Have you ever wondered what happens in an elementary school library? I know way more happens than what I see or know about but here are a few things I've observed:
- Children go to the Magic Tree House section (an entire shelf of books); they rearrange them in NON-alphabetical order. I think just to drive me crazy.
- They try to look up words/pictures/definitions/websites that they shouldn't.
- They glom onto a few favored subjects and check out every book they can get on: pets, sports, how to draw, reptiles (again, to drive me crazy) and hidden pictures.
- There are new favorites like Magic Tree House, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Harry Potter and Rick Riordan, but they still love Amelia Bedelia, Beverly Cleary, Roald Dahl, Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys and Bunnicula, too.
This is only my second week back volunteering but the library is nice and familiar. Not as easy is helping out in Alex's new classroom. It is a 2nd and 3rd grade mix and it's a whole new ballgame. The subjects (and kids) are more serious and it just feels different being there. Today we worked on book recommendations. I helped them describe a book they'd just read in class, whether they liked or disliked it and three reasons why. My first struggle was explaining indentation, and why there was a need for it. I really didn't have a good reason for them, beyond the fact that it was on the teacher's instructions. Luckily they still accept that as a reason. I wonder what grade they'll be in when they stop taking that for an answer?
It was interesting to hear what they REALLY thought about their books. There are some first-rate critics in that group. I had to convince one second grader that "lameness" wasn't really a reason to explain his dislike. He clarified that there was no "acshun" and that was why it was lame. Fair enough.
That group provided my most interesting conversation of the day. H, One of Alex's classmates mentioned how excited he was because his dad was coming home from a trip today. "Oh, where has he been?" I asked. "Canada." At this answer G, another boy in the group, looked up with concern, "Canada? It's really dangerous there!" H and I exchanged a glance, "No," I said, "not really." G said, "They have battles there!" "Not now," I said, thinking maybe he had confused it with something in history. H was looking a little concerned but added, "We're going there next fall." Everyone went back to their work. Then, all was explained. G looked up and asked, "Hey, did you know that Clemson has a football player that fought in the war in Canada?!" "Do you mean Afghanistan?" I asked. "Oh, yeah!" G replied, and went right back to work. I for one am pretty relieved that we don't have to fight off any rowdy Canadians from the border!
Alex's behavior's been pretty good this week (knock on wood). He did pull a stick for "inappropriate behavior" yesterday. The first time he came home with that news I admit it kind of freaked me out. I was thinking some really horrible stuff fell under "inappropriate behavior". Apparently it's different for second and third graders: it involves talking and making noises when you shouldn't. That's kind of Alex's specialty. We talked about not making noises, talking in strange voices, etc., when you shouldn't, then he and I went for a walk. We planned on meeting Art a few blocks away when he returned from his walk. When we spotted him a hundred yards or so ahead of us, Alex did this really loud wah-wah-wah-wah noise (like Braves' fans - I have no idea what to call that). I looked at him as he grinned up at me. "Is THAT an 'inappropriate noise'?" I asked. "It's one of them," he said. Heaven help me through the second grade!
Thursday, September 20, 2012
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Alex the Stool Pigeon & His 5-Star Week
Alex and Art can go for hours (maybe days) without talking to each other. I think it's a guy thing. Unless there's a pending disaster or someone has committed a horrible offense they generally leave each other alone. Which is why I was really ticked off when Alex rushed to greet Art at the door to rat me out Sunday afternoon.
The three of us had lunch at Groucho's Sunday but were headed separate ways afterwards, so we took both vehicles. Groucho's has good food but a horrible parking lot. I parked in a really unfortunate space right on the driveway opposite their flower beds with the rock borders. (Yes, there is a reason to be that descriptive.) Luckily Art's Jeep has an amazing turn radius, so he was out of there before we were even buckled up and ready to go. So he wasn't there to witness my awesome ability at driving in reverse.
First, I tried to back up and to the right. Not enough room, and there was this horrid screech of metal. I looked but there wasn't anything directly behind me - at least no other vehicles, pedestrians, structures, etc. I pulled forward. I did notice a group of co-eds were kind of watching in amazement and trying not to laugh from the outdoor dining deck. I didn't know any of them so I ignored them. My second attempt ended as the back tire jumped up on the rock curb. I gave up, pulled out the best I could, made a big loop in the back of the parking lot and left. We were running late for the church's back to school bash at the skating rink, so I needed to leave. And I didn't want to co-eds looking at me anymore.
I pretty much forgot about the whole incident while we skated (or tried to) and played skeeball and video games. Alex had a great time at his first roller skating attempt. He fell a few times, but he was fairly adventurous for a beginner and made it through several practice attempts and one big lap around the rink. When we started out for home it occurred to me that I should inspect the back of the car to see if there were any problems. I really thought it was all alright since no tires were flat and we'd made it the 20 miles to the rink without any dashboard lights flashing on.
I love my car. I really do. You may not be able to tell that from my driving or its dirt cover sometimes but I really do. And while I don't know a lot about the inner workings of the motor, I'm attentive to the outer details. The car has two tailpipes with pretty chrome covers. Except today. Only one tailpipe had a cover. The other was just a regular old tailpipe. Hmmm. I checked and there were no gaping holes but there was a scratch on it several inches long and a little scrubbed place above the pipe. That's when I thought back to the parking lot at lunch and remembered as we drove away what looked like a dark cup turned on its side, just sitting on the top of the rock border. Crud.
