STAAR Wars! The Scores were with him!

Andrew took his final Science STAAR test on Wednesday.  As I did a couple of weeks ago, I made him another breakfast with the dimmed lights, soft music, lavender oil and positive notes and bible verses. He did seem a lot more calmer this time.

After the test was over I happened to pass by his hallway when his teachers were pulling kids one by one in the hallway to tell them whether they passed or not.   Although I had known his results since last Thursday, I could not tell him his results.  He came in to my room after school happier than I have seen him all year.  Andrew said, "I AM HAPPY!"  I said, "You should be!"  He continued, "I passed both test!"  I told him I knew and I was very proud of him.  I asked him if he felt better and if it felt like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders.  He said, "Yes! I feel relieved and feel a lot better!"  I explained to him that he has only one month of fifth grade left and he needs to try to enjoy it as much as he can.  While the others who did not pass are now in other classes working more on getting ready for the next round, Andrew and the others that passed are getting it a little easier right now.

I have often wondered whether these test are necessary and is it really necessary to put so much stress on elementary students.  There has to be a better way to measure assessment.  However, this is reality and we have to test.  Life is full of test, how we handle it is important.  I have tried to take this opportunity to share with Andrew and Anna that even though they may be stressed over these tests, try to find ways to help deal with the stress and find what works for them and not focus on the negative outcome because this will not be the last time they will face stress and anxiety.

Happy 8th Birthday Anna!!

Eight years ago today, a sweet little baby girl came into our lives.  While she is shy, she is always making us laugh.  She has a quick witted sense of humor and makes the funniest faces and says a lot of things that most would not expect her to say.  I also love her endless hugs and kisses everyday.

It has been fun to watch her interact at school and be her music teacher.   During group time, I have heard her teaching her group how to find the right letter for the lines and spaces in music.  Wow!  She is also a great help around the house when she wants to be.  While this year has been challenging for her in several ways, she has adjusted and tries to stay positive and go with the flow.  That will take her far in life.

This year I panicked over the weekend realizing that I have not planned out her birthday cake.  I thought for sure she was going to ask for Hello Kitty cake and was trying to figure out timing.  I was shocked to hear her say, "I want a smiley face cake!"  That was random.........typical Anna.  At least it was easy to make.  We celebrated her birthday on the 23rd because Alan left for regional track meet in San Antonio and would not be here.  Anna asked for me to make a pasta dish that we get at Macaroni grill for her birthday dinner.  It has penne pasta, shrimp, pine nuts, mushrooms, fresh spinach in a butter lemon sauce and raspberry tea.  For her birthday, she wanted the American Girl "Bitty Twins" that look like her and Andrew.  That is all she has talked about for several months.  Andrew got her the carrying case to carry them in.  She has loved having them.

Easter in Weatherford

We had a four day weekend for Easter.  In our area of Texas, you do not mess with Good Friday.  It is still put on the school calendar around here and Monday was our bad weather day. We arrived around midnight Thursday and got up the next morning and took Andrew and Anna to WCS to spend some time with their friends.  Andrew went home with one friend while Anna went to the American Girl Doll store with two other friends.  All three girls birthdays are within weeks of each other so it became their birthday party.  Anna then spent a night with her friend.

Once we said hi to everyone at the elementary campus, we headed to the secondary campus so Alan could visit everyone there.  We then went to our friends the John's house where we stayed through Sunday.  We had a great time catching up, enjoying Brenda's cooking, watching movies, eating frozen yogurt and just relaxing.

Saturday evening, James and Cathy Plowman took Ron, Brenda and our family to a Bar-B-Q place near Graford.  It was delicious AND we got ride in a Limo!  The kids thought that was pretty cool. (James owns a funeral home in Weatherford which explains the Limo)

Sunday, the kids opened their Easter baskets and we took pictures in Brenda's bluebonnets.  I got to sing on the Praise Team at church.  I miss singing!!!  I am thankful that James will let me sing when I am in town. 

