Any inexpensive sets to start with robotics for a bright 7 year old. I'm seriously considering WeDo or Mindstorms, but that would be his whole Christmas budget and he's still young enough to get upset about the number of boxes under the tree. How is the snap circuits rover? any other suggestions? There's a radio shack within walking distance of the house. DS's older nephew has picked up a few things from there for his maker projects but I don't know where to start.

:iagree:I don't think its unreasonable to have her help with the deductible, but I don't think you have a right to expect anything more. I'm sorry this happened. Christine

Are you sure that the money isn't already in trust for the grandkids? There are some VERY beneficial tax advantages to putting it in trust (especially this year). DH is an attorney that works with high net worth individuals and he is burning the candle at both ends to set up gift transactions before December 31. Your FIL could even "gift" a sizeable chunk to his lady friend rather than marry her if the marriage is more to ensure her financial security. Just a thought. Christine

Is she getting counseling? DN went to the school counselor twice a week; he could also ask to go anytime he felt a rage building. Are you able to spend time in the classroom as a volunteer? Both of these helped him tremendously. This year he was able to meet the teacher and explore the classroom before school started so that he felt safe on the first day.

First grade can be a tough transition. Behavior expectations are higher, and the real work begins. DN had a horrible first grade year--he was diagnosed with defiance disorder for hitting teachers, talking back, running away. Name any bad thing a young student can do and he did it. This year has been smooth.

DD 3 loves the Little Old Lady Who Was not Afraid of Anything and The Fierce Yellow Pumpkin. Five Little Pumpkins and 10 Trick or Treaters are also fun books that we always do each year. Christine

DS started reading groups on Monday. He's been in school since the third week of August. Christine

DD's class is working on letter and number recognition as well as letter and number formation. Last month she learned about apples and this month they are studying bats. Reading instruction is teaching the phonemes but they also send home a list of three to five sight words to practice each week. At the beginning of class, they do work on puzzles, sequencing, sorting, etc so if you only saw the first five minutes it would look a lot like her preschool class last year. K is only three hours, but specials are all on one day (Weds.) Christine ps. I'd probably talk with the teacher about curriculum scope and sequence for the year. They outlined everything at open house so parents would know what to expect. My first grader's class is off to a slow start. They only started reading groups last week and differentiated math the week before (We're six weeks in).

Just Right Reading started this week. I was prepared to fight, but I needed DS to attend a few classes so that I could point out that the lower class was a bad fit. BUT, I didn't have to do anything. The AIM reading teacher wanted John and the other first grade teachers sided with placing him in the higher level class. Teacher was nervous about sending him but told me that John had a really good day. :) We're still working on practice for reading aloud, but I think John won her over when he started talking about the plot to 39 Clues. Thanks for helping me stay sane. Christine

That is all. Christine W

Does your school have a subscription to Brain Pop/ Brain Pop Jr? I just discovered that ours does and it has been very helpful for keeping them out of my hair. Christine

I think that they should focus on improving low performing elementary schools first. The district should look hard as to why there is such an achievement gap--There are ways to do minority outreach which don't destroy the nature of Stuvy. I do think that it is a problem that only 6% of African American and Hispanic students who take the exam gain admittance while 30% of white and Asian test takers do. That is scandalous. However, if one of the prior posters is correct and the socio-economic demographics are pretty close to the NYC public school average then it can't just be about poverty. It will be interesting to see if this lawsuit gains political traction. Based on recent (and the predicted outcome of a pending) Supreme Court cases, I don't expect the suit to be successful except to the extent that it creates public outrage. Christine ps. I personally like the idea of testing in. I know two HG kids who were kept out of GATE programs b/c of fine motor skill delays in one and disruptive (read bored) behavior in the other. Teacher recommendations were required and denied.

