Alexander's

End of 2011 & the Beginning of 2012

2012-01-02T12:09:00.000-08:00

Well, 2011 has finally ended. I started school back in January to attain my teaching certification. Zachary went back to public school. Brooke is learning by leaps and bounds.

Zachary
Zachary started local public school last year. His 4th grade year was ok expect in math. He started this school year at a new school, P.E. Wallace, as a 5th grader. He has been working on an online math program for 6th grade but doesn't get any credit or grades for it. Not sure if this is working out and he is actually losing some of his knowledge in math. We will need to make some adjustments in 2012. For his birthday he got a Nintendo 3DS and has been so happy about that. Zachary is now a double digit, 10 years old.

Brooke
Brooke has been going to Kinderlight 2 days a week. She loves her teacher Mrs. Tova and has a lot of friends in class. Brooke received a leapster LeaPad for Christmas and both the kids received a trampoline. Brooke was also selected to test out a Calvert's Kindergarten program. She received the material 1 day before she turned 4. She got pre-tested and her skills ranged from just a month below Kindergarten to 2nd grade (verbal skills). Starting in 2012 she will start attending Kinderlight full-time.

Kathy
Mark says this coming year will be the biggest changes for me. I start my student teaching, get certified as a teacher, and try to find a job as a teacher. I got a digital canon rebel T3 for Christmas and can't wait to take pictures.

Mark
Mark got a device so that he only has to talk in his car to listen to and send texts, emails, and phone calls. He can also get pandora. The family got a new 46 inch tv and surround sound system. The Wii in surround sound is pretty cool.

We will have to wait and see if the Mayan's were right with the end of the world in 2012. As for me I don't believe but it is a cool story.

Brooke's Kindergarten homeschool curriculum

2011-12-15T06:57:00.000-08:00

So, a couple of weeks ago I got an email about Calvert curriculum and how they where going to do an efficancy study. One group would use their curriculum for free and the other group would use what ever curriculum they wanted but would get paid. Only a few kids would be selected. So, I entered Brooke up for the Kindergarten level. With her only being 3 and turning 4 on Dec. 16, 2011 I did not think she would be selected. I got an email and she was selected.

She had to take a pre-test, and later she will take a mid-way test and another test at the end to see how she has progressed. She took the pre-test and she scored just a couple of points from a Kindergarten level for math. For reading she scored into the third month of Kindergarten. Her scores for reading was anywhere to low Kindergarten to high kindergarten level. The only score on the reading that was very skewed based on her age was the oral vocabulary. Oral Vocabulary was up into the 2nd grade level. So, I have a very talkative little girl, well I could have told them that.

We should get the Kindergarten curriculum the day before her 4th birthday. Which will be so much fun. She asks to do school work 7 days a week and she usually starts asking around 7:30 a.m. and will ask all day long.

Paper I wrote on 16 Types of Acceleration for Gifted Students

2011-11-29T05:58:00.000-08:00

Gifted Students: 16 Types of Acceleration

Educating gifted children can be very challenging in today’s school systems. The popular word in education is differentiation, even when talking about gifted students. Gregory and Chapman (2007) defines differentiation as “one in which the teacher responds to the unique needs of students” (p.2) One of the many ways we can differentiate a gifted student’s education is by acceleration. When acceleration for a gifted student is brought up, people usually refer to either whole grade acceleration or single subject acceleration, but there are 16 different types of acceleration. This paper examines each of these 16 types of acceleration.

Webster’s dictionary defines acceleration as “the rate of change of velocity with respect to time” (www.merriam-webster.com). Education.com defines acceleration as “the practice of offering curriculum at a faster rate than normal for students who are considered capable to handle the additional rigor” (www.education.com). Lohman, Marron, and Wells (2009) say that “acceleration is an educational intervention intended to present talented youth with appropriate levels of academic challenge” (P. 248). Wood, Portman, Cigrand and Colangelo (2010) state “acceleration is the most documented, supported, and cost-effective method of helping students learn only what they don’t already know” (p. 169). Acceleration allows gifted students to work at their pace and on their own level, have material that will be new to them, and will engage and challenge them. This enables the gifted students to learn study habits that will benefit them throughout their lives. However, if they are not challenged, then they will not learn good study habits and when they do receive challenging material in high school or college they may not know how to handle the material (Ruf, 2005, p. 10).

Southern and Jones (2004) show us there are 18 types of acceleration, but I will only talk about 16 that can be used with elementary, middle school, junior high and high school. The other types of accelerations that Southern and Jones talk about are very redundant and I believe that they will be covered within the other 16 types of acceleration. There are many different types of acceleration because just like Gregory and Chapman say, “one size doesn’t fit all,” and one type of acceleration method will not fit all gifted students. Each gifted student is unique and what works for one may or may not work for another. Teachers want to do what is best for an individual gifted student and use whichever acceleration method would best allow them to learn at their optimal level. Sometimes the best way to reach their optimal level is to use one method of acceleration in conjunction with another method of acceleration.

Each state has adopted their own policies for each of the different types of acceleration. Some states will allow acceleration, some will not and others do not have a policy written at this time. Other states just leave it up to the local education agency to deal with the issue as they see fit. In the appendix, I have added the policies for the 16 types of acceleration for the state of Texas if and only if the state has a policy for that type of acceleration.

Types of Acceleration

Early Admission to Kindergarten. Southern and Jones (2004) define this type of acceleration as “students enter kindergarten prior to achieving the minimum age for school entry as set by district or state policy” (P.5). These children are allowed to start school a year ahead of their age peers.

Borland (1989) states, “I can think of no other issue in which there is such a gulf between what research has revealed and what most practitioners believe” (P. 185). Generally you will find that teachers and principals do not support early entrance into kindergarten. The main concern is that these students are not socially or emotionally ready to enter kindergarten. However, Vialle, Ashton, Carlon, and Rankin (2001) say that these “negative attitudes towards early entry…have been largely based on misconceptions and anecdotal evidence rather than empirical data” (p.14). What the principals and teachers need to look at is the whole child not only a small part. Gross (1999) says that they need to look at the “intellectual, academic and social readiness, they will perform as well as or better than their older classmates” (P. 213). In reviewing the literature on early entrance to kindergarten, one will find that these children who enter early are not only equally ready to enter but are better suited than their peers. Gagne and Gagnier (2004) study on The Socio-Affective and Academic Impact of Early Entrance to School says that the “results show clearly, early entrants are definitely not the students most at risk for adjustment problems” (p. 137). In their study the students that were at risk the most were the youngest among the regularly admitted students and intellectually slow boys.

Early Admission to First Grade. Southern and Jones (2004) define this type of acceleration as “the practice can result from either the skipping of kindergarten, or from accelerating a student from kindergarten in what would be the student’s first year of school” (p. 5). This acceleration method is very similar to early admission to kindergarten. It is so similar that all the research actually combines these two types of acceleration. The only difference is that the gifted students in this type of acceleration are of age to enter school.

Principals and teachers often see that kindergarten is not a grade level that students need to skip. They believe the students learn valuable social skills in navigating the school system that they will continue to use until they graduate. Most gifted students have already acquired the concepts that are taught in kindergarten and become less engaged in school and turn into discipline issues. Once this occurs it is very difficult to have this student moved up because the authorities see that they are not emotional or socially ready for a higher grade level. What the authorities do not take into consideration is that if this student was in first grade, the student would be engaged for longer periods and wouldn’t have the chance to disrupt class and be a discipline issue.

Grade-Skipping. Southern and Jones (2004) define grade skipping as “a student is considered to have grade skipped if he or she is given a grade placement ahead of chronological-age peers” (p.5). Neihart (2007) states that “in spite of the well-documented academic benefits of acceleration there is ongoing resistance to increase the use of (any acceleration method) in many public schools” (p. 330). One of the main issues that teachers, principals and counselors bring up are the negative social and/or emotional effects that gifted students will face when skipped a grade level. However, table 1 (Neihart, The Socioaffective Impact of Acceleration and Ability Grouping, P. 330) shows that there are about 20 researches done on the social and emotional effects of gifted children who are accelerated and none of these show any negative effects. If anything, they show that acceleration is a positive effect on the social and emotional growth of gifted children.

Table 1

Socioaffective Benefits Associated With Academic Acceleration

______________________________________________________________________________

Benefit Sample Studies Reporting the Benefit

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Accelerants report satisfying Brody, Lupkowski, & Stanley, 1988; Brody, Muratori, & Stanley, 2004;

social relationships Caplan,Henderson, Henderson, & Fleming, 2002; Charlton, Marolf, & Stanley, 1994; Gross, 2003; Gross & van Vliet, 2005; Janos et al., 1988; Lupkowski, Whitmore, & Ramsay, 1992; Noble, Arndt, Nicholson, Sletten, & Zamora, 1999; Pollins, 1983; Robinson & Janos, 1986; Sayler & Brookshire, 1993

Positive self-esteem, Bower, 1990; Lupkowski et al., 1992; Olenchak, 1995; Rogers, 1992;

self-concept, or Thomas, 1987

self-confidence

No evidence of significant Bower, 1990; Brody et al., 2004; Gagné & Gagnier, 2004; Gross, 1993, 2003; Janos,

negative effects on social Robinson, & Lunneborg, 1989; Lubinski, 2004; Lubinski, Webb, Morelock, & Benbow,

or emotional development 2001; Noble, Robinson, & Gunderson, 1993; Richardson & Benbow, 1990; Robinson & Janos, 1986; Rogers, 1992; Sayler & Brookshire, 1993; Swiatek, 1993

High level of satisfaction Brody, 1988; Brody et al., 2004; Charlton et al., 1994; Gross, 2003; Lubinski et al.,

about the choice to 2001; Noble et al., 1999; Noble & Drummond, 1992; Noble & Smyth, 1995; Sayler &

accelerate Brookshire, 1993; Stanley, Slotnik, & Cargain, 1996

Advanced social maturity; Gross, 1993, 2003; Hobson, 1963; Janos et al., 1989; Noble et al., 1993; Robinson &

greater independence; Janos, 1986; Rogers, 1992; Thomas, 1987; Worcester, 1956

social leadership

No evidence of burnout Kolitch & Brody, 1992; Swiatek, 1993; Swiatek & Benbow, 1991

Higher educational aspirations Lubinski, 2004; Lubinski et al., 2001; Olszewski-Kubilius & Grant, 1996

When most people think about skipping a grade, they assume that the student will be skipping important education concepts and have gaps within their education. In fact, these students usually are not skipping any educational concepts. They are just being placed at their academic level. Most of these students have mastered most, if not all, the concepts being covered in the grade that they are skipping over. If there are concepts that the student has not mastered from the previous grade there are several ways of handling this situation. One way is to test the student on the concepts that will be covered in the grade they are skipping and then have them cover them before the skip, or if the skip is happening after the summer, have them cover the concepts over the summer months. The other way of handling this is just to deal with these concepts as they come up within the classroom after the skip has occurred. Gifted students learn concepts at a faster pace than regular students and many concepts from the previous grade that was not mastered can be mastered within one or two teaching sessions. Sometimes as a teacher you may even notice that the student that has skipped the previous grade level is not the only student in your classroom that has not mastered the concept from the previous grade level.

When schools and parents start to consider and discuss skipping a grade for the gifted student they often bring in the school counselor. The school district administration, principals and teachers look towards the school counselor for their professional consultation on the social and emotional development of these students and how skipping a grade will effect these developments. The parents trust the opinions of these school counselors because of their professional training in consulting in educational matters. However, Wood, Portman, Cigrand, and Colangelo say that “school counselors are not well prepared to fulfill their role in helping parents, educators and students make sound decisions regarding acceleration” (P.168). They go on to say “parents, teachers, administrators, and counselors may be choosing to not accelerate gifted students because of a limited familiarity with and understanding of research on acceleration, political concerns about educational equity, beliefs that gifted students must be educated with their chronological age group or fear that acceleration will hurt students socially” (p. 169). During their study they found that the counselors did not have training nor accurate information in regards to gifted children and acceleration but they continue to give their expert opinion to help principals and teachers make a discussion about gifted children’s education. Their findings showed that the counselors were more aware and comfortable recommending acceleration options for gifted students in high school than elementary and middle school students.

