Field Trip Fridays

My girlfriend, Rita, has five kids.

 That she also happens to homeschool. 

Every May she sets aside Fridays for field trip type outings and invites others to tag along. 

So, tag along we have!

Our first outing was to Ardenwood Historical Farm. We saw all the animals including baby goats and free-roaming chickens, like the one Rita's holding.

Then off to Sunol Regional Park for a mile loop hike and playing in the creek. This one was a bit of a challenge only because Theo was playing the "Mama's boy" card and wouldn't let others carry him for long or go into the hiking backpack that a friend brought. So I carried two kids for much of the mile. And Ezra did the whole loop with the big kids without a sweat. That guy sure has some major endurance.

We hit up Sulfur Creek Nature Center next. Which I had never even heard of before. It's a rehabilitation center for animals so there were some really cool ones like hawks, vultures, several owl species and coyotes. They also have a "animal lending library" where you can take home a pet for a week with all its essentials to get your pet-fix without long-term commitments. Pretty sweet deal, if you ask me!

And this week we're headed to Shadow Cliffs for hiking and beach time. And the best part is its usually deserted during the week so we'll get the whole beach to ourselves!

Rita only schedules field trips for this month, but I'm hassling her to keep it up. There are so many fun things to do with kids around here and its always more fun to do it together. Especially when I can commission someone to watch Theo while I nurse. That kid is constantly seeking out a way to get injured. It's been fun pretending we're a homeschooling family and getting to join the co-op field trips!

Full Steam Ahead

It's true that time speeds up the more you have.

We are somewhat into a routine already with three. I'm utterly surprised. Although I'd be equally not surprised if that routine changed yet again. Simply the reality of having little ones. 

But for now I'm enjoying this routine and the fact that the boys are sleeping at the same time again which means I can get some down time during the day too. I'm also enjoying the fact that {so far} I'm doing okay. I'm not drowning like I feared. I'm definitely afloat and surviving--while in survival mode. Because I'm still haggardly. Most mornings I have blood-shot eyes. My hair is up and messy. My clothes are usually gym clothes. And coffee is constant all day long.

Last weekend we dedicated all three of our babies. Something we'd been wanting to do for a long time. We picked Psalm 127 for them... A reminder that without the Lord our efforts are futile as well as an encouragement that they are without a doubt THE best blessings we will ever receive. An inheritance from the Lord. 

We've also had some much needed "normal" weekends of sticking around the house. Clearing out the backyard in preparation for summer, weeding through closets, and short walks to the farmer's market and nearby parks. 

For the first time since giving birth, I've seen the bottom of the laundry pile and a sink cleared of dishes for longer than half a day. Small successes that remind me this season is fleeting and so are these small annoyances. 

Recently, I made an inward and outward proclamation that we'll be officially starting pre-school with Ezra next year. No real formal cirrculum or anything. Actually it'll probably look a lot like what we do now, but I think I need that "official business." I want to take school pictures, talk school up with Ezra and just enjoy this fun stage of learning.  It will help to send mini-goals on what we want to learn and work on. Hoping to just focus on phonics, numbers and fun "unit studies" as extensions to our read alouds. And maybe start a co-op/group where we can gather together and do a few activities together based on a book I've heard great things about. Or at least offer and get support for this great adventure.

And Vesper is smiling now!! The first of many heart-warming milestones. It's hard to believe she'll already be 7 weeks tomorrow. Time is flying.

Classroom Ramblings...

I wrote this during my first year of teaching 5th graders {10 & 11 year olds} in the 'notes' section on my fb page. I re-read it the other day when a girlfriend, who is just finishing up her student teaching, shared a silly story about what one student had said to her. I laughed and told her how I made a list of all the crazed things that happened or were said in my classroom. Some things are just too unbelievable to go unrecorded.

With 33 students and one gum-shoe teacher fresh on the scene, things are bound to get wild. Most of the items listed here were more of a vent than anything else--which will explain my overtly sarcastic tone. After a long day with these cute kiddos, some times I just had to moan and groan. Here's what you get when that happens. Maybe it'll give you some laughs today! ;)

This is a place when I can record the obscure, humorous, and interesting events that happen to this first year teacher and her 5th grade students.

1. D.A.R.E. police officer thinking my male student was a girl

2. A loud fart resounding in the room as I instruct the whole class and a young girl turning red

3. We finished a Native American unit and decided to write a page paper about what our name would be (being characteristic of who we are)...one girl named herself "Lazy Cow" because she's lazy at home..hmm

4. To date, I have been called "mom" twice by two separate boys..hmm.

5. In a love letter writing assignment (my guidelines said to pick someone you love, appreciate, care about), a cocky male student decided to write about a girl he met randomly & knew for only a week...Clearly, he's going to have difficultly writing a meaningful 4 full paragraph essay. Ah, young love & ridiculous student! How are you going to write paragraph #2 discussing your relationship & geographic distance if you don't know where she's from (and obviously, won't see again) ? Yet you are still so certain that this is a deep, meaningful relationship?!?!

6. Ah, 5th graders can be so mean: male student gets mad, shouts at other male student: "You brown, rotten banana!"

7. Talking to one student, another tries to insert his own opinion into our conversation. My response:"This is an A-B conversation. You may C you're way out." Male student's response: "Really?" and gets up to leave classroom. Geez, sometimes I really fear my attempts at humor are far above my 5th graders. This is bad, considering I spend all day with them!!

8. Today, a really irritating student, whom I've had to fight to even like this year, decided that instead of doing math that he would draw all over his face with purple marker. Then he was shocked when I sent him to the principle's office. "What?!? I didn't know it was against the rules!?!" Come on, man, are you 4 years old and drawing on the walls? Grumph!

