Dedham Rocks - Apple Picking

So I'm back writing because there is this terrific blog in my town (or, as we say "wicked aswesome" blog) that gets me to write the things I love about my kids' school and the town were I live. Who knew this is what would get me back on the blog saddle?

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Oakdale Elementary School recently had the annual first grade field trip to an apple orchard. All four classes - nearly 75 students - pile into two school buses to travel an hour to go pick apples, eat a brown bag lunch and enjoy cider donuts.



This is not only a part of fall but a school rite of passage. For at least a decade Oakdale first graders go on this field trip, to Honey Pot Orchard, on similar yellow buses and fill their clear bag of apples. Plus pick an extra apple to eat while walking along the trees.



This was my first time being an "official" chaperone - meaning I had the honor of riding the big yellow bus with the kids and the teachers. But it was my second time going to the orchard with a class of first graders from Oakdale (another tradition is Oakdale parents will follow the buses in a caravan of cars/vans to join the fun). The first time I went one of my twin sons lost his first tooth in the orchard. While biting an apple. We found the tooth sticking out of the apple. It is still being talked about to this day....



There were farm animals, simple machines (a perfect recap of this week's science lessons - I got a full explanation of how levers work from one of my daughter's classmates), and the incredibly popular cider donuts.



Mrs. Ward said, as we bounced on the bus, how important this trip is. How it brings the students together, students who will become middle schoolers and high schoolers and creates shared memories. And as I looked at the turning leaves through the clean bus window there were shrieking voices. Little children singing, yelling as they bounced in seats, and seeing horses, stone walls and fall leaves from their own windows.

They were making memories.

Dedham Rocks guest - Meeting the new teacher

"I'm a guest, I'm a guest/ Dedham Rocks is just the best".

Apologies to Beauty and the Beast. I wrote the following post below for Dedham Rocks, a wonderful blog which celebrates the town where I live.

Meeting the new teacher

Oakdale Elementary School has a lovely tradition on the last day. Each classroom is broken up into groups, in the hallway those subgroups merge with other subgroups of similar grade students and they march into the classrooms of their new teachers. This is both how they find out who their teacher is and who their classmates will be for the new school year.

One of my then 3rd graders got into line and marched into his new 4th grade teacher’s classroom. He was warmly welcomed by her and handed the all important list of school supplies needed. The list my children seem to obsess about all summer long.

My other then 3rd grader was in his line and marched right into a classroom with the principal standing before them. She told the class their teacher would be hired over the summer and they would have a chance to meet this person before the new school year began.

So he spent a good part of the summer, whenever asked who his 4th grade teacher was, saying “TBD”. To Be Determined. Then in August the letter arrived from the principal announcing the new teacher and the September date for the meet and greet.

Several days ago, my son and I both eagerly stepped into the grand school building with the stone arches and beautiful wood hallways to climb the stairs to the 4th grade classroom.

We were the first ones to enter the bright, clean room with desks arranged in groups. The teacher walked over to my son and extended his hand. “Hi, I’m Mr. Paris. What’s your name?”

The other students filed in with their parents with warm greetings for those they hadn’t seen since June. Adults commented on how much the students had grown while the students tried to take more candy from the bowl sitting on one of the desks.

As we left the building I asked my son how he thought the year will be. “Great!” he declared.

“Because he has a candy bowl.”

Thankful

What came home in two 3rd graders' backpacks yesterday --

I am thankful for my brother. He always lets me play his DS games. Second of all, he is nice to me. In fact, he always lets me listen to his iPod because mine broke. Lastly, if he wasn't in the world I would be sad. W. is the best brother, I love him!

***

Thanksgiving reminds me of all the things I'm thankful for. I appreciate my mom, my family and my dog.

I'm especially thankful for my family because they love me. Secondly we go on vacation together. Lastly they love me. I love my family.

I also appreciate my mom because she makes our dinner every night. Secondly, she takes care of me. Lastly she loves me. I love my mom.

Finally, I'm grateful for my dog because he plays with me. Secondly my dog loves me. Lastly my dog loves my family. My dog is the best

As I enjoy this holiday season, I realize that I have many reasons to be thankful. My mom, my family and my dog are very important to me.


