We are almost done with the first 9 weeks of school year. Katie is really enjoying 1st grade, she loves her teacher and learning lots. I am surprised however how much homework she has each night. Every night she has to read at least 15 mins. and then answer 4 questions about what she read. She also has spelling words she has to learn each night for a test each Friday and then she has at least one sometimes two math packets she has to complete each week. She gets off the bus from school each day around 3:30pm and then she has a little time to grab a snack and just veg before we have to start working on homework. We try to get it done before dinner because by then she is tired and we try to have some family play time after dinner before bed. I do have to say that Katie is very good about getting her homework done and she likes to do as much as she can by herself and then come and show me so I can check it. Last week she had a 5 page math packet with about 30 questions. She asked if she could answer them all on her own and then let me check it. She read each question and answered each question. When I checked them she got all of them right. I was really impressed!
Here is a short video of her reading a book for her homework. Click
here to view the video
Last week I had her first parent teacher conference this year. Mrs. Gibson just let's us know how she is doing, what they are working on and if there are any areas that may need improvement. As expected, Katie does really well in class. She is well behaved, except for a little chatty with her friend that sits beside her. But hey she is a girl and that what girls do...we chat :) Mrs. Gibson said that she was tested for her reading and she is considered an advanced reader for her age. She is at a mid 1st grade to mid 2nd grade level. She has also been put on the list for the "gifted and talented program" based on her creativity in drawing and story writing. I know I am her mom and probably biased but Katie really does have a talent for writing and drawing. Her pictures and stories she writes to go with the really amaze me. I don't need her to be in the gifted and talented program for her to be great, but I do like the idea that in that program she will be challenged and encouraged to develop those skills more.
Oh and the craziest thing to me about school now is how fast they learn how to use computers. Katie came home on Friday and this was our conversation
Katie: Hey mom, I need to use your computer
Me: for what
Katie: I need to do some research and need to google something
Me: Laughing out loud. You need to google something
Katie: Yeah, we learned how to google to answer questions we have and don't know the answers.
Me: Ok, can Mommy what you google something
Katie: Sure
So I sat there amazed at my daughter going to google.com and typing in a question about Japan (they are learning about different countries). I told her you know how mommy used to research when I was young. Nana and Papaw had a wall full of encyclopedia's. I had to look it up. Katie looks at me and says " that is crazy". I also learned that next year, that possible all kids who are in 2nd grade and up will actually do all their work on a laptop. No paper, everything is on the computer. That just seems crazy!
Bree is doing really well in her Pre-K class this year. She is also learning lots. She is writing both Bree and Breanna as well as her last name. She write all of her numbers from 1-10 and can write all of her ABC's. She LOVES to write everything now, and is constantly asking me how to spell words so she can write them. Is so much fun to watch them learn something new and be so excited about how to do. She has a great Pre K teacher Ms. Brittney. They do lots of fun play and learning. She gets really excited when Ms. Brittney gives them stuff to take home to do as a family project. Bree thinks she is a big girl and has "homework" just like Katie. She is so ready for Kindergarten and can't wait to go. I on the other hand am not looking forward to have my last baby start school. Everyone at Bree's school always says how sweet she is, she is always given all the teachers hugs. It really make me smile to see everyone just see a glimpse of how sweet and loving this little girl can be.