Since counselors do not seem to be knowledgeable on acceleration, The Connie Belin & Jacqueline N. Blank International Center for Gifted Education and Talent Development has developed a tool for schools and parents to use to see if whole-grade acceleration in grades K-8 is the right choice for gifted students. This tool is called the Iowa Acceleration Scale (IAS) Manual and is published by Great Potential Press. This is not a test but is “a systematic and defensible way to generate recommendations and guidelines for whole-grade acceleration (Colangelo, Assouline, & Lupkowski-Shoplik, 2004, P.77).

Subject-Matter Acceleration/Partial Acceleration. Southern and Jones (2004) define subject-matter acceleration/partial acceleration as the “practice allows students to be placed with classes with older peers for a part of the day (or with materials from higher grade placements) in one or more content areas” (p.5). There are several ways in which a gifted student can achieve subject-matter acceleration. They can be physically moved up to a different grade level for that one subject, work on higher grade level material while still staying in their chronological-age peer classroom, take classes during the summer , or attend a class after school.

The internet has changed a lot in the last few years. In many cases, a student can take a course above grade level at the school on the computer. Such programs that the schools can use for subject-matter acceleration are EPGY at Stanford University, ALEKS for math, Texas virtual class network and many others. These courses can be taken during the school year or over the summer months.

Advanced Placement. Southern and Jones (2004) defines advanced placement as “the students takes a course (traditionally in high school) that will confer college credit upon successful completion of a standardized examination” (p.6). The State of Texas defines advance placement courses as “participation and examination performance data are important in understanding the extent to which Texas students have completed courses that may qualify them for a "head start"--advanced standing, course credit, or both standing and credit--upon beginning college or university course work” (http://www.tea.state.tx.us/acctres/ap_ib_index.html). Most of the students who take AP courses and examinations are in grades 11 and 12; however students in grades 8 – 10 are permitted to take both courses and examinations.

Most high schools will offer AP courses to only juniors and seniors on the basis that they are ready for college level courses. In Texas, the results for students on the AP test in “the 11 or 12 grades who scored in the 3-5 range were 50.7%”. Of the students in 9-10 grades who took the test “45.2 percent received at least one score in the 3-5 range” (Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Examination Results in Texas, 2008-09). Based on these percentages, AP courses and examinations should be offered to all high school students not just 11 and 12 graders.

Gallagher (2009) says that “early AP literature was for and about gifted students because they were the college bound population” (p.286). However, times have changed and the population that is headed to college is no longer just the gifted. Gallaher article “Myth 19: Is advanced Placement an adequate Program for Gifted Students?” questions if AP courses today are really good placements for gifted students. Gallagher goes on to say,

“If AP is used with gifted students, it should be held to the same standards as other gifted programs. AP could be adequate, if fast pace was combined with advanced instruction. AP could be adequate as one among many advanced courses. So teachers and administrators hold the final answer to the question of what AP will be for their gifted students, because as it stands AP is not inherently adequate for gifted students” (p.287).

I believe what Gallagher is saying is that if gifted students at the high school level are academically already beyond high school level courses, then the AP courses should be at a college level and not below to be an effective method for gifted students. It may be a better acceleration method if schools would use AP courses in conjunction with subject-matter acceleration for gifted Middle or junior high students.

Concurrent/Duel Enrollment. Southern and Jones (2004) define concurrent/duel enrollment as “the student takes a course at one level and receives credit for a parallel course at a higher level (e.g., taking algebra at the middle school level and receiving credit at both the middle school and the high school level)” (p.6). If a school is going to employ this method then the student will need to be able to walk to the different school that the course is offered at or the school will have to provide transportation. In some cases the parents offer to provide transportation between the two schools for their gifted student. Rogers (2002) says that “the most critical issue involving the success of the concurrent (or dual) enrollment program is whether or not the student can move gracefully within two schools’ schedules without having to show up late for classes already in progress” (p.126). Concurrent enrollment can be between a middle school student attending a high school or a high school student attending college.

Credit by Examination. Southern and Jones (2004) define credit by examination as “the student is awarded standing credit (e.g., in high school or college) by successfully completing some form of mastery test or activity” (p.6). Credit by examination is also known as Testing out or Placement testing. Credit by examination can be for a single-subject, a whole grade, or a semester. Credit by Examinations can be any test that the school district offers that will show mastery in the area that the student is trying to receive credit. Rogers (2002) says that a “score of 80%-85% or above” is what the student will need to show mastery (p.189). Credit by examination can be used to determine what acceleration method would be best suited for the gifted student.

Extracurricular Programs. Southern and Jones (2004) define extracurricular programs as “students elect to enroll in coursework or after school or summer programs that confer advanced instruction and/or credit” (p.6). The normal pull-out GT programs at most schools would be considered extracurricular programs for gifted students. Any program offered through schools like mathcounts, chess, UIL, destination imagination and many others would fall into this category. Most of these programs are offered after school except for the GT pullout program. Other programs that are offered outside of the school would be summer camps. Some of these summer programs that are for gifted students are offered through talent searches. Talent searches are usually options for middle school or junior high students that perform well on a standardized test. Rogers (2002) says that “in order to qualify for these programs, students must be in the top 1% of performance when compared to their age peers” (p.129). Some of these programs include, Duke TIP, Johns Hopkins University CTY, EPGY and many more. Some of these talent searches even offer advanced instruction over the internet through online classes.

Continuous Progress. Southern and Jones (2004) defines continuous progress as when “the student is given content progressively as prior content is completed and mastered” (p.5). This type of method of acceleration has been called many names such as Continuous Progress, Continuous Progress Format, Advancement Based Competency (ABC), Continuous Progress Schools, and Continuous Progress Education. The student becomes accelerated when their progress in content goes beyond their chronological peers. Mack (2008) states that “students learn new materials as they are ready, regardless of their age, and teachers help them advance as far as they are able” (P.324). At the beginning of the each school year the student starts off where they left off the previous school year, reviewing only when needed. With this method, the student keeps a portfolio of what they have covered. These portfolios follow the child so that when a child goes into a new teacher’s classroom that teacher can view the progress of the student and move forward. The pace of the students’ progress is determined by the teacher.

Self-Paced Instruction. Southern and Jones (2004) define self-paced instruction as “an option the student proceeds through learning and instructional activates at a self-selected pace” (p.5). This method is a sub-type of continuous progress. The only difference is that in this method the progress of the student is controlled by the student and not the teacher. Gregory and Chapman (2007) state that “for students to succeed, they need to believe that they can learn and that what they are learning is useful, relevant, and meaningful for them” (p.9). A self-paced classroom allows for self-efficacy and taking control of one’s education. Gregory and Chapman talk about knowing the learner, but this method allows the learner to know themselves. During this method, a student completes pre-tests for each unit to determine what concepts they know and what concepts they need to work on. The student will need some guidance in the beginning to teach them how to teach themselves.

Combined Classes. Southern and Jones (2004) defines combined classes as a “placement which can allow younger students to interact academically and socially with older peers.” (p.5). A combined class is one in which two grades levels are taught within the same classroom (e.g., fourth and fifth-grade split room). In this type of setting a teacher can use the whole grade method of acceleration in which a student of 4th grade age level can work on 5th grade material but still remain with age peers. The teacher can also employ single subject acceleration in which a student will take a single subject from 5th grade but all other subjects are 4th grade. The combined classroom can also include more than just 2 grade levels.

This method can also be used with the self-paced instruction method. A student in a 4th/5th grade combined class would be allowed to move at their pace and cover materials for both 4th and 5th grade within a school year. This would allow the gifted student to cover materials with no gaps and move up to the next grade level at the end of the school year.

Curriculum Compacting. Southern and Jones (2004) define curriculum compacting as “the student’s instruction entails reduced amounts of introductory activates, drill, and practice” (p.5). Rogers (2002) defines curriculum compacting as “streamlining or shortening the regular school curriculum in a specific subject area by pre-assessing the gifted child to discover what she/he has already mastered in the curriculum, and then replacing the areas mastered with replacement learning experiences or curricula that are new or more appropriate” (p.115). In this method the student will only be learning what they have not mastered and will have time to go deeper or work on independent projects during the time period that the other students are working on material that the gifted student has mastered. Rogers (2002) says that “compacted and enriched or accelerated in all academic areas all of the time didn’t allow the children sufficient time to just sit back and “digest” what they were learning” (p.117). The students can become stressed because of the fast pace of their learning if compacting is done in all subjects at once. Rogers suggest that only 2 subjects be compacted.

Telescoping Curriculum. Southern and Jones (2004) define telescoping as “ instruction that entails less time than is normal (e.g., completing a one-year course in one semester, or three years of middle school in two)” (p.6). Rogers (2002) refers to telescoping as “rapid progress” (p.183). He then goes on to define it as a process that “involves allowing a child-or preferably, a group of children of the same age-to complete the school’s curriculum of several years in one year’s less time” (p.183). In telescoping, material isn’t necessarily skipped; students are just moved at a rapid pace through the material. In order to telescope curriculum, Rogers (2002) says that you must do the following: “eliminate repetition, limit practice of already mastered skills and concepts and to step up considerably the pace of learning” (p.183). One of the benefits of telescoping gifted students is to keep them engaged and active in their learning so that they do not become behavioral issues in the classroom. With any type of acceleration method, one of the major concerns is the social adjustment for the gifted student. Rogers (2002) says that for telescoping there is “no difference in social adjustment, but there was a small, positive effect on measures of self-esteem and perceived pressure to achieve” (p.185-186).

Mentoring. Southern and Jones (2004) define mentoring as when a “student is paired with a mentor or expert tutor who provides advanced or more rapid pacing of instruction” (p.6). Manning (2005) says that “mentoring refers to the well-established tradition of an experienced person taking on an inexperienced person, or protégé, for teaching and training in a chosen field” (p.15). The gifted student in the mentoring program will have a chance to learn content that will provide challenge and academic rigor that cannot be provided in the traditional school setting. The mentor and the gifted student must share common interests or career goals in order for the mentorship to work. If a school wants to implement a mentoring program, the school must first determine exactly what the student needs. Once a mentor and gifted student are teamed up, there will need to be some type of training for both parties so that they both know what to expect, the purpose, the responsibilities and the benefits. The mentor will also need extra training in working with students as well as learning the backgrounds and needs of the gifted child.

Correspondence Courses. Southern and Jones (2004) define correspondence courses for gifted children as “coursework delivered outside of normal school instruction” (p.6) Correspondence courses that are offered can be non-credit, for high school credit or college credit. These courses can be delivered through independent study at home, online classes with or without an instructor or through virtual worlds. These courses can be taken during school hours or after school hours. It is up to each school or school district to accept the credit for the class that the student is working on. Since most of these classes do not offer any type of social or emotional response to other student in the class that are taking these classes, the gifted students academic needs should only play a role in the decision to allow a student access to these types of classes. EPGY and DUKE are just a couple of these types of correspondence courses available to students in kindergarten through high school.

Radical Acceleration Gross (2004) defines radical acceleration “as any combination of procedures that results in a student graduating from high school three or more years earlier than is customary (Stanley, 1978)” (p.87). Radical acceleration can happen when any of the previous acceleration methods are used together. Gifted students who are radically accelerated usually have an IQ of 160+. However, there have been documented cases where gifted students below an IQ of 160 have successfully achieved radical acceleration. These gifted students learn at a faster pace than their age peers. If these students are retained with their age peers, they typically underachieve. Gross (2004) says that these students “experience negative affective outcomes, including lowered self-esteem, anxiety, and social isolation” (p.87). Gross (2004) goes on to say that “moderate degrees of acceleration, such as a single grade-skip” (p87) may not be enough to pull these gifted student out of their underachievement behaviors.