We had lunch with Brenda's side of the family.  It was a house full but a lot of fun.  The kids played games, crushed confetti eggs on each other, Easter egg hunt, and jumped on the trampoline.  They were wore out!  On our way home, we stopped at Rosa's at Andrew and Anna's request.

It was a great weekend and we all needed it.

 

In the Limo

Spring has sprung in South Texas

If Alan had brought me down to this area last Spring, I might not have been so shocked by the lack of beauty in the area.  When I first saw this area of Texas last June, it was brown, dry and ugly.  It  reminded me of West Texas and I was not looking forward to moving to this area.  Right now, it is green, with wild flowers almost every where and absolutely beautiful.  There are several fields between Karnes City and Floresville that are covered in bluebonnets and then if you look toward the back at the hills, they too are covered in bluebonnets as well.  There are several fields of Indian Paint brush and other wild flowers.  The drive to San Antonio has been quite pleasant.  Other than the allergies, I have really enjoyed the surprising beauty of this area lately.

These pictures do not do these bluebonnets justice.

STAAR WARS...........May the Scores Be With You!

One of the advantages my children had by being in Private School was not having to worry about State Testing.  Now both are in Public School and Andrew just took his first two this past week and Anna will take hers starting next year.

Andrew understandably has been stressed and worried about not passing these test.  He started to have stomach issues a couple of weeks ago.  What we thought was a virus, I soon discovered was stress.  Poor kid!  Last Friday he told me, "I am nervous about Tuesday."  I figured that it was time to plan a fun weekend to help get his mind off the test.

Anna had a free meal at CiCi's so I took the kids into San Antonio for lunch while Alan had a track meet.  We then went to a local teacher store to laminate some music games I created and put together to help fifth grade be ready for Middle School Choir or Band.  After that, we went to see "Gods Not Dead." Andrew had been asking to see it for several weeks.  After that, we went to HEB to shop and then headed back home.

I kept reassuring Andrew by telling him he is smart enough and has had a good foundation from great teachers at WCS and just use the strategies for test taking.

Andrew requested eggs, bacon and fruit for his breakfast.......I decided to take it a step or two further.  Tuesday morning, I got up extra early and had already had a blue table cloth, cloth napkins, my china and nice glasses on the table.  I used our dimmer and dimmed the dining room lights, turned on some soft music that my mother in law introduced me to and put lavender essential oil in a spa mist humidifier to keep him relaxed.  Breakfast was made and I met Andrew in the hallway and escorted him to his seat.  While he waited for his iced tea and food, he read all of the scattered notes all over the table with positive messages and bible verses on them.

I repeated the same process Wednesday morning.  Normally I have the kids pack their own lunch but on testing day, I pack it and sneak a note in their lunch.  Andrew almost wished testing was everyday.  He loved the extra pampering. 

Another perk was I was assigned to the fourth and fifth grade hall as the certified teacher for that hallway. All of the fifth graders were pretty nervous so I did the high five and "do a good job" as they walked into their assigned rooms. For the next four hours I would walk up and down the hall to check on teachers and see the progress of the students and report any problems to our test coordinator.  I would say prayers for Andrew.  It made me feel a little more at ease knowing I was just a few feet away.

Wednesday when it was all over, I took the kids to Sonic for a celebration dinner and they played on the playground and bounce house that Sonic has.

Now Anna is planning her STAAR breakfast meal, and what table cloth she wants for next year.  She wanted to make sure that I was going to do the same for her.  I think she enjoyed the breakfast meal almost as much as Andrew.  Andrew has one more test which is in Science at the end of the month.  I suppose I will be doing this all over again, but it is worth it.

Anna's First Softball Game

Anna had her first softball/baseball game tonight in Kenedy.  There are boys on her team so they combine them here to make one team.  She was a little nervous and announced to Alan that she would not be playing tonight.  Well you can imagine how the conversation between Father and Daughter went. 

Her first time up to bat, she hit the ball on the first pitch and ran to first but got out.  Her second time up to bat, she hit the ball the second time and made it to first and eventually scored!!!!