Testing
CORE testing is this week for my kiddo's.
I've been worried about Alex and his testing. Monday I gave him a big pep talk. Just do your best, don't get frustrated, don't cry. Just do your best.
Monday afternoon he said he did fine.
I made sure everyone got to bed on time and made a big protein rich breakfast all week only to find out that there wasn't any testing for the last two days and for Alex there hasn't been any testing at all.
I got this email from Alex's teacher yesterday.
Alex will have his very first Core Test tomorrow. He did not have to take Language Arts but will have to take math and science. I gave him some word problems today to see what he could do, he was very frustrated. He just started to guess. I hope these core tests do not make him nervous.
So, whatever he THOUGHT was a Core test on Monday was not. (I mean, how was he to know? He probably took some sort of quiz or test and assumed it was a Core test.) Today is the day. We had a talk again about doing his best. Slowing down. Reading the words and really thinking about what the answer is, not guessing and NOT getting mad and frustrated.
I was sitting at the computer talking to him and he leaned down to hug me and than just plopped right down on my lap, wrapping his arms around me and laying his head on my shoulder. He sat there hugging me for a good two minutes while I rubbed his back telling him he can do this, he is smart, he could call me if he needs a pep talk. He nodded.
Language
This morning at breakfast Alex asked looked around perplexed, "We not having lunch today Mom?" To which I quickly responded. "No, you're not eating lunch on Friday's anymore." Then Austin pipped in with a "Yeah, we're trying to cut back on food costs." Alex looked shocked and then puzzled. I quickly said "Of course you're having lunch. Why would you not have lunch today?" Apparently because I was sitting eating breakfast and not preparing cold lunches? I explained that the question he needed to ask was "Mom, are you making our lunches today?" Has he ever not had lunch? No. Did he really think he would not get a lunch today? No.
I know that sounds trite, but I'm trying to get him to think about what it is he's wanting to know. He's wanting to know if I'm MAKING lunch. He's always asking questions that he knows the answer to. I thought it was just to talk for the sake of talking but maybe not. Maybe it's that he has a valid question but can't formulate it correctly so what comes out is a question that he already knows the answer to? Something for me to think about.
It's hard sometimes. I don't want to be correcting every sentence uttered out of his mouth so I try to repeat what he's asking or telling me correctly before answering or responding but sometimes I just answer like he makes perfect sense-even though he doesn't. It's like when your babies begin to speak and only the mom understands what the baby is saying. We're at that point. I'm always translating his English to someone else. Sometimes it's Rylee who can better understand. Sometimes Austin. But usually me.
It hurts my heart to watch him try and talk to others and they look at him puzzled or ask him to repeat himself over and over. Sigh. He gets frustrated and sometimes just shrugs and walks off.
I can feel his funny personality all bubbling up and yet he cannot express it. He doesn't have the words for his quirky comeback or funny quip. Or he does but it comes out all wrong and the minute he utters it silence follows as we all try to decipher what it is he's trying to say or how that is suppose to be funny or pertinent to the conversation.
His favorite way to include himself in the conversation these days is to ask if someone remembers something. "Mom remember in Ukraine? We have stinky apartment?" or "Remember in movie, car drive fast?" And usually these memory's are not exactly in step with what everyone else is talking about. I try to acknowledge and validate his comments but sometimes none of us can remember-or more likely understand-what it is he's trying to remind us of.
HOWEVER, I'm just so happy he's willing to try and talk with us and be apart of the conversation! Last year at this time I wasn't sure we'd ever have a two sided conversation. He has come a long way. The last six months he's improved triple to the first six. I told him as much this morning. He replied that that is because he cares about his homework now. Which is true to some extent. He cares to get it done and out of the way and for that I am grateful. And he's towing the line here so very well. Last night everyone had places to go except Alex. I left him home with instructions to finish his homework and take a bath. Rylee and I got home after nine and the house was dark. Alex had put himself to bed! I was so happy. He's been so obedient and trustworthy these days that it makes me misty just typing about it. There was a time I never thought he'd get it but he is, he's getting it! I think we might be on the down hill side? (Maybe I shouldn't have typed that for the fate's to see?) But I do feel hope. I think one day it will just all click in his head. He'll start talking in full sentences. He'll understand and he'll be able to express himself. He'll want to learn, he'll want to try, he'll want to do his best. Yes, I have hope. Hope and joy for my boy!