9. Got an e-mail from some parents who are divorced and have a struggling student (behavior & academics) stating that they wanted me to e-mail them every time their student had a missing assignment. I send home "parent alerts" (paper with missing assignments) but they stated that it wasn't enough. Hmm....How about sitting down with your child and checking their work at home? I don't get enough compensation to e-mail you and be a private investigator for you. You birthed them, how about you raise them? Iono, silly idea?

10. It's a sad day when an 11 year old wears more make-up than you & wears a black bra (with the straps showing) to support a heavier chest as well.

11. And all you people who forgot about "Family Life/Reproduction Body System", well I now have re-learned all that material just this year. So helpful for my daily life, truly. Especially when you have to explain diagrams and vocabulary to 10 & 11 year olds! So fun! :)

12. A wide-eyed, curious little girl asks,"Is it true that if you do it with your cousin, you'll have deformed babies?" My response: "Um, well, definitely NOT a good idea & I would never recommend it. Let's get back to the topic at hand: the Vas deferens. This tube carries the sperm out of the body."

13. I have a summer school student named Hyemin...wonder how that will go later on in life...

Boys & Books

My mom gave me such a great article from the Wall Street Journal yesterday. Nothing wrong with Grossology & Diary of a Whimpy Kid series, but shouldn't boys be challenged with more?! Boys can be just as literate and hungry for education as girls. But the gender gap that the WSJ article talks about was very evident in my 5th grade classroom as well as most of the students I tutor. They happen to be boys. 

This article happens to come with great timing. One of the students that I tutor is a sophomore at Foothill and struggles with reading and getting homework done. The mom doesn't work so I'm not sure how the boy gets away with playing WOW and not doing his homework. Or how the iPhone and Macbook are still in his possession even after his grades are low enough to kick him off the football team. Both the boys are super sweet and kind but have no work ethic or motivation. It is just so sad. I guess I'm fortunate enough to get a realistic view of what not to do and the direct consequences of not making your kids and school first priority. 

I'm not sure why it happens to be somewhat of a disaster in their house. It's always clean when I come. They have plenty of money and lots of gadgets. They are all very well put together with expensive clothes. Drive really nice and shiny cars and just remodeled their home. The mom's parents live next door. But I have to be quite persistent about scheduling our tutor time. If not, then I get a panic call about a huge project due in a few days or how the teacher has been kind enough to let K make up all this work he didn't complete. Then K and I work like 8 hours the next few days trying to bust it out. It's harder now with a little one and trying to be there for them last minute. Last year, I had dreams about the Odyssey after finishing a long weekend session. 

Sometimes it's really hard for me to separate myself and let it go. I want to help him feel empowered and successful. But I can't check in on him daily to make sure the work is getting done. I can't be his mom. My heart breaks for this family as now they are struggling with drugs and rehab for their oldest son. And the mom is just ridden with guilt over this and K's drinking episode last year. It's hard because these things could happen even in families that are tightly bonded. I wish I could do something for them beyond praying for them. Of course, these current high school events don't necessarily solidify what their future will be like. These are struggles I don't have experience with and I'm not sure of their outcome. I can't help but be nervous for them. 

As far as reading goes, I've started at square one with K. During our time together, I read aloud to him. All I ask is that he take down a few notes while I read. Just yesterday, we picked up a book that he needs to finish for a project. His teacher sets aside reading time during Fridays, but he's become so frustrated with the book. He told me he's read the first page multiple times and is so confused by it. He wanted to give up on the book. I struck a deal. I'll read the first half of the first chapter  and then he could decide. We read. He understood it when we stopped and discussed. And it turns out to be a very interesting book. He decided to stick with it.

As I was getting ready to go, I told him to read aloud to himself. It might help block out any other distractions. I was happy to see him still reading while I left. It's never to late, right?

Happy Earth Day!

Today, during the morning announcements, we pledged: 

Earth Day Pledge

Today I will not litter.

Today I will recycle.

Today I will not waste any food.

Today I will turn off any lights that are not being  used.

Today I will take a 5 minute shower.

Today I will not ask for something I don’t need.

Today I will remember that Earth Day is everyday! 

Keep Trying Something New

So I picked up sewing this summer and I'm content with the fact that I'll probably buy a machine next summer. It's kinda hard to pick up and put it down when I'm not very good at it. I still need more practice and mentorship. I'm ok with it being my summer outlet. Well I still felt like I'd like to try something new...something more exercise related since I need a better de-stresser than shopping (so says my husband) And I'm so not the dedicated gym member I once was in college. :)

So over our day off yesterday, I signed up to try a Hip Hop class through a Dublin dance studio. I've been wanting to try hip hop since the last season of SYTYCD and finally actually did something about it. Although it wasn't as easy as I thought. Most dance classes are for kids... since we are living in a family-oriented area. So I was so excited to find this studio that had a teen/adult class on Tuesday nights. We'll see how it goes next Tues! I really hope well because it'll be a fun outlet.. I miss my cheerleading days.. and dancing! But I don't think I'll be learning moves like those above... I'm so not flexible or strong anymore!! :(

We Love Planet Earth

Yes, we do! We bought the entire season from Costco awhile back. I've already used segments for Summer Science School. It's great with the high-definition camera shots. And we watched it with our family today after a trip to SF & the pool. Today, we introduce the Flat Lizard. A multi-colored lizard from Africa. They are a rare species that is only found in South Africa and they primarily eat insects. Do you feel educated yet?!?!?? We whole-heartedly encourage the series-- talk about natural drama, beauty & awe!


More on Flat Lizards
More on Planet Earth