I just LOVE this video - watch it if you have a daughter!
Or even if you are a girl.
Or know a girl.
Just watch it.
:)
Or even if you are a girl.
Or know a girl.
Just watch it.
:)
I just LOVE this video - watch it if you have a daughter!
Or even if you are a girl. Or know a girl. Just watch it. :)
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Jaymi has been reading since she was 3-1/2. And I mean reading properly. With comprehension at the same level as her reading level. She has always amazed me, somehow knowing the rules of the English language innately. When a teacher has given her the typical homework of reading for a certain amount of time each day, it has really been the easiest thing you could ever give Jaymi to do. When she entered kindergarten, she was assessed at reading at a Gr.8 level. I don't think she has ever missed a day of reading since she learned how. One thing that I have always struggled with, is matching her reading level with appropriate content. When she was younger, it was very difficult to challenge her, when it came to reading, while staying away from scary or inappropriate topics that were too old for her. Now that she's older, it's even more difficult - partly because so many books are just not written in a challenging way, and partly because I cannot pre-read her books anymore - it takes way too long. Every summer since she was the "allowed" age at the library, Jaymi has excitedly taken part in our local library summer reading program. It's awesome! They have a booklet to fill out, as you read each day, stickers to earn weekly, and weekly prizes as well. At the end, the last prize is always a choice between a book and a medal. Jaymi has always chosen the medal, and has quite a collection going. There are also various fun workshops/event during the summer at the library too. Science Venture, puppetry, macrame, knitting, re-enactments, artist visits, button making, craft events, etc. The best part is - it's all free! We like free. :) Jaymi will read anywhere. She will read while she's walking, riding in a car (she never gets car sick), in her closet (pictured on the left), in her bed, while cuddling her cat, at the library ..... anywhere. This picture was taken about 2 years ago - she has loved the Warriors series by Erin Hunter since she discovered it. It's all about Jaymi's favourite - cats. Clans of cats and they're lives interacting with each other in the wild. She was so excited to see that this book - the only "superedition" of Warirors that she hadn't read yet, was finally in. It's over 500 pages long! I think it took her about 3 days to read it. She is a fast reader. And don't think that she isn't really reading it - I've tested her - she is! So this is her latest trip to the library. She is interested in cats, of course (hence, the First Aid for Cats DVD that we HAD to watch), but also My Little Pony, and horses. Also, she LOVES audiobooks. She listens to them in the car as well as during the day if she has free time as well as at night as she's going to sleep sometimes. Jaymi just loves trips to bookstores and libraries and they are happy places for her. I'm so glad I have a girl who loves to read. The other day she said to me, "Did you know that some people don't like to read?" "Really?" I said, "Why?" "I don't know!" she exclaimed. :)
So...this is my attempt at a new blog.
There are many ideas and thoughts that I have throughout my day, that I think, "I want to share that with people!" but when it comes to putting in down on paper...er...on blog page ;), I either procrastinate or try to write it and cannot find the words to explain my ideas properly or in an interesting way. I'm not so much a writer, as a teacher. So bear with me as I try to express myself. I love my daughter. Very much. She is so awesome and I am always amazed by her. She is creative, talented, intelligent, unique, beautiful, passionate, and caring. Each age that my daughter has gone through, I have loved. I love this age (11) because it is an age where I can connect with her. Where I can play a game without "playing down" to her level - so much more fun for me! It's an age where I love hearing her thoughts about things. It's an age where she can help me more. And it's an age where she teaches me things too! One of the best things that I can do with her at this age, is special mother-daughter "dates" or talks. She is still eager to snuggle with me, to get a backscratch, to watch a movie with me, to play a game with me or share her favourite activity with me, to go out to a coffee shop together, to have a tickle fight or pillow fight, and so many other things. Right now I am in the process of figuring out how our relationship is changing, so that we can remain close as she grows older and emerges into the preteen and teenage world. I feel it is important to keep that close relationship, so that she has a strong and stable base to stand on, while testing out her independence. Feel free to follow my new blog as I share with you the many insights and experiences and ideas that I have, as the parent of a preteen. And please, give feedback as much as you want to. As all parents know, we can all use other parents' help and ideas. |
AuthorI am a West Coast mom with a wonderful husband and a beautiful 12-yr-old daughter. Archives
August 2015
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