The Royal Blog

Happy Birthday Z!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Z: Fifth Grade Progress Report, 4th Quarter

Achievement

• A Classroom work consistently meets the highest expectations
• B Classroom work meets expectations and has a good degree of accuracy
• C Classroom work meets expectations and has an average degree of accuracy
• D Classroom work does not meet expectations and has a marginal degree of accuracy
• F Classroom work is significantly below expectations
• I Incomplete

Performance

• 3 Strong
• 2 Satisfactory
• 1 Minimal

• Social Development: 3's

• Work Habits: 3's

• Reading: 3's, A-

• Writing: 2's

• Writing Process and Applications: C-

• Writing Conventions: C-

• Spelling/Word Study: A+

• Mathematics: 3's, Rates and Ratios: A

• Social Studies: 3's, Westward Movement B+, Civil War: A

• Science: 3's

Health: 3's, Human Growth and Development: A, Nutrition: A

I think Z was a little disappointed with the C's; he feels pretty certain he did turn in the assignments that are missing.  I think he just had his mind up that he doesn't enjoy writing and that math is waaaaay better. 

EPP  Values 5 = excellent 4 = very good 3 = satisfactory 2 = minimal 1 = unsatisfactory

Mathematics (Dimensional Discoveries): 5's
Work Habits: 5's

"Z had a great quarter. He created an investigation with a dodecahedron die and then graphed his results with Excel.  His results were interesting as they did not get as close to the mathematical probability as we expected which made for an interesting conversation.  He quickly and carefully worked through the other probability activities and produced quality work.  He did an awesome job with area models for analyzing mazes and I was impressed to see him decide to check his work with the Fundamental Counting Principle.  He worked nicely with classmates on the spinner challenges and made thoughtful contributions. Z made fantastic progress in Logo.  He worked independently through the challenges and has an excellent understanding of procedures, subprocedures, recursions and stops.  He spent days creating his ice cream procedure and should be pleased with his progress.  He used class time wisely, thought logically and showed great attention to detail this quarter."

Achievement

• 4 Consistently

• 3 Most of the Time

• 2 Some of the Time

• 1 Needs Improvement

• Art: 4's

• Phys Ed: 3 (for behavior), 4's, 4+'s

• Music: 4's

Last Day of School!!!!

Field Day went on as planned despite the rain, and boy are E1's feet pruny!!!!

 

A little peek back at the first day:

Chain, chain, chain.....chain of drools

 

The ortho put a chain on Z's teeth today to start closing some of the spaces.  Z says his front four teeth usually hurt for a couple of days after these appointments.

Shoot

 

Or be shot!

Paintball!

Z had a BLAST today! 

Then & Now

Fall 1999 - Z was around 16 months old, 26 pounds and 32.25":

 

Spring 2009 - Z is almost 11 years old (*gasp* *sniffle*), 85 pounds, and 61.25":

 

Doctor, my eyes have seen the years

Z: Needs glasses (just barely, both eyes are -1.00). He was fine about it until it turned out that....

E1: Has (for now anyway) perfect vision. 

Mom:  needs +1 reading glasses.

Fit as a fiddle!

E1 is 57 lbs (around the 20th percentile) and 52.5" (around the 40th percentile).  She needs to continue making sure to eat enough protein and calcium, and to strengthen her inner quadricep. Three of the four are crazy strong but that one is just strong; the imbalance can cause problems.

Z is 85 lbs (around the 65th percentile) and 61 1/4" (around the 95th percentile). His thyroid is a smidge bigger than it should be.  No tests are needed now, it just needs to be monitored.

eta: I made both of them get their Chickenpox Vaccine booster today.

eta2: Z is ACHOO! back on the Claritin.

eta3: Height Predictors put E1 at 5'6" and Z at 6'3"

"This prediction is a "best guess" but it's still just that -- a guess. Based on the formula we used* there is a 50 percent chance that your girl's full-grown height will be within 0.7 inches (above or below) of this prediction, and a 90 percent chance that it will be within 1.7 inches.

THE FINE PRINT: Parents' heights are a good predictor of a child's adult height, but heredity only accounts for about 70 percent of what goes into deciding how tall someone will be. The other 30 percent comes from environmental factors, like eating habits (poor nutrition can "stunt" a child's growth) and exercise patterns (a competitive gymnast may not grow to her full potential).

