My daughter has an assignment. She must practice reading a book and then have us recording her going through it. She picked this book. As soon as we got home, she got the book out and read it four times. The only word she didn’t know? “Ultimatum.” Not bad. I particularly liked her self-motivated impulseContinue reading “Practicing”
Category Archives: Education
The Lineup
Tonight at dinner, my daughter showed us a collection of photographs of her “friends,” the children in her kindergarten class. There are twenty-two people in her class, including her. Like a champ, she named each one. We heard familiar names: the two girls she spends the most time with and the boys she plays withContinue reading “The Lineup”
The Dinner Debriefing
Dinner time has turned into an informal school debriefing. Because my wife and I have opposite schedules, one of us knows about our daughter’s day and the other doesn’t. When we sit down to eat, then, the one who picked her up gets to present leading questions and the absent parent gets to task follow-ups.Continue reading “The Dinner Debriefing”
Spontaneous Footloosing
Post-dinner this evening, my daughter and wife danced. Halfway through the dance party, my daughter disappeared into her room. She reappeared with a costume and a script. She was a servant. My wife was a queen. There was a rule against dancing in the kingdom. Nevermind the fact that my wife was dancing the entireContinue reading “Spontaneous Footloosing”
A Night To Remember
My daughter had a great time trick or treating. One reason? She went with her cousins. I love when she records what she’s thankful for in a picture. This shows her (on the left) in her cat costume with her older jockey-costumed cousins. I love this so much, and I pray I encourage her toContinue reading “A Night To Remember”
Snakes and Bats
Today, my daughter got a science lesson at home. My wife caught a kingsnake trying to eat one of our chicken’s freshly laid eggs (the egg was in its mouth!). Being the fearless amateur naturalist that she is, my wife promptly picked up the non-venomous snake and brought it into the house. My daughter learnedContinue reading “Snakes and Bats”
“See The Stars”
My daughter has had a series of good Saturdays. Last week, she spent time with my parents. The week before, she spent time with my aunt and uncle. Today, she went on a hayride and went trick-or-treating with her cousins. The thing that most caught her attention, however, was not the candy or family time,Continue reading ““See The Stars””
Made With Love
Tonight, my daughter helped my wife make “spooky” spaghetti and meatballs. The spookiness was provided by ghost-shaped pasta. The meatball were provided with my daughter’s help. When I commented on their aroma and their delicious taste and said thank you to both her and my wife, she beamed with pride. “Good job!” I told her.Continue reading “Made With Love”
Hawaiian Day
The teacher has become the student. Today’s theme day at school was Hawaiian Day. My wife’s plan involved a floral scarf tied around my daughter in the style of a toga. Because she’s gone for her job before my daughter gets up, I was on toga duty. I was not a quick learner. I practicedContinue reading “Hawaiian Day”
War Stories
Every Tuesday, my daughter has P.E. Today she played volleyball. As we talked about her experience at dinner, my wife told us a war story of her 9th grade P.E. experience. It involved a tyrannical gym coach, a ‘C’ on her report card, a visit to the principle by my mother-in-law, and a fixed grade.Continue reading “War Stories”
Learning Together 