As you can see there are many different types of acceleration methods that a school can employ. It is up to each teacher, principal, and school district to be familiar with each type. It is possible for each school to offer one if not more than one type of acceleration method to the gifted students in their schools. If and when a school does decide to implement an acceleration method, all teachers must be trained so that the method will be a smooth process for the gifted students and the teachers. It is important to remember that gifted students need to learn at their own pace and their own academic level. Schools will have to provide acceleration methods in order to achieve this. Wood, Portman, Cigrand, and Colangelo (2010) state “that there may be more harm in not pursuing acceleration as an educational option” (p.169).

References

Acceleration. (n.d.). In Education.com online. Retrieved from

http://www.education.com/definition/acceleration/

Acceleration. (n.d.). In Merriam-Webster Dictionary online. Retrieved from http://www.merriam-

webster.com/dictionary/acceleration

Advanced Placement. (n.d.). In Texas Education Agency online. Retrieved from

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/acctres/ap_ib_index.html.

Assouline, S., Colangelo, N., Lupkowski-Shoplik, A. (2004). Whole-Grade Acceleration. A Nation

Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America’s Brightest Students, 2, 77-86.

Borland, J. et al. (1989). Planning and implementing programs for the gifted. New York: Teachers

College.

Gagne’, F., & Gagnier, N. (2004) The socio-affective and academic impact of early entrance to school.

Roeper Review, 26.3, 128-138.

Gallagher, S. (2009). Myth 19: is advanced placement an adequate program for gifted students?

Gifted Child Quarterly, 53.4, 286-288.

Gregory, G., Chapman, C. et al. (2007). Differentiated instructional strategies: one size doesn’t fit all.

(2nd ed). Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Gross, M. (2004). Radical acceleration. A Nation Deceived: How Schools Hold Back America’s Brightest

Students, 2, 87-96.

Gross, M. (1999). Small poppies: highly gifted children in the early years. Roper Reviw, 21.3, 207-214.

Mack, J. (2008). Continuous progress schools see the “whole child”. Education, 129, 324-326.

Manning, S. (2005). Young leaders: growing through mentoring. Gifted Child Today, 28.1, 14-20.

Neihart, M. (2007). The socioaffective impact of acceleration and ability grouping: recommendations

for best practice. Gifted Child Quarterl,. 51.4, 330-341.

Rogers, K. et al. (2002) Re-Forming gifted education: how parents and teachers can match the

program to the child. (1st ed). Scottsdale, AZ: Great Potential Press, Inc.

Ruf, D. et al. (2005). Losing our minds: gifted children left behind. (1st ed.) Scottsdale, AZ: Great

Potential Press, Inc.

Southern, W. & Jones, E. (2004). Types of acceleration: dimensions and issues. A Nation Deceived: How

Schools Hold Back America’s Brightest Students, 2, 5-12.

Vialle, W., Ashton, T., Carlon, G., Rankin, F. (2001) Acceleration: a coat of many colours. Roeper

Review, 24.1, 14-19.

Wells, R., Lohman, D., Marron, M. (2009). What factors are associated with grade acceleration? an

analysis and comparison of two u.s. databases. Journal of Advanced Academics, 20.2, 248-273.

Wood, S., Portman, T., Cigrand, D., Colangelo, N. (2010). School counselors’ perceptions and experience

with acceleration as a program option for gifted and talented students. Gifted Child Quarterly,

54.3, 168-178.

Gifted Education Professional Development Site

2011-11-28T18:46:00.000-08:00

Follow this link and you will find a FREE professional development in Gifted Education for teachers. This site can be used by anyone even parents who want more information about their gifted child. Even through the site was created and maintained by the Australian Government a gifted child is the same no matter where they live. The only thing that may be different is how a gifted child is educated in Australia. I have not opened any of the course content or read anything on this site (at least not yet) so I can not fully say this site is good or not. But, thought I would at least mark it for future reading.
http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/school_education/publications_resources/profiles/gifted_education_professional_development_package.htm

Ken Robinson: Changing education paradigms | Video on TED.com

2011-02-15T11:31:00.000-08:00

Ken Robinson: Changing education paradigms | Video on TED.com

This is a very interesting video about our educational system.

New direction

2011-01-24T15:53:00.000-08:00

Well, I am headed in a new direction with my life. I started the Alternate Certification Program to become a teacher. My father is soooo happy that I have finally decided to become a teacher. All of my classes are online, which will be interesting. I also have to write a 10 page papger, UGH! I have started doing the 30 hrs of observation at the local middle school. So, everything is started. I still have a few other things to do but so far so good.

Christmas 2010

2010-12-26T07:06:00.000-08:00

Well, the Christmas season got off to a slow start for us. I am thinking because we were so busy from the 1st - 17. Either 1 or more things was going on every day. I was practicing with Trinity's choir for our proformance and then the proformance. Zachary was in the local highschool production of The Wizard of OZ. He was the mayor of munchin land. He had practices and then 5 proformances. The rest was either cub scouts, Christmas parties, and a birthday party.

We started our buying the week of Christmas and finished the day before Christmas Eve. I don't suggest this to anyone it was crazy. But, everything was found and wrapped and under the tree.

Christmas Eve Brooke got to sing at church and light candles. Then we made cookies for Santa. The kids were difficult to put to sleep.

Christmas day started out at 5am with Brooke waking up and crawling into our bed. We somewhat sleep until 7am.

Brooke's presents: A very big baby doll, perry pj's, roller skates, doll, pillow pet, a couple of matching games, pink boots, a coat, a red dress, cloths, Phineas and Ferb figures, dora video, dora figures.

Zachary's presents: Ben 10 ultramatrix, ben 10 figures, perry pj's (2 sets), more pj's, lego star wars, Super Mario Bro's 2 along with the book that explains everything, electronic monolopy

My presents: a new computer, Wii Fit, Jillian Micheals Wii fit, fuzzy slippers, necklace from Zachary, tennis shoes, flip flops, belt,

Mark's presents: Wii Tiger Woods golf, Wii boweling, crown royal, tennis shoes, chocolates, jeans, gun shells, pic of his mom/dad/scott, movies (tons of movies)

Family gifts: creationary and repair/paint the house

All in all it was a very goo Christmas.

First Day of school at Annie Sims

2010-11-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

Well, yesterday was Zachary first day at Annie Sims. He really enjoyed it and was looking forward to going back. So, he had 5 sheets front and back to do for homework and he had done all but 1 back page. He gave me his homework that he had done and said he only needed help on one page. Then after seeing if everything was correct I went back to the front page. That's when I realized the 5 pages of sheets was homework for the entire week and not for just Monday . He finished it up a weeks worth of homework in about 40 min. Guess that gives him time to work on Cub Scout and other stuff in the evenings. We will continue to study the spelling words and the 20 min. reading per day. The spelling words are really really easy compared to what he has been doing.

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Really Big Changes

2010-10-20T06:10:00.000-07:00

We have decided to take Zachary out of TXVA (virtual public school) and we are putting him into Annie Sims a brick and mortar public school. He will be going into the 4th grade. We didn't talk to the principal about subject acceleration or anything. I am going to try and continue to work with him in math on his level. He is excited about the new adventure. I know the first few weeks will be a huge change for him but I know he can handle it.

I will be taking about a month off from really doing anything other than keeping my house clean and running errands. However, I have decided that I would like to get a teaching certification. So, I will be talking to Texas A&M in Texarkana about their certification program. Probably starting in Nov. I will start substituting again but only on the days that Brooke goes to her preschool. Last time I did this I was pregnant with Brooke.

With Zachary going back to school that will leave me at the house with Brooke. So, I will start doing more than i've been doing with her. She is progressing at such a fast pace since she started Kindlelight. She knows all her colors now and has started tracing her letters and some numbers. It is amazing what they have gotten her to do at her preschool.

So, all in all there are huge changes at the Alexander's house.

New happenings with school

2010-10-07T05:43:00.000-07:00

Well, Zachary teacher, her lead teacher and I had a meeting last week. It was about Zachary's Scantron test and what that means for his schooling. The test he took was an achievement test. The objectives said that he needed to work on 7th grade math and 9th,10th,&11th grade for Reading/Language Arts. Well, Mark and I decided that there was no way he could work that high up but maybe he should be move up for a bit of a challenge. Well, his teacher agreed. They gave him 3 units to do in his math and 3 units for Vocabulary & Writing and then they will move him up. So, in about 1-2 weeks Zachary will be placed into 6th grade math which is Pre-Algebra and 5th grade for Language Arts, spelling, literature, vocabulary. He is excited and working really hard to complete the 3 units so that he can start the new material. I am so proud of him!

Schoo Year 2010-2011 (4th/5th grade)

2010-08-18T10:30:00.000-07:00

Well, we somewhat started school this past Monday. I am not making him do much for school. We are just gradually wadding into school instead of jumping feet first into the deep end. I think this may go well. I am going to try to incorporate more You Tube videos and more fun into this school year.

Zachary will be in 4th grade this year. His Science, Social Studies (Texas History), Health, Art, Latin and PE are all 4th grade. He is 50% finished with Spelling, Literature, and Language Arts (except for Grammar he will finish it in a week). After he finishes up the last half of Spelling, Literature and Language Arts he will begin 5th grade. He will be starting 5th grade math and it will be interesting because it seems most of it is online and I'm not really needed. I am only needed if he needs help.

Brooke's first day of Preschool / Drawing

2010-08-18T06:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Brooke started Preschool at Kindlelight. She is in the 3 year old classroom even through she is only 2.5 year old. She is as tall or if not taller than most in her classroom The teacher said she did very well. That she was the most outgoing of all the kids. She would go play in all the centers where the other kids would just stand and be still.

Brooke drew a picture of a little girl today.

Sunday School Summer Swim Party

2010-08-15T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was our annual Sunday School Summer Swim Party. There were so many kids but atleast no one was pregnant this year. The pool was so nice and the kids really did enjoy it, even the bigger boys (men) who decided after dinner to have a diving, distance, and cannon ball contest. Mark and Zachary went out on the boat first and did the tube. Zachary did the tube by himself, I'm so proud of him. Then they switched and took the wave runner back into shore.

Brooke and I hung out at the pool but then we decided to get onto the boat. I've been going to these parties for 4 years now and this was the first time I went on the boat. She then said she wanted to do the tube. So, we both hopped into it and off we went. After we got out she said "That was a blast". Yes, this is coming from my 2.5 year old lil girl. She is the dare devil in our family and the one to give me gray hairs.

The food was good there were hamburgers, hot dogs, chips, desserts.

All in all in was a great day with great friends. Can't wait for next year.

First Sleep Over

2010-08-14T06:28:00.000-07:00

Well, Zachary had his first sleep over. A good friend of his came to our house. They were playing, laughing, making tents, and having a blast. Then around 10:00pm the other boy started crying. He didn't bring something from home and he just wanted to go home. So, we called the boys mother and she came and picked him up. Zachary was so sadden by the boy going home we had both boys crying at one point.

We have told Zachary that we will try later in the future and that for right now we will have playdates during the day at our house. However, Zachary has no problems spending the night at someone else's house so he could go over to his friends house.

Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech -- Signs of the Times News

2010-07-28T06:29:00.000-07:00

I read a Valedictorian's speech to her graduating class and was very moved by what she had to say. She talks about how the education system failed her and how it is failing all children. It is a great article and I wish everyone could read and listen to what the children of our nation are trying to tell us about their education.

Valedictorian Speaks Out Against Schooling in Graduation Speech -- Signs of the Times News: "http://www.sott.net/articles/show/212383-Valedictorian-Speaks-Out-Against-Schooling-in-Graduation-Speech"

Summer

2010-07-03T07:40:00.001-07:00

WOW! I can't believe it has been so long since my last post. SORRY!

Well, school is over. Zachary has completed all of 3rd and 4th grade math. He has also completed 50% of 4th Spelling, Literature and Grammar so he will begin where he left off next school year.

