OK, OK, Maybe I Don't Hate August

I just really, really dislike how busy I am every August. Coming off the relaxing months of June and July, can you really blame me for over reacting? Here are just a few things that I'm busy with this month:

• Kids have school.
• School means homework.
• Football practice 5 days a week.
• Football scrimmages on the weekends.
• Music lessons 2 days a week.
• Keeping up with insurance paperwork.
• Dejunking the downstairs of the house. (Organizing not included.)
• Wedding details.
• The regular stuff: laundry, cooking. Why do my family members insist on clean clothes and eating every.single.day?
• Gardening: including planting flowers and watering them daily. Oh. And the grass too. 
• Writing checks to the school for PE clothes, yearbooks, and school pictures.

Did I mention that HD has been working crazy hours and has, quite literally, only been home to sleep? So I'm doing all of this largely alone right now.

I know I'm being a drama queen about all of this. I know that all (most!) of you are going through the same stuff. I just need a little sympathy so I know that I'm not the only one feeling this way!

Why I Hate August

• Football practice is every day of the week.
• School starts.
• Everything requires a check.
• It's hot.
• Putting the calendar together.
• I don't get to see my friends because of the busy.
• Helping the kid lose weight for football.
• Cranky teenagers because of lack of sleep.
• Getting back to a bed time.
• Hardly seeing HD because of kids going in opposite directions.
• Having to remind a certain child that, Yes, a shower is necessary.
• I can't take a nap every day. 
• I have to make myself observe a bed time.
• Saturdays spent hanging around the house are a memory.
• Catching up on paperwork that I let slide over the summer.
• There are still 4-6 weeks of potential 100+ degree weather.

Teaching Science

While I'm no scientist, I remember loving science as a student. I loved learning about how things worked, how things were made. I still have my rock collection from when I was a kid from a trip through Colorado and Utah. One of my dreams was to go to Colorado School of Mines and be a geologist. In high school I was the girl that had two jocks in her lab group because I could get get the work done and get A's on labs. I really want that love of science for my kids. It's definitely a field that is continually changing. All you have to do is turn on the news or National Geographic channel, or pick up almost any magazine to know that science changes the world we live in almost daily. The fact that science can be so much fun makes it a no-brainer fun class to teach, right Keetha?

Apparently my older son's science teacher didn't get the memo.
 


Her class goes like this: students enter class, she gives an intro and has the class turn to the chapter that they are on. She presses play on the "read" feature on the textbook online. The computer reads to them for 10-20 minutes. She passes out fill-in-the-blank worksheets generated by the textbook company for homework. Class dismissed.

No, I am not even kidding. This teacher doesn't even go over the correct answers to questions on the worksheets before the test.

Earlier in the year they were doing a unit on plants and how they get their energy. This is a no-brainer for a simple experiment, right? Celery in a glass of colored water! Nope. Nothing. Last month this grade level took a 3 day trip to an outdoor science lab and not one topic was covered before they got there, and to my knowledge no follow up lessons have been done. My son loved looking at different kinds of plankton under the microscope but I'm really scared that he will lose that enthusiasm because of the lack of direction and leadership from this particular teacher.

I'm painfully aware that my kid is lucky that we are able to feed his desire to gain knowledge through books and trips and encouragement. The thing that sickens me is that there is a kid, sitting in that class, that went on that trip that loved every second of the learning, that will fall through the cracks because this teacher is so detached from the learning process and her students. What if science is this kid's one desire and this is the year that could have cemented it for him or her? What happens to that kid then? My heart breaks for these kids.

This is just one aspect that makes me hate what is going on at our school. I'm working through my feelings about what to do next, but these are some of the reasons why. Please stay tuned for more of the horror. If I have to live it, you have to read about it.
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I Hate Our School

Yes, you heard me. I am disgusted with some of the things that are happening in our school, our district, and across our state. Over in LAUSD there have been dozens of arrests of teachers and other school employees for sexual misconduct. I know that is making national news, so you can at least see how bad it is in our state. But what about our district and school? Lots of things, really, but the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back has been placed, I believe. And it's not just me. One of my best friends had a 504 meeting today for her child and got ZERO accommodations for the child. ZERO. What good is a 504 if the child doesn't get any help?