Sometimes a child will surprise everyone and turn out much taller or shorter than either parent. This calculator can't account for that possibility. It also won't work well for children who 1) are exceptionally tall, 2) are already taller than both their parents, or 3) have a condition that affects their height, such as growth hormone deficiency. "

*Reference:
Predicting Adult Stature Without Using Skeletal Age: The Khamis-Roche Method
by H.J. Khamis and A.F. Roche
Pediatrics, October 1994

Not your father's accessories!

Go Bucks!

 

No, Go Crew!!

Z's Fifth Grade Progress Report, 3rd Quarter

Achievement:

A: Classroom Work Consistently Meets The Highest Expectations
B: Classroom Work Meets Expectations And Has A Good Degree Of Accuracy
C: Classroom Work Meets Expectations With An Average Degree Of Accuracy
D: Classroom Work Does Not Meet Expectations And Has A Marginal Degree Of Accuracy
F: Classroom Work Is Significantly Below Expectations

Performance:

3: Strong
2: Satisfactory
1: Minimal

Social Development: 3's
Work Habits: 3's
Reading: 3's, A
Writing: 3's
Writing Process and Applications: A (D last grade card!!)
Writing Conventions: A (D+ last grade card!!)
Spelling/Word Study: A
Mathematics: 3's
    Number Systems and Algebra: A
    Probability and Discrete Mathematics: A
Social Studies: 3's
    Colonization: A-
    Revolutionary War: B+
    Government: A-
Science: 3's
    Physical Sciences (Energy, Light): A

"Z did a much better job completing assignments this nine weeks."

EPP Description of Values:

5: Excellent
4: Very Good
3: Satisfactory

Reading: 3, 4
Written Work/Projects: 3, 4's
Work Habits: 4's, 5

Brace Face!

 

Before and After

 

 

Afterschool

 

 

More Florida Pictures

 

 

Bliss

Z's 2009 Interview

• Favorite drink(s):  White milk 
• Favorite food(s):  Top 5 not in order - pizza, grilled cheese, popcorn shrimp, hot dogs, chicken fries from BK.
• Favorite tv show(s): Suite Life on Deck, Time Warp or The Simpsons.
• Favorite movie(s): Star Wars, Episode II The Clone Wars
• Favorite book(s):  The Seventh Tower series.
• Favorite song(s):  None.
• Favorite video game(s):  Boom Blox and Super Mario Galaxy
• Favorite sport to play:   Soccer.
• Favorite sport to watch:   Soccer.
• Favorite school subject:  Math.
• Favorite holiday:  Christmas.
• Favorite month/season:  July/Summer.
• Favorite color:  Red.
• What do you want to be when you are an adult: A Professional Soccer Player or an Engineer. 
• What is something you wish you could do: Drive. 
• What accomplishment are you most proud of:  Beingnominated for and going to NYSP.
• Where would you like to go to college: Ohio State.
• Where would you like to go that you haven't been before:  Italy.

Oops - forgot to do 2008

2007:

Favorite drink(s): milk
Favorite food(s): grilled cheese sandwiches, Life cereal
Favorite tv show(s): SpongeBob and GUTS
Favorite movie(s): Night at the Museum
Favorite book(s): Deltora series and Magic School Bus books
Favorite song(s): don't have one
Favorite video game(s): Super Mario Sunshine and Battlefront II
Favorite sport to play: soccer
Favorite sport to watch: soccer, football
Favorite school subject: math and reading

Favorite holiday: Christmas and Halloween
Favorite month/season: Spring and June
What do you want to be when you are an adult: Astronaut 
What is something you wish you could do: Fly (like Superman, not like a plane)
What accomplishment are you most proud of: scoring my first goal in soccer            Where would you like to go to college: The Ohio State University
Where would you like to go that you haven't been before: Japan

Sugar Crash beginning in 5...4...3...2...

 

Isn't that cute?  If iPods are still popular when E2 starts school, I may have to steal that idea.

  

E1 got a big kiss from J, this year's crush.   

   

My sweet boy, who is only getting a little frustrated at how awkward eating is with his palate expander. 

I got the impression that this year, parents weren't welcome at the parties unless they were helping. So I stayed home.

It would be cheaper to expand his horizons.....

 

Z, pre-palate expander, grumpy and attitudinal.

 

Z, post-palate expander, happy as a clam. The dentist said he did a great job; he is a very good patient.  It doesn't hurt and he doesn't have to limit what he eats very much. Talking is a bit awkward.

 

Looks a bit barbaric, doesn't it?

We have to turn the metal bar in the middle twice a night for thirty days and then we'll get new instructions.  In a couple months Z will get brackets and then he will truly be a metal mouth. 

$5000 this year, and no guarantee that he won't need more orthodontic treatment later. Aye carumba!

Wernher Von Braun

 

January's book report had to be on a biography; Z chose Wernher Von Braun.

Z's Fifth Grade Progress Report, 2nd Quarter

Achievement

• A Classroom work consistently meets the highest expectations
• B Classroom work meets expectations and has a good degree of accuracy
• C Classroom work meets expectations and has an average degree of accuracy
• D Classroom work does not meet expectations and has a marginal degree of accuracy
• F Classroom work is significantly below expectations
• I Incomplete

Performance

• 3 Strong
• 2 Satisfactory
• 1 Minimal

• Social Development: 3's

• Work Habits: 2's and 3's

• Reading: 2, 3's, B+

• Writing: 1 (completes assignments on time), 3's

• Writing Process and Applications: D+

• Writing Conventions: D+

• Spelling/Word Study: A

• Mathematics: 3's, Rational Numbers and Operations: A, Geometry #1: A

• Social Studies: 3's, Native Americans: A+, Explorers: A-

• Science: 3's, Earth and Space Sciences: A

Language Arts notes: Z is an excellent writer, but he had trouble completing his assignments this nine weeks. This greatly impacted his grade.

Social Studies notes: Z has worked as an outstanding student. I appreciate how hard he works to do well.

Achievement

• 4 Consistently

• 3 Most of the Time

• 2 Some of the Time

• 1 Needs Improvement

• Art: 3's, 4's

• Phys Ed: 3 (for behavior), 4's

• Music: 4's

 

EPP  Values 5 = excellent 4 = very good 3 = satisfactory 2 = minimal 1 = unsatisfactory

Mathematics (Dimensional Discoveries): 4's, 4+, 5's

The return of the Daily School Pic!!

Haiku Excuse

No dance class today

Z is home sick and dizzy

And the weather stinks

This week, so far.

Monday - back into the swing of things, hurray!  I wish the kids went to a year round school where the longest break was one week.  That's about all I can handle.

Tuesday - We skipped dance because of the freezing rain.  I don't think the roads were that bad but I didn't want to find out.

I thought Z was getting his palate expander (and that we had to pay the down payment).  All they did was take an impression of his teeth (again) to make the expander. It won't be ready for three weeks or so. E1 watched because she'll be having the same thing done later this year or, more likely, this time next year. E2 & I hung out in the play area.

 

Then we went to Z's indoor soccer game.  They lost (to a really good team) but overall had a great season.

 

The CyberShot is, well, about shot.  Doesn't record videos, and now the photos are blurry on the left (horizontal pics) or bottom (vertical pics).  Two and half weeks until the dRebel is supposed to be ready.  I'm wondering how much the repair bill is going to cost.

Wednesday - E2 started bawling during soccer.  They were kicking and heading balloons and she claims she was upset because her balloon touched the floor. 

Winter Training started back up for Z.

E1 made several of my brain cells implode.

Thursday - E2 started to get clingy when it was time for gymnastics class and started in with the "I can'ts".  I said "Don't you dare. We have already talked about this." and she went out and did fine.  My prediction? No matter how much B would prefer she pursued soccer and I would prefer she pursued cheerleading, E2 will stick to gymnastics and be a phenom on bars.

The best thing about this week?  The number of times I have heard "I have to/want to/need to go potty".  E2 is still going in her diapers once in awhile, but she is doing a fabulous job using the potty.  So glad I didn't push it; it really is a lot easier when they are truly ready. 

T.G.I.F.*

More tree trimming photos:

(notice the lack of white stuff outside. *frowny face* )

 

   

The Elves:

Jolly Hollyberry

 

Merry Redcap:

 

Lt. Jinglejangle:

   

What the Elves were doing this morning:

 

I guess we overslept this morning.  I woke up around 7:15, checked to see if school was delayed (we were supposed to get ice overnight) - it wasn't, went back to bed.  E2 woke up twenty minutes before preschool starts so we rushed and I dropped her off. Shortly after coming home, got a phone call from the school.  Z, during gym, apparently whacked the back of his head when he ran into a pole (I assume running backwards and not because he was pushed).  School said he has a lump but seems fine; hopefully we don't have to make a trip to the doctor after school.  And the cable company is coming to replace our dvr today (doesn't record correctly anymore).  They're supposed to be between 12 and 2, my guess is it will be 2 and I'll be late picking up the big kids.  Oh, and it is totally dreary, chilly and pouring rain.  The rain this week has been a lot more like a July downpour than a December rain.  Weird.

*Thank Goodness It's Friday or This Gal Is Frustrated, take your pick.

Welcome Home 2008 MLS CHAMPIONS: THE COLUMBUS CREW

 

Z with the kick ass sign I made:

   

The kids with Mayor Coleman!:

The kids with Ricardo Pierre-Louis:

 

With Frankie Hejduk (Crew Captain and US National Defender):

 

With Alejandro Moreno (Venezuelan International Striker):

 

With Robbie Rogers (US National Team Midfielder and 2008 Olympian and E1's self-proclaimed Team Boyfriend!):

 

With Eddie Gaven (US U23 International Midfielder):

 

With Pat Noonan:

  

With Chad Marshall (MLS DEFENDER OF THE YEAR):

   

With The Cup:

 

With Andy Iro (Crew 2008 Number 1 Draft Pick):

 

With Steven Lenhart:

Day Fifty Five

Day Fifty Four

Care to guess what kind of mood Z is in this morning?  Sigh. And to top if off, I was so busy trying to get him out of the house that I forgot to get their lunches out of the fridge. Grumble grumble.

Day Fifty Three

Day Fifty Two

Day Fifty One, Part Two

Z is in a much better mood this afternoon (E1 is another story).  My conference with his teacher was short - he too is doing very well in school.  Well-rounded, social, "no doubts about his future success in academics", etc.  The only thing he needs to work on is organization - specifically with follow-through.  He does his assignments (sometimes twice! what a waste of time.) but turning them in is an issue. 

Day Fifty One

Z went to school a little mad today because he got caught kicking E2 right before we left. The kicking is annoying, but it's the lying that is really ticking me off.  In other Z news, I have a conference with his teacher today after school.  And yesterday, right in the middle of class, he had a really big fart! Was he embarrassed? No, everyone in the class laughed and thought it was really funny. 

A little taller, not smaller

Yesterday I had to measure E1 to see if she is tall enough to ride Primeval Whirl and RockNroller Coaster at WDW.  She was very happy to discover that the only thing she can't do at the 4 major parks is drive a car at Tomorrowland Speedway!  E1 is 51", E2 is 39" (so with shoes on she'll be able to ride almost everything) and Z is ...... 60"! 5 feet tall.  Holy cow.

Day Fifty

This week is off to good start:  Z went to bed mad last night.  Both girls ended up in bed with me last night. I woke E1 up this morning to take a shower and discovered at 7:26 that she crawled into her bed and WENT BACK TO SLEEP.  Argh. 

Day Forty Nine

Early Dismissal Today!

And No School Tomorrow!

Cheers and Jeers

--->Cheers to: Z, who walked in the front door after school today and said "Thanks for cleaning, Mom!"

--->Cheers to: B, who came home from work and took E1 to gymnastics.  That way I could just drop Z off at soccer and not worry about traffic and dropping one kid off super early.

--->Cheers to: E1, who has some big plans for her future.  It was a rather convoluted conversation, but very cute. 

• E1: "When I go to college I am going to go to Ohio State and take Math 573"
• Me: "Is one of your teachers taking that?"
• E1: "Mrs C (EPP teacher) took it. It's about multiplication and division and..."  *voice trails off into an indistinct mumble since she has no clue how to describe it*.
• Me: "Are you going to get a degree in Math like your bubby?"
• E1: "Yes. And I'm going to be an astronaut and a gymnast of course. And work in a candy shop. And teach 3rd or 4th grade."   

That's where it became convoluted - with lots of jumping around.  I *think* she decided on substitute teaching and working in the candy shop after she retired, but there was something else in between the math/astronaut/gymnast part and retirement.

When I told him about it later, Z scoffed at her plans and likened them to the Spongebob episode where Spongebob said Squidward could be a football playing king in space. 

--->Jeers to: E1, who, later in the afternoon was a total snot.  Words involved include "stupid", "shut it" and "worst mom in the world". 

Day Forty Eight

E2 is sneezy, coughy, raspy and a little warm so I think we'll just hang out at home today.

Day Forty Seven

Yay! E1 is reading the same book she read yesterday that gave her nightmares that made her crawl into bed with us this morning at 4:15! 

Yay! E1 is up to 15 B.U.G. awards! (Being Unusually Good!)

Z's Fifth Grade Progress Report, 1st Quarter

Achievement

• A Classroom work consistently meets the highest expectations
• B Classroom work meets expectations and has a good degree of accuracy
• C Classroom work meets expectations and has an average degree of accuracy
• D Classroom work does not meet expectations and has a marginal degree of accuracy
• F Classroom work is significantly below expectations
• I Incomplete

Performance

• 3 Strong
• 2 Satisfactory
• 1 Minimal

• Social Development: 3's
• Work Habits: 2 (organizes work/materials), 3's
• Reading: 2's, 3, B- (looks like missing assignments did him in, may be partially my fault - I have stopped cleaning out his folder each night and have him do it)
• Writing: 3's
• Writing Process and Applications: A-
• Writing Conventions: A
• Spelling/Word Study: A+
• Mathematics: 3's, Number Theory A, Estimation and Computation A
• Social Studies: 3's, Geography/Regions A, Government A
• Science: 3's, Ecosystems A-

EPP Values:

• 5 Excellent
• 4 Very Good
• 3 Satisfactory
• 2 Minimal
• 1 Unsatisfactory

• Reading: 4's
• Written Work and Projects: 4's
• Work Habits: 4 (exhibits organizational skills, see a pattern?), 5's

Day Forty Six

A dusting of snow today!

Day Forty Five

 

Day Forty Four

Two things I am very happy about this week:

At the district level:  a team of high school teachers is submitting a grant application to fund a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math School.  I would absolutely LOVE for Z to have the opportunity to attend a school like that!

At the school level: the third grade students are now switching classes for Math and are being placed in skill-based groups! E1 said there are only about 10 students in her Math class!

I think it's kinda funny - on the recent parent surveys I've taken for our district and the gifted services department, I specifically complained about the lack of magnet schools in our district, and the need to group kids by ability level. 

Day Forty Three

This was staged; I told them to jump for joy! :)

Day Forty Two

Halloween 2008

We were done TorT by about 7:15.  I think the Elegant Coffin Vampiress missed her bubby, got tired of waiting for slow-as-molasses Cinderella, and was sick of hearing all the "you're soooo beautiful" comments given to Cinderella.  Cinderella was tired of cowering from dogs (it was Weimeraner city tonight) and just plain tired.  [As soon as we got home however, she enthusiastically, repeatedly told me "I LIKE Trick or Treating!!". ]

Day Forty One

The big kids had very fun parties at school and the sugar ingestion (is that a word?) is off to a great start!

At 5:00 I'm dropping Z off at his friend J's house for pizza and trick or treating. *sniff*  I hate when one of my little chicks leaves the nest before I'm ready!

Day Thirty Nine

Halloween Party

We went to a Halloween Party at a retirement home last night. It was actually rather awkward and depressing but hopefully the residents enjoyed it a little. Dunno.

E1 had a blast - there were about 10 kids from her grade there. Z had fun - there was candy. E2 - well, there were two dogs there for part of the party so my arms got really tired from holding her. 

Day Thirty Seven

Oh well. They can't all be winners!

Day Thirty Five

Today the kids had FIVE fire drills!  Because a kindergartner pulled the alarm three times! No, because a circuit got stuck! Nuh-uh! EVERYBODY in the fifth grade was talking about it and knows it was a kindergartner! I bet he was expelled!!  NO! _____ (the janitor) came in our classroom and said it was a stuck circuit!!