Saying good-bye to second and fourth grades today!
teacher gifts - check.
end of year picnics - check.
passed end of grade tests - check.
Now it is just the final day to say good-bye to friends, high-five the teachers for making it through the year, and eat whatever leftovers the cafeteria cobbles together for the last day.
I love comparing first day and last day pictures. Elise has definitely changed a lot... hard to believe she'll be at the top of the school in fifth grade next month!
I was fortunate to get to chaperone Elise's field trip to the coast on Friday. I know the teachers sometimes feel like they are pulling teeth to get volunteers for events, but this trip is really popular. People jump at the chance to chaperone. I was fascinated that easily half of them were dads. I can't imagine ANY dad ever chaperoning a field trip when I was a kid. What a great improvement in society that is! Initially, I didn't sign up quick enough, and all the chaperone spots were full. Somebody dropped out though, so I lucked into going.
We showed up at the crack of dawn to load the bus. Some of the car-driving parents poked fun at those of us who chose to ride the bus. I still can't figure out why they felt like they made the better choice. They spent easily $50 in gas to drive themselves to the coast and back while I paid $10 to sit in a comfy bus, read a book, watch a movie, or sleep. It seems like a no-brainer to me. The kids were great. They quietly listened to iPods or watched the movie.
We arrived at the U.S.S. North Carolina battleship with weather that couldn't have been more perfect.
As we toured it, I asked Elise to think about what it might have been like to live on one of these ships during WWII. Her great-grandfather was stationed on a carrier in the Pacific, so she got a feel for what his life might have been like.
Elise must have been going for some sort of Ashton Kutcher trucker hat look.
After the battleship (and spending too much time in the gift shop), we had a nice picnic lunch on the waterfront in Wilmington.
Our next adventure was a boat ride over to Masonboro Island. The marine life educators who ran this part of the tour were fantastic. I decided that over the years, they must have figured out every trick for giving tours to fourth graders. Their presentations and organization were flawless.
While on the island, we collected shells, learned about marsh critters, and did some crabbing.
At the end of the day, we took the boat back, got on the buses with smiles on our faces, and relaxed on the way home (or those who drove had to stay awake to drive while I peacefully slept on the bus!).
It was such a nice day. I'm glad I have two more girls who will at some point be fourth graders. Hopefully I can do this trip again (or let J.C. have a chance.).
A few days ago, Elise's teacher sent an email to parents about a homework assignment. The kids were to either watch the news, read the newspaper, or talk to their parents about current events. She suggested topics like the economy and presidential election. That evening, Elise and I watched a few clips on cnn.com, and then we talked. We talked about Romney, Gingrich, Obama, Santorum, Republicans, Democrats, voting, the economy, mortgages, foreclosures, unemployment, the war in Afghanistan, the killing of innocent Afghan people by a US soldier, and post traumatic stress syndrome in soldiers. I thought we did a pretty good job of covering all the big current event topics.
The next day, she was to write a poem about a current event. While politics, the economy, or war wouldn't necessarily be my first choice subject if I was writing poetry, it was her assignment, not mine. I'm just happy to be out of school and in a job that doesn't require any poetry writing.
Yesterday, we had a parent-teacher conference with Elise's teacher, and I asked Elise to show me her poetry journal. I wanted to see which of these serious topics she had chosen for her current events poem.
This was it. It is Haiku (5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables).
Star turns twenty-six.
The same age as Mrs. L.
She is a singer.
Mortgages? Obama? Afghanistan? Romney?
No...
Lady Gaga's birthday. I guess I need to broaden my definition of "current events", huh?
I love that my kids get excited about the science fair. We need more women interested in science (see this post if you don't believe me), and an elementary school science fair is a great place to start. I love how enthusiastic they get about planning and working on their projects.
Actually, I think I mostly just love the science fair in theory. I love the idea of it. I love how it stimulates my kids' brains and creativity in ways their regular school work doesn't. I love listening to them talk about their ideas. I love seeing their eyes light up as they finalize their project plans.
Every year, participating in the science fair seems like such a great idea. Then... we actually do it. No matter how simple the experiment or project may seem, it always takes at least twice as long as anticipated. We barely have time to get homework finished as it is, so I'm not sure why we think adding a big project on top of that will work well. Then there is the sticky, syrupy sugar solution that spills all over the kitchen table, chairs, and floor. There is the sugar solution that isn't concentrated enough, doesn't grow any sugar crystals, and causes us to start over a week later.