Lest you think that I'm only mad for a friend, it goes way beyond friendship. My children are being left behind and they are top performers. My boys are scoring "advanced" in all areas of state testing, on the honor roll, have never had any discipline issues, and yet they come home and cry that they are so bored. Not the regular kid mantra, but real tears for having to trudge along with the lower-middle of the class and never, ever, EVER being challenged, save for a few times over the course of the time spent at the local elementary school. This doesn't even tough some of the 'teaching methods' that some so-called teachers are using. You'll be shocked. I know I was.

There is so so so much more to the story and I fully intend on telling it. Telling it ALL. I'm beyond caring who knows how I feel or what I think. Our schools are broken, from the top, down, and it needs to stop. I have a few thoughts about that too, and maybe I'll even get to that, but first I will detail the ridiculousness that is happening in our California schools to my children. And we're in a top performing district in a nice neighborhood. I can't imagine what is happening in other communities where there are less resources.

So, before I dive in and actually tell you what's been happening, tell me what you would do. Seriously. What would you give to me as options? What options would you explore for your child? What advice do you have for me, oh Wise Internet People?
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And So It Begins

Last Friday I was off to a women's conference with our church group. I had left a laundry list of instructions for the family. Do those things ever all get done? Not at my house. Anyway, on Friday evening our school was hosting a Harvest Hoedown. Our version of a back-to-school party for the families to go, hang out together and have some good, clean fun. I've been taking the kids each year since HB#1 was in Kindergarten and it's a great time.

Totally not our school.

(Sidenote: It is my understanding that it began as a way to get families out. For free. Kinda like what is described in How to Host a School Picnic. The PTA hires a dj, makes a fall backdrop for family pictures, we send in dozens of finger-food treats, and they have lemonade and water available. Simple right? Now, over the years, it has turned into a festival of sorts, with food and vendors, feeding right back into the spend, spend, spend culture that it was initially trying to avoid. To say that it drives me nuts would be an understatement. What happened to simplicity?  /rant)

Every year since Kindergarten we have taken the family picture, and a few weeks later it comes home in one of the children's backpacks. It's become one of my favorite things about fall. I have all 6 pictures on my desk, a mini-monument to the changing tides of our family... The first picture with all of us, the next just me and the boys since the girl was a cheerleader and Homecoming was that evening, one of them with just 4 of us, and so on. Obviously, I had to have this picture, even if I wasn't going to be in it.

Days before I left I began telling everyone: the kids, HD, our friends, everyone!, that they HAD TO GET THIS PICTURE. I didn't care what else they did, or even if they left the Hoedown after that, but they HAD TO GET THE PICTURE.

All of my nagging hard work paid off, because yes, my boys went early and got the picture. *Pfhew* Mom-disaster averted.

Apparently, after the picture was taken the boys and their dad started wandering through the crowd. HD asked the boys what they wanted to do now?, and the 11yo HB#1 said, "Dad. This is the part of the night that we go hang out with our friends. Go find your own friends."

Aaaahh, the sweet sounds of teenager-hood, blooming right before our eyes.

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For a favorite teacher...

Remember when I asked for y'all's help with a gift for one of the boys teacher's? There were lots of great ideas but this is what I came up with:

I went to Crate and Barrel and chose the Jazz pitcher and 2 highball glasses to make a lemonade set. I added some cheery flowers, a card (that I gushed about how much I love her in) and two gift cards. I think it turned out great and she genuinely liked it. I will add, though, that this gift was for a very special teacher that was retiring. I don't usually go this overboard for a simple end of the year gift. (If you really want to know, we usually just contribute for a class gift!)

Come to think of it she really liked it...she offered to let my kids run away to her house! (I'm now trying to figure out how to make that happen...)


*I bought this gift myself. I love Crate and Barrel and wanted you to have the link. Gah.

Nature Center with Second Graders

Have I ever mentioned that I'm not overly fond of field trips? Oh, yes, I believe I have. So where did I go today? I'm a sucker for these blue eyes.

Peek-a-boo on the bus!

Checking out the fauna with Rick as our guide. The kids got to dig for bugs. What second grader wouldn't like that?

But this was mama's favorite part. I never tire of Columbine or photographing flowers. I could have done this the whole day and not been bored!