Happy Thanksgiving.

Say whatever

While driving to school one brother told on the other one.

"I saw him sitting on his chair the wrong way. His bottom was on the back rest and his feet were on the seat!"

What followed was a cascade of confessions, tattle-telling and a 5-year-old younger sister begging that we not talk about this.

The upshot was that someone was copping a little attitude in his third-grade class, in part to keep up with the antics of his friends and in part because I gave him permission.

I what?

"Yeah Mom! You told me that I could say whatever I want when I am with my friends!"

Back up a year or so ago when the first, real ugly word came out of my sons' mouths. I was in a panic. How does one stop them from using obscenities, snarky sayings, crass gestures? How does one, as the saying goes, not think of an elephant when someone says elephant?

A dear friend had an ingenious response. She tells her daughters she can't control what they say to their friends but in their family home they have to use appropriate language.

So that was my response and we've done pretty well in the family, language wise.

What I didn't think would happen was he would take the comment to mean all actions with friends, outside of our house, including class time.

We have now clarified that what I meant was during recess. Class time means work time.

And I have to go apologize to a third grade teacher.

"Education is not the filling of a vessel, it is the lighting of a...

flame.

William B. Yeats

For more Singular Saturdays go visit its new home at Finding My Way (aka MoJenn).

"Sad, lonely, por"

One of my second grade sons came home with the following completed assignment. The photocopied cover had the title blacked out so he and his classmates didn't know the name of the book.

Book Cover Investigation

Today you looked at the cover of a classroom book. I want you to think about what you see and feel when you look at it. Think about and answer these questions.

Who do you think the main character will be in the story?

I think the main charcter (sic) is the boy on the front cover.

Write 3 things that describe this character:
Sad
Lonely
Por (poor)

Where do you think the story takes place?

I think the story takes place in a desert in egypt.

Write three details from the picture that support your idea.

Theres a camel and it looks realy hot. [Mom note: only two there].

Do you think the main character has a problem?

Yes.

What do you think this story will be about?

A child in the desert.

How does this picture make you feel when you look at it?

It makes me feel sad.

Name 3 specific things from the cover that make you feel that way.

The boy is homeless.
He looks sad.
There lost. (this week the class is studying "they're" for spelling)

And while I am incredibly proud of this little man's empathy, I'm a bit worried about his view of the world. He sounds like a weary old man in these answers. A weary old man at age 8.

Get out of my house Lady Gaga

A little over a week ago the boys started singing a song.

Can't read my, can't read my
Poker face

I ignored it for a few days then finally had to ask.

"How do you know this song?"

"Some girls did a Blue Man Group thing to it during the 5th Grade Talent Show!" which was followed by an impressive recreation of these girls' performance. If they really did all that the boys showed me, it was truly a lovely tribute to those three men with blue heads.

However, there are plenty of songs from Blue Man Group itself that they could have chosen to accompany their performance.

These schoolgirls didn't have to use a song that says:

Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love if it's not rough it isn't fun

Or

'Cus I'm bluffing with my muffin

Now in the music video, while singing that muffin line, Lady Gaga points at her crotch. Clearly, my kids are not seeing that video before they are, oh, 92 years old mainly because I don't want to hear:

"So mom, if a girl's privates is her 'muffin', what's a donut? Or a scone? Does orange juice describe some private part too?"

Lady Gaga is out to ruin breakfast.

I have no problem with her music, her lyrics or her video. Have fun madame Lady.

I have a problem with parents of fifth graders (ages 10 and 11 years old) singing and performing to a song that promotes violence in relationships and quite frankly takes food to a place I don't want my 8 year olds, or 5 year old, thinking about.

And let's not forget that I teach sex ed. In my church.

So this is not a slam against the 5th Grade Talent Show, the school or the staff. This is a slam against parents who don't have the sense to listen to the songs their children are listening to and saying "no". Because once you've got a song in your head - even as an 8-year-old - you can't very well banish it.

I've since learned that a second grade classmate of one of my sons has the entire Lady Gaga album.

Great. What will be the next song they'll sing? Perhaps Lady Gaga's "Let's Dance"? That fabulous celebration of getting drunk, losing your friends, forgetting the name of the club you are in and waking up to find your shirt is on inside out from, as a friend of mine surmises, date rape.

