Tonight, Daddy went out to dinner with some co-workers. So by the time Mommy and Todd came home from swim lessons at the Y, the house was still dark, making it obvious Daddy wasn't home. Todd noted this, wondering why he wasn't home. I explained where he was. Todd replied, "But why isn't he home YET?" apparently thinking it was late at night and long past dinner time.
I said "Well, it's still early..."
"?!? It's not morning!!" came the reply.
Talk about literal interpretation!
Report Card
Got report cards today for the 2nd term of school. Todd's doing well in all areas. Doing okay in handwriting, which is no surprise-- he could definitely use some improvement there. It's amusing to read his teacher's comments praising his good listening. If only he would listen that well at home!! :-P
School Daze
Had an interesting conversation with Todd today about some of the goings on in school. In general, he's one of the better-behaved and more attentive students, but he's still a regular, easily-distracted 5-year-old, and having a teacher who's very soft on discipline doesn't help matters.
The kids' names are listed on the board one by one, and every day they rack up either checkmarks or stars. Stars if they did something well, checkmarks if they misbehaved. I asked Todd if he'd ever gotten checkmarks before, and he said yes, a couple times. Why? Because he kept talking. To his seatmate, Loftur, of course.
I remember seeing their seats together in the classroom the last few times I was there, and was a bit concerned that putting the 2 together wasn't such a good idea. When I suggested this, Todd explained: "Loftur wanted to sit next to me. Mrs. Markos (their teacher) told him he could, as long as he behaved". Knowing that she seldom takes disciplinary action against such misbehavior anyway, this wasn't such a good idea.
Then Todd told me how he didn't do well on spelling tests because Loftur kept disturbing. He kept asking Todd what the answers were. Todd, to his credit, so far has ignored his pleas, but even so, it's distracting enough to break Todd's own concentration. Never mind the fact that it's cheating! I'm sure Loftur just doesn't understand that, but it nevertheless leaves me concerned that their teacher overlooks or outright misses this kind of stuff all the time.
I instructed Todd to tell his teacher the next time Loftur did it again, so she could put a stop to it. They have spelling tests every week... let's see what happens with this next one!
The kids' names are listed on the board one by one, and every day they rack up either checkmarks or stars. Stars if they did something well, checkmarks if they misbehaved. I asked Todd if he'd ever gotten checkmarks before, and he said yes, a couple times. Why? Because he kept talking. To his seatmate, Loftur, of course.
I remember seeing their seats together in the classroom the last few times I was there, and was a bit concerned that putting the 2 together wasn't such a good idea. When I suggested this, Todd explained: "Loftur wanted to sit next to me. Mrs. Markos (their teacher) told him he could, as long as he behaved". Knowing that she seldom takes disciplinary action against such misbehavior anyway, this wasn't such a good idea.
Then Todd told me how he didn't do well on spelling tests because Loftur kept disturbing. He kept asking Todd what the answers were. Todd, to his credit, so far has ignored his pleas, but even so, it's distracting enough to break Todd's own concentration. Never mind the fact that it's cheating! I'm sure Loftur just doesn't understand that, but it nevertheless leaves me concerned that their teacher overlooks or outright misses this kind of stuff all the time.
I instructed Todd to tell his teacher the next time Loftur did it again, so she could put a stop to it. They have spelling tests every week... let's see what happens with this next one!
Saving turtles
As you may have read in one of my previous posts on my blog, I donated to the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Florida as they became deluged with turtles rescued from the waters of the southeastern United States, stunned from the sudden cold snap. I told Todd about this, and he wanted to help, too: he promised to donate money to such causes every year... once he grew up. When we pointed out that he already had plenty of money from which to donate from, he became a little less enthusiastic about the prospect ;-)
This weekend we got some more library books, and one of them was a book on animals which included a section on endangered and extinct animals. Featured amongst the endangered animals? The Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, of which there are only 900 in the world. When I explained to Todd what endangered and extinct meant, he grew very concerned. As he clapped his book shut, he declared:
"When I grow up, I want to work in a turtle hospital!"
:-D
This weekend we got some more library books, and one of them was a book on animals which included a section on endangered and extinct animals. Featured amongst the endangered animals? The Kemp's Ridley sea turtle, of which there are only 900 in the world. When I explained to Todd what endangered and extinct meant, he grew very concerned. As he clapped his book shut, he declared:
"When I grow up, I want to work in a turtle hospital!"
:-D
"You're so old!"
This from Todd just a few minutes ago:
"Daddy, you're OLD! You're an old man! We need to buy you a cane because you're so old!!"
"Daddy, you're OLD! You're an old man! We need to buy you a cane because you're so old!!"
Double Master Reader
Awards ceremony at school today for the Fall into Reading program. Daddy and I missed it, unfortunately. First graders had to read a minimum of 480 minutes by the end of the six-week program. Those who read twice that were deemed "Master Readers".
Todd, with his voracious reading, read 1968 minutes. He was a Double Master Reader!
Prizes consisted of books, pencils, candy, a certificate and ice cream.
Let the reading continue! :-)
Todd, with his voracious reading, read 1968 minutes. He was a Double Master Reader!
Prizes consisted of books, pencils, candy, a certificate and ice cream.
Let the reading continue! :-)
Storybook Time
Today marked the first day of "Presentation Week", whereby the kids did all sorts of presentations for parents and grandparents. Things kicked off with Storybook Time, in which the kids wrote their own stories and read them aloud to the class. Twice Todd was called upon and asked if he would like to come up and read his story. Twice he refused. I was surprised-- it seemed unusual for him to act so shy in school. Then came the real reason: "I want to go last!" he calmly declared. I see. And last he did go :-P
Todd's story was about "The meaning of Thanksgiving", in which one friend teaches another about being thankful. Written, illustrated, and narrated by the author :-)
The kids wrapped up their presentations with a recitation of a couple of poems. They had worked all last week to memorize their lines-- Todd, of course, working on them with Oma, as he was still there the first week back. It all went smoothly, and I was happy that I could be there to see my little man :-)
Todd's story was about "The meaning of Thanksgiving", in which one friend teaches another about being thankful. Written, illustrated, and narrated by the author :-)
The kids wrapped up their presentations with a recitation of a couple of poems. They had worked all last week to memorize their lines-- Todd, of course, working on them with Oma, as he was still there the first week back. It all went smoothly, and I was happy that I could be there to see my little man :-)
Todd the visitor
At work we're required to sign in visitors, including friends and family members. Todd got a badge he proudly wore. This is his blurry webcam photo that's on his badge. Not the clearest thing in the world, but good enough to identify him. After all, how many other 5-year-olds will you see roaming the building? ;-)
Santa Claus forgot something...
While Todd was away in LA during winter break, Allan and I spied some cool gifts at Borders we thought he might like: a little magic set and an origami set. We bought the presents and stashed them away, unwrapped and still in the Borders bag, until Todd returned.
Having gotten wind of the fact that Santa had delivered some presents that were waiting for him in SB, first thing Todd did after we arrived home was search for the presents. Daddy went into the closet and pulled them out, and Todd delighted in his new gifts for a while.
Later that evening, it dawned on him that he didn't have to unwrap anything (I hope he didn't notice that Mommy and Daddy even left the price stickers on! Oops!) and asked me this:
"How come you unwrapped the presents that Santa left here?"
I hastily explained that when Santa dropped off the presents, he was in such a hurry he didn't have time to wrap them, and asked us to. We, of course, subsequently dropped the ball and neglected to wrap them as well.
He seemed satisfied with that explanation. Sure beats thinking that we denied him the fun of unwrapping Santa's gifts!
Having gotten wind of the fact that Santa had delivered some presents that were waiting for him in SB, first thing Todd did after we arrived home was search for the presents. Daddy went into the closet and pulled them out, and Todd delighted in his new gifts for a while.
Later that evening, it dawned on him that he didn't have to unwrap anything (I hope he didn't notice that Mommy and Daddy even left the price stickers on! Oops!) and asked me this:
"How come you unwrapped the presents that Santa left here?"
I hastily explained that when Santa dropped off the presents, he was in such a hurry he didn't have time to wrap them, and asked us to. We, of course, subsequently dropped the ball and neglected to wrap them as well.
He seemed satisfied with that explanation. Sure beats thinking that we denied him the fun of unwrapping Santa's gifts!
Funny glasses
Todd proudly models some of the zany glasses that Grandpa gave us for Christmas. He had fun "disguising" himself! :-)
