Another video of the Tigger surgery.
Monday, July 14, 2014
One of the best times we had during last school year
I've been meaning to post this for a while now. Over the school year, one of the events we had was having a veterinarian friend Angel came to talk to our co-op. Angel was amazing. She has the most gentle manner and soothing voice but was still able to hold the attention of all the kids. We were all amazed at how attentive the kids were when she talked.
Angel introduced the occupation of veterinarian to the kids, explaining what a vet does, how to become one, the types of animals they treat, etc. She brought in real animal x-rays showing the type of injuries they had. Angel also taught the kids about dog bite prevention, and performed teddy bear surgery on the stuffed animals each family brought. She used really surgical instruments!
Here's the video of Ethan and Noah during their Tigger surgery.
Angel introduced the occupation of veterinarian to the kids, explaining what a vet does, how to become one, the types of animals they treat, etc. She brought in real animal x-rays showing the type of injuries they had. Angel also taught the kids about dog bite prevention, and performed teddy bear surgery on the stuffed animals each family brought. She used really surgical instruments!
Here's the video of Ethan and Noah during their Tigger surgery.
Summer break = free play!
It's been a month into our summer break...what have we done? Originally I had big plans to do 3 days of school each week teaching about animals, body, telling time, etc., however, things didn't work out the way I planned. I ended up signing the boys up for nature camp. Noah gets to spend 2 hours each day for a week learning about woodlands, grasslands, and wetlands and explore nature. Ethan gets a week of all-day camp to do hiking, fishing, canoeing, biking, and even learn survival skills.
Today was Noah's first day of camp, he was able to share in details of the story book they read in camp, as well as making new friends. He told me about a mean boy who didn't want Noah to be near him, but Noah was able to peacefully resolved the conflict without getting into any fights. I told him I was very proud of him and it's a sign of his growth and maturity.
Our friend shared this article "Why Free Play is the Best Summer School", after reading this, I feel more encouraged to just let the kids play all summer and not worry too much about academics. I still keep up with reading everyday and math problems every other day though. I do believe summer months are the best time to work on their characters and behaviors rather than academics. It's also the best time to train them up on doing house chores, and learn how to be "bored". Right now the boys need to work on getting along with their little sister, who can be very sensitive at times. I believe letting them do free play is the best way to encourage them to figure out how to get along peacefully.
Here's the article.
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
School Year-End Party
We finished our last week of co-ops last week and had our year-end party today. I cannot believe we won't be meeting up next year. However, driving into the city each week, dropping Steve off at work downtown and then the boys at different homes have been logistically challenging. I get so exhausted especially since I had to teach at the same time. Even though we won't be meeting in the fall, I still hope the kids will keep up their friendship by doing regular playdates. It was so nice to see the kids grow up and become buddies.
During the party, the kids each did a show-and-tell to show off their best work over the past year. It ranged from Science Fair awarded projects to artwork to writing projects. Ethan read aloud one of his poems "Happiness" which is going to be published in the Creative Communications poetry book. I thought he was going to be mumbling through the reading but he was actually confident and articulate. Noah brought his favorite Kindergarten workbook and flipped through telling everyone how he likes to work with it. Even little Bethany did her own show-and-tell with Noah's workbook!
I'm so thankful to all the co-op teachers who had challenged and shaped our boys. Each of them love and care for them a lot and I'm sure the boys will miss having them as teachers! We will continue to join Learning Vine for the next school year for enrichment classes, so the boys will be able to expand their horizons and meet other kids from different backgrounds. However, it won't be the same without their best buddies!
Here is Ethan's Simile poem "Happiness".
We finished our last week of co-ops last week and had our year-end party today. I cannot believe we won't be meeting up next year. However, driving into the city each week, dropping Steve off at work downtown and then the boys at different homes have been logistically challenging. I get so exhausted especially since I had to teach at the same time. Even though we won't be meeting in the fall, I still hope the kids will keep up their friendship by doing regular playdates. It was so nice to see the kids grow up and become buddies.
During the party, the kids each did a show-and-tell to show off their best work over the past year. It ranged from Science Fair awarded projects to artwork to writing projects. Ethan read aloud one of his poems "Happiness" which is going to be published in the Creative Communications poetry book. I thought he was going to be mumbling through the reading but he was actually confident and articulate. Noah brought his favorite Kindergarten workbook and flipped through telling everyone how he likes to work with it. Even little Bethany did her own show-and-tell with Noah's workbook!
I'm so thankful to all the co-op teachers who had challenged and shaped our boys. Each of them love and care for them a lot and I'm sure the boys will miss having them as teachers! We will continue to join Learning Vine for the next school year for enrichment classes, so the boys will be able to expand their horizons and meet other kids from different backgrounds. However, it won't be the same without their best buddies!
Here is Ethan's Simile poem "Happiness".
Happiness smells like yummy cake.
Happiness tastes like chocolate.
Happiness sounds like a noisy laugh.