So, all in all, not too bad, but boy am I exhausted tonight. It wasn't the actual trip that was tiring, it was the sheer noise of two classes of 8 year olds. I can handle my own 2...36 of them? I felt a little twitchy.

Proof that I survived.

Quick! I Need Help! Especially from all you teachers out there....

What would you get for a beloved teacher that is retiring? This is the woman that both of my boys had for 2nd grade. She is the teacher that I credit for my boys "getting" it. I'm willing to spend a decent amount of money. Here's what I know: she doesn't cook, she's not into technology, she's not married, she has one grandchild, she's quite healthy and vibrant, she loves music (plays the harp, piano, accordion, etc.,)

Any and all suggestions welcomed in the comments!

Sunday Baking

Testing starts this week in our neck of the woods. I usually cook breakfast for the kids each day, but it will be a little easier this week after I made these:

Blueberry Banana Muffins, with the Strudel topping from the Apple Strudel muffins that my family already loves. They turned out delish!

The boys will go to school happy this week! (That is if I can keep their father from eating them all this afternoon.)

Do you have a yummy and/or easy recipe that is nutritious and suitable for the week of testing? Link 'em up!

Mama's Bragging

At the risk of sounding like the mom that always brags on her kids, I have to gush today. My kids got their report cards this week and I couldn't be more proud!

Headless Boy #1 got 6 A's and one B, and for the second time has made High Honor Roll. His teacher said he was "dependable", and his reading level is above 7th grade. How cool is that?

As for Headless Boy #2, he went up in 5 areas (they don't get A's and B's yet,) and in the Citizenship and Study Habits area he got all "Outstanding" marks, (there are 10 subcategories.) His teacher said that he is "assertive and smart," "gracious," and "You are quite the scholar and the gentleman, " and if that wasn't enough also said "It has been a joy to do your report card this trimester!" I think she likes him, don't you?

(This is quite a victory for #2...do you remember the mess at the end of the last school year? And the update afterward?)

My girl? Yeah, she made Dean's List at her college and is thriving at her new school. Currently on a spring break mission trip, she's rockin' the college thing now after a stinky first year. (Which I can relate to, but that is a post for another day.)

Yep, I'm a proud mama today!

The Drop Off Line

I share drop off and pick up duties with a couple of neighbors. Usually, when the weather is nice, I like to walk the kids to school. Extra exercise is good for all of us, right? But when the weather is a little colder and possibly rainy I get lazy and drive them down.

Our school has 2 drop off zones. One, you must drive into the parking lot and go through the turnaround, then let your kid/s out. I never do that one. Takes too long. Zone 2 is easier, faster, but I have a feeling that it is much more STRESSFUL.

The rules for Zone 2 are easy: drive up to the curb marked "Drop Off Zone", let your kids out, pull left out into the regular lane of traffic. This is easily done in a long line of cars, about 8-10 cars at a time. However, efficiency is lost when the douchbags uninformed come around.

Douchbag #1: The driver talking on their cell phone. Since they are not paying attention to the hundreds of children, they stop where ever they want, thereby stopping the 8-10 car flow up to the curb.
Douchebag #2: The "I'm late for work" driver. They speed around the normal line of cars and cut in line at the first sign of someone leaving. Like that 2 seconds is going to make a difference.
Douchebag #3: The driver that can't read or follow regular rules of the road. Just before the drop off zone is a RED CURB and signs that read NO PARKING OR STOPPING AT ANY TIME. These drivers think that the rules don't apply to them, so they stop there and seriously impede traffic flow down to the regular drop off zone.
Douchebag #4: The person that has to walk their child into the school, from a no parking zone, and have to cut across drop off traffic, not in a crosswalk. Nice example.

I find it fascinating that no matter how often the office reiterates the rules in the newsletters the problem never stops. Seriously. The only time it is ever better is when the police decide to hang out in the morning or afternoon, and then it only lasts while they are there. Then it's back to normal by that afternoon or the next morning.

Why do people think that the rules don't apply to them? What drop off/pick up rules are routinely broken at your school? Do you break them?

Paper Stockings, Twitter, and Mint Fudge

I was finally back on Twitter tonight. Oh how I missed you all! Facebook just isn't the same, you know. I'll get back to why twitter is important but you have to hear the lead in first...