There are the styrofoam balls that sound like the perfect choice for planets but cost a ridiculous sum of money. Who are the millionaires producing styrofoam balls, and how do I get in on that racket?
There are the hours spent watching 8-10 year olds type up their results painfully slowly, my fingers twitching, desperate to just jump in there and type it for them but knowing they need to do it themselves.
That brings me to the actual night of the science fair. There are the darling projects where you know the child did every inch of it themselves with no parent involvement whatsoever. These are my favorites.
There are the majority of the projects, like ours, where the parents provided some direction and consultation, but the kids did the work.
Then, inevitably, there are always the projects where you wonder if the child was involved at all. (Yes, that display has its own light source and dry ice to simulate clouds).
The science fair is always held in winter months when you typically bundle up for the weather. It is insanely crowded though and miserably hot. You shove your way through the crowds with sweat dripping down your back looking at dyed carnations, Pepsi and Mentos photos, and more sugar crystals.
Again, in theory, I love the idea of walking around looking at each child's project, admiring their hard work, inspiration, and creativity. Yet, in reality, I find myself counting down the minutes until we can pack up and leave. The crowds make me claustrophobic.
Despite the sticky floor, fortune spent on styrofoam, and claustrophobia, I know it is all worth it at the end. They learn a lot, get a great feeling of accomplishment, and have smiles on their faces all in the name of science. I know that's a good thing.
I'm just glad it only comes around once a year, so I have time to recover and forget the experience from the year before.
Elise's jump rope team performed for an elementary school Friday afternoon. They did three performances in a row, one for kindergarten/first, one for second/third, and one for fourth/fifth. These kids were the perfect audience. They were so pumped up and enthusiastic, so it made the performance really fun for the team kids. Also, with three shows, if anyone messed up a routine, they had two more shots at getting it right!
Last time I posted a video of a jump rope performance, I lamented that I needed a new video camera as my point and shoot wasn't up to the task. Then, it dawned on me.... my big fat dSLR takes video! Problem solved! I'm still a lousy videographer and video editor, but at least the quality is decent now!
Elise performed her freestyle routine (which I omitted from the video below since I took it with the camera turned vertically. I figured I would spare you having to turn your head to the side to watch it), cotton eye joe and double dutch. For the cotton eye joe, she is in the back left corner. The last video clip is of one of the kids who really got the crowd going wild.
If you are getting tired of jump rope photos and videos, just let me know. Or better yet, just roll your eyes, mutter, "jump rope AGAIN?", and click away. I just love watching these kids - and not just my own, so I may over-share a bit.
(and as a sidenote, is "whys" a word? Would it be "whies"?)
1. Why does my husband insist on using military time on his alarm clock? He has never been in the military. He is not a firefighter or police officer. He never speaks that way (i.e. "I'll pick up Nina at seventeen hundred hours"). Why the clock? Last night, Addie woke up at 00:06 with a nosebleed. Yes, I can do the conversion, but when I'm barely awake trying to deal with a nosebleed, why should I have to? WHY?
3. Why do Elise and Nina need more pencils at school already? Elise took 48 on the first day of school. Nina took 24. They have only had 19.5 school days so far. Where are the pencils going? Has Elise really gone through 2.5 pencils per day? I think the pencils must run off with the goggles, water bottles, and socks. Somewhere, they are all hiding out laughing at me. 2. Why did Kim Kardashian choose white bridal gowns for her bridesmaids? I get that it was a black and white wedding, but really - check out Kourtney's photo. Doesn't she look like a bride? Why would you want four other people walking around looking like brides at your wedding? I just don't get it. And while I'm on this topic... black tiers on the wedding cake? Blech. Nobody wants to eat black frosting. Ever.
School supplies purchased, lunches made, special first day outfits selected, I think we were ready for the first day of school this year, not just physically ready, but mentally ready too.
Last year's first day was full of anxiety, worries, and fears with Elise repeating third grade. She was nervous about questions from old friends and about meeting new friends. We were anxious right along with her and crossing our fingers that we made the right decision. This year was better - more confidence, fewer worries. With the last year behind us, we know that decision was the right one, and now Elise can move on to fourth grade better prepared and more self-assured. She had a few first day jitters leading up to the big day, but look out fourth grade... here she comes!
As Nina headed off to second grade this year, she was bubbling with excitement - about having desks instead of tables, keeping a reading log, a good friend in her class, and being on the second/third grade hallway. If she had any concerns, you wouldn't know it.
They gathered with their friends at the bus stop, all eagerly comparing notes about teachers and school supplies.
And then they were off... as another school year begins.
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