Any songs make you want to bang your head - repeatedly - against the wall?

Please join in Music Monday. Just remember if you plan to use little Mr. Linky below, write a post about music and link back to me. Music always makes Monday a bit more fun.

Sing the praises of high school kids

A local high school a few towns over is just wonderful. As this article in today's big city paper highlights, the kids are alright.

The high school students are performing "The Laramie Project" tomorrow evening. That is the play based on interviews of actual people from Laramie, Wyo., where gay college student Matthew Shepard died after being beaten and tied to a fence in October 1998.

Oh, and they have guests. Those lovely "parishioners" the Westboro Baptist "Church" in Kansas, a "church" which sole purpose seems to be protesting against gays says it will picket this high school tomorrow. Keep in mind the majority of the "parishioners" are related to the "minister".

The director hoped to "generate 'difficult discussions' about prejudice and gay rights in the school and community." Wow, did she.

According to the the article students and staff have announced they will stand "shoulder to shoulder to form a 'wall of silence' between the protesters and the school at the end of the school day. The student rally will be held even if the Westboro group doesn't come."

"I have received nothing but positive reactions here," says the director, who is a guidance counselor at the school. "Ultimately, it is about not using hurtful
language in a school where every student and faculty member has a right to feel safe. Our hope is at the end of this all students will feel more comfortable."

The article quotes a "church" spokeswoman rationalizing protesting a high school for this reason

"We chose that high school because they are being taught rebellion against God and his standards every day.. . . The latest evidence of it is the fact that they are producing 'The Laramie Project,' which is nothing but as a way to teach rebellion!!"

Meanwhile the police superintendent actually called the protests "sort of a gift" (do I love my state or what?) because he says "I think it's given us a good opportunity to have some dialogue about free speech, lawful protest, and gay rights."

The superintendent says all of this has lead to "'great conversations' about the topics of intolerance, race, and disrespect. We're not comfortable having those conversations. It's a dialog that vibrant schools should be having."

Several students were quoted as well including a senior who said "many students were surprised to find out that using terms such as 'faggot' or statements like 'that is so gay' are considered offensive to many."

Shame on that bogus "church" for cloaking their bigotry, homophobia and hatred under the cloak of religion. The cloak of Christianity.

And Sing the Praises of the students and the teachers, staff and community that have embraced us all.

Open Letter Week - Bravest Kid I know

This week I am posting an open letter a day. Feel free to write your own and let me know about it.

Dear Bravest Kid I Know (BKIK),

In January after the holidays my sons told me about how you got an American Girl doll for Christmas. You were bringing it in every day to play with girls and their dolls.

You were in my math group a few weeks ago when I volunteered in the classroom. You were sporting dark pink chipped nail polish which sparkled in the sun as you pointed out a solution to a math problem.

That afternoon I was driving home my sons and a friend of theirs. I was trying to get a handle on how many kids were in each class. One son matter-of-factly explained he had 10 boys and 8 girls in his class. The other son and his friend started out this way:

"Some days we have 11 boys and 7 girls. Other days we have 10 boys and 8 girls. It all depends on what Jami* is that day."

*not your real name, BKIK

They both said it in the same matter-of-fact tone as my other son talked about his class. They presented it as a statement of fact, not something weird or something to laugh at. I couldn't have been more proud of all three of those boys. But most importantly I couldn't have been more proud of you.

I got a chance to commend your teacher about creating a class in which kids can be kids and not have to "fit" into some prescribed image. She commented that really it was a tribute to your second grade classmates for excepting you as you.

During Friday's Valentine's Day party you were wearing a pretty fashionable pair of Ugg boots with jeans, a t-shirt and your short cropped hair. And you just smiled and laughed with all your classmates. You are you. And I think you are just awesome.

Sincerely,
SMID

Obscenities Part II

Thanks so some kids in aftercare, "sucks" has become a regular word used by my 8 year olds. With the perfect tone they say to their little sister "that sucks!" as she tries to tell a story they think is silly.

This has been getting progressively worse and then on Monday I hit the breaking point. I was informed that one kid with a much older brother says that sucks isn't that big of a deal.

