Entertain, Inform or Persuade

Ava cracks me up.  The other day we were reading a book before bedtime. 

Ava breaks out with this random thought: 

"The purpose of books is to entertain, inform or persuade... I think this book is to entertain." 

This girl has a memory like an elephant; she doesn't forget a thing. 

Peace, love and retention of a good kind,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Popcorn Words

Ava's class at school has been working on their "popcorn words."  These are words that should "pop" into the student's head and be automatically recognized (without needing to sound them out).  There are 80 words total, 40 that comprise the kindergarten list.  Ava finshed ALL 80 words before Christmas! 

At first taking a word for face value wasn't the easiest thing for her, since she learned phonetically how to read words (with A Beka's reading program at Lighthouse Academy).  Reading phonetically should help her in the long run, though, since she'll be able to sound her way through words that might seem difficult. 

She is quite the reader!  Prior to the holidays, she has been reading up through level "I" in Newmark's rising reader leveled books.  We haven't attempted anything above level I, yet. 

Newmark's "level" chart:

This is the note that was sent home with her, which was attached to a bag of celebratory popcorn!  Now that she has made her way through the popcorn words, she is working on spelling all of the popcorn words correctly.  I think Ava, a little boy named Cody and Ava's friend Ansley are the first three to have moved onto spelling the popcorn words. 

Go Ava!!!

Peace, love and kernels,

Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Our New Daisy Girl Scout!

On December 21st, Ava officially became a Daisy Girl Scout! 

She had to learn the Girl Scout Promise in order to be "initiated."  She couldn't wear her vest until the induction ceremony, just like the other Kindergarten girls in her troop.  They had a party that both Doug and I attended.  We watched Ava recite her part of the promise to "Be responsible for what I say and do," before she pinned a petal on the flower board.  She and all of the girls then received a membership pin and were "pinned" by one of the leaders.  They had cake and took some silly pictures.  It was fun!

Congrats, Ava!  We know you are so happy to be a Daisy with your friends! 

Her vest, with currently earned ironed-on badges:

What her vest will look like, once she earns all of the flower petals:

Peace, love and flower power,

Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Thanksgiving Festivities at Murdock Elementary

Ava's class had a concert, along with two of the other kindergarten classes.  It was scheduled around noon.  Doug and I both headed to Ava's school, where parents and kids were seated in the music room.  One of the other kindergarten teachers directed the classes in their music.  Kids were dressed as either a pilgrim or an indian.  Ava was dressed as an indian, complete with an outfit she decorated.  :) 

Their songs were absolutely hilarious.  One of my favorites was:

"Oh, I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!

They'll stuff you and beat you...

and then they will eat you...

Oh, I'm glad I'm not a turkey on Thanksgiving Day!"

Once the concert concluded, we went back to Ava's classroom, where they had desserts.  We brought some Rolos treats (A Rolos candy on top of a pretzel, then topped with a pecan half).  Ava showed us her placemat, which was QUITE colorful!  I took a look at the other placemats of her fellow classmates.  Let's just say Ava is VERY creative... Most kids drew simple eyes, a nose and mouth.  Ava drew eyelashes, red cheeks, etc.  ;-)

We just sat down to start eating some yummy treats when Mrs. Mckenzie mentioned that all "McIntoshes" (they call the kindergarteners Mckenzie McIntoshes) should show their parents how well they can act during a tornado drill.  Here I am thinking it was a dog and pony show, when in actuality there was a real threat of a tornado.  The teachers and students were ushered into the hallway, where the kids had to kneel on the floor, putting their head down, as well, with their hands clasped over their necks.  They had to stay in this position until the threat of a tornado passed.  We were there, hunkered down in the hallway, for an hour and a half!  With kids who had just been sugared up and weren't supposed to make noise.  They actually did really well...I couldn't believe it! 

It was an odd ending to our celebration!  We were finally told we could leave, at which point we just took Ava home (since it was the end of the school day anyway). 

The Thanksgiving program

Ava's seriously colorful placemat.

Check out Ava's colorful placemat and her deskmates' placemats. 

Taking a break from our hurricane positions...

Ava's recap of a book about a turkey who disguised himself as a pig,

to avoid the Thanksgiving table.  ;-)

("Turkey was terrifying (terrified). 

He wants to get a costume because he didn't want to get eaten. 

He got on a pig costume. 

It did work. 

Turkey dressed up as a pizza man and he delivered pizza. 

They ate pizza.") 

Peace, love, pilgrims and indians,

Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Ava and Dad: Guitar Practice

Ava recently requested a guitar lesson from Doug.  I took a little video of their session.  These are the snapshots.  He was teaching her how to play "Mary Had a Little Lamb."  She did great!

Peace, love and love notes,

Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

A Frequent Sight Around Our House

Within the past few weeks, Ava has really enjoyed practicing headstands.  I mean REALLY enjoyed.  We don’t have too many bare walls in this house (we have quite a few windows), so she has found creative places to practice her headstands.  Evidence below.

What can I say?  This girl is most definitely a multi-tasker...

Peace, love and a good head on her shoulders (or is it below her shoulders?),
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

"One Rotten Apple Ruins Its Neighbors"

Ava has been LOVING school.  This month, her apple has been "in the sunshine" more than not.  Kids are allowed to put their apple in the "sunshine"only if they've done something outstanding, listened well, were kind to someone or followed directions well on that particular day.  The teacher sends a calendar home in their Kinder keeper, stamping a sunshine on that day, if they did really well.  If there is no sunshine, their apple remained in the tree, which is also good.  If there is a number and a letter, it is a code (referring to a legend) relating to a type of bad behavior and number of occurrences.  The apple can go down into the trunk, into the grass, onto the dirt and finally (drum roll please...) into the bucket.  Bucket = bad. 