June was really busy. The first week Zachary, Brooke and I drove to Longview, TX everyday. Zachary had a robotics camp that he attended. He really did enjoy it. He was able to build a spidar robot and a kangaroo robot.

The 2nd week was VBS/Sports camp at church. Zachary and Mark went to the park for Sports camp and Brooke and I went to the church for VBS. They both had a great time but we may take next year off.

Then we had a week that had nothing to do. It was really nice since we had been so busy for 2 weeks.

Then the 4th week Zachary and I attended Webelos Summer Camp at Camp Dierks in Oklahoma. It was 4 days 3 nights in a tent. It rain a little bit on us but not much. The first full day was very hot. Zachary earned his aquanauts, scientist, geologist, and foresters badge. He also earned his archery and bb gun belt loop and pin, however, he had already gotten those b4.

Now, we are up to 4th of July weekend. We will be meeting our new choir director tonight and tomorrow will be the 4th of July celebration at Trinity Baptist Church.

As soon as I have uploaded a video from Webelos camp I will post it. My camera ran out of batteries, UGH!

Finished!!!!

2010-03-30T14:46:00.000-07:00

Well, Zachary has officially finished 3rd grade even through he finished it last year too. But, this is recognized by the state where at last year wasn't. So, you may be asking what is he doing now. Well, we have completed 90% for 4th grade math, 9% 4th grade spelling, 14% 4th Literature, and 28% 4th Language Arts. He will continue this until June 30. The school doesn't allow a student to move up a grade in any of the other subjects. Since we have to do 6 hrs of school a day he is progressing in his 4th grade subjects faster than normal because we have lots of time and few subjects. We are also doing an independent study on Chemistry and the Medieval Time period.

When Zachary starts school next year he will be considered a 4th grader but will be starting 5th grade math and will be over half way finished with 4th grade spelling, literature, and language arts. So, probably 3-4 months after school starts he will be mainly doing 5th grade subjects while the rest will be 4th grade. I am wondering if at some time we should try to get his other subjects up a grade level so that he would be doing the same grade for all subjects. This could only be accomplished by having him test out of these subjects that he is below compared to his other subjects. I am just thinking if we needed or wanted to transition to a regular brick and mortar school the transition would be smoother.

Snowing in Spring!

2010-03-21T09:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, today is the 2nd day of Spring and it is snowing outside. Friday I was in shorts and a t-shirt but Monday it should be back up to 60 and 70 by Tuesday. This weather is so weird.

Medieval Times

2010-03-14T05:23:00.001-07:00

Zachary has finished his 3rd grade Social Studies/History for the year actually back in Jan/Feb. (don't remember). So, I thought I would pick a time in history that we haven't covered and came up with the Medieval Times.

What boy doesn't like Knights in Armor, castles, kings, queens, battles and such. So, yesterday we kicked off our study but in a really neat way. We went to Medieval times in Dallas. For those that have never been it is really cool. The whole place looks like a castle. You then wonder around the great room. Then you are seated and in the middle is the arena. Your meal is served by the serf of the castle. You sit in different colors and you have a knight that has your color. This is the knight you cheer for while he battles. The knights ride real horses, have joust, sword fights all under the eye of the King and princess.

Along with watching the knights you get a meal. Soup, bread, half of a chicken, rib, potato and dessert along with tea. All of this has to be eaten with your hands b/c they didn't have utensils during the Medieval Time period.

So, this was the start of our study. I plan for him to read about King Arthur and the Knights of the round table. Build a castle and learn about all aspects of the castle. Learn about the kings role along with the Knights. What the knights had to do to become Knights and what they had to wear. We may even make a costume. Along with reading books and projects, we will do some internet research. To finish our study we are planning on going to Scarborough Faire in May.

I do have a picture of us at Medieval Times. I hope to upload and post it soon.

Calculator

2010-03-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

Today is a big day in math. I purchased a math workbook at Staples for Zachary to use. This workbook is going to be our training book for using a calculator. I thought I could just throw the workbook and calculator and tell him to get after it. But, no! I actually had to do a few as examples to get him started. However, after that he was off.

You may be asking why am I showing or allowing my 8 year old to use a calculator. Shouldn't he still be working addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in his head? The answer is yes he should be but he also needs to learn how to correctly use a calculator. He will continue doing his regular math program, TXVA 4th grade, without the calculator. This way he will be doing both, math without a calculator and math with a calculator.

As a student gets into higher math they eventually learn how to use a calculator and on certain standardized test they can use a calculator. I am teaching my son how to use his brain and the calculator.

Valentine's Blog Header

2010-02-15T05:21:00.000-08:00

I am enjoying designing my blog headers. It is really fun!

Pictures from Brooke's 2nd birthday Party

2010-02-15T05:09:00.000-08:00

Ok, here are some pictures of Brooke's 2nd birthday.

Doesn't really like the hat and the piggy tails poking out of it.

Likes eating her pizza and cake. Her cake was a barbie doll cake.

Oh, Mom can you help me reach that toy?

Who, ME? It MY birthday I didn't do it!

My beautiful 2 year old girl. She looks so much older than 2 in this picture.

Moving on UP

2010-02-15T05:00:00.000-08:00

Well, last week Zachary finished 3rd grade Social Studies, however this isn't a subject in which the school will move him up to 4th so he is just finished until next year or unless I want to do something with him. I'm thinking about getting a maps workbook, well see.

The other thing that happened last week is very exciting. Zachary's principal and I have been talking back and forth along with his teacher. His teacher said that he should have been placed into 4th grade this year. The principal said that there was some misscommunications at the beginning of the year about who had the authority to move a child up a grade. So, the principal looked at Zachary's progress and decided that he was far enough along in 3rd grade Literature, Language Arts and Spelling to go ahead and move him up to 4th grade in just these 3 subjects. But, that she couldn't move him up into 4th grade completely. She also said that she would work with me and his teacher about his course placements for next school year. He was also placed into the Advanced Learners Program so that he can receive G/T services.

Zachary is really excited about moving up to 4th grade in Spelling, Literature and Language. He should receive his new books/workbooks Tuesday/tomorrow.

The principal is also talking with the Head of the school and the district about CBE's and previous instructions and weather or not they would accept a 70% on the CBE. She is also talking to them about courses taken at Texas Tech University ISD and if they can accept those courses. So, there is possibly going to be some changes.

Missing Tooth

2010-02-15T04:54:00.001-08:00

Well, Zachary has had an eventful week and a half. 1.5 weeks ago he lost one of his top front teeth. Now he has lost the other top front tooth. He is my full fledged snagglepuss.

Zachary's moving up in subjects

2010-02-11T04:39:00.000-08:00

Well, I have talking with Zachary's principal about his placement and him fixing to finish up with 3rd grade language arts. Well, the principal went ahead and moved Zachary up to 4th grade Spelling, Literature and Language Arts. The materials have been ordered and the classes are up on the schools website. Zachary is sooooo excited!

The principal is also discussing some other issue like taking the CBE's when you have prior instruction and taking classes at TTU. She is also going to help with Zachary's school schedule for next year. WOW! This principal gets gifted children. Oh, she also put him into the advanced learners program which is like the G/T program for a brick and mortar school.

So, there is some exciting changes and hopefully some challenges in store for Zachary.

College class update

2010-02-07T06:21:00.000-08:00

Well, the college said that they didn't think it was appropriate for an 8 year old to be in a college class. Then told me good luck on finding other ways of challenging him. Well that's just one of the reason I was talking to them.

But, I did find out through reading their policies that there is entrance requirements when going through the continuing education when taking a non-credit course and that the College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution that does not discriminate in either admissions or employment with regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

So, per these statements it doesn't matter that Zachary is 8 years of age or 80 years of age they can not discriminate him from admissions to class based on his age.

Now, not that we are trying to enroll him now but either in Aug. 2010 or Jan. 2011 we may enroll him into a class.

Mathematically gifted boy finally gets what he needs

2010-02-04T07:27:00.000-08:00

http://oilf.blogspot.com/2010/01/mathematically-gifted-boy-finally-gets.html

Follow the link above to a story about a gifted boy who finally got math at his level and how it changed the way he acted and his medication.

I wished all schools would see that educating a child at the child's academic level and not by the child's age is best for everyone not only gifted children.

On a side note we are talking with the local community college about a math course for Zachary starting next August. The continuing education department has agreed to allowing him to take the course through their department now we only have to get the college's approval for him to take it either through them or through continuing education department.

Health Update

2010-02-02T06:15:00.000-08:00

Well, no food has been able to stay down for 1 month now. I have only lost 12 lbs. which to me is surprising I thought it would be more but that's o.k. Today I am going for Pre-op for the endoscopy on Friday. I will have a tube with a small camera put down into my stomach to see if anything else is going on down there. Right now the doctor thinks I have gastropynesis (sp?) this is where my stomach doesn't digest my food fast enough.

Quote of the Day!

2010-01-19T06:10:00.000-08:00

As a society we must be able to admire ability, to support ability, to celebrate ability and to nurture ability. It must be as socially acceptable to support genius that is intellectual as it is to support genius that is athletic. – Michael Clay Thompson

SENG Group Facilitator Training

2010-01-17T07:56:00.000-08:00

This past week I went to Dallas, Texas for training. The training was through SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) so that I can facilitate parents groups. Dr. Webb has a written a book called "The Parents Guide to Gifted Children". I am now certified to facilitate parent groups using this book.

The training was a wonderful experience. I met parents who understood the difficulties in raising a gifted child and school employees who understood the academic needs of gifted children. The support not only has me as a parent but also for me to bring training and a local support group for parents of gifted children was overwhelming. I thank all the ladies who attend this training in Dallas.

I am hoping that in the next few months I can arrange a meeting for the parents of gifted children in my area to see if there is a need or what do we as parents in this area want our group to be.

For more information about SENG please go to www.Sengifted.org

If you would like to purchase this book go to http://www.amazon.com/Parents-Guide-Gifted-Children/dp/0910707790

Christmas 09 Blog Header

2010-01-10T10:46:00.000-08:00

Here is the blog header that I designed for Christmas 2009

Happy New Years!!!!

2010-01-09T17:30:00.000-08:00

We'll we are 9 days into the year 2010. The first 9 days hasn't been a good one for me. I have been sick. I have been sick to my stomach, no appetite, pains in my right side, and very bad headaches (Migraines). I have gotten shots in the back of my head for the headaches but that didn't work. On Jan. 6 I went to the ER but the diagnoses was laughable. I have started going to a different doctor and she seems more interested in finding out why I am sick rather than just treating the symptoms. She says that my x-ray shows an enlarged liver. I go next week to get an ultrasound.

Zachary has started the 2nd semester at TXVA. On the first day back he completed his Health subject. So, that is one less subject we have to deal with. He is about 50% finished with 4th grade math and should finish it and at least 3 other subject my the beginning of March if not sooner. I have emailed his teacher telling her that everything is coming really easy for him and nothing challenges him. I am worried that if this continues he will not know how to deal with a challenging situation when one comes about. I may have to talk about having him skip 4Th grade next year and go into 5th just to get material that is challenging at times and easy at times. However, not that all of it will be skipped b/c he will have completed 4th grade math. We'll see!

Brooke seems like she has grown up over night. She has a big girl room and big girl toys and loves them. She is no longer a baby but a toddler/preschooler. She knows her letters and their sounds completely and we are now working on putting letter together to read. She is also learning her colors and shapes. She can count to 10 easily and she use to count to 20 but we stopped doing that and either she has forgotten or is playing like she doesn't know.

In a week I will start a Biggest Loser contest at the local gym. However, with me being sick I have already lost 8 pounds. Not the way I wanted to start losing weight but I have to look on the positive side of things. I would love to lose 50 pounds and if I lose only 4 pounds a month that's 1 pound a week I can lose 50 pounds by the beginning of next year.