I got little sister out of the van, turned to the boys and described in graphic detail what exactly sucks means. I asked them if that was really what they wanted people to think about when they said that word.

They haven't said it since.

Vote No on Question 1

This post is for everyone living in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Everyone else can take time off from reading Soccer Mom in Denial.

Everyone in Massachusetts please, please, PLEASE consider voting No on Question 1. Even with so much happening around us – ongoing foreclosures, global market meltdown, state budget cuts – this ballot measure could have dire consequences for the health of our communities. Question 1 would repeal the Massachusetts income tax and decimate government functions. I strongly oppose Question 1.

There is a terrific tool available on VoteNoQuestion1.com to assess what the impact would be on your city or town. For example, my town will lose over $8.6 MILLION in school funding alone. That is 77 PERCENT of the total school budget. Or, more literally, $3 OUT OF EVERY $4 for my children's schools comes from the state.

My town also gets $3.3 million in general state aid. That is money for police officers, town librarians, road repairs and ambulances. The capital city would lose over $157 million in school funding alone if this awful ballot initiative passes. Folks in Massachusetts please go to the map, click your city or town and find out what the consequences would be if the state income tax were repealed.

Even conservative fiscal watchdog group the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation released a report assessing the impact of repeal on state programs and on the taxpayers themselves. There is also a game that lets you decide how you want to cut 40 percent of the state budget. Please, play the game and tell me how you plan to cut $2 out of $5 from the state budget. I ask you to try and leave health care, education and public safety alone.

Supporters of Question 1 assert that “the average taxpayer” would save $3,700 annually if the income tax is repealed. However, when incomes are analyzed more closely in the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation report, the 65% of the Commonwealth’s residents that make $50,000 per year or less would “save” an average of $850 while the 14% of the Commonwealth’s residents that make in excess of $100,000 per year would keep the vast majority of dollars that would have otherwise supported state and local services.

Let me repeat that fact:

The 14% of the Commonwealth’s residents that make in excess of $100,000 a year would keep the vast majority of dollars that would have otherwise supported state and local services. Those are the folks who need this money the least.

I strongly oppose repealing the income tax, not only because it will hurt my town and my children's school, but especially because it will disproportionate impact low and moderate income households. I am deeply concerned by recent polls that show nearly 40% of voters support this repeal. I am in the process of getting the lawn signs outside my house. I'm wearing a button on my coat and plan on holding signs outside the polls on Election Day. I am bringing it up with other parents and elected officials.

Now is not the time to decimate government programs to save $800. Now is the time to support each other and paying taxes is one way to do just that.

Vote No on Question 1.

They are not just twins - a letter to the Governor

This letter has not been sent but this is a real piece of legislation being considered in my state.

Dear Governor,

I'm writing to ask that you veto House Bill 469 which is on your desk awaiting your signature. A friend who doesn't have children thoughtfully forwarded me an email from a group of parents of twins and multiples who are working to get the bill signed by you. The bill would (in the words of the email alert) "allow parents to make the choice about keeping their twins in the same classroom or splitting them up rather than having the superintendent or principal making a unilateral decision for all twins".

My poor friend, who I have not seen or really connected with in a few months because our schedules haven't been in sync, got the proverbial earful from me in my reply.

I think the parents behind this bill need to get over the "twin-ness" of their children. I speak from experience. I have identical twin boys but I will be damned if the sole focus of their identities are that they are twins. I also have a singleton daughter. Is she less special because she isn't a twin?

Teachers have 18-22 kids in an elementary school class. They cannot be expected to remember what two identical people are wearing each day. And then what if, like yesterday, the siblings-who-happen-to-be-twins want to wear the same outfit? Do I tell them they can't because it might confuse their shared teacher?

One of the more horrid things that happened to the boys while at a parochial school for one year where they had to wear uniforms (because we couldn't get full-day kindergarten in our town) was during aftercare the counselors would just say "I can't tell you apart so I won't call your names". My sons were basically called "hey you!" for a year at aftercare. It particularly drove one of my boys nuts. He hated it.

