And Then There Were Two.

I'm curious as to where you bought your felt food?

Glad to see that you and your family are in the swing of things...back to school is always a fun time. Especially for a 2nd grader! They usually love their teachers and can't wait to see their friends. Have a great autumn!

Love your posts about Simon & Anna's relationship. You capture the details so well. I'm nervous and excited for tomorrow too!
My oldest is in Grade 1 now. Thanks for the warning about the jump in homework.

Hi Amber - a wonderful student in one of my classes a few years back made that for Simon. Maybe she reads here and will post if she has a shop.

I cannot wait for tomorrow, I am so excited. It feels like Christmas Eve and tomorrow is Christmas for me.

Warning now: 3rd grade is alot more homework! LOT MORE! Ava has: Spelling words, Spelling sentences, Math facts to memorize(multiplication now), Science tests to study for, Math tests to study for (we give her problems from the book, she gets study guides from school to fill out and we print out the chapter test from the back of the book to have her complete), Reading (they say 20 minutes a night, but she does more like 30-60), at least 2-3 math pages per day. Seriously, she is doing at least 1-2 hours of homework every single night, if I count reading with it!! It gets crazier! I hear 4th grade is even worse, but Savannah hasn't had that much yet and she's in 4th, we shall see how that ends up!
Tara
CUTE PICTURE~!

My son isn't yet old enough to go to school, but I know that will happen to me soon. The photos are great. I'd like to check out that workshop too.

My sons both struggle with their homework (1st & 3rd grade). They get so frustrated and upset about having to sit and do worksheets after school--when they already sat and did worksheets *during* school. Sometimes I make them do it. And sometimes if it's just completely counterproductive--I write a wee note to the teacher explaining that my sons needed outdoor/unstructured time and that we were unable to complete it.
Simon seems to be doing wonderfully, though. Perhaps this isn't as frustrating for your family as it is for ours! :)
p.s. the pictures look so warm and cozy. love it!

So much to love in this post:
-the whole concept of "and then there were 2"
-your awesomely "reflective" table
-your sense of humor
-knowing that someone else shares my shock over the jump in 2nd grade homework
-the four cool thingies on the wall in the last shot(are they match holders?)

Hi Ali - I feel just like Shara who posted earlier...I was sitting in a (corporate) meeting this morning daydreaming for some reason (no idea why...!!) and realized that tomorrow is Thursday, Oct 1st which means it's the 1st DAY of ALI's class!!! Whoo hoo!! I almost squealed right there in the conference room! Thanks for giving me so much to look forward to! Oh, and my Scrapbook.com order arrived today with your Technique Tuesday kit...can't wait to go home and work on it!! Have a great day and keep hugging those babies!!

We do the same thing Elizabeth :). It is actually very frustrating. I am finding that giving him free time right when he gets home for at least an hour - he wants to play video games - has worked so far before focusing on the homework. I try to have some sort of "good thing" for him to look forward to after he finishes (either before or after dinner). It is a challenge here too.

Sorry to ruin everyones delight with the homework try 4th grade with a special needs kid Ugh!!!!!!! We had an hour last night and that was before the nightly reading. My husband, just can't believe it all. His first kid. Can't wait for jr. high. Counting the hours until class tomorrow, hope I can keep up :)
Annette

As a teacher, I was always mindful of how much homework I sent home. I'm not sure how productive it really is and some kids don't even get help and are left to struggle alone. Not to mention trying to fix a misunderstanding that a child has reinforced by doing it wrong at home. It can be a battle for teachers. You would be surprised how many parents complain if you don't send those worksheets home. I think the most productive evening activities are reading, spending time together, helping with chores, and getting some physical activity.

As a second grade aide, and past teacher and mom, glad the homework stage is over, one in college. Thanks for takeing the time to let him have some fun first. Our kids have 20 minutes of reading, a math fact paper and math concept paper and spelling words.
Hang in there!
Love the photos!

adorable photos!
my eye also went to the wall behind the kids. are those vintage match holders lined up above that fabulous red stool? i LOVE the look of them (and the stool too!)!

A lover of photographs already? I wonder where she got THAT from?? :)

Awesome pictures Ali--the homework just keeps going and going--my oldest says it is even worse in Med School!! :)

Just wait until you get to third grade. Tonight it was the metric system! I never learned the metric system.... not really. Unfortunately, not much of a help to my daughter.

Did I mention that I am really excited to start the course tomorrow. Wish it was today!!!

I was curious about that too.