Christmas Eve 2009

2009-12-24T11:21:00.001-08:00

This morning everyone slept in except for me, but I was fine with it because the house was calm and peaceful. Then once everyone woke up we decided to head to IHOP for breakfast. Yummy pancakes, sausage, eggs, hashbrows were enjoyed by all. The morning has just been lazy with wrapping the last few Christmas gifts. I started teaching Zachary a new computer program called GIMP. GIMP is just like Photoshop but it is a FREE program. He really enjoyed it. Mark went into work for a couple of hours and is now home. I have painted a little bit more on Brooke's mural but I have to wait until Mark can watch her and I can lock her out of her room. Zachary and I will be headed into town to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks the squeakeel. Sorry don't know how to spell that. Later we will do our family tradition of heading over to Mark's Grandmothers house to exchange presents with her and have a huge feast.

Tonight we will make cookies for Santa and put those out with some milk. Mark and I will put the kids to sleep and put out Santa presents and socking stuffers. Then snuggle up and sleep until the morning when we are awoken by the kids climbing into our beds and screaming "Santa came, lets open presents".

Brooke's Mural in her Room

2009-12-22T13:07:00.000-08:00

I wanted to put a mural of an Enchanted Forest in Brooke's room on one wall. However, everything I saw was toooo expensive. So, I decided to do it my self. No, I have never done this before but I love to doodle. So, the day before her 2nd b-day I drew the forest on her wall in pencil. Friday of that same week I started painting it. I haven't finished but I wanted to post pics as it is coming along.

I'm not sure how it will turn out but someone told me "That even if it isn't perfect Brooke will love it". This is so true! Every time she comes in and I have more of it finished she squeals in delight.

Right Side of Wall (you should be able to see a litte bit of what I drew in pencil.)

Left Side of wall

Birthdays...

2009-12-17T09:06:00.000-08:00

Well, both of my children has had their birthdays. My little boy is no longer a little boy. On Nov. 30 he turned 8 years old. He is starting to cook somethings for himself that needs to be microwaved or in the toaster oven. He can even reach the top of the refrig. It seems that just a couple of years ago he was just a little thing. For his birthday he got a microscope that really cool. You connect it to the computer and view the images on the computer. He also got the 3rd book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

My baby girl is growing up also. On Dec. 16 Brooke turned 2 years old. After getting her into her birthday dress and fixing her hair she looked so much older. She got a big girl doll house (it is taller than her), some dolls. She is learning so fast also. She already knows her letters and all their sounds. What a huge accomplished to achieve before turning 2.

After looking at my blog header I am going to have to change the pics. They no longer look like that anymore. Those pic are a year old. WOW! how time flies.

Pics (sorry some are sideways)

2009-11-11T05:44:00.000-08:00

kids playing in the rain

Brooke 2009

Yes, she has a dirty mouth

She is toooooo cute!

This is some of the kids in Zachary's 3rd grade class playing a game.

Family went to the Arboretum to meet Zachary's TXVA Teacher. Brook looks at a waterfall.

Yep, he likes to pose for the camera.

The arboretum in Dallas is really pretty. Spring is always nice.

Neither one wanted to look at me nor did they want to sit by each other.

Zachary and his teacher Mrs. Layton (3rd grade)

Zachary shooting the bow at Mom and me Cubscout campout

Me shooting a bow at Mom & Me. This was really fun.

Pumpkin patch

Zachary at mom and me (my lil model)

He thinks he is sooooo cute. Watch out girls.

Mom and me campout theme was Circus

Best Friends

Zachary posing in the sun. Oops should have gotten the sun out of your eyes.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

2009-11-10T09:09:00.000-08:00

I would like to congratulate my son Zachary. He completed 3rd grade math 2 weeks ago and last week he started on 4th grade math. Good job on all the hard work and keep it up.

CONGRATS Zachary!

General Update

2009-11-10T08:55:00.000-08:00

Hopfully I will have pictures up soon. Our old computer, the one that I usually upload pics from, is about to go. I am trying to download everything on CD's before it goes. life has been crazy! School, cubscouts, being a wife, being a mother, cleaning, church, family, deaths, and everything else I'm about to scream.

Mark will be headed out of town this weekend to visit a friend in New Orelans, Louisiana. He better be good! So, I am having a girls night out this Friday. I will be going to watch 2012 the movie (no i don't believe in the whole 2012 prophacy) but the movie should have some really good special effects. I am also thinking about heading to Longview on Saturday to do some shopping.

Shopping now that's another story. At this point I have to think about Zachary's Birthday, Brooke's Birthday and Christmas. To many presants to think about all at one time. November and December just gets crazy around here.

Birthdays will be done differently this year. We have decided to just do birthday parties with family. Then when Summer comes we will have one be Pool party with a bouncy house for Zachary's and Brooke's half birthday. Right now I am thinking no presants but maybe a can food item to donate to the food pantry.

A lot has happened

2009-10-04T08:39:00.000-07:00

Well, I can't believe that it has been over a month since I blogged. Sorry guys! Well, this should be a long post.

Weight Lost Jorney:
Well, WW didn't work or I just wasn't into it. Then when school started up so did cub scouts and the ww meetings and cubscouts are on the same day at the same time. So, I couldn't go. Well, I am a huge Biggest Loser fan. I think I have only missed 1 season. Well, you know that thing they were on their arms, I have one. Yes, that is right I have one. So, if you see something on my arm it is called a bodyBugg. It is actually the coolest thing. I long onto my account and input my food for the day. It calculates how many calories I ate then I plug in my bodybugg and it calculates how many calories I burned for that day. If i am in a deficiet I am losing weight if I am in a surplus I am gaining weight. It will also tell me how much protein, fat, carbs, etc.. that I have eaten for that day.

3rd grade school: (Zachary)
Zachary is doing great. He loves the science even through he he way ahead of it. He is moving so fast in it that he will be finished probably by december. I have purchased an online program called www.Exploreelearning.com. It has both math and science. We will use it mainly for science. It goes from 3rd-12th grade for science. It is like doing all the hands-on experiments without actually buying all the materials to do them. He loves it and will actually do it on Saturdays.

He has completed all the math unit assessments but we skipped the lessons assessments and he is 37% finished with 3rd grade. I asked the teacher to move him up but she says he has to be 85% finished. UGH!!! So, we are blazing through the lessons assessments to get to 85% so that he can move up. He has only missed 5 or 6 questions total in 37%. Plus, if he can do the unit assessments then he understands the lessons assessments. I also think he will move fast with the 4th grade curriculum. With this program it looks as if mid-way through 5th is his actually level.
Zachary in Art class.Brooke in her brothers art class

Brooke:
Well, Brooke is growing leaps and bounds. Both physcially and mentally. She is in the 90% for her height. She is really verbal and loves to talk. She has also started potty training. She started when she was 20 months old. I say give her a couple more months and she will be potty traning. Wow!! It will be nice to have a child that is potty trained at 2 years old.

Sewing:

I have started sewing. I love making pillowcase dressing and skirts. Here is one that I made for a friend.

1st & 2nd day of 3rd grade

2009-08-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

Ok, Yesterday was the beginning of 3rd grade at Texas Virtual Academy @ Southwest. TXVA is a virtual public school. Yesterday started off with an assembly in the auditorium. Now you may ask how do you do this at a virtual school. We do it on line using the program/website called Elluminate. Elluminate has a whiteboard where you can write or show powerpoint presentations. I can hear the speakers and type in my questions. There where 400 people there. Afterwards we did a small introductory lessons on how to use their online schooling system (which is pretty cool). Then Zachary started taking a reading test. The test will adjust to every question you answer wrong or right in order to pinpoint your grade level. So the test lasted 2 hours.

Today he did the math portion of the test and it adjusted the same way. It took him 2 hours and 40 min. to finish. At one point he had gotten into algebra questions like 4ab + b - a/b= with a=2 & b=4. He knew how to substitute the letters for the numbers but didn't know you multiply 4ab. So, the test adjusted down from that. We then did an introducation to learning their system. This program will be done for the first 10 days. Then he was got onto Study Island. It teaches math, reading and social studies in a game format. He really enjoyed it.

I don't know when we will find out the results of his 2 test. I hope it will be soon. But, we are off to a great start.

G/T in Texas: Is it Worth the Label?

2009-08-07T11:10:00.000-07:00

In the state of Texas at some time during a child’s year in Kindergarten they are nominated by the teacher or the parent to get tested. This test will determine if your child is Gifted or not and if so will be placed into the G/T program at your child’s school. But is it worth getting tested?

Most schools have a G/T pullout program. This program is for children who have tested into the gifted range. These children are the top 2% of the children in the school. They are pulled out for 45 min. once a week. The time in which the child is pulled out is during an elective course like P.E., Spanish or Computers. This is the only service that G/T children receive currently.

When the child is pulled out they are normally pulled out during a class in which they would be learning new material or a class in which they enjoy. Children are not pulled from a class during a subject in which they have mastered for that grade.

The G/T pullout program focuses on critical thinking skills. This is a skill that all children G/T or not would benefit from. The G/T pullout program should focus on the subject or area that the child is gifted and help the child to continue learning and advancing in that subject/area.

So, if a G/T child is not being helped in the subject or area that this child is gifted and is being pulled out of classes in which they enjoy and are learning new material then why would any parent allow their child to be label as gifted? There is no benefit to the child’s giftedness when labeled G/T and placed in the pullout program.

If G/T children in the state of Texas really received help in the subject or area that they are advanced in the gifted child would flourish. The state of Texas needs to overhaul how they treat our brightest and smartest children. These children need subject acceleration, grade acceleration, early entrance into Kindergarten, counseling and peers that are on their same academic level be it the same age or not.

Currently the state of Texas is teaching our gifted children that it isn’t what you know it is how old you are that gets you through school. Until the state stops discriminating by age within the schools our gifted children will not receive an acceptable education through the public school system.

Weight Update

2009-08-07T04:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, I skipped the last 2 weigh-ins. One I forgot and the second one I went to the doctor. So, I went yesterday. I have gain 1.4 pounds but after a cousins reunion it could have been a lot more. Goal for this week is to write everything that I eat down.

Voodoo Grove

2009-08-07T04:30:00.001-07:00

Voodoo Grove

2009-08-07T04:27:00.000-07:00

I don't know if this will work or not. Here is a link to a YouTube video of a great band. They were a local band from college (NSU). They went down to New Orleans and dissolved.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyLEm2lcIlM

2009 - 2010 School Books Arrived

2009-07-14T05:35:00.000-07:00

I was so excited last night when the UPS guy showed up to my house. He had two huge boxes from K12.com that had Zachary's school books in them. I started opening them up and was excited about some of the subjects like Health, P.E, and Art. However, when I came to the science I laughed. The little readers that came with it looks really neat however, the textbook is the same textbook that we did last year. So, I don't know how that is going to work if I have to ask Zachary to re-read the same textbook that he read last year. I also looked at the math and it was way below Zachary's level. He ended last year working on high level multiplication, division and fractions and many more. This book starts with adding 5+5 and then teaching how to add w/carrying, subtract with borrowing, beginning mulitplication, beginning division, beginning measurements and so forth.

I haven't looked at the Language Arts stuff so I don't know what level it is compared to what level Zachary was doing last year. I did look at the Social Studies book and it is the next grade level that we have at the house that we looked and read some in last year to get Zachary ready for the 2nd grade CBE's.

I don't know who Zachary's teacher wil be yet but when I do I will have plenty to discuss with her/him. What do we do with his Science and Math? Hopefully I will find out soon who his teacher will be and we can beginning to start dealing with these issues.

A New Me!

2009-07-11T15:01:00.000-07:00

Per someone's request they want to know updates. These updates will be short and to the point.

So, here is update 1. I have lost 2.4 pounds the past week. I have lost a total of 7 pounds if I go back to when I started losing weight.

A New Me!