CORE testing is this week for my kiddo's.
I've been worried about Alex and his testing. Monday I gave him a big pep talk. Just do your best, don't get frustrated, don't cry. Just do your best.
Monday afternoon he said he did fine.
I made sure everyone got to bed on time and made a big protein rich breakfast all week only to find out that there wasn't any testing for the last two days and for Alex there hasn't been any testing at all.
I got this email from Alex's teacher yesterday.
Alex will have his very first Core Test tomorrow. He did not have to take Language Arts but will have to take math and science. I gave him some word problems today to see what he could do, he was very frustrated. He just started to guess. I hope these core tests do not make him nervous.
So, whatever he THOUGHT was a Core test on Monday was not. (I mean, how was he to know? He probably took some sort of quiz or test and assumed it was a Core test.) Today is the day. We had a talk again about doing his best. Slowing down. Reading the words and really thinking about what the answer is, not guessing and NOT getting mad and frustrated.
I was sitting at the computer talking to him and he leaned down to hug me and than just plopped right down on my lap, wrapping his arms around me and laying his head on my shoulder. He sat there hugging me for a good two minutes while I rubbed his back telling him he can do this, he is smart, he could call me if he needs a pep talk. He nodded.
Language
This morning at breakfast Alex asked looked around perplexed, "We not having lunch today Mom?" To which I quickly responded. "No, you're not eating lunch on Friday's anymore." Then Austin pipped in with a "Yeah, we're trying to cut back on food costs." Alex looked shocked and then puzzled. I quickly said "Of course you're having lunch. Why would you not have lunch today?" Apparently because I was sitting eating breakfast and not preparing cold lunches? I explained that the question he needed to ask was "Mom, are you making our lunches today?" Has he ever not had lunch? No. Did he really think he would not get a lunch today? No.
I know that sounds trite, but I'm trying to get him to think about what it is he's wanting to know. He's wanting to know if I'm MAKING lunch. He's always asking questions that he knows the answer to. I thought it was just to talk for the sake of talking but maybe not. Maybe it's that he has a valid question but can't formulate it correctly so what comes out is a question that he already knows the answer to? Something for me to think about.
It's hard sometimes. I don't want to be correcting every sentence uttered out of his mouth so I try to repeat what he's asking or telling me correctly before answering or responding but sometimes I just answer like he makes perfect sense-even though he doesn't. It's like when your babies begin to speak and only the mom understands what the baby is saying. We're at that point. I'm always translating his English to someone else. Sometimes it's Rylee who can better understand. Sometimes Austin. But usually me.
It hurts my heart to watch him try and talk to others and they look at him puzzled or ask him to repeat himself over and over. Sigh. He gets frustrated and sometimes just shrugs and walks off.
I can feel his funny personality all bubbling up and yet he cannot express it. He doesn't have the words for his quirky comeback or funny quip. Or he does but it comes out all wrong and the minute he utters it silence follows as we all try to decipher what it is he's trying to say or how that is suppose to be funny or pertinent to the conversation.
His favorite way to include himself in the conversation these days is to ask if someone remembers something. "Mom remember in Ukraine? We have stinky apartment?" or "Remember in movie, car drive fast?" And usually these memory's are not exactly in step with what everyone else is talking about. I try to acknowledge and validate his comments but sometimes none of us can remember-or more likely understand-what it is he's trying to remind us of.
HOWEVER, I'm just so happy he's willing to try and talk with us and be apart of the conversation! Last year at this time I wasn't sure we'd ever have a two sided conversation. He has come a long way. The last six months he's improved triple to the first six. I told him as much this morning. He replied that that is because he cares about his homework now. Which is true to some extent. He cares to get it done and out of the way and for that I am grateful. And he's towing the line here so very well. Last night everyone had places to go except Alex. I left him home with instructions to finish his homework and take a bath. Rylee and I got home after nine and the house was dark. Alex had put himself to bed! I was so happy. He's been so obedient and trustworthy these days that it makes me misty just typing about it. There was a time I never thought he'd get it but he is, he's getting it! I think we might be on the down hill side? (Maybe I shouldn't have typed that for the fate's to see?) But I do feel hope. I think one day it will just all click in his head. He'll start talking in full sentences. He'll understand and he'll be able to express himself. He'll want to learn, he'll want to try, he'll want to do his best. Yes, I have hope. Hope and joy for my boy!
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