Payoff...

Finally, after weeks of learning how to take tests, the need for using our fingers and writing down numbers when we count and looking back at our previous answers has paid off for the kids. They both made great grades on their spelling, math and reading tests! Whew! They finally get how much easier it is to write down when you borrow a number in math instead of trying to "remember" we borrowed a number. This has been the hardest thing for them to learn. They try to memorize everything and don't understand that we are trying to help them learn the material. Slowly, they are getting it.

Aizley is beginning to read and understand most of her homework. Another huge mildstone. Her teachers were more than willing to help her with her work but I later found out they were reading the tests to her and sort of "pointing" her in the right direction. Well intentions, I'm sure, but that only delayed her progress overall. So, we are all now on the same page. The assistants help her understand the meaning of words instead of just reading the info. to her. This is totally what she needed to help her along. Reading on her own, she is bringing home a low B- at mid semester!! That's my girl!!

Colton is finally sitting in his seat without being "check marked" by the teacher!! We have been working on this since the beginning of school. I'm positive his teacher letting him "get up to see what the other kids were doing" didn't help the situation (insert the eye rolling here). He has made the biggest strides in math. Eventhough math is his best subject, he refused to use his little fingers and write things down. Just wouldn't do it. As a result, he would miscount by 1 on almost every problem. 7 - 4 would be 4. When borrowing, he would be off by 10 because he didn't mark that he had made a change. He has been getting better over the past 2 weeks but this last week he mad a 99 on his test! Yea!! As a reward for both of their mildstones, we played games and ate fun dip candies right before bed!! Colton is going to sit in his seat today so he can have more fun tonight. A deal's a deal!

This past weekend, we threw a surprise party for my dad and Kade (cousin) who had birthdays in January. We brought cake and balloons in the car, made them hide in a bedroom while we decorated.

The kids love Dedushka. He makes them smile all the time. Colton thinks he's silly. He was buggin' them about giving him a bag full of colored paper for his birthday and had them rolling in the floor.


The Campbell great grandkids.


Happy Birthday, Guys!!

They spent the rest of the day playing balloon games, which Colton reminded me (again) that he wanted to do for his birthday a full 2 months away ;)