2009-07-07T08:27:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is going to be a very honest post. It is time for a New Me! I am 50 pounds overweight. Yes, you heard me 50 pounds. I currently weigh more than I have ever weighed in my entire life (except for when I was pregnant but that doesn't count). I currently weigh 202 pounds. The idea weight for me is 150 pounds. So, I have 52 pounds to lose. How am I going to do this you may ask? Well, with a lot of hard work. I joined Weight Watchers last Thursday. I have done this several times but the one time that I got serious I lost 30+ pounds. So, I know this program works. I have joined a boot camp that meets Monday, Wednesday, and Thurday at 6:00am and last for 45 min. I plan on walking, swimming or weight training on Tuesday and Thursday of each week. I have a friend that is doing atleast the WW with me too and is keeping me accountable. I also have giving this to the Lord. I have prayed about this and fasted about this and I know that it is going to work b/c He is going to help me. I don't care about getting skinny but what I do care is about my health and how I am a role model for my children. I have to love myself and take care of myself so that I may take care fo my family.

So, there it is out. I have stated everything.

Here is a before shot w/my precious little girl. That fat face is history!

Wordless Sunday

2009-06-21T06:07:00.001-07:00

First two weeks of Summer 09

2009-06-19T08:17:00.001-07:00

Well the first two weeks of Summer has been busy for Zachary. The first week he went off to Walt Disney World in Florida with his Grandma (Kissy) and his Aunt Pookie. They had a blast and came back with lots of good stories. One of those is that when Zachary was waiting for the airplane in DFW he started talking to a boy behind him. The boy is 6 years old and was headed to Walt Disney World too. Zachary got his email address and the boys said they would write each other (ok email each other). I missed by boy greatly but enjoyed being with just Brooke.

Brooke and I at that time headed off to Dallas for some girl fun. We left on Thursday morning and went shopping. For lunch we went to RainForest Cafe. When Zachary was this age he didn't like RainForest Cafe however Brooke loved it. She loved all the animal noises and the lighting. We then went and babysitted for a Friend of mine. In turn we slepted over at their house. The next day was more shopping. I found some really neat cloth at JoAnns and could have stayed in there for hours. But, we had to leave and go meet a friend at her house. We stayed there and had lunch and chated for 2 hours. We made tinative plans to go back to Dallas and go with her and her 2 daughters to Medival Times and to the water park close to her house.

This week was also busy. Brooke started MDO and was away from me for 6 hours for the first time. She enjoyed it and did very well. She will continue to attend on Monday throughout the Summer and then go Monday and Fridays when school starts up. Zachary started swimming lessons but the lessons were for beginners and he is past that point. So, we stopped group swimming lessons and now he will take private Swimming lessons starting next week for 5 days. Tuesday Zachary went to Cub Scout Day Camp. It went from 8:00am till 3:30 am Tuesday through Thursday. He was tired and exhusted but had a great time.

Next week starts our churches VBS which is really a sports camp. Zachary will be doing swimming lessons from 3:30 till 4:00 and then VBS from 6:45 till 9:00pm. I will be volunteering at the church for the younger kidos VBS. Brooke will be attending VBS with me but in her own class. I think I will take PJ's for her to change into b/c 9:00pm is late for her to be out.

Well, Summer has begin. Zachary is off and running with everything he is doing for the Summer. Brooke is now walking and is becoming a very independent little girl. And the weather is already getting into the upper 90's during the day.

No TV, Internet, Wii week and Dress Making

2009-06-05T15:28:00.000-07:00

I decided that this week (5 days) we would go without the TV, Internet and Wii. We listened to the radio. I did a short story on Thomas Edison and Electricity and we will be making a light bulb and an electricity game tomorrow. Zachary read more books and played a lot outside. Brooke played with her big brother and by herself. We also all played together. I have read 1/2 of Swiss Family Robinson (unabridged). It is a really good book and different from the movie. I also made a dress for Brooke. Yes, I sewed. This is my frist attempt and completed attemt at making clothing. All in all, I think we will cut the TV and computer off more so that we can read more and just be together.

Brooke in the dress I made.

My little model!

Oak Tree Down

2009-05-21T06:40:00.000-07:00

About a week ago we had a really bad storm go through during the night. The rain was pounding our bedroom windows I could hardly sleep. When we awoke in the morning it was still raining a little bit but not to bad. Mark had left early to go to a Chamber meeting. When I walked into the kitchen and looked out of the bay windows the huge oak tree was down on the ground. I thanked God for the direction the tree fell. If it had fell the opposite way it would have hit the house. I went outside to check to see if it went across the road but it hadn't. God's hand must have been over our house that night. I had been asking Mark to cut the tree down b/c you could go up to it and pull bark off of it. I told him it was rottening but he said it has leafs so it is still alive. Guess I got what I wanted!

Here are some pics of when it first fell. It has now but cut down, atleast most of it.

Dad and Lad 2009

2009-05-07T09:32:00.000-07:00

A few weekends ago Mark and Zachary made the trip to go to Dad and Lad. Dad and Lad is where the father and son go camping together at camp dierks. Zachary is a wolf cub this year and this was the 2nd dad and lad they had attended. They had a really great time but said the food was just ok. Zachary loved the food pizza's and hot dogs. Here are a few pictures that Mark had taken.

If you have a young boy please consider scouts. It isn't as much time commentment as you think nor does it cost a lot. The boys develop friendships and learn a lot of skills. I have been a den mother for the past 2 years and will be the den mother for the Bears (Zachary's group) next year and I have enjoyed working with both my boys and their parents.

Update on Zachary's Schooling

2009-05-01T14:13:00.000-07:00

I checked with Connections Academy which is my first choice for Virtual Public School to see if they had gotten the Out-Of-District letter signed by my superintendent. Well, They had not. They said that they were going to send a letter to my superintendent from the superintendent of the Houston ISD. This letter would also be specific to Zachary and no other child in the MPISD. Hopefully with the letter individualize the superintendent will sign the letter.

The other thing I found out is that Zachary was accepted into 3rd grade next year and also was accepted into the Gifted Language Arts, Math and Science courses. I am so proud of him for this achievement. In order to qualify for the gifted classes he had to take a 4th grade placement test. He pass these test with a 100%. What this says is that Zachary (Technically a 1st grader by age) is ready for 4th grade work. But what I love about Connections Academy is that they are keeping him with his age mates (somewhat) but letting him go deeper and faster with his subjects. The math program allows him to do 2 years of math in one year. The science makes him think deeper and do projects. The Language Arts allows him to do a Literature Study. He will also be able to talk to other gifted children.

I am considering if the school isn't able to get the superintendents signature to take this matter to the school board. I am hoping they will see that they don't offer these types of gifted classes and will sign the paper so Zachary can attend.

Zachary's Schooling

2009-04-25T19:02:00.000-07:00

While I was looking into enrolling Zachary into TXVA (virtual public school) I discovered that there was another virtual public school in Texas. This one is called Connections Academy and is offered through the Houston ISD to all students in the state of Texas.

After reading more about CA (Connections Academy) they offered more in the way of gifted education. They have a gifted Math, Science and Language Arts course. The school is for 3-8 grades. I contacted them and they said they would except Zachary is they thought his course of study this year was equal to 2nd grade. Well, I knew he would get in. I started gathering all the paper work. One of the papers they needed to enroll Zachary was a letter signed by my local school district superintendent.

I took the letter to get signed. I called to see if he had signed it and he wanted to talk to me. He said that he needed to let his legal team look at it before he signed it because it was a blanket statement that covered all students in his district. I told him it wasn't and it was only for Zachary. He said he would call me back.

He called back and told me about another virtual school program that was really good and I should check into that for Zachary. I did check into it and it is for High School students. I told him this and he said "Oh, I didn't know". Then why did he suggest it for my 7 year old son? UGH!

So, he called me back a few times. We exchanged words as to me saying that the public school didn't do anything for Zachary's academic needs and him saying they did. He doesn't know what really happened in Kindergarten. He called me back and said he wasn't going to be signing that paper. That he didn't want any kid in his district to be going to another school that was out of his district. That the schools here offered an excellent education. However he did say that the district didn't have the funds needed to provide the gifted classes that this virtual school offered. His other concerned was over the funding. If Zachary goes to CA then Houston ISD getting the funding for Zachary and not the local school district. He didn't want his funding money to go to another district. I told him that right now he wasn't getting any funding for Zachary anyway and that he was more concern about the money then my son's education. At first he said he wasn't but then he agreed he was. It all came down to MONEY.

So, without his signature Zachary can not attend CA. So, I completed the enrollment for TXVA. Zachary is currently set up to attend TXVA next year. He will also be in 3rd grade. We have gotten a one year grade skip for Zachary, however I don't think that will be enough for Math. I am going to try to get him into 4th grade math.

I am not happy with the way the current superintendent has delt with this issue. To put MONEY ahead of a child's education is not right. My child may not be attending the local school district right now but may be in the future. It will be with my voting that I will change my local school district.

Happy 10th Wedding Anniversary

2009-04-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Mark and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary on April 17. We left the kidos with his sister, Alison. We then traveled to Shreveport, Louisiana for a long weekend. We arrived at Sam's Town, who had comp. our room for both nights, check-in and then headed to the steak house.

The steak house was great! It was very nice and quiet. Mark had the Ribeye and I had Blackend Snapper with a crawfish cream cheese sauce. We split an order or chesse grits w/red pepper and grilled asparagus. We then had split dessert.

After such a nice meal we headed to the to play the slots. Mark showed me a lot of the new slots and how to play some of the table games. The last time I was in a casino they still used the coins. Well, they have taken the coins out and it is all computerized. We did sit down to a blackjack table and enjoyed ourselves for a long while until we ran out of money. We decided to go ahead and head to bed. This was at 11:30pm.

Well, the next day I just couldn't sleep in. So, I got ready and went downstairs to the coffee shop with a book. Mark eventually joined me. We walked around outside a while and then had a big breakfast. After breakfast we got the car and went to the boardwalk. The boardwalk has all these shopping places, restaurants, boweling alley and movie theater. We shopped some and walked a lot.

We then headed to an Italian place for Lunch. It was starting to sprinkle on us but we didn't care. We had a caprse salad and a margarita pizza. The pizza was made like we had had when we went to Italy. The owner is from Italy and he had something on the deck. By this time the rain was coming down in sheets. I realized that the man had a huge block of ice. When we asked about it he said that he was going to carve the ice in a face. We left very satisfied.

We then went back to the boardwalk and watched the movie "Knowing". If you haven't seen it go, it was really good. We then walked around more and did some more shopping. We then went to eat at Coplands Cheescake Bistro. We had Cheese dip, Cesear salad, and hot wings the size of turkey legs.

We then went back to Sam's Town and went to bed. I sleep in till 9:00am. I do not remember the last time I sleep in for that long. We got up and Mark went for a run. I went to the coffee shop and read my book. We did a little gambling and then went and packed up. We headed to Barnes and Noble and looked around for a while. Afterwards we went to Superior Bar and Grille for Lunch around 1:00pm. They have the best fajitas in the country. We then headed home.

What a great 10th wedding anniversary!

First Family Campout

2009-04-04T18:34:00.000-07:00

Friday I packed everything that the whole family would need for our first campout. Mark and Zachary has gone to Dad and Lad and Zachary and I have gone to Mom and Me but this was the first campout that the entire family was together, including Brooke. The campout was with the other families from Zachary's Cub Scout Pack.

Brooke, Zachary and I arrived at Lake Bob Sandlin Stat Park around 1:30pm. I set up camp by myself. And NO it didn't fall! Another family showed up shortly afterwards and the boys played. We went on a short nature walk and then came back and relaxed. Other campers started arriving around 3:30pm and all the boys had a blast running around and acting crazy. Mark got there around 5:00pm.

The ladies started setting up the food tables for dinner around 5:00pm and I got started cooking 44 hamburger patties and 20 hotdogs. After dinner the boys played in the dark with glow sticks while the adults sat around the campfire and talked.

