One of the "projects" Rachel has had to do this year is a presentation about a book she read -- an in-class, posterboard, stand-up-in-front-of-everyone-and-present thing. She was great about getting a head start on the work (with Drew's great encouragement and gentle pushing) and with only a few bumps at the end (she didn't appreciate having to correct her sentences after Drew and I copy-edited them -- a bad business, having a mom for an editor) she got it done.
I had a chance to look at some of the presentations earlier this week when I dropped by Rachel's class (more on that later) and my heart sank a little when I saw how creative some of them were: full-scale models of, say, trucks and figurines, and beautiful poster boards of "Amelia Bedelia" with sparkles and colorful lettering. Our philosophy on class projects is to let Rachel do most, of not all, of the work, with us being there for gentle guidance. (The same applies to Science Fair, which is this upcoming Thursday.) He thinks that many parents in Rachel's school do much of the work on projects for their kids (in fact, Billy, Ivy's dad, told us that Jenny is doing "most of the work" for Ivy and Liam's required Science Fair entry -- they're twins in fourth grade, so they don't have a choice of entering) and he doesn't want to follow that path.
So, it was nice to come home from work one day this week and see this from Rachel's teacher -- a "scoring rubric" for vocabulary, content, oral presentation and neatness/quality of work, with scores of 1 (needs improvement) 2 (acceptable) and 3 (exceptional).
Rachel got 3s in everything except for oral presentation; she got a 2 for "appropriate volume and rate of speaking." (Apparently her voice was a little soft).
She got a total of 11 points out of a possible 12 in the "exceptional" category. "Well done Rachel!" Ms. Burke said. "I love all the art work on your poster and you chose excellent vocabulary words. You spoke with confidence but next time, try to speak a little outer. But overall you did a wonderful job!"
I made sure to compliment Rachel not just on the work, but all the effort she put in.
Saturday, February 13, 2016
Snow! (again)
It snowed again on Monday -- big, fluffy flakes that didn't stick much. But, they were beautiful (especially because we knew they wouldn't stick!)
As Rachel and I headed downstairs, she said something very poetic: "I love having evergreens! The snow looks so pretty. It looks like powdered sugar."
"That's so beautiful!" I exclaimed. "Don't ever tell me you can't write."
As Rachel and I headed downstairs, she said something very poetic: "I love having evergreens! The snow looks so pretty. It looks like powdered sugar."
"That's so beautiful!" I exclaimed. "Don't ever tell me you can't write."
Saturday, February 6, 2016
Will and Chloe!
Tonight was our rescheduled dinner with Will, Steve's son and Ruth's stepson, and his girlfriend, Chloe. We spent much of the day cleaning the house and preparing the meal -- a capon (which Drew found on a whim a few months ago and put in the freezer for an occasion such as this), wild rice (Drew's idea, again; much lighter than the roasted potatoes I had planned on) and roasted brussels sprouts with garlic aoli. I made the brussels sprouts and the chocolate-chip cake; he made the rest and it was FABULOUS, if I do say so myself. So glad I'm married to someone who not only really enjoys cooking, but is excellent -- a real natural -- at it.
Rachel was great throughout the day; she cleaned up her room, did her regular homework and her Hebrew-school homework, and stayed out of our way the rest of the time reading. Normally, I prefer that we spend Saturdays doing cultural or outdoor activities, but the house really needed cleaning and I wanted to make sure that we made a nice meal.
Will and Chloe know just how to talk to kids; Will asked Rachel the most interesting questions at dinner, one of which was, "Who do you learn the most from -- your friends, your teacher or your parents?" "My dad," she answered instantly, saying that Drew had taught her how to wink with both eyes and a couple of other things. "What about your MOM?" I asked, and she said, "Well, I don't see you because you work!" Which is true, I work at night, and I didn't really feel badly; as long as at least one of us is teaching her things, that's fine with me.
As for Rachel, almost as soon as we sat down she asked Will and Chloe brightly, "Any marriage plans?" "RACHEL!" I yelled. Will and Chloe reassured me that her question is perfectly okay, and that when they make a decision, "You'll be the first to know." Luckily she's at the age where she's still charming enough to ask those kinds of questions and get away with it. Rachel was very talkative at dinner about her friends and her teachers, and toward the end of it, Will looked at me and said, "So, how can we guarantee that amount of precociousness in our children?" Thus we launched into a long talk about parenting and screen time, with Drew and I saying that we don't know how to parent all kids, just our own, and that Rachel isn't a huge TV watcher because we aren't. (When Will asked Rachel why she doesn't watch much TV, she said, "We're a reading family.")
We gave them some chocolate-chip cake to take home, and they said they'd have us over to dinner next time, which we are really looking forward to. They're the rare young couple who really understand kids and know how to talk to them, so we can't wait to see them again!
Rachel was great throughout the day; she cleaned up her room, did her regular homework and her Hebrew-school homework, and stayed out of our way the rest of the time reading. Normally, I prefer that we spend Saturdays doing cultural or outdoor activities, but the house really needed cleaning and I wanted to make sure that we made a nice meal.
