nothing, that they were being mean. The teacher talked to them but they didn't listen. How proud of my sensitive little one I am to hear that she is upset by this! I hope that she is not in for a painfully sensitive future but, even if so, I'll be very proud of her traits of love and kindness! She is obviously learning many lessons, both about nature and also about life. I am very pleased with this camp!
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