Homework and Parent/Teacher Conferences . . .

We are trying to instill good homework habits in our kids. Robert says that when he was growing up he never focused much on doing his homework, and that bad habit followed him all through college. He never really learned how to study until graduate school, when he had no choice... imagine that! Never did his homework, yet, graduated top in his class and followed through on his education all the way to his master's degree! I, on the other hand had a pretty strict homework routine. It went something like...home from school...change into playclothes...play outside until 5pm...the homework...then dinner...then 30 minutes of TV...then bath...then bed. Simple. Routine. It worked. When I got to high school I was a self-starter on doing my homework.

It is a bit of a challenge having any sort of routine with the kids both participating in sports, having playdates, and of course trafficing the kids around to all of our plans as well. We are trying to allow the kids to be active in sports AND have a chance to be kids with their friends, and squeeze in a solid homework regimen all together. It is tricky. But mostly, the kids do their homework when dinner is being prepared. We have found that it gives us time together as a family, as well as gives us the opporitunity to be active in helping them with their schoolwork.

This week is the week of conferences for parents to meet with the teachers and discuss the good and the bad of the kids school career thus far... Ms. Choi is Cole's kindergarten teacher. She has been very pleased with Cole's progress so far this year. He has consistently demonstrated an eagerness to learn and participate in class and he is one of the top readers in his class as well... his favorite part about kindergarten so far is "centers." I am not sure what that is, but he LOVES it!

Mr. Buehler is Paige's 2nd grade teacher. We have been so incredibly blessed with the teachers Paige has had since she started school at Coyote Hills. She is learning at a level that even 2nd grade can't keep up with. She recently had DRA testing, which is what tests their level of reading, writing, and comprehension. Paige tested at a level 34... which is apparantly where she needs to be by the END of 3rd GRADE. So she is roughly 2 years ahead in her reading. We were told that to test that high at this stage in 2nd grade is rare... so way to go Paige!

We also met with Ms. Jarboe, who is the teacher Paige has for math. She is in the advanced placement math class which we learned today, is the math curriculum for the 3rd graders. She has mastered addition, subtraction and multiplication...she has now moved on to division, decimals and percentages. She is a little sponge. Ms. Jarboe says she has a natural talent for math and conceptualizes at a level beyond her years... woo hoo... that made Robert (the math minor) happy to hear!

So needless to say, we received nothing but praise for the kids in this round of parent/teacher conferences. I think our efforts to continue learning at home and complete their homework has paid off, and hopefully the habits will continue with them as they get older!!