Anyhow, I spent today like many of my holiday Fridays....at the school doing crafts with the kids. What? you don't remember the gingerbread house craziness of 2 years ago? Shame, shame. (I tend to get myself into these things. I don't know how to say no.) This year I was making 2 foot construction paper stockings. I brought the paper home on Wednesday so I could trace and cut and have everything ready by this morning. I went in at 9 and was finally done at 1pm. Pfhew. But not done yet.

When I got home, I had to do laundry. HAD is the operative word there. One of my sons was wearing his last pair of clean underwear today. Also, I needed to get my first round of baking done. I usually bake for presents for a bunch of friends, including my bowling pals, and since bowling is on Tuesday I've just got to get it done. Right? Right!

So, one batch of banana/chocolate bread. DONE!
One batch of Mint Fudge. DONE!
One batch of Candied Pecans. DONE!
One batch of Strawberry Bread. DONE!

So, back to Twitter. I tweeted that I had done all of that and Katie asked for recipes. Posting recipes is something I can get behind.

However, since I did all of that today I'm dead tired. You're not getting them all.

But I can't let Katie down. And I can't lie to you all.

My recipe for Mint Fudge is not mine. It's Kirsten's. Go get it for yourself. Add a cup or so of Andes' Mints. You'll thank me later.

Granted, your butt will want to kick mine in January, but still.

Schedules

Why do schedules cause me so much panic?

See, HB#2 started football LAST Monday. As in waaaay back in July. They practice each evening from 6-8. So he won't puke, he eats a big lunch around 2, then we're all stuck eating dinner around 8:30, if we're lucky. (Like last night? Yeah. Major fail. I ended up going out for take-out and we didn't eat until 9:30.)

The boys start school next Monday. As in August 10th. They will practice Mon-Thurs next week, then Tues-Fri. the following week. Can you see where this is going?

This totally screws dinner and bed times. And I mean bad.

We are THAT family that has dinner during the week between 6 and 6:30 every.night. All together. All of us. Always have.

Add to that, for next week anyway, I was just informed tonight that our team is in charge of the snack bar. Starting on Monday. Um, yeah. The youngest team, none of us have been in this league before, and it's the first week of the school year.

Can you see my head exploding?

Last year I wrote a post about being prepared for the first week of school.

Uh, did I mention that as one of 4 team moms I volunteered to go to Costco to shop for this whole snack bar shenanigains?

So, yeah, I think I need to be getting prepared like, last week. Anyone have a time machine?

PS-Any dinner ideas that I can make for my kid to eat at 4pm would be great. That will also be good at 6 when normal people eat: i.e. the rest of the family. (Did I mention the heat and the puking?)

PPS-Oh! and for the record, we've cut out bread, pasta, rice, etc., because he needs to make weight.

PPPS-Is it any wonder we're Headless? Really? Or maybe that's just me....

See, it's all about the scheduling.

Requesting Teachers: Necessity or No No?

Reading Lindsey's post the other day got me thinking about one of the things that I usually never do, but did anyway just last month. Before I get too far ahead of myself let me start at the beginning...

I don't believe in requesting teachers for my children. Here's why:

• Current teachers usually make the class lists for the next year. I have a fundamental trust in teachers, in general, that they really do want what is best for my/your child.
  
• Current teachers know what personalities of teachers/children will work best.
  
• Current teachers know what work load your child has to look forward to the following year and which teacher will work with your child the best.
• Each class level needs to be balanced within the classes and the current teachers are the best judges of how to balance them by district standards.
  
• We all have to learn how to deal with all kinds of people throughout our lives. College professors are notorious for being very strict in their rules. If I am constantly getting the nicest/most lenient/whatever teacher, then I am really doing my child a disservice. We will all have a teacher/boss/co-worker/neighbor that we really don't get along with but have to work with anyway. Isn't childhood the best time to learn how to deal with those that we don't get along with?

Over the last few months we've had some issues with HB#2 not getting all of his work done in class. I can't just say that he doesn't understand the work, because he does. I have been working with his teacher but nothing really seems to work. I pop in unexpectedly (requested by the teacher,) and he is still daydreaming. I remind him to 'get movin', and nothing. In many ways I love my son's teacher but I'm not sure if her mild manner is 'harsh' enough for him to get over this hump. I have talked to her-and him!- about this, to no avail.

