Friday, May 21, 2010

My genius!

So, please allow me to brag on my child here for a moment- after all, this IS my blog and I can brag as much as I want!

Riley, of course, is smart- we know this already. We have known it for a while. Yet, every time I learn something that shows me how very smart she really is, it blows me away!

Last week she had MAP testing. Don't know what it stands for, but these are the standardized tests that they give here in SC (and other places, too, I think) and they start them in kindergarten. She did them this winter, and we were told she did very well and that was about it. Well, this time they used to scores to show how much they have improved over the year. We started to have some questions when she came home and told us she scored a 200 on the reading portion. I had no idea what this meant and whether it was good or not....then she did the math. And started asking us what "multiplication" was and then wanting to learn what 1x2 was or what 2x3 was....and then remembering it and trying to do MULTIPLICATION in her HEAD!!!!!

Ok, so I posted on Facebook asking for some guidance and the general consensus among my friends, including 2 kindergarten teachers, was that this was DEFINITELY NOT something that was taught in K5, but rather in 3 and 4th grades! So, ok...I emailed her teacher and asked if I could come in and talk to her about all of this and also about the plan for next year.

I did that yesterday. I am still in a bit of shock about it!!!

We talked about the MAP test. It is the kind of test that keeps asking higher and higher level questions as the child answers correctly. Hence, the multiplication questions. It turns out that my darling child is testing on about a 3rd grade level in BOTH math and reading. Without EVER having learned the material....she did indeed score around a 200 on each- the average in K5 was 150, the average in 1st grade was 165 and 2nd grade was around 180.....hence the third grade level of about 200!!!!!!!!

Her teacher went on and on and on about how good she was. How smart, how well behaved, how she wishes her whole class was made of Riley's and how much she is going to miss her next year. Then, she told me that in her 5 years of teaching she has never seen a child like this and is convinced she is the most intelligent she has ever had!!!! Wow!

So, the plan right now for next year is to start her in 1st grade -she needs the social aspect of it, but that she will then go to 2nd grade classes for 1/2 of the day. And once she gets into 2nd grade, they have a gifted program which she will certainly qualify for. Not sure exactly what that entails but I am sure we will find out!

I am just blown away by this little girl. At times I can literally see her mind working and some of the questions she has are amazing....and the best part is that she absolutely LOVES to learn....we are not pushing her, I think, in any way at all (except for making her do her homework!!!)....it is all completely HER.....

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Run Lisa Run

If you come to this blog often enough, you probably see all of my Twitter updates- I try to tweet a few times a day, mostly work stuff, but occassionally I throw some more personal things, just to keep it interesting! Anyway, you might have seen some tweets about my new little obsession- running! For the first time, I am obsessed with something good for me :)

Anyway, sometime last year when we were doing The Biggest Loser at work, I decided to try to do a Couch to 5K Program, and it went ok, but then I lost some momentum and just stopped. I was disappointed in myself, but then winter came and I just didn't really feel like doing anything!

Not really sure when or why I decided to try again, but this time, instead of doing a program, I just decided to kind of do it on my own, and I guess that worked better for me, because something clicked and I reallyn started to enjoy it- well, mostly!

After a few weeks, I was browsing the internet and found a 5K on Mother's Day weekend and impulsively signed up for it (which means I paid the money to do it!!)...maybe the money was my motivation, or the fact that I told everyone I was doing it, but whatver it was, it pushed me to train for it...and I actually did it!!!!

The experience itself was fun...still find it a little hard to believe I actually said that!!! For those of you who know me IRL, you know that I am not a very athletic person- I don't really enjoy sports that much at all. But the race atmosphere was fun- getting my chip for my shoes and my bib with the number and the start and the finish- so much fun!

So, overall I did ok. Not great, but a little better than I thought I would. Really, my only goal was to do the best I could, not die and not finish last. So, I accomplished my goal! The course was much hillier than I was used to, so I walked much of the hills, but aside from that, I ran and ran and ran!!!

Todd and the girls came with me and I was pooped and proud afterwards....and very sore the next day, but now I am anxious for the next one, which probably won't be until the fall....until then- I run some more and try to do better and better.....

Saturday, May 15, 2010

She speaks

Annie's language has just exploded over the last few weeks. I remember this time with Riley- waiting and waiting for them to start talking and (sort of ) understanding what they say...and then it seems like overnight they make sense :) Riley was right around 2 when it happened, so Annie is a little early- not a surprise!

She is really saying quite a few words and starting to put two and three words together- today she said "want watch Blue"- that would be Blue Dog, otherwise known as Blue's Clues! I love when I can understand what she wants- or does not want- but she still continues to get really upset when we do not understand. And then the tantrums...oh, the misery...I don't even want to get into that right now!

Things are really busy, as usual. May is a crazy crazy month- our calendar is full!

Monday, May 3, 2010

Piano Recital

Riley had her very first piano recital on Saturday. If you haven't already seen it, check out the video below this post. She has been taking lessons for only a few months, but has really been enjoying them. Grams picks her up at school on Wednesdays and they go to her lesson, and sometimes they even pick up Annie for me, which is really nice.

She did so well- she had a pretty new dress and we showered and did her hair that morning so it was extra pretty and curly...the recital itself was nice- not too many kids- and actually went pretty quickly. Then they had a nice little reception at the end- we made homemade chocolate chip cookies and they disappeared fast!

Annie did ok- she had a pretty dress, too, but don't think she really knew what was going on. She didn't yell too much :)




Pretty girl with flowers from Grams and Gramps

Riley and Miss Emily


The kiddos



Me and my beautiful girls!

Saturday, May 1, 2010