Will and Chloe know just how to talk to kids; Will asked Rachel the most interesting questions at dinner, one of which was, "Who do you learn the most from -- your friends, your teacher or your parents?" "My dad," she answered instantly, saying that Drew had taught her how to wink with both eyes and a couple of other things. "What about your MOM?" I asked, and she said, "Well, I don't see you because you work!" Which is true, I work at night, and I didn't really feel badly; as long as at least one of us is teaching her things, that's fine with me.
As for Rachel, almost as soon as we sat down she asked Will and Chloe brightly, "Any marriage plans?" "RACHEL!" I yelled. Will and Chloe reassured me that her question is perfectly okay, and that when they make a decision, "You'll be the first to know." Luckily she's at the age where she's still charming enough to ask those kinds of questions and get away with it. Rachel was very talkative at dinner about her friends and her teachers, and toward the end of it, Will looked at me and said, "So, how can we guarantee that amount of precociousness in our children?" Thus we launched into a long talk about parenting and screen time, with Drew and I saying that we don't know how to parent all kids, just our own, and that Rachel isn't a huge TV watcher because we aren't. (When Will asked Rachel why she doesn't watch much TV, she said, "We're a reading family.")
We gave them some chocolate-chip cake to take home, and they said they'd have us over to dinner next time, which we are really looking forward to. They're the rare young couple who really understand kids and know how to talk to them, so we can't wait to see them again!
Family Shabbat
So, this Friday night we went to a 2nd-grade Shabbat service at the synagogue. I really need to stop going to the dinner part of these things; they're expensive, the food is so-so (and most of it Rachel won't eat), and we never find anyone we know (Dani's parents, Stacy and Peter Leff, usually don't attend). And the people seem to know each other but don't always reach out beyond introducing themselves and then they go back to talking among themselves. (It was especially acute this week because three of the women at the table all have kids who go to the same elementary school, Cherrydale, in tony McLean, Va.)
Rachel sang at the service, along with the other 2nd-graders, and the sermon really spoke to me; it was about being the best person one could be rather than trying to be someone you're not. Words that especially resonate for me at this moment.
Afterward, at the oneg Shabbat, they had Israeli dancing. Rachel coaxed me out of my somber mood by persuading me to dance with the group, and it did make me feel better. I really love klezmer music and for a moment I could visualize myself dancing in a hall on a kibbutz in Israel. If I had the time, I'd probably take up Israeli dancing -- but I work nights, so that isn't likely to happen.
Rachel sang at the service, along with the other 2nd-graders, and the sermon really spoke to me; it was about being the best person one could be rather than trying to be someone you're not. Words that especially resonate for me at this moment.
Afterward, at the oneg Shabbat, they had Israeli dancing. Rachel coaxed me out of my somber mood by persuading me to dance with the group, and it did make me feel better. I really love klezmer music and for a moment I could visualize myself dancing in a hall on a kibbutz in Israel. If I had the time, I'd probably take up Israeli dancing -- but I work nights, so that isn't likely to happen.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
Sweet girl
As I said in my previous post, I haven't seen Rachel awake in the last few days, but she has come into my room in the morning. Not to wake me up, I guess, but just to cuddle next to me and hope I respond.
On Tuesday, I did. I turned two her and gave her a big hug, then snuggled into her chest and stroked her face and hair.
"Not every mom would do this," she said.
If they had a daughter like you, they would, I thought.
On Tuesday, I did. I turned two her and gave her a big hug, then snuggled into her chest and stroked her face and hair.
"Not every mom would do this," she said.
If they had a daughter like you, they would, I thought.
Did I really just hear this?
Tonight was the first time I've seen Rachel in almost a week -- I've worked three late shifts, and she has crawled into bed with me a few times in the morning, but I've been half asleep -- and her face just lit up when Drew brought her home from her swim lesson. "MOMMY! MOMMY! MOMMY!" she exclaimed, hugging me over and over.
As I followed her upstairs -- she insisted that I read with her in bed -- she said, "Look, I can go two steps at a time!"
"Careful," I warned, a little tremor in my voice.
"Careful, shmareful!" she replied.
"Did you really just make that up?" I asked.
"Yes," she said.
As I followed her upstairs -- she insisted that I read with her in bed -- she said, "Look, I can go two steps at a time!"
"Careful," I warned, a little tremor in my voice.
"Careful, shmareful!" she replied.
"Did you really just make that up?" I asked.
"Yes," she said.
Rachel the video star!
Here is the bit.ly address for The Post's video, "Kids analyze the presidential candidates" that has gone viral as I write this:
http://wapo.st/1SykVWo
The reaction has been tremendous. It has been shared multiple times on Facebook; I've gotten lots of compliments for Rachel's appearance at work (one person told me her favorite part of the video was anytime Rachel said anything); and it was even shown on the morning TV talk show "The View"! Rachel was a little embarrassed by the end, which shows her falling (gracefully) off her chair, but she loved the video -- even if she's a bit embarrassed when kids say things like, "You're an Internet star!"
http://wapo.st/1SykVWo
The reaction has been tremendous. It has been shared multiple times on Facebook; I've gotten lots of compliments for Rachel's appearance at work (one person told me her favorite part of the video was anytime Rachel said anything); and it was even shown on the morning TV talk show "The View"! Rachel was a little embarrassed by the end, which shows her falling (gracefully) off her chair, but she loved the video -- even if she's a bit embarrassed when kids say things like, "You're an Internet star!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)