Happiness looks like opening presents on Christmas day.
Happiness feels like freezing snow in my hands when I shovel snow with my dad.
During the party, the kids each did a show-and-tell to show off their best work over the past year. It ranged from Science Fair awarded projects to artwork to writing projects. Ethan read aloud one of his poems "Happiness" which is going to be published in the Creative Communications poetry book. I thought he was going to be mumbling through the reading but he was actually confident and articulate. Noah brought his favorite Kindergarten workbook and flipped through telling everyone how he likes to work with it. Even little Bethany did her own show-and-tell with Noah's workbook!
I'm so thankful to all the co-op teachers who had challenged and shaped our boys. Each of them love and care for them a lot and I'm sure the boys will miss having them as teachers! We will continue to join Learning Vine for the next school year for enrichment classes, so the boys will be able to expand their horizons and meet other kids from different backgrounds. However, it won't be the same without their best buddies!
Here is Ethan's Simile poem "Happiness".
We finished our last week of co-ops last week and had our year-end party today. I cannot believe we won't be meeting up next year. However, driving into the city each week, dropping Steve off at work downtown and then the boys at different homes have been logistically challenging. I get so exhausted especially since I had to teach at the same time. Even though we won't be meeting in the fall, I still hope the kids will keep up their friendship by doing regular playdates. It was so nice to see the kids grow up and become buddies.
During the party, the kids each did a show-and-tell to show off their best work over the past year. It ranged from Science Fair awarded projects to artwork to writing projects. Ethan read aloud one of his poems "Happiness" which is going to be published in the Creative Communications poetry book. I thought he was going to be mumbling through the reading but he was actually confident and articulate. Noah brought his favorite Kindergarten workbook and flipped through telling everyone how he likes to work with it. Even little Bethany did her own show-and-tell with Noah's workbook!
I'm so thankful to all the co-op teachers who had challenged and shaped our boys. Each of them love and care for them a lot and I'm sure the boys will miss having them as teachers! We will continue to join Learning Vine for the next school year for enrichment classes, so the boys will be able to expand their horizons and meet other kids from different backgrounds. However, it won't be the same without their best buddies!
Here is Ethan's Simile poem "Happiness".
Happiness smells like yummy cake.
Happiness tastes like chocolate.
Happiness sounds like a noisy laugh.
Happiness looks like opening presents on Christmas day.
Happiness feels like freezing snow in my hands when I shovel snow with my dad.
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
If he wants to be a clown...then let him be!
I wonder if every 6 year old boy goes through this....but Ethan has been acting more and more like a clown lately. He is getting the wrong attention from others by acting funny, saying weird and funny things, and enjoy the response from his friends. It's been spreading to his last two Sunday school class and the last lesson at our co-op.
Steve and I were trying to figure out what to do to discipline him. We had talks with him previously about this sort of behavior but it didn't seem to affect him in any way. Taking away things would not matter as much to him at this point and can't connect to the bad behavior. So I came up with this. I grabbed a plastic take-out soup container, wrapped it with a green construction paper, and wrote "clown" on it with a sharpie. Ethan had to wear the "clown" hat for 10 minutes against the wall with all of us watching. I even took a photo of it. This might seem excessive and even mean. The 10 minutes was tough for Ethan. He cried the whole time. Steve then had a long talk with him in his room.
This morning I had another talk with him asking how he felt when he was goofing off during class. He told me he wanted to be funny. I said that it's okay to be funny sometimes and make people laugh, but doing so in a classroom setting is definitely not appropriate. I asked how he felt when he had to wear the "clown" hat last night. He said he felt sad. I told him that real clowns belong in a circus and our family is not a circus.
Today we also learned the bible verse "Even a child is known by his actions, whether their conduct is pure and right." (Proverbs 20:11). I explained to both boys that their actions can result in good reputation or bad reputation for both themselves and their parents. They wouldn't want people to know them by being naughty and disrespectful, but rather helpful and gentle, and have self-control.
Lord, thank you for giving me patience today to teach the boys these lessons. It's been so hard to be consistent, to be tough. But you command us to train up our children in your ways. Lord, give me strength and grace to work with them. Give me teachable moments so I can teach them with your word. May they keep your word in their hearts and have the desire to do good. Tomorrow is another day. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Steve and I were trying to figure out what to do to discipline him. We had talks with him previously about this sort of behavior but it didn't seem to affect him in any way. Taking away things would not matter as much to him at this point and can't connect to the bad behavior. So I came up with this. I grabbed a plastic take-out soup container, wrapped it with a green construction paper, and wrote "clown" on it with a sharpie. Ethan had to wear the "clown" hat for 10 minutes against the wall with all of us watching. I even took a photo of it. This might seem excessive and even mean. The 10 minutes was tough for Ethan. He cried the whole time. Steve then had a long talk with him in his room.
