Last night your best friend Siobhan came over for a play date/sleep over.

You decorated Halloween pumpkins with Kate. You went to Sticky Lips with Daddy Jim. We climbed trees in the morning… but the highlight of the night?

You got to change your earrings for the first time. You have taken GREAT care of your ears for 6 weeks!! Last night, you and S tried on my earrings and giggled!

You said, “I can’t do this Mama!” As did S. It was just one of a million times when I could remind you that, you will be able to in a heartbeat as you work on it. 5 minutes later, you both could take your own earrings out; 3 minutes after that, you were both able to put your new ones in. 🙂 it’s so so SO fun to watch you grow!!

Here are some pictures of our adventures! I love you sweet one!
Mama

And the new earrings display…. (well, these are mine, but they were the first you 2 put in when you could change them)…

SO FUN!

Wednesday night, you were almost asleep. Out of the blue, you said,

“I took a test today, Mama.”

“What? Really?’
“Yeah. It was on a computer.”
(stay calm, Mama) – “Was it fun?”
“No, I hated it. We had to sit there for an ENTIRE hour.”

Sigh and ugh…

Why is your Mom not happy about testing? Here are a few reasons:
* kids spend WAY too much time doing these tests; test-taking is not a fun, engaging, supportive learning experience that helps you develop critical thinking skills, collaboration skills, communication skills – in other words, your time is too precious to be sitting in front of a computer for hours
* the tests are too often used as a measure for how capable one is – which is ridiculous as it is ONE type of way to know what someone knows
* tests are often very flawed – privileging a small group of people and discriminating against others
* results get misused to judge teachers without concern for many others important factors or misjudge kids resulting in all kinds of hurdles to jump to feel “successful” or “capable”
* teaching and learning become much less learner-focused; much more test-focused

I love you Baby – You and I can work together to change things.

G’night