1. Births and Birthdays: Happy Birthday to my special little cutie, Preston. Today he is one whole year old! Also, go check out this site on an upcoming birth. I'm so excited for the whole family! And just to add it in there, my birthday is one month away from today-woo hoo!
2. Voting: Did you vote or send in your absentee ballot? I did. Pennsylvania needs to have the absentee ballots by the Friday before election day. So I mailed mine in last week. If you didn't vote, get to it. If you aren't voting, shame on you. If you did vote, I'm proud of you!
3. My mom passed her nclex. It's the test that makes you a registered nurse. She just received her certificate in the mail. She is very happy and we are very proud. Good job Mom!
4. We were driving to the gym yesterday and Jamie was reading the street signs. Nothing new about this (especially if Mazie isn't in the car because she is impatient with her sister sounding out the words) except that she said, "When the light turns green, we will be crossing Union but still be on Woodmen, right Mom?" I answered her emphatically saying, "Yes, Jamie you are right! Good job!" A minute later she said, "I'm doing really good with my reading, huh?" I guess I didn't get the emphatic part across when I spoke.
5. Jacob is working on four teeth. His incisors. Those teeth are driving me nuts. The top two keep playing peek-a-boo. The bottom two are just red. He still is happy and acting normal aside from all the drool that just sits on his chin.
6. Mazie started a sign language class. It goes for an hour right after school on Mondays and is with the enrichment program. She had a lot of fun with it yesterday and can't wait for next week's class.
7. I have half of my Christmas shopping finished! The other half will be done by Thanksgiving. I can live with that!
8. I haven't even thought about what our Christmas cards are going to look like. I guess I should work on that.
9. Jeremiah bought us each one of these on Sunday. They are very addicting. One more thing to add to my list of things I need a time limit on!
10. Here's the big one. Mazie's teacher decided to let Mazie go to second grade for the morning session of school. We gave the ok (just to let you know it wasn't done without our permission). We are giving it until Winter break to see how she deals with it. If she does well, she will be in second grade only starting the new semester. She will start 3rd grade in August then. If it doesn't work, she just goes back to first grade and nothing happens. Her teacher finds other ways to challenge her.
On the first day, she was nervous, just some first day jitters. She was better the second day. She likes the science and math that she is learning and her first grade teacher tells me she is doing really well. They decided to do this to see if she was emotionally ready for the next level.
I have no doubt that Mazie will do well in second grade (and then in third) before she is really supposed to be there. My question is what happens when she is 14 and in class with 15 and 16 year olds and they are driving and she can't (as just one example that has been floating in my head). This is a decision we have to make relatively soon and, if it's wrong, we won't realize it until later. I'm curious as to what you would do and most of you know Mazie well enough to give an opinion. And if you don't know Mazie very well, I would like to know what you would do. Most of you are (or were) in the education business and have maybe dealt with this on some level. Some of you have personal experience with this sort of thing. So what are your thoughts?
11 comments:
I think that you should let her advance. She is going to face challenges no matter what during those oh so fun adolescent years. I think Mazie is an amazing child and that you are doing what is best for her. I think advancing her at this age is better than waiting until she is older. Just my 2 cents. Oh and I hear you about the teething. Jake's 2 bottom I-teeth are playing the same game of peek-a-boo. It is brutal.
I am SO proud of you Mazie. That's a big honor and accomplishment for your teacher to think you can do something that big and advanced.
For the parents - I didn't go to kindergarten, not a big deal since kindergarten wasn't then what it is today in terms of importance, BUT it did always make me younger. So all my friends started driving when I was a sophomore and only just turning 15. All my friends were turning 18 when I was only turning 17, and the same with 21. It was fine. I've always felt like I got a jump on life, that my parents made the right decision, and there was never any extra pressure. DO IT!
Happy birthday, Preston! Way to go, Jamie! Yes, I do think you are doing a good job reading-keep up the good work. You know my thoughts on Mazie - Mazie always shines when she is challenged - she needs this to feel good about accomplishing things in school. If it works out socially and otherwise, go for it! (You just might need to make this same decision in another two years with Miss Jamie! - too early to tell re: Jacob!). I have a feeling that Mazie will be able to adjust to the new environment - I only hope that she continues to have teachers like Miss Margheim that are willing to go the extra mile with her. Love to all.
i definitely need to start on the christmas cards- thanks for the reminder!
i dont know her personally- the only thing i worry about with kids advancing is that socially they aren't as far along as the other kids and that is where you see problems- but just trust your heart when you make the decision and you will know what feels right!
Wow, that's big news about Mazie. I had similar situations a couple of times with kids when I taught, and I know how agonizing it can be for the family. I hope it goes well!
You know with a name like Mazie Stahr, she is destined to do great things! She is such a well spoken and thoughtful little girl, that I have no doubt she would do just fine to advance. She has always seemed older to me than she really is anyway.
My two cents, take them for what their worth, is to let her advance. She needs the challenge. It seems that the smart kids that get bored, are the ones that get themselves into trouble when they get a bit older.
You'll have plenty of time to prepare her for the things that come with being a bit younger than her classmates. I was always friends with older kids too, and it seemed to work out just fine.
Oh my gosh that's so exciting! Except for you Megan, because that means she heads to college a year earlier, and the thought of that would put me into hysterics.
I think it comes down to whether you think she's ready emotionally and socially. I personally think Mazie has always seemed mature for her age, but I'm not around a lot of 6 year olds so what do I know!? And you know already that academically she's going to excel. Goodluck on the decision! Either way Mazie is going to do well in life!
I skipped kindergarten (I didn't realize J.J. did! But I know that Erin did, too). So I was always young, graduating at 17, not driving until half way through my junior year. I wasn't 21 until half way through my senior year of college! I never ever felt like I was too young or didn't mesh with my classmates. And I always loved school and did really well in my classes--I enjoyed doing well and thought it was important to do well. She'll do great! What an awesome opportunity!
That is just AWESOME!..I say go for it!...The opportunity won't always be there and this is the age when you need to "use" that wonderful brain power of hers. I also don't think it will be a problem socially....Good luck with AMAZING MAZIE! I am soooooo proud to be her grandmother!...I also think Jamie may follow right behind her so ....get ready!
Wow, what big girls you have there Megan! I started kindergarten as the youngest child in my class...and then advanced to first grade, making me the youngest in first grade AND in kindergarten. I graduated high school five days after turning 17. I'd be more than happy to talk to you about my experience if you're interested! And, by the way, I totally haven't forgotten about your "project"...I promise to get to it next week, k?!
I seem to be the only one on the other side of the fence. I went to college at 17 and turned 18 half-way through the semester. My school had wanted me to skip 4th grade. My parents said no, and never even let me know until I was out of college. I would have gone to college at 16, and the maturity would not have been there. In junior high and high school she can test into the next grade level for math, english, science, etc. so she'll be challenged, but she'll graduate with her peers in her age group. I can't IMAGINE graduating from college having never been allowed in a bar when ALL of my friends could go. Socially that would have been a bit difficult and forced me to hang out with kids in the class below me anyway. But I didn't live in the dorms with them, so it was more difficult to meet them.
Does any of that make sense??
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