Ava had been mentioning one little boy's name (Riley) for the first few weeks.  She sits at a table with Riley, Hannah and Marek.  Riley sounded like a smart cookie, reading "chapter books," an apple-in-the-sunshine kind of kid.  One day a few weeks ago, Ava had to move her apple "down on the tree" (to the trunk), for not listening to instructions, which was surprising.  She is normally a really good listener, so we assumed it was a one-time deal.  The next day the apple had to move down again.  We addressed the behavior with her that day, again. 


I noticed she would mention Marek's name on the days her apple moved down on the tree.  She mentioned that he had to move his apple down on some of those days, too.  When I inquired more about the behavior situation, she said "Marek likes to get me in trouble...He likes to try to bite me..."  The next day, on a Friday, her apple had to be moved down yet again.  Yikes.  I sent a message to the teacher (for another unrelated reason, as well), asking if I was hearing the entire story.  She told me she would call me the following Monday. 


In the meantime, I told Ava about horses and "blinders," telling her that horses wear them to focus on going the fastest they possibly can during races. I mentioned that if the horses don't wear the blinders, they probably wouldn't go as fast, because they might get distracted looking at something else.   I put my hands up to my eyes and showed her what blinders were like.  She did the same thing.  I told her that she should pretend like she has blinders on at school, so she can focus on her schoolwork only.  I also told her I probably should've mentioned that her new school is much more about learning than she was used to at Lighthouse Academy.  I mentioned she could play at Lighthouse during the day, but at this new school we definitely needed to follow the teacher's directions and learn as much as we possibly can, that there were specific times set-aside for playing.  She was game. 


Ava's teacher is THE. BEST.  In fact, when I picked her up yesterday from school, someone mentioned to me that she, too, loved Mrs. McKenzie, that "Mrs. McKenzie has the kids eating out of the palm of her hand...even though she expects quite a bit from them, they rise to the occasion."  Very cool.  So Mrs. McKenzie did call me that Monday.  She mentioned Ava is a great student, that she loves having Ava in her class, but said she can be a bit "playful".  I know this.  Mrs. McKenzie did mention that she was going to move the seats around anyway, so she would be sure to move Ava's seat away from Marek, to minimize any distraction.  She said she told Ava to not hesitate if Marek (or anyone else) tries to bite her.  Love Mrs. McKenzie.

That same Monday, Ava came home beaming, saying her "apple was in the sunshine."  Woo-hoo!  It was only later I found out that Marek was out sick that day and the next, when Ava's apple was in the sunshine again.  (Go Ava!)  Hmm...are you sensing a pattern here?  ;-)
 I honestly would be fine if her apple wasn't in the sunshine everyday, as long as she wasn't required to move it down.  If it is moving down, we definitely need to address the behavior.  The consequence of an apple moving down is fewer minutes playing in the "fun centers" on Fun Fridays.  I love that there are tangible consequences for the kids.  Great motivation to change the behavior. 

When I volunteered last week in Ava's classroom, I got to meet all of the kids.  It was so fun!  The kids learned all about apples.  Marek was a mild-mannered boy.  I did have to redirect his attention to the task at hand a few times, so I have a feeling that particular tendency most likely played into his interactions with Ava.  He really did seem like a sweet kid.  I'm not saying he is the bad apple, but thought the Chaucer quote was apropo here!  ("One Rotten Apple Ruins Its Neighbors")

Since Ava has changed seats, she seems to be doing EXTREMELY well.  Her apple has not since "moved down."  She seems to be liking her new table, too.  She wishes she sat at her friend Ella's table (as well as another friend), but I told her I'm sure that day will come, since they will be changing seats again later in the year.

Peace, love and sun-shiney apples for everyone,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

Helping with the McIntoshes :)

I am loving Ava's kindergarten class.  I wish I could've signed up to be a "room parent," but unfortunately wasn't sure how much time it would require.  The room parent sent a message to all parents, asking for volunteers to help with classroom activities.  Yay!  I can do that!  I picked a Thurssday and volunteered from 11:40-12:30.  Ava was excited when she learned I would be volunteering.  She said her friends were excited to meet me.  (Ha!) 

I helped with "apple centers" that day.  There were four different tables (centers) where the kids had a different activity to do.  I was responsible for a table where the kids weighed things on a two-sided scale. The kids had to determine if the item they were weighing was heavier or lighter than an apple.  They then had to color in a dot on a sheet of paper, underneath the item that was the heavier of the two items.  I felt bad for one little girl named Christina who said she couldn't write her name at the top of her paper (poor thing, she couldn't remember how to spell her name!).  (One table was painting apple trees, another was making "apple mouth" snacks using two apple slices, some peanut butter and some marshmallows for teeth).

When Ava came home that afternoon, there was a thank you note from Mrs. McKenzie in her Kinder keeper for me.  I was very impressed that Mrs. McKenzie was so prompt in thanking the parents!

I will definitely be volunteering in the future.  It was fun!  And I got home in time for my 1:00 p.m. meeting.  :)  All in a day's work!

Peace, love and all-things-apple,
Shelly, Doug, Ava and Liam

 Mrs. McKenzie leading the class in the "Hi, My Name Is Joe..." song.

Ava participating in the group song.

Mrs. McKenzie has them put their hands on their head when they are supposed to be listening. 

Wow, does this work!  

Her thank you note to me...