Another year better than the last

 L had a good year in school.  4th grade meant he had 2 teachers to switch between.  In 5th grad he will have 3.  New friends in classes.  L tends to befriend kids with challenges.  He is kind and patient and glad to have a friend.  I've been grateful to see him become someone who can be a friend.  

L took a 2 inch pocket knife to school and had to spend 2 days at home because of that.  The principal was kind and expressed that she felt he didn't mean to harm anyone but that they had to still have consequences.  The typical suspension would have been 5 days.  

L did some amazing art this year.  I loved his balloon dog picture and sculpture as well as other projects he brought home.  

Over the course of the year he got behind on the computer math assignments.  It was up to 30 at the point that his teacher said he couldn't go to recess because of it.  So we spent a week in the "doghouse" making him work on them every day.  For the rest of the year we reminded him more and he kept up better.

L has grown so much.  He keeps getting better at emotional regulation and is able to shine his light brighter and brighter.  I'm so grateful that he continues to request story time and give me lots of hugs and kisses.

summer homeschool

 This summer we have hat a lot more success with L doing a homeschool regimen.  He has sign language, writing, math, piano, and chores.  The internet is turned on only from 11-2.  Somedays he doesn't get on and that is OK.

In the beginning of the summer he was doing handwritting and language arts worksheets.  We switched to having him wirte 5 sentences about a chosen topic and that has been great.  He's learning how to write little paragraphs and has developed a stronger ability to create a narrative.  Sometimes he will dictate the sentences to me and I'll write the sentences for him to trace.  That produces his best work.  But even on his own he's able to crank out 5 sentences.  I'm really proud of the growth this summer and of not loosing ground.

He has several new friends too.  Some are boys he has known for a while but we are now socializing with more.  It's going well.

Charming

 L is a rascal and a squirrel but he is also so charming.  We've been reading Encyclopedia Brown and "The Enormous Egg." He even reads books himself sometimes.  He's doing better and better in school.  He loves to ride his bike to school and I'm glad he's growing up into such a cute little munchkin.

Church Talk

Levi had a talk to give in primary today and I decided to use the IEW format to give it structure.  He kind of crawled around on the floor doing his own thing as I asked questions that built this talk.  As he was giving it, when he got to the part about toys he stopped and said "I don't know why I put that in there..." It was adorable how flustered he got realizing that talking about toys in a talk wasn't appropriate.  I love that he is learning what is appropriate.  Yay pragmatics.

Introduction

When I became 8 I got baptized and then I received the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  The Holy Ghost gives me good feelings joy, comfort, gratitude.

Topic 1:  I’m grateful for the thriftstore with cats right across the street

Details:  Animals make me happy and the cats are very playful.  God made animals and He made me too.

 

Topic 2: I’m glad I have fun toys.  Toys are fun to play with and God wants me to be happy.

 

Topic 3: I’m thankful for my happy life.  I have nice parents.  I have brothers and sisters.  I have a healthy body.  I have a good mind. I have the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Conclusion:

The Holy Ghost helps me feel patient and forgiving of others.  He helps me feel thankful for all I have.

 

I know God Loves me because He has a plan for us to be resurrected and He gave us the Gospel.  The Holy Ghost will help you feel grateful for your blessings.
I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ.  Amen. 

3rd grade

 L is doing well in 3rd grade.  There are daily math and reading assignments.  He has gotten pretty good at coming home, eating a snack, starting on his piano, math, and reading.  I'm so proud of him for managing these responsibilities.  I'm so glad he has learned so much and developed so much in the last year.

Great Summer

 L has had a great summer.  He played with his friend R a few times.  He got to swim once a week.  Some friends from church got puppies and L got to play with them a few times.  He did a lot of work in his math books and some language arts.  The summer has flown by and I'm confident that L will have a good year in 3rd grade.

Lucky!

 

L likes to search for 4 leaf clovers.  I took a picture of him with one.  I asked him to take another picture explaining that this one looked like someone was poking him with a stick.

He got a hoot out of that and took a nice picture for me.