This is where this year's letter comes in.

I really need him to have a strict teacher for second grade. Not one that will be a push over for his cuteness. (He's seriously cute.) Not one that will let some of this slide. Not one that will just let him get over it in time. I need a teacher that will push him to achieve, that will help him to believe in himself a little more. {Yes, I know that most teachers, especially primary teachers, have these things built into their DNA. However, some are more effective than others, right?}

I spoke with his current teacher about his placement for next year, letting her know that I wanted him with a teacher that would be pretty hard on him. I also had a phone conversation with the principal about my wishes for the type of classroom that he should be in. I then wrote her a letter reminding her of our conversation but I also added the name of a teacher that I would like for #2 to have. She was planning on retiring and I just found out that she won't be retiring until later. I think that she would be a perfect fit for my son-she runs a really tight classroom, does not take crap from any student, pushes the kids really hard, and does it all in a pleasant way. My HB#1 had similar issues in 1st grade and the teacher that I requested for #2 was the best thing for him. He started out thinking that she didn't like him but by the end of the year was saying that she was his favorite.

If I can just get #2 through 2nd grade getting his work done then I think that it will be a success. In my experience so far, second grade is really crucial in this area because they are preparing them to take their first round of standardized tests, and if a child can't get regular work done then it cuts into test prep. (Just don't get me started on standardized tests, ok? That's a topic for another day. Or not.) If they don't get all of their work done now then they will have a harder time in 3rd grade, where things move much faster, and they will get behind even quicker than before. It just snowballs from here.

I want to stay on top of this and the best way to do it was to write the dreaded letter. We'll see what comes of it.

What are your thoughts on requesting teachers? Have you done it? Why or why not? Were you happy with the choice or did you wish that you hadn't requested anyone?

Kindergarten Readiness or Academic Redshirt?

It seems to pop up a lot this time of year-it is time to register your 4 or 5 (or 6!) year old for Kindergarten and you are unsure if your child is ready. How do you know? In this environment of "No child left behind" and designer preschools there are no clear cut answers, and no answer is ok for every child or every family. Each state has it's own rules, cut off dates and requirements but one thing is clear. Not every child is ready to enter Kindergarten when the state says he/she is.

Last spring I addressed these issues and more in my Kindergarten series-6 blog posts about my observations of K-readiness, promotion to First grade, and every thing in between. (I will say here that I am not a teacher. This series is written from my perspective as a parent only, in a relatively economically stable neighborhood. Socio-economic, family, maturity, and a host of other factors can-and do- change the realities for children in our society, in our neighborhoods. Please read these with that in mind.)

Part One-Introduction
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six-Where I wrap it up and answer some questions.

I was also alerted to another article that you might find interesting written by Julie Blair, and published on burbmom.net. Thanks, Holly!

So, I know that it is a big assignment, but if you have a child going into Kindergarten (in my not so humble opinion-here anyway,) I urge you to read these posts, including the comments. There is a lot of information and things to consider before you walk your child up those steps for the first time.

Be sure to leave your two cents also. I have a lot of new readers and I'd love to hear about your experiences as well!

Cake Decorating, Grade 3

HB#1 wanted to participate in cake decorating too. He first wanted to do an elephant (a WHAT?) but I had to say no after searching the web for examples and came up with nothing that would be even remotely easy to accomplish. After looking at pictures on this cake decorating site, he decided on a snake. I should have tried to make it once but didn't. I still think it came out pretty good.

We I started out with a bundt cake, then sliced it horizontally so I had 2 circles. Then cut down at "12/6 and 9/3" (like on a clock) so I ended up with 4 quarter circle pieces. I then placed them on a foil covered piece of cardboard approx. 18"x20" (specs say no larger than 20"x20".) I cut the tail end to a point (left side of the picture), and turned one piece to look like a triangular, poisonous snake head. That came out really, REALLY cool. I also had to cover this one with a powdered sugar/milk mixture. Not as easy-that is why it looks a little messier than the star.

Anyhoo, HB#1 wanted a green snake with red details. His partner brought fruit roll-ups for the tongue and other sprinkles, etc., to decorate it with. It came out a little, um, weird, to say the least. But they liked it, so I guess that's all that matters. And I didn't have to buy it (the other mother out-bid me. Shucks.) I kinda would have liked to decorate this one myself to try to make it look at least reminiscent of a real snake.


I think that the PTA ended up raising nearly $2,000 that night at the cake auction. Pretty good for letting a bunch of kids get all hopped up on sugar at lunch time, no?

Cake Decorating, Grade 1

The PTA at our elementary school has a cake decorating contest and auction each year. All students are eligible to participate. This was the first year for Headless Boy #2 to participate. There are several categories to enter; he chose school spirit. They are the "Superstars" so of course he made a star cake!
They are allowed to bring it to the school with a coating of powdered sugar mixed with milk so it has a 'shell' on it. There can be no other decoration and they can only use food items to decorate it. Mama worked hard on that part.

I mixed the blue icing and sent marshmallows for decorating. The inside is supposed to be a small star. It didn't quite turn out that way. He also used white piping to go along the edges.

Not only did I have to buy all of the supplies, I also had to buy the cake back. He couldn't live without getting his cake. I guess $2 isn't too bad-and it tasted pretty good, too!

Stay tuned for Part 2...

5 Tips for Homework

I have made no secret of my big, giant FAIL at homework time. These are the 5 things that help me to get through the afternoon. Well, when I remember to do them all!

1. Have a talk with the kids-about their day, what is coming up that evening, what they had for lunch, anything! to reconnect.
2. Remember to send them to the potty!
3. Snacks. Headless Boy#1's second grade teacher had a session called "Chew and Do" and it helps for them to be able to munch while they get to work. I keep goldfish crackers around for this.
4. Quiet voices. (Stop laughing!) If you know anything about me or my household IRL you're sure to find this one funny. I am loud. My kids can be pretty loud. I have found that if I keep my voice-volume and tone-lower than normal that they respond to me more calmly.
5. Let them choose the order of the papers that they do. The boys bring home a weeks' worth of homework at a time. HB#1 has to turn things in on certain days: I let him choose if he wants to do worksheet A first or read. HB#2 turns in the whole packet at once so I tell him that he has to do 2 (or 3, or 4) pages per day but he can choose any of the worksheets in the packet. If he does all of the math on the first day, great, but he still has to do the rest of the work at some point.

And actually I have a bonus tip:

Don't forget to breathe!

Do you have any other tips? I'll gladly take suggestions!

Oh, and don't forget to go back to Shannon's place for more Works For Me Wednesday tips!

Dear (HB 1),

Lately you have delighted in hearing the story of when I found out I was pregnant with you. You love to hear that your dad, sister and I were in London-and have even asked if that counts that you were there, too! We were so happy to know that you would soon be a part of our family.

You were born on Thanksgiving weekend in 1999, and what a big boy you were! You were very tall-21 1/2 inches, and a whopping 9.5 lb. Arnie and Captain brought (HG) over right away to see you-you rewarded them by scratching yourself on the face so bad that there was even blood. As a baby you didn’t like to sleep much, and not much has changed.

You have always had a compassionate heart-the first to make sure that if someone was hurt that they were OK, the first to pray for someone to be healed, the first to hug someone who was crying. That is a gift; it cannot be learned. I also think that you are the most kind person that I know. I am proud that you are a hard worker at school, and that you try hard at everything that you attempt. I’m looking forward to watching you grow and develop, and to see what God has in store for your future.

You have always been a delight, (HB1).

We love you very much!

Love,
Mom and Dad

Written for the "Special Someone" project in HB1's 3rd grade class.

How Hard Do I Have To Try?

(I actually know the answer. Indulge me, won't you?)

How hard do I have to try to help you two get your homework done?

How many tears will you shed until you get that it just has to get done?

How many breaks do you need?

How many times will you get distracted? (Like that's even a valid excuse...)

How many snacks will satisfy you? Drinks of water?

How many times will I have to walk away to gather my thoughts?

How many times do I have to bite my tongue to stop myself from saying what I really want to, but know will only make things worse?

How many weeks, (months, or years) will it take before you can do it without me sitting with you? Nagging?

And then, how long will it take for me to forget these things and long for these days? Long for you wanting me near? Wishing you wanted my help and advice?

How long?