Wednesday, May 05, 2004
lostcheerio: Are you still hungry?
thebennyeel: no
thebennyeel: i am fl
lostcheerio: great! are you thirsty?
thebennyeel: yes
lostcheerio: What would you like to drink?
thebennyeel: i like too drink
thebennyeel: i wunt weter
thebennyeel: no
thebennyeel: i am fl
lostcheerio: great! are you thirsty?
thebennyeel: yes
lostcheerio: What would you like to drink?
thebennyeel: i like too drink
thebennyeel: i wunt weter
In other more cheerful news, the playdate with Gabe went GREAT -- Benny had a fantastic time and wore himself completely out, flinging himself around the pipes at McDonalds. Both boys were excellently well behaved, and played SO nicely together. It's so cool because it's the first time I've seen Benny play really WITH another child, like buddies. I know he has played this way with Katrina, but I haven't really seen it with my own eyes! It's almost like he's a real person! Gabe is a really delightful child -- he's a little less aggressive than Benny, so we had to remind Benny that it was Gabe's turn to be the leader at times. He is very very sweet -- maybe Benny can learn a little empathy from him, and Benny can teach him to tear through the pipes like the scourge of Norfolk. Hehehe.
Benny got his "evaluation" at preschool -- I guess report card or progress report, whatever. It's divided into three sections: music, art, and dance. The "grades" are as follows:
1: We're working on it.
2: We're getting better every day.
3: About average.
4: Shows talent.
5: Very gifted.
In music, Benny got a five in sings on pitch, keeps a steady beat, knows the white piano keys, knows all the basic notes, can identify instruments, demonstrates musicality, and repeats a rhythm. He got a four in follows directions and listening skills. He got a 5+ in musical creativity.
In art, he got a five in knows shapes, knows colors, artistic creativity, fine motor skills, and enjoys art projects. He got a four in understands concepts and artistic aptitude. He got a three in works independently, but on the report card it's spelled "independantly" so I discount that. JUST KIDDING! Heh heh.
In dance he got a five in large motor skills, can hop on one foot, attitude, self confidence, tumbling, and expression. He got a four in coordination, moves to the beat, follows instructions, and works well in a group. He got a 5+ in enjoys dance.
Teachers' comments:
Miss Monique (dance) wrote, "Benny has shown terrific improvement in his listening skills. He truly enjoys his time in my class."
Miss Claudia (music) wrote, "Benny enjoys musical activities and often participates by observing. He shows an appreciation for musical arts well beyond his years."
Miss Jessica (art) wrote, "Big improvement on following directions."
So there it is. :) I feel like maybe if you read between the lines you might interpret that Benny's been a bit of a handful for the teachers. That information is not buried very deep. It helps also to know that one of the little girls at the birthday party on Saturday said coyly to me, "Benny's a BIG trouble-maker! He's ALWAYS in trouble!!!" Yikes.
1: We're working on it.
2: We're getting better every day.
3: About average.
4: Shows talent.
5: Very gifted.
In music, