Christmas Lists

Okay, for train stuff, see the earlier post on Gabe's Christmas List.

Both or either:

• Toy Story 2 DVD
• Toy Story 3 DVD (set to release Nov. 2)
  
• Princess and the Frog DVD
• Curious George Christmas DVD
  
• Zhu Zhu pets (these are fake hamsters, if one gets one, they both need to get one)
• Pillow pets
• Imaginext aircraft carrier

Chi:

• Buzz Lightyear action figure (it's about 12 inches tall or so, and has all the bells and whistles like the "real" Buzz Lightyear.
• Mobigo games (this is a made by vtech and can be found at any toy store, Walmart, Target, etc. He has the Toy Story game)
• Magneatos or other magnetic building toys
• Geotrax, especially the ramp pack, but any of the track or set add-ons, including the Cars sets
• Imaginext Batman accessories, we already have the Batcave
• underwear 2T/3T size
• Chi wears 3T clothes right now.

Gabe:

• DS games (he only has Lego Star Wars)
• Anything Star Wars: toys, Legos, dress-up...
• Legos, especially the boxes of legos, or wheels, or other pieces of interest rather than the sets
• Easy bake oven mixes
• kid's cookbook (colorful, something to actually make a real meal with help for our budding chef)
• easy bake oven cookbooks - "Baking with Mommy Cookbook: Recipes for Kid-sized Ovens" and "Easy Bake Gourmet" (The first is more practical but it's really just desserts and the second is probably a bit out of Gabe's league, quail eggs?, but I still think he'd get a kick out of it because he loves Iron Chef, Top Chef, etc. Who knows, he might even want to try new things if he made them himself in his little oven. Both available on Amazon)
• Gabe wears Boys size 5 or 6. He's sort of in-between right now. All pants must have elastic either all the way around like sweats or the hidden extend tabs like jeans. The boy is so skinny, they won't fit without it!
• Easy chapter books such Magic Tree House (anything above book #6), Jigsaw Jones, Pee Wee Scouts or Nate the Great or Easy Reader books level 2 or 3
  

Becoming one of "those" parents

Someday Gabe will forgive us. I hope someday he may even thank us. But we are becoming "those" parents. You know, the ones who are forever ostracized because they rock the boat. Who won't just sit down, say "our school is the best ever!" and otherwise shut up, and who give generously. You see Matt and I have this crazy notion that schools should be in the business of educating. Crazy, I know. As much as I strongly believe in arts, foreign language and gym classes for all students, I also want my child to actually learn the basics. While some schools in our nation are fighting for an art class, we have to fight for a math class.

Alright, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. Let's start with math because I brought it up. Math has been ridiculously easy for Gabe so he's bored. He told me math wasn't any fun. So, I talked to his teacher. Now he is in an "advanced group." But all that has amounted to is that they go and do the worksheet faster than the rest of the group and then read a book. Now, they did a lot on patterns. That's fine. Patterns are important, but instead of going to read, why couldn't the teacher extend the learning? Why not look for number patterns, or patterns in the world? Or at least play a math game. So far, this has not improved. We have begun to teach math facts at home. Schools seem to have gone away from memorization and we think it's important, so that's one thing we are now teaching at home.

He was never tested on his reading level and was started significantly lower than his level. We have gone back and forth and all around on this. You see, they read Accelerated Reader books and take comprehension tests. Okay. fine. But the teacher has set a goal of 100 AR books. If a student achieves this goal she takes the student out to lunch and buys them a book. So, if you are reading this, you likely know Gabe. How well do you think he'd take it if I just said, no, you aren't going to reach that goal? It's not that he can't read 100 books, he just can't read 100 chapter books before the end of the school year. That means that he has to read far below his level to reach the goal. Now, the only time in class that they are getting to practice reading on their reading level is with the AR books. Are you seeing the problem? Quantity over quality, apparently. So, now he's being actively held back, but there is nothing I can do about that without taking away the chance of the lunch with his teacher. So, now I have to get him through the easy books and then challenge him with harder books myself. That's okay, but now I'm up to two things I have to do completely at home.

Rather than having spelling and grammar instruction, it will just be modeled for them during reading and writing time. Eventually they will pick it up. New levels of ridiculousness courtesy of our public schools. Three things I have to teach at home.

(Interestingly, Gabe doesn't mind the extra math work at home, but he's mad about the spelling tests. I need to come up with a good reward for those. Any ideas?)
About the only thing that seems to be going well is science.

They also do lots of cheesy projects that don't have much educational value, but I guess I am okay with that too. I don't think that they shouldn't have any fun. I just think the focus should be on fun because they are learning. And learning while being engaged in meaningful work rather than busy work.

So we've tried talking to the teacher, who is now hurt that we don't trust her. To that I was just a bit dumbfounded. She has only given lip service to the issues. She has a bright, inquisitive kid who has a great thirst for knowledge. That should be a blessing to her, but I constantly feel like she treats it as a large burden. We will be talking again. But we are also meeting with the principal next week. I wish I was able to have more faith in this working out, but I don't.

So, in the meantime we become "those" parents. Who will forever more be labeled as difficult, and that label will follow us the rest of the way through this elementary school. Gabe will be unfairly judged by it, but that is what happens. I know it's a fight I won't win, but I guess when it's a fight worth fighting, winning isn't what's important. Not giving in is what's important. So, in the meantime, you can find us over here in Crazyland, where we expect more than just advancement through the grades, but actual education. I know, I know. Still wasting our time with that critical thinking nonsense...

Autumn perfection

We had a really nice weekend. Matt's parents came up to visit. The weather was absolutely gorgeous, so it made for a great trip to the pumpkin patch. We went to Johnson's Giant Pumpkins again this year. They have a really nice variety of activities, but the big draw is the trebuchet. We watched a 74 lb. pumpkin fly almost a 1000 ft. Gabe and I ran down to check the spot where it impacted. There was nothing but some bits of shell and a mushy crater. It was pretty awesome.

The boys took a ride on the mini train and got to see some birds. I think they saw geese, but lately Chi insists every large bird is a duck, so according to him, that is what they saw. We came home loaded down with pumpkins and gourds. Slowly, but surely, we are starting to get the home decorated for Halloween.

Chi's costume is pretty much ready to go. He is going to be the Cat in the Hat. I still have a bit of work to do on Gabe's, but it's about half ready. He is going to be Han Solo. Really it was all about weapon choice this year for Gabe. He wanted to be a storm trooper so he could have a blaster. I pointed out that it would be easier to make a Han Solo costume and he had a cooler blaster, so that worked for Gabe.

Yesterday was also a nice day, but we were tired out. While Matt and Chi napped, I had on the Colts game. Gabe looked at the score and asked, "Is that how many tackledowns they have?" Oh, yeah. We've educated him well in sports. I tried to explain touchdowns and field goals, but every time some one got tackled, he said, "Yea! A tackledown! How many points, Mommy?" I think we are going to have to work on that. :)

What Gabe wants for Christmas

I am starting my shopping early so I can spread the cost out and make it more enjoyable for me to do the shopping. I thought others might be doing the same, and since what Gabe wants is so specific, I thought I would start his list on here now.

What Gabe wants the most for Christmas is a great start on his train table. We are doing an HO scale set. We haven't selected buildings yet, but we are thinking Northeast scenery. If you prefer things like trees and such, evergreens or deciduous would be appropriate. We are planning on Autumn for the season. So, here's stuff that he needs to create our layout.
Track pieces (Atlas True-Track):
4 460 18" curves (pkg 4)
3 450 9" straight (pkg 4)
1 452 3" straight (pkg 4)
2 478 left-hand turnouts
2 479 right-hand turnouts
2 465 terminal joiners (pkg 2)
Girder bridge (Atlas 885)

Since he only needs the amount of track I have listed here, please put a comment up here if you buy it so that others can see that it has already been purchased. We have a lot of scenery to fill so it's okay if you guys go nuts on the trees or flock or whatever catches your fancy, but just give a heads up to all the family if you happen to buy some of the track. And if you really have no desire to go to a train hobby store, I will put up a list of other stuff sometime in the next few days for both boys.