Multiple siblings interact differently when they are apart (as with all siblings). Sticking multiple siblings together in a classroom only perpetuates the notion that they can only function as a paired set or unit, not as individuals. I see on a daily basis how my sons are looked at differently when they are together then when they are alone with me. Just the other evening on the subway it was uncomfortable seeing how people would outright stare and point at my sons. Even with people that we see frequently we still are asked twin questions and comments. But when it is just one of the boys with me he is not stared at by strangers and is talked to like the individual he is. I want their classroom experience to be about them as individuals.

And why, my dear friend pointed out after reading my tirade, do parents of multiples get this privileged choice of which classroom their children are assigned? Shouldn't all parents get this choice?

The alert ended with the salutation "twin-cerely" which is what set me over the deep end to author this letter. Please veto the bill.

Parent-of-three-distinctly-individual-children-cerely,

Soccer Mom in Denial

PS - I did call your office to ask you not to sign the bill. The poor guy answering the phone was just shocked to hear that I opposed the bill.

Meet Big Papa and Blurper

What I found in the backpacks on Monday.

This week your only assignment is to make an insect project. The directions are attached. Please make sure your insect has the following:

6 legs
3 body parts: Head, Thorax and Abdomen
2 antennae

And what we finished tonight.

Describe your insect


Color: clear
Shape: Small barrel
Size: 3 1/2 inches
Movement: Walk
Sounds: blurp blurp
Insect's name: blurper


Color: brown, red, yellow, white
Shape: long tube
Size: 11 In
Movement: Walks
Sounds: "Slived eulb" ["Blue Devils" backwards in honor of Duke University, where my dad got his masters degree and to acknowledge the North Carolina head of the bug]
Insect's Name: Big Papa

They All Ax for You

On Friday little lady and I followed two large yellow school buses as they drove 80 first graders to the local zoo for their annual spring field trip. Going to the zoo leads me to think of various zoo songs:

We're going to the zoo
Zoo Zoo
How about you
you you?

or that classic

Happy Birthday to You
You live in a zoo
You smell like a monkey
And you look like one too

Or this one. One of my favorite tunes from New Orleans. I have the Rockin' Dopsie version in my head.

They All Asked For You (although the proper New Orleans way to pronounce "Asked" is "Ax")

I went on up to the Audubon Zoo
And they all axed for you
They all axed for you
Well, they even inquired about you

I went on up to the Audubon Zoo
And they all asked for you
The monkeys axed
The tigers axed
And the elephant asked f'you, too



Sing that while you peruse the photos below. 'Cuz the gorilla axed for you.

[And once again I cannot for the life of me figure out how to insert a photobucket slideshow into an existing post. So please go to the next post.]

Any musical animals for you this week?

MIB: Missing in Blogging

Hi, I'm SMID. I really miss blogging.

I miss reading your blogs. I literally have 3-4 posts of my own per day brewing in my head. But the days, and now evenings, are getting fuller and fuller and I don't have the energy or time to put it all down. Or read your wonderful writing. Or admire your photography.

What in the world am I doing?

I'm getting to do some terrific things at work right now. In about a week I can tell you all about it.



Did you know that manatees are the most endangered marine mammal in the United States? {His hand is blocking the boat that sits at the top of the diorama with the bottom jutting out to show how manatees are struck by boats.}



Or that some bats can eat half their body weight in bugs in one night?



Did you know I help make awesome dioramas?



And my little men are playing baseball.



Lots of baseball.



Tons of baseball. [Team photo by Jenn in Holland. Of course.]



And little lady is making friends with the other sisters in the playground next to the baseball field.

But we get home at 7:50 pm, not having eaten dinner, finished homework, bathed, or talked about the day. By 9:30 pm they have crashed and I want to follow suit.

I have a friend who only sleeps four hours a day. She has four to five hours additional hours - after work, chores, everything - to do so many things.

Maybe I can train my body to go on four hours of sleep.

But I'm going to bed first.

Show and tell

Back in February, when word started going around my sons' elementary school that I was going to The Netherlands for the weekend I got an email from one of their teachers.

Apparently the school had International Month in May. Each class was assigned a country to study for the month.

His class was studying The Netherlands. The teacher asked if I could pick up things, free or inexpensive items, for her to use in teaching the class about Holland.



I didn't do a very good job.



So I brought in an expert.

And you should've seen my little man beam during the lesson.

