Since Abby's started going to the Preschool II class in November, she has had weekly homework assignments that is due on the day of show-and-tell, where they would share the results of their assignments with the class.
A typical homework assignment is pretty simple - something busy or forgetful parents can easily scramble and help prepare a kid for in the five minutes prior to hustling everyone out the door on the day the assignment is due. For example, bring in a tool or a utensil (toy or real) and explain how the tool is used. Or color a rocket ship and write down child's answer to: "What would you do in space?" (Abby's answer: "Wear a black top-hat, build a snowman named Hissella and one called Ms. Louton and then build a snow dinosaur.")
This past week, the assignment was to memorize and recite your home phone number.
Seriously?!
We got the homework sheet on Monday during pick-up and Abby's show-and-tell day is Wednesday. In 2 - that's T.W.O. - days she needed to memorize 10 digits in the correct order. Right!
She's 3.5 years old, I wanted to remind her teacher! She can barely get her shoes on the right feet most mornings, how can she be expected to get 10 numbers in the right order in 2 days?
But Abby has a teacher who believes very much in her kids, so we had to do the same.
Luckily, Abby is pretty smart and has a quick memory.
After pick-up on Tuesday, we had 45 minutes in the car ride home (usually only 25 minutes, but due to some heavy snow and ice from the day before, the drive was much slower) I decided we needed to work on the assignment.
I'm ashamed to admit I had to resort to threats to get her motivated enough to focus. "How would you feel if everyone got up tomorrow and knew their phone number except you?!" "Sad." "That's right. I would be too! So, stop playing dumb and work with me. I will help you get this." "Ok."
We drilled the area code, then the first 3, then last 4 digits over and over again, then put it all together. And repeated, broken down, then strung together.
As she started getting it on her own, the confidence in her voice became noticeable and I heard her murmuring the phone number to herself in the backseat.
Abby had our phone number memorized before we got to Castle Rock.
She was proud to tell daddy she knew her phone number that night.
We quizzed her this morning and she still got it!
Show-and-tell was a success.
Abby was so proud of herself, as were we.
:)
A typical homework assignment is pretty simple - something busy or forgetful parents can easily scramble and help prepare a kid for in the five minutes prior to hustling everyone out the door on the day the assignment is due. For example, bring in a tool or a utensil (toy or real) and explain how the tool is used. Or color a rocket ship and write down child's answer to: "What would you do in space?" (Abby's answer: "Wear a black top-hat, build a snowman named Hissella and one called Ms. Louton and then build a snow dinosaur.")
This past week, the assignment was to memorize and recite your home phone number.
Seriously?!
We got the homework sheet on Monday during pick-up and Abby's show-and-tell day is Wednesday. In 2 - that's T.W.O. - days she needed to memorize 10 digits in the correct order. Right!
She's 3.5 years old, I wanted to remind her teacher! She can barely get her shoes on the right feet most mornings, how can she be expected to get 10 numbers in the right order in 2 days?
But Abby has a teacher who believes very much in her kids, so we had to do the same.
Luckily, Abby is pretty smart and has a quick memory.
After pick-up on Tuesday, we had 45 minutes in the car ride home (usually only 25 minutes, but due to some heavy snow and ice from the day before, the drive was much slower) I decided we needed to work on the assignment.
I'm ashamed to admit I had to resort to threats to get her motivated enough to focus. "How would you feel if everyone got up tomorrow and knew their phone number except you?!" "Sad." "That's right. I would be too! So, stop playing dumb and work with me. I will help you get this." "Ok."
We drilled the area code, then the first 3, then last 4 digits over and over again, then put it all together. And repeated, broken down, then strung together.
As she started getting it on her own, the confidence in her voice became noticeable and I heard her murmuring the phone number to herself in the backseat.
Abby had our phone number memorized before we got to Castle Rock.
She was proud to tell daddy she knew her phone number that night.
We quizzed her this morning and she still got it!
Show-and-tell was a success.
Abby was so proud of herself, as were we.
:)
Wednesday, February 09, 2011 |
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