This morning I had another talk with him asking how he felt when he was goofing off during class. He told me he wanted to be funny. I said that it's okay to be funny sometimes and make people laugh, but doing so in a classroom setting is definitely not appropriate. I asked how he felt when he had to wear the "clown" hat last night. He said he felt sad. I told him that real clowns belong in a circus and our family is not a circus.
Today we also learned the bible verse "Even a child is known by his actions, whether their conduct is pure and right." (Proverbs 20:11). I explained to both boys that their actions can result in good reputation or bad reputation for both themselves and their parents. They wouldn't want people to know them by being naughty and disrespectful, but rather helpful and gentle, and have self-control.
Lord, thank you for giving me patience today to teach the boys these lessons. It's been so hard to be consistent, to be tough. But you command us to train up our children in your ways. Lord, give me strength and grace to work with them. Give me teachable moments so I can teach them with your word. May they keep your word in their hearts and have the desire to do good. Tomorrow is another day. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, May 19, 2014
Running a tight ship is....exhausting!
We've always been trying to train the kids to obey the first time instead of having to count 1, 2, 3. However, it's easier said than done. Lately due to tiredness, laziness, and other reasons, we've been more loose in our discipline, resulting in kids who are slow to respond to our calls. What really raised the red flag was when Ethan's Sunday school teacher told us that he wasn't responding when he was called on 7-8 times. We knew at that point that things needed to change immediately.
Steve and I had a long talk about how and where we went wrong. Mainly we had been giving too many chances for the boys to come to us, and too many warnings before discipline occurs. Our action plan is to keep the boys on their toes, and expect them to obey the first time or discipline happens right away.
It's been a week now and things have been better. When they're called, they would say they're coming and respond quicker. I'm hoping this will come naturally and become a good habit.
Another thing that's been tough was school time. The boys were just used to learning against things and sitting in whatever position they wanted. I allowed them to be too comfortable and they had a hard time paying attention.
To change this, I asked them to sit on two plastic stools so they can sit up straight, with their bottoms on the seat the whole time. They still fidget and struggle to sit still, but it's in working progress.
Running a tight ship this week has been sooooo exhausting physically, emotionally, and mentally! However, I praise God that I see little progress here and there. We should always rejoice in small victories!
Steve and I had a long talk about how and where we went wrong. Mainly we had been giving too many chances for the boys to come to us, and too many warnings before discipline occurs. Our action plan is to keep the boys on their toes, and expect them to obey the first time or discipline happens right away.
It's been a week now and things have been better. When they're called, they would say they're coming and respond quicker. I'm hoping this will come naturally and become a good habit.
Another thing that's been tough was school time. The boys were just used to learning against things and sitting in whatever position they wanted. I allowed them to be too comfortable and they had a hard time paying attention.
To change this, I asked them to sit on two plastic stools so they can sit up straight, with their bottoms on the seat the whole time. They still fidget and struggle to sit still, but it's in working progress.
Running a tight ship this week has been sooooo exhausting physically, emotionally, and mentally! However, I praise God that I see little progress here and there. We should always rejoice in small victories!
Thursday, April 24, 2014
Easter eggs got thrown out
Today is the 4th day of school since Spring Break. I didn't expect the boys to be perfectly behaved from all the playing they'd done over the break, but when it came to prayer time, I needed them to be serious. I let them pray first and there were both fine, then it was my turn. I took a little longer to pray and since I heard no sound from the boys, I thought they must be good and listening. Of course once I opened my eyes, Ethan was playing with an empty Easter egg shell, and Noah was playing with his Iron Man costume gloves. I was upset, I was mad. I told Ethan because he decided to play with the egg shell while I prayed, he will lose all the Easter eggs. Noah had to take off his costume and can't wear it for the whole day. Was I too mean?
I asked the boys the same question. Was mommy being mean? Both of them said yes. I had to explain to them that I wasn't being mean but I had to teach them about their actions lead to consequences, good or bad. It might be seem that I have overreacted, but I really needed the boys to understand the seriousness of prayer time and the importance of respect for God and people who are praying. This has been a ongoing issue with them, they don't have the fear of God yet.
I have to admit though, I have second thoughts about throwing the all the eggs out. Should I have only thrown out one or a few? Ethan was very sad but didn't throw a tantrum which was shocking to me. I calmed him down and explained my reasons, he was fine. I think it was wild but hopefully a good decision made.
I asked the boys the same question. Was mommy being mean? Both of them said yes. I had to explain to them that I wasn't being mean but I had to teach them about their actions lead to consequences, good or bad. It might be seem that I have overreacted, but I really needed the boys to understand the seriousness of prayer time and the importance of respect for God and people who are praying. This has been a ongoing issue with them, they don't have the fear of God yet.
I have to admit though, I have second thoughts about throwing the all the eggs out. Should I have only thrown out one or a few? Ethan was very sad but didn't throw a tantrum which was shocking to me. I calmed him down and explained my reasons, he was fine. I think it was wild but hopefully a good decision made.
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