Because he's cast under her spell too. As is the entire class.



The teachers loved her too.



So if you are looking for an expert to talk about The Netherlands with first graders, call Jenn in Holland. She'll have them eating out of her hands.

Spelling test

Every week the boys have to study seven words and two challenge words for their Friday spelling test. Each night around dinner time I will quiz them on the words. Without prompting a four-year-old assists with a sentence to provide context. The brothers spell the words without even listening to her which means I am hearing her sentence at the same time as the spelling. Quite a combination of words, letters and singing.

Now

"Come downstairs right now!" offers up the younger sister.

Around

"We run around the house."

Cow

"A cow says 'moo'."

Found

"I found some money that is yours."

How

"'How do you measure a year in the life?'" (yes, she really sings this from Rent)

Wants

"Wants upon a time ago..."

Along

"Along long time ago..."

And for the challenge words:

Never

"Never, ever do that!"

Please

"Please stop!"

Quiet Hands

Soccer has started up again. The boys had their first practice Monday and the first game will be this coming Saturday. The team is made up almost entirely of the same boys from the fall season, with the same coach. This was the team that lost every single game (not that we paid attention or anything) and barely scored a goal the entire season. It was like they were 2 year olds playing against 10th graders.

This team is playing against the same kids this spring.

The one new kid on the team is autistic.

Both of my boys are in "inclusion" classes at their public school. One guy has nearly half of his classmates with IEPs (Individual Education Plans) for a range of issues including severe autism to behavioral issues. The other guy has a bit more than 1/3 of his classmates. There is a lot of talk in both classrooms of accepting kids and adults with different skills and being helpful when someone needs it.

A needed help on the soccer field.

I showed up late for practice and the team was playing a scrimmage. A's mom had been there the entire time and was nervous. It was his first time ever playing an organized sport. He was wandering the field, staring through his thick glasses, as the coach encouraged him to follow the ball. His mother kept telling him to have "quiet hands" since he would walk around the field constantly shaking both hands up by his shoulders.

At one point coach set up the game so that A kicked the ball to restart the game. After he kicked it, my guys ran up to him and hugged him. You would've thought he had scored the winning goal. He smiled. My boys kept encouraging him during the scrimmage.

So while this won't be a season with many goals, I think they will all be winners. Because they are a team.

A good president

[The following was written on a series of images of the United States....]

I would be a
good president because I
would say a lot of
speeches.

I would
help the U.S.A.

I would
save a lot of
money.

I would
seperate (sic) a lot
of the fighters.

I would keep
the whitehouse
clean.

I would
travel hraly (I think the candidate became tired during this part of the platform development).

I would share things.

I would be a hiraly (again, I think exhaustion set in) president.

- written by my 7 1/2 year old son

Who knows, maybe he is the consensus candidate? I particularly like his campaign promise to keep the White House clean.

However, I don't mean to smear this candidate but he cannot keep his bedroom clean.

How do they do it? or 525,600 ways they amaze me

"Mom! There was an assembly today!" yells one guy from the back of the van.

"Really" I ask.

"Yeah! The kids in musical theater sang 5 songs!" the other one yells.

"They sang Under the Sea and that song from Annie."

"Tomorrow?"

"No the other one."

"Hard knock life?"

"YEAH!!!!"

They grew silent as they tried to figure out the other songs.

***

Later in the evening we finished dinner and homework and were starting to mill around for the pre-bedtime activity when suddenly, in perfect unison, the boys started singing Seasons of Love from the musical Rent.

"What? How do you know this?" I asked incredulously.

"It was one of the songs at the assembly."

"Had you heard it before?"

"No."

I showed them this video. I just marvel at their ability to remember a song, perfectly, after only hearing it once.

Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Moments so dear
Five Hundred Twenty-Five Thousand
Six Hundred Minutes
How Do You Measure - Measure A Year?
In Daylights - In Sunsets
In Midnights - In Cups Of Coffee
In Inches - In Miles
In Laughter - In Strife

Got a song that startled you? Do share.... and link back to me. That's part of the game.



And yes, I'm traveling again. Will be back later this week. Forgive my absence. I'm sure you all are writing wonderful things. It is my loss to be missing them.