Brooke started getting sleepy around 9:00pm so our family went ahead and got ready for the night. The others were still up till 10:00pm which made it difficult for Mark and I to go to sleep. But the kidos where off to sleep very fast despite all the screaming outside our tents. Apparently someone cut open one of the glow sticks and it got on the dog that was there. Then everyone started cutting them open and putting it on each other and playing like they were infecting each other.

I sleep ok except for the fact that Brooke was in my sleeping bag with me and I was falling off the side of the blow up mattress. About 5:00am this morning Zachary crawled onto the blow up mattress and said he was cold. So, I feel off the mattress completely. I felt of Brooke and she was running fever. I estimated it to be atleast 102. So, I went to the bathroom and then came back and got Brooke. We left the camp grounds around 5:30am. Once home I gave her some medicine and we laid down in my bed together until 8:30am. Now that was the best 2 hours of sleep all night.

Mark and Zachary stayed and had pancakes for breakfast. The boys played while the men talked around the campfire. Then a park ranger came and talked to the boys about local snakes and fishing. Did you know that you can fish off of any bank or dock in any state park without having a fishing lic. We didn't know that. Mark packed the campsite up and loaded everything into his car. Thankfully we had 2 cars at the park.

So, as a first family campout this wasn't the best. Brooke got sick and Zachary is coughing too. Maybe next time we go camping it will be better!

And OH, by the way I didn't take any pictures. I did bring my camera but was to into the moment. But atleast taking the camera is a good step. Usually I forget the camera. Maybe next time I will actually take pictures.

Savings on groceries and family update

2009-03-15T05:22:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know I haven't blogged in a while. Having only 1 computer and not being able to do anything with pictures is keeping me away from blogging. Oh, and also being soooo busy.

Family Update
Brooke was sick with a bad virus. Her fever got over 105. We took her to see the doc twice and pretty much it just had to run its course. She is better and doing fine. She has actually started to walk. She has taken 2-5 steps by herself and she will walk for a bit holding one of my hands. She also has a new phrase " Oh, Man". If any of you have kids you know where she get's this phrase from. Yes, it is Dora or more specificly Swipper. She just loves that show.

Zachary has been very busy. He is learning his multiplication tables, he just received his Wolf badge from cubscouts (so next year he will be a Bear), and we just participated in a Geography Fair in which he did Jamaica.

Grocery Savings
Ok, ladies if you want to save some money here you go. This is at CVS. This is from Money Savings Mom.

Good only through Tuesday) Buy 1 Irish Spring Body Wash 15-18 oz. at $4.99, Get $4.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $0.50/1 coupon from the 3/15 SmartSource insert
Free plus $0.50 overage after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Dry Idea deodorant at $2.99, Get $2 ECB (Limit 1)
Use $2/1 coupon here
Free plus a $1 overage after coupon and ECBs

Buy 1 Colgate Max Whitening Toothpaste (4.6-6 oz.) at $2.99, Get $2.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
Use $0.75/1 coupon from the 2/22 or 3/15 Smartource insert
Free plus $0.75 overage after coupon and ECBs

******NON-ECB DEALS******

Wheat Thins or Ritz Crackers are on sale for $1. Buy 2 and use the $2/2 coupon from the 1/25 SmartSource insert to get both packages free.

******MARCH ECB DEALS******

Buy 1 CVS Pharmacy Vitamin D 400, 100-ct. at $2.99, Get $2.99 ECBs (Limit 1)
Free after ECBs

If you don't understand what all this is gooogle Money Saving Mom and she will be able to explain it.

Zachary and School

2009-02-23T08:16:00.000-08:00

Zachary has finished 2nd grade math. Today he is starting 3rd grade math with Abeka. The beginning will be a review but we are excited about the new workbook. Third grade Abeka math really focues on Multiplication, Division, and Measurements. He already knows his 0's, 1's, most of his 2's, 5's, 10's, and 11's multiplication facts. So, we are really going to focus him memeorizing the rest of 2's, 3's, 4's, 6's, 7,' and 9's. Once Zachary has all of his multiplication facts memeorized I don't believe that we will be in the 3rd grade math book for long. He just picks up math so fast.

Starting next year Zachary will be attending Texas Virtual Academy at Southwest www.k12.com/txva. This is a public school that is virtual. This means that he will be in public school next year but he will be at home. 25% of the curriculum is delivered through the computer the rest is through textbooks at home. So, it is homeschooling and public school all in one. TXVA provides the child with a computer, a stipend for internet service, and all the textbooks and extras that the child will need. The child will be assigned a teacher and she keeps up with with the child is doing. The virtual school doesn't start till 3rd grade and Zachary will be only a 2nd grader next year per his age. But, they have agreed that they will let him enroll into 3rd grade next year. Which I don't believe will be a problem. At the end of the year Zachary will have to take the TEKS test and the CBE's from Texas Tech University and make a 70's average on 3 of the 4 major subjects to past his grade level. By doing this if we ever decide to put Zachary into the public school system here in MP he will just transfer from TXVA to MP. MP school district will have to except the transfer b/c it is from one public school to another. They will also have to accept what every grade Zachary is in.

Update

2009-02-23T07:58:00.000-08:00

Ok, there is a lot to update. The biggest update is that my big computer is dead. This is the computer that I downloded all the pictures I take. So, I can't add pictures right now and I have some interesting ones. So, no pictures till the big computer get fixed.

Guest
We had an interesting visitor the other day. Our dog was barking so we went outside to see who was at our house that early 7:00am. We got outside and discovered our dog had ran a racoon up to the roof of our shed. It was really interesting to see a racoon that close up. I took some really neat pictures of this visitor.

Brooke
Brooke has started standing up by herself without holding onto anything. We are thinking that she may be walking in the next 4 weeks.

Business
I have also closed down my company www.AbundantCrosses.com. The company that was hosting the website was charging me $30 a month and I wasn't bringing in enough money to cover that. I may bring the website back up later but with a different hosting company. Right now I am in the process of building a website for Titus County CARES. Once this is finished which I am hoping by tomorrow I will start on an old business of mine. I make flashcards and then sell them as .pdf files. I have partnered with www.CurrClick.com and they will sell my products along with my website. Right now you can preview and purchase at www.DiscountedMontessoriFlashcards.com but coming soon will be www.MontessoriCards.com.

Slow Fade Video

2009-02-01T12:59:00.000-08:00

This song is so true.

Weekend in Big D

2009-01-26T18:21:00.000-08:00

Saturday we went to Dallas. We got up and packed when we decided to and we left around 11:30 a.m. When we arrived in Dallas we ate at Razzoo's Cajun Cafe. We ate crawfish, french fries, catfish with a jalapeno sauce and rice. While the kidos has popcorn shrimp and fries. Brooke likes crawfish. But, I haven't found to much that that girl will not eat. The kids had milk to drink while Mark and I indulged in a New Orleans treat called a Hurricane. UMMMMM!

After eating we headed up to Frisco. We stayed in a really nice hotel called the Aloft. The Aloft is part of the W hotels. Actually they call it " a baby W". The room was very nice but very modern. The rooms have 10' foot ceilings. As you walk into your room the sink area is open (no walls). There is a sliding door to where the toilet and huge walk-in shower are located. As you go further into the room there was 2 queen size platform bed (no box springs). On the opposite wall was a huge flat screen tv, a long sitting bench and a table that looked at one of the two huge windows. You also had the ability to hook up cameras or any electronically device and it would play on the TV. Down on the first floor was a pool table, a sitting area with a fire place and a bar. All of this was in walking distance to the Frisco Mall and the surrounding shopping center. It was a very nice location for under a hundred dollars.

We attended our old church, Fellowship Church in Grapevine. The message was really good, the music was wonderful. Zachary had a great time in the children's worship service. It is nice to be able to set through a service without correcting a child.

After that it was party time. Long time friends of ours was hosting their annual Christmas/New Years party that was also a housewarming/going away. He had accepted a position through his company that would take him and his family to Sweden for 2 years. Upon arriving to the party we learned they the job transfer and move is on hold b/c of the economy. Zachary stayed mainly upstairs and played PS360 and stayed up till 11:30pm. Brooke finally went to sleep around 9:45pm. She did have a small accident when she slipped and fell on the brick fireplace. A little blood but she is fine. We party hard till 11:30pm. We went back to the hotel and we all asleep by 12:00am.

The kids woke up around 6:30am. So, we got dress and went to Main Street Bread Baking Company in the colony. Nice little place for breakfast. We then went back to our hotel and packed and checked out. We headed to Alison apartment and visited for a while. Then we made the trip to Central Market. This store is a luxury that we partake in every time we go to Dallas. We grab lunch there and shop. We get fresh mozzarella, pancetta, hummus, cous cous, and other items that we can not find in Mt. Podunk.

After shopping and eating we headed home. After such a long and busy weekend we are glad to be back. But, we are always longing to go back to the Big D for the food, shopping and old friends.

Sorry for all of you that want pictures. I did take a few with my phone but will have to figure out how to go from my phone to the web. I will try to remember my camera from now on.

Shelving Unit

2009-01-23T13:16:00.000-08:00

I really wanted a shelving unit that you see in preschools for Brooke's room. I got a teachers catalog and they ran from $170-$280+. There was no way I could afford that. So, I told my self that I could build one and it wouldn't cost as much. I went to lowes got the material. Had it cut there but then found out I miss calculated on a measurement. I cut 5/8" off using my father-in-laws table saw.

This morning I screwed it all together. It is not perfect but it works, looks good and I made it for around $40. A lot less than what I would have paid for out of a catalog.

I haven't painted it. I don't know if I want to just stain it or paint it bright colors.

Brooke really does like her new shelves.

In her room before I put everything on it.

Right after I built it.

Another photo of it in her room before the toys and books were on it.

New Header

2009-01-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

Todays post is not really a post. I have a new header. This one is for Valentines day that is coming up soon. I actually made this header myself. I have been learning to use Photoshop and how to make blogger headers. The only thing that takes a long time to do is trying to decide what graphics you want to use. There are so many cute graphics out there.

The background is not mind but one that I found. I really like it but I want to try making my own background. So, that will probably be my next project.

I am really having fun learning! Now let me see if I can get that slide show for pictures to work.

2009-01-20T17:09:00.000-08:00

Zachary was given an interesting opportunity. It was called Flat Stanley. The child traces a flat Stanley and then colors him and cuts him out. The child then mails the flat stanley to a friend and the friend takes a picture with Flat Stanley in the picture.

So, we sent Zachary's flat stanley to the Beck's who are in Portugal. Yes, he went to a different country. Zachary had to find on the map Portugal so he could see where flat stanley was going. We have received some pictures back so here they are.

I do have more pic's I am trying to figure out how to use the slide show option.

Pictures of kidos

2009-01-12T06:26:00.000-08:00

We took the kids to Wal-marts to get their pictures taken together. UGH! The pictures turned out good but the experience wasn't good. We will go someone else to get pictures taken.

Lost and Found Cat

2009-01-08T18:12:00.000-08:00

Last night we realized that our cat named "Belly" was not in the house. Nor had she been in the house all day and we believed that she wasn't in the house the night before. She has always been an inside cat and knows nothing about the great outdoors. She has gotten out before and she usually stays right around the edges of our house.

So, last night we braved the cold and called and called for her. We listened to see if we could hear her meows but nothing. We looked in th bushes but nothing. So, we had to go asleep without her. We planned to go walking in the morning to look for her.

So, this morning we walked and again called after her. But no meows. I was very sadden and cried a few times. We have had her for almost 10 years. So, she is like a child to me. I made flyers on my computer to past out to our neighbors. I went to go print them but before I did I opened a window to call after her. Then I looked up and there she was at a neighbors house by their deck. I quickly put shoes on and ran to go get her. I had to get on my hands and knees b/c she went back under the deck. She finally came out and I grabbed her. I hugged her tightly and brought her back into the house. I feed her and gave her a bath.

