SMARTS

Happy Tuesday.  We are officially back to the grind ... work, school and homework!

A couple of years ago we made the decision not to send Matthew to kindergarten as a five year old, when most kids start.  He would have been one of the younger kids in his grade.  Sometimes parents are faced with tough decisions.  Our decision was carefully calculated based on the following pro/con list relative to starting kindergarten on time:

Pros                                                                             Cons
save ~ $7,000 a year in daycare cost          late June birthday
he'll be bored another year at daycare        he's a boy

The simplicity of the list is glaring.  I'm not sure how the cons won out especially with $7k involved.  But they did.

Fast forward and Matthew is now in first grade.  He constantly says "I hate school" and I constantly reply "but Matthew, school loves you".  Which it does.  Weekly spelling words have been easy breezy for him (I'm guessing because he is now older for his grade).  He would study the words one night ~ 100% on tests.  Until his teacher approached us and asked if Matthew was interested in doing the "challenge" words.  Matthew said no, we said yes.  Three challenge word spelling tests under our belt.  Not easy.  Multi-syllable words with tricky silent letter combinations.

To study for the challenge words, we have a system.  There is a great app on the iPad that I highly recommend: Spell Board (by PalaSoftware).  A dry erase board would work just as well, or a pencil and paper (but the iPad is fun).  For two nights, we do the iPad and then for two nights I quiz him and he practices writing the words.  We probably do about 25 quizzes in total.

Fresh off the long Christmas break, Matthew receives his challenge words for the week.  I get home from work yesterday and take a look at the list (kind of with some excited anticipation ~ I actually enjoy doing these with him).  My eyes quickly scan the list ... then come to a sudden stop.  There must be a mistake ... what is that word.  Clearly too difficult for a 1st grader.  So out loud I try to pronounce the word and stumble, alot.  Almost in unison, the 6th grader and 1st grader not only correct my pronunciation but tell me what the heck the word means.  Yikes!  I was taken down a notch.  I am clearly not "Smarter than a 5th Grader" or even a 1st grader.  Sister, since you were the english person and I was the math person, do you know this word?

chrysalis

tracy