DS is in first grade. Reading assessments show that he is reading roughly at a Grade 2 third month level (DRA 18-22; Level L). He's really into reading right now and can gobble a Ricky Ricotta or Roscoe Riley Rules book in a few hours. DS saw 39 Clues at the library and really wants to read it. He says that he read 6 pages in the 20 minutes we were in the library. He definitely retained some of it, but not full comprehension. Is there any harm in letting him try books that are too hard? What would you do? There are some books that I want to wait before I let him tackle because he'd be missing a lot; but for fluff, does it matter? Christine

One of DD5's redshirted classmates spent a week in K and then after consultation with the K & 1st grade teachers, he was moved up to first grade and appears to be doing well. So skipping K is possible at least here in CA.

Would you ever allow your child to be placed in a lower reading group to boost his confidence and fluency? DS' assessments came in and he is above grade level in reading--enough to qualify for AIM reading (not sure but sounds like gifted program even though the school doesn't do gifted). BUT the teacher wants to keep him in the regular reading program until he's more confident reading out loud. At conference it made sense, he does struggle with reading out loud. He hates it b/c its slower, and this is a kid who wants to do everything fast. He wants to get to the exciting parts so he skips words and makes dumb guesses so he probably scored low rather than high relative to his ability. But a couple mom's whose kids would be in DS' reading group were sharing scores; I didn't share except to say that he's where he needs to be. The difference is HUGE--more than 10 points in DRA level. I don't know what to do? DS tried to read Indian in the Cupboard last week; I don't really know if he understood it but he finished it and could give a basic summary. Do I really want him to be in a class of emergent readers? She says she'll move him up in the middle of the year. I don't doubt that he would struggle a bit in the AIM classroom, but he'd be learning. Shouldn't I start him there? I just don't see him feeling good in a classroom reading "Rick is Sick" and "Sam's Wagon." Am I just being a snob? WWYD? How would you approach this with the teacher?

I think that helping parents figure out the expectations is the biggest part of the conference. The conference went well. The teacher and I went over the beginning of year assessments, and talked about J's strengths and weaknesses. It was awesome how well she knew my son and her appreciation of his quirks. She lets him do his work standing up, sitting down, on a yoga ball whatever he needs so long as he doesn't disturb his classmates. She's more concerned about organization rather than wiggles--he's lost all his pencils and crayons more than once. :glare: Glad to have it all done. Christine

My 3 had RSV as babies; any respiratory infection quickly leads to wheezing. so they get the shot; actually they're finally all old enough for flu mist. ;) I'm pregnant so I'm getting the shot. DH will get the shot if they have a clinic at work. For us, the benefits outweigh the risks. Christine

I'm sorry. :grouphug:

DS6 has his first grade goal setting conference early tomorrow morning. Any one else's school do this? What should I expect? I know that we are going to talk about their Just Right Reading program and a few behavior concerns (good kid but wiggly and easily bored) but what else happens? Thanks, Christine

Is there a series like Margaret Hillert's Dear Dragon that's just a little bit harder? We're also reading Mittens and Biscuit but she could read something more advanced (but not too much so). Also, are there any good science based early readers? We've found a few scattered in the library but not many. DD loves animals and space. Its so frustrating to go to the library and try to figure out what early readers are appropriate for my 5 year old. Some "my first readers" are way too easy and others have a ton of strange words and are too hard. Why can't there be a standard level 1, 2, 3?

If you are certain that the issues have resolved and you are certain that you will be pulling her before the end of the school year, then now is better than later. I tend to agree with those who would not move a happy child who is doing well in school (and for whom school is a good fit--academics and socially), but that's me. Christine

:cheers2: Congratulations. Its good to see happy news. Christine

:grouphug: Praying for you. Christine

:grouphug::grouphug:

Do I remember it? Yes. Do I miss it? No. I like that our children's section is physically separate from the rest of the library and that my kids can speak in indoor voices and ask questions without someone giving us a dirty look. I like kids sharing their favorite books and working on a craft. There are educational computers and little nooks with cushions for reading to your children. Even outdoor patios to read on if the weather is nice or to escape into in order to calm an upset child. If the kids get loud someone from reference will politely remind them to use indoor voices and running is never allowed. It can be a little loud after school gets out and between story times, but those times are clearly posted everywhere so other patrons can avoid those times.