Changes Coming Soon / Update for next school year

2008-12-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

I had mention before how we were considering using Texas's virtual school next year. Well, we have decided that that program just didn't fit us right now. We will keep it in mind for the future.

Now, the changes. Starting after the New Year we will begin several new programs and new grades.

Rod and Staff English Grade 3 - we have finished 2nd grade.

Prima Latina - will be our language program. Not that we are dropping Spanish. We will continue to try to use it daily we believe that Latin will be more useful and Zachary is excited about learning it.

Abeka 2nd grade math - We are dropping Saxon Math for Abeka. Zachary grew up using Abeka and we believe the program fits him better than Saxon. It is an all workbook based program. Also, Abeka 2nd grade is equal to Saxon 3rd and parts of Saxon 5/4. So, the program seems to be more advanced.

Classical Writing - Classical writing starts the child out by copying good literature, rewriting stories in the childs own words and then moving on to writing without copying or retelling.

I hope to also start doing weekly updates as to what Zachary is learning.

Brooke has also been learning. Her vocabulary is increasing. She now says "Thank You". She is also learning to recognize the colors Red, Blue, and Green. We have also been working on couting. Normally I would only do 1-5 but she insist on going to 10. She knows the numbers 2, 5, 6, 7 and 10. Ten being her favorite number.

Health

2008-12-17T20:10:00.000-08:00

Well, the Alexander household and been sick a lot since my last post. Brooke got strep the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and then we all got sick too. Zachary lost his balance playing in the kitchen and fell into the diswasher. A knife cut his left side and he had to have 3 stitches. Brooke has had a runny nose and a small cough. So, today I took her to the doctor. She was diagonosed with bronchitus and a sinus infection. Mark's grandmother was put into the hospital. She had cut her finger and it got infected. They said at first she was to have surgery but after a high dose of antiobotics she doesn't need surgery. I am praying that nothing else happens for the rest of this year.

Saxon Math 3 - Fractions

2008-11-16T12:53:00.001-08:00

Here is what Zachary was working on one day last week. Sorry the picture is so bad. He had to make up fraction addition sentences by dividing the whole into parts. He has been enjoying math. Especially the day that he was learning about measuring cups. He got to make brownies.

English Issues!

2008-11-05T13:13:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago Zachary had been complaining that the English we have been doing was boring and easy. We have been doing Rod and Staff English grade 2. So, I finally gave him the unit test for verbs. He made a hundred. Well, I guess he was bored. So, we started doing the next unit. I could tell he was bored. So, I gave him the unit test again. He only missed 2 questions. I was right! So, now we have started unit 4 with only unit 5 to go. We did 2 lessons and then I gave him the unit review quiz. He did alright the only issue is that he didn't want to write. UGH! That is our biggest issue right now. So, tomorrow I will give the next unit review for unit 4 and see how he does. If he does OK we will move on if he doesn't we will go back and review. So, in doing all this I believe he will start Rod and Staff English grade 3 either in December or January.

Abundant Crosses and Cross Parties

2008-10-29T06:52:00.000-07:00

Well, I am trying to have a side business to the online company of www.AbundantCrosses.com. It would be Cross Parties. All the items sold at these parties would be different than what is sold online. I will also have for sale items that have rhinestone paw prints and tigers on them so that you can wear these to the local football games. I am trying right now to come up with a catalog, hostess rewards, and a commission plan. I will announce later when I will start signing up hostesses.

On another note www.AbundantCrosses.com will be at Deck the Halls. The Christmas event held at the civic center in Mount Pleasant, TX on Nov. 22 and 23. Everyone is invited to come and see what is for sell. I will be selling cross jewelry there and taking orders for shirts and wall crosses. Come out and purchase a cross for someone special for christmas.

School Next Year

2008-10-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

I found out a couple of years ago that there was a Texas Virtual Academy at SouthWest. But, it only covered the Houston area. This is a virtual public school. The kids stay home as if they are homeschooled but they have classes through TVAS that uses the curriculum of www.K12.com.

Since it is a public school everything is free. They send you a loaner computer, software, all class materials, access into k12.com, and a stipend for your internet service. They also say they can cater to gifted children more so than a regular public school b/c the child can work up to 2 grades ahead.

This year I found out that extended the school to include the Dallas area and parts of East Texas. Mount Pleasant is now in there zone. I started checking into them more and found out that they don't start taking kids until they are 3rd graders. I called and talked to them about Zachary. They said he was too young this year but I really wasn't interested in signing him up for 3rd grade this year. I asked them about next year? He will technically be the age to start 2nd grade but he is now working on a 2nd-3rd grade level. Could he enroll into 3rd grade next year? This would mean he would on paper skip 2nd grade, but he is not skipping the material b/c we have already covered it or we are covering it this year. They said they would accept him next year as a 3rd grader.

They start enrolling for the following year in Jan. or Feb. So, Mark and I have to decide if we want to try this type of public school or not. The pros are that it is free, we wouldn't have to dish out a lot of money to school him at home. We could get a stipend for our internet. It would be more stuctured. He can still work at his own pace. And if we decided to put him back to MPISD he would go in with a one year grade skip. MPISD would have to accept the skip and the trasfering grade placement. The cons are that our interent goes down doing bad weather and we couldn't get online. I don't know if he would like learning from a computer (only 25% if from the computer the rest is through textbooks). If they allow the one grade skip does that count towards the only can work 2 grade ahead? What if he is working more than 2 grades ahead, will they allow him to move forward or hold him back? And i'm sure there are more.

Or do we just not do this at all and continue doing what we have been doing this year? We have a lot to think about in the next few months.

Mom and Me Cub Scout Campout 2008

2008-10-21T06:51:00.001-07:00

This is the monkey bridge made out of rope.

The boys learned how to bowl.

Zachary and I go exploring by the river.

The place was so pretty.

Somone feel asleep on the way back home. He had such a good time.

This past weekend Zachary I went to the Mom and Me Cubscout Campout. Zachary is in Pack 777 and is a Wolf Cub. We walked up and down many hills. This was my first camping trip and my first time putting up a tent by myself. The tent went up fine and we all had a blast.

Are Christians Racist?

2008-10-02T20:00:00.000-07:00

I ask this question because of a post I read the other day. A little girl ask her mother if that couple (the lady was white and the man black) was married and if that was wrong. The mother then ask the little girl does me and daddy have the same color hair? The child said "No". The mother ask do we have the same color eyes. The child said "No" again. The mother said are we the same height, the same weight, etc... The child's answer was always "No". The mother then said that God created Man and Women. He didn't create a White Man and a White Women. And that the color of one's skin is just like the many other differences in our appearence. The women ask they child why she thought it was wrong but the little girl couldn't say why. The women blames society and living in the South.

After reading this post it got me to wondering. I have always heard from one person in particular, who I go to with question about the bible and he has always said that the bible says marriage of a different skin color was wrong. So, I did some digging into the bible. This is what I have found.

Numbers 12:1-16. It tells how Moses was married to an Ethiopian women and how Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses. The Lord became angry with Aaron and Miriam for speaking against Moses. He then made Miriam White with Leprous. Moses pleaded with the Lord and eventually she was let back into the group.

There are other passages in the bible that says that the Lords children shouldn't marry a particular group of people but it doesn't say because of the skin color. It says that they will turn your sons against the Lord and towards their Gods. He also says that we shouldn't marry others who are not Christians, but still nothing about different color skin.

So, far I have found no passage in the bible saying anything against marriage or dating of someone of a different color than yourself. So, this gets me to wondering if Christians have become racist because the world sees marriages of different colors as wrong? Even if the bible doesn't say it is wrong to do so anyone who does will have to deal with a harsh life. With the looks from others who believe it to be wrong and sinful.

School Schedule 2008 - 2009

2008-09-28T06:27:00.000-07:00

This is a tenitive school schedule. After a week I will advise it. I am concerned that I'm not giving enough time for certain subjects and too much time for others.

Three and on the computer

2008-09-25T04:41:00.000-07:00

I found this picture on my laptop. I usually don't put pictures on the laptop but onto the big computer. This was taken when Zachary was 3 years old. We were moving from Dallas to Mount Pleasant and he needed something to do while we were loading the U-Haul. I thought this was just too cute. They way he was sitting and that it is amazing that in our society today 3 year olds can work the computer. Man, hasn't the world changed so much since we were 3 years old. I didn't get a computer till I was in high school and really didn't work on it much till college. Things have changed.

Science Fair '08

2008-09-23T17:53:00.000-07:00

Zachary entered his first science Fair this week. He had been working on it for the past month. His topic was "How does Tap, Bottled, and Salt Water effect the growth of a plant? " He had 3 plants all the same and watered them everyday. The day before the science fair his conclusion was that Tap water was OK, Bottle water killed the plant and Salt water made the plant grow the most and look the best. Yes, that's right Salt water wasn't killing the plant and bottle water was killing the plant. We were starting to wonder what was in the bottle water. The day of the science fair our results changed. The bottle watered plant was sooooo pretty and the salt water plant was dying.

We entered the project anyway even through his poster board didn't match the plants. He talked to the judes and they were impressed with his reading ability. He just read off the poster board instead of presenting his project. Hey, it was his first time and he did great. He didn't place but he did get a ribbon and 3 free tickets to the local fair.

I took pictures on my cell phone. I will try to post the pictures later.

First Post - What is this about

2008-09-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

I will attempt to post about everyday life here at the Alexander's house. I will even try to write articles that I am passionate about. I also would like for this to be an online scrap/baby book for both of my kidos. So, let me introduce everyone.

My oldest son is Zachary A. Alexander. He was born November 2001. He is now 6 years old. We are currently homeschooling him, thus the title of the blog "The Alexander Academy". Zachary has always been a bright kid and ahead of his peers in academics. By the time he turned 2 years old he already knew all his basic colors, basic shapes, could count from 1 - 100 (by himself) and had a huge vocabulary. When he was 2 he learned all his letters and their sounds. He started sounding out 3 and 4 letter words. He also was corresponding counting objects to the correct number. When he was 3 he read his first book. He also started doing simple addition and really got interested in science topics. He was working at a Kindergarten level. At 4 his reading progress and he could read most any children's books his math had increased also. At 5 when he was enrolled into public school Kindergarten he was reading Magic Tree House chapter books, adding with carrying, starting to borrowing with subtraction, and knew his 0's, 1's and 10's multiplication facts. I really hadn't exposed him to upper level math b/c I knew he was already ahead of the other Kindergarteners. Kindergarten didn't go very well. He had behavioral issue because he was bored in class. We asked son to be moved up but they told us he was social behind the other kids b/c he didn't know how to act in school. He wasn't place in daycare as an infant so he didn't grow up in a childcare/preschool environment so this made hims social behind his peers. We had Zachary tested during Christmas of 2007 using the CAT (California Achievement Test) for 1st graders. He made a 97% on the test. We presented the test to the school and they still would not move him up. We requested that Zachary skip 1st grade and go to 2nd the next year per the school policy. They said he would have to meet all 3 criteria to skip and one of them was that he needed a districts representative to recommendation and the principal wouldn't give it. So, we are homeschooling this year. It is going great and Zachary is loving being able to work at his academic level.

My youngest child is a beautiful little girl. She was born December 2007 at 5 weeks early. She might have been early but she was just right. She weighed 6 lbs. 7 oz. and 19 inches long. She is now 9 mths old and weighs 20 lbs. and wears 12-18 mths cloths. She is in the 90th % for her height. She is beginning to crawl, plays peek-a-boo, signs "more" for food, has her 1st tooth, says da-da and has told her NaNa "No" by shaking her head no.

My husband is Mark Alexander. He is the owner of Superior Mortgage Service in Mount Pleasant, Texas. www.SuperiorMortgageTX.com He has been in this type of business for more than 10 years.

And My self. I am Katherine Alexander also known as Kathy. I too run a business an online business called www.AbundantCrosses.com. I sell all different type of products that has a cross on it like shirts and items that are a cross like wall crosses and jewelry.