I didn't say anything to Alex but instead of driving straight home we went back into town. "What are we doing?" he asked. I think we left a part of the car at the restaurant. "Oh," he said, and went back to reading his book. (I love that he reads in the car.) I've never been so happy to see a restaurant closed before. Groucho's shuts down at 3 on Sundays so no one was around to witness me slink out of the car, grab the tailpipe cover and get back in the car to head home.
When we got home, Art wasn't back yet. I was happy about that and got down on the driveway to see what I could do. There didn't seem to be any lasting damage and the cover slid back on but unfortunately wouldn't stay on. I even figured out what had to be done to make it stay but the tool-owner in our family locks his tools up in his building. It's like a major bureaucracy to borrow a screwdriver. I'm afraid one day Art's going to hand me a clipboard with a requisition order on it before I get to see the hammer. I briefly considered heading across the street to see if the neighbors would help me out. Decided I didn't want them to get involved in this debacle. I was tired and still had much to do, so I left the tailpipe cover on the carport and went inside.
I was folding laundry when I heard Art come in the back door. The door opening was quickly followed by the sounds of running feet and the words, "Mom backed over a big rock knocked off a piece of the car!" Thanks, son. He didn't even make it to the interrogation phase of the investigation! I felt a little better when Art couldn't make the cover stay either. It's been added to the weekend to-do list.
Last week's summary from school said Alex had a 5-smiley face week. I was so proud. I couldn't believe he'd made it five whole days. Then I realized they only went 4 days last week because of the Labor Day holiday. I can dream. We've found second grade to be hard. We've gone from cartoon characters and cute little songs to real work, quizzes and book reports. I know it will get harder every year but please don't remind me of that just yet. I get to start with my classroom volunteering this week so I'll get to see how everything works. I can't wait!
The three of us had lunch at Groucho's Sunday but were headed separate ways afterwards, so we took both vehicles. Groucho's has good food but a horrible parking lot. I parked in a really unfortunate space right on the driveway opposite their flower beds with the rock borders. (Yes, there is a reason to be that descriptive.) Luckily Art's Jeep has an amazing turn radius, so he was out of there before we were even buckled up and ready to go. So he wasn't there to witness my awesome ability at driving in reverse.
First, I tried to back up and to the right. Not enough room, and there was this horrid screech of metal. I looked but there wasn't anything directly behind me - at least no other vehicles, pedestrians, structures, etc. I pulled forward. I did notice a group of co-eds were kind of watching in amazement and trying not to laugh from the outdoor dining deck. I didn't know any of them so I ignored them. My second attempt ended as the back tire jumped up on the rock curb. I gave up, pulled out the best I could, made a big loop in the back of the parking lot and left. We were running late for the church's back to school bash at the skating rink, so I needed to leave. And I didn't want to co-eds looking at me anymore.
I pretty much forgot about the whole incident while we skated (or tried to) and played skeeball and video games. Alex had a great time at his first roller skating attempt. He fell a few times, but he was fairly adventurous for a beginner and made it through several practice attempts and one big lap around the rink. When we started out for home it occurred to me that I should inspect the back of the car to see if there were any problems. I really thought it was all alright since no tires were flat and we'd made it the 20 miles to the rink without any dashboard lights flashing on.
I love my car. I really do. You may not be able to tell that from my driving or its dirt cover sometimes but I really do. And while I don't know a lot about the inner workings of the motor, I'm attentive to the outer details. The car has two tailpipes with pretty chrome covers. Except today. Only one tailpipe had a cover. The other was just a regular old tailpipe. Hmmm. I checked and there were no gaping holes but there was a scratch on it several inches long and a little scrubbed place above the pipe. That's when I thought back to the parking lot at lunch and remembered as we drove away what looked like a dark cup turned on its side, just sitting on the top of the rock border. Crud.
I didn't say anything to Alex but instead of driving straight home we went back into town. "What are we doing?" he asked. I think we left a part of the car at the restaurant. "Oh," he said, and went back to reading his book. (I love that he reads in the car.) I've never been so happy to see a restaurant closed before. Groucho's shuts down at 3 on Sundays so no one was around to witness me slink out of the car, grab the tailpipe cover and get back in the car to head home.
When we got home, Art wasn't back yet. I was happy about that and got down on the driveway to see what I could do. There didn't seem to be any lasting damage and the cover slid back on but unfortunately wouldn't stay on. I even figured out what had to be done to make it stay but the tool-owner in our family locks his tools up in his building. It's like a major bureaucracy to borrow a screwdriver. I'm afraid one day Art's going to hand me a clipboard with a requisition order on it before I get to see the hammer. I briefly considered heading across the street to see if the neighbors would help me out. Decided I didn't want them to get involved in this debacle. I was tired and still had much to do, so I left the tailpipe cover on the carport and went inside.
I was folding laundry when I heard Art come in the back door. The door opening was quickly followed by the sounds of running feet and the words, "Mom backed over a big rock knocked off a piece of the car!" Thanks, son. He didn't even make it to the interrogation phase of the investigation! I felt a little better when Art couldn't make the cover stay either. It's been added to the weekend to-do list.
Last week's summary from school said Alex had a 5-smiley face week. I was so proud. I couldn't believe he'd made it five whole days. Then I realized they only went 4 days last week because of the Labor Day holiday. I can dream. We've found second grade to be hard. We've gone from cartoon characters and cute little songs to real work, quizzes and book reports. I know it will get harder every year but please don't remind me of that just yet. I get to start with my classroom volunteering this week so I'll get to see how everything works. I can't wait!
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