Parent Teacher Conferences.

We just returned from Kat's parent teacher conference at the Montessori school. Not big changes there. Kat is well liked, Kat is mature, Kat is kind, Kat is gifted. Well, the gifted label is a new one from this school but not a new one to us in general.
Kat is working on cursive writing, multiplication, land forms, painting, practical life, and using a dictionary. We're pleased.

Mind games.

Ay yi yi! Yesterday I had a brief, unplanned moment alone with Kat's public school teacher. Ms. M asked me where we intended to send Kat to school next year and we told her that we were waiting to hear back from the GATE school and I crossed my fingers in the air. Ms. M rolled her eyes at me and said, "I don't think you have anything to worry about." and walked away.
Ummm...100 applicants, 12 spots. Oh sure, that's a walk in the park!
Then again, maybe she knows something we don't?

Education today.

Our governor just proposed a new state budget that would cut educational expenditures by the state something like $400 per child. The local school districts are in a panic. I am baffled.

I've been wondering why we can't go a little more low tech in the classroom these days. Why do we need $200 worth of math textbooks per child when the basics have been taught for ages using nothing but a blackboard, some chalk and either a slate or paper and pencil? Why can't we pull out old textbooks to use? Of course, I know that books get old and useless. Information becomes outdated...but how outdated can 2x2=4 become?

Is there honestly nowhere to cut back?

Science fair.

Kat participated in her first school science fair yesterday. She was over the moon! Last month we received a letter from the school inviting the students to participate and I asked her if she would like to. Once she said yes, I asked her what she wanted to do her project on. With no hesitation she said, "Why can't astronauts go to Jupiter?"
We headed to the library and found the appropriate books, she read them and was ready to make her poster.
We helped her cut out the paper and I showed her how to paint the lines of Jupiter's clouds but other than that, this is all hers. We were so proud!

We invited the whole family out to see her science fair and many were able to make it. Grandma Chris and her boyfriend Ken came. Grandpa and Nana, Aunt Jenny and Aunt Kathy, and Pete's Uncle Karl all came. Such a nice evening!

Waiting.

Now that all of Kat's testing is over we are just waiting. We'll find out the results and if she is offered a spot at the GATE school in May.

The sweetest thing.

Drew is a charmer. A big time charmer. He sees a lady, a woman, a girl, a teenage girl, anyone female and he starts to warm them up. "I like your shoes." "You're pretty!""What kind of car do you drive?"
It's hilarious. The boy loves females. Loves them.

Today he turned his charm on me and in doing so managed to make a room full of women fall at his feet.

It was his preschool Valentine's party. The children all lined up and sang songs. The second song they sang was "My Girl" by the Temptations. On the last chorus with impeccable timing he sang his love to me. The children all sang, "I guess you'd say, what can make me feel this way? My girl" and as soon as the children sang "My girl" Drew sang, "My mom." "I guess you'd say, what can make me feel this way? My girl" "My mom" "My girl" "My mom!"

I managed to get it on tape through a fluke and it is such a treasured moment.

Such a sweet boy!

Parent inventory.

Oh dear me. The GATE school sent us a parent questionnaire with 12 items on it. We've been filling it out and trying to be honest about Kat without blowing too much sunshine. The reality is...Kat is a great kid. She's smart, she's friendly, she's talented. Everyone loves Kat. If you don't believe me, just meet Kat. You'll be a believer in no time.
She's not perfect but they didn't ask us any questions about her faults. If they had asked "Is your child stubborn?" we could have gone on for pages.

It's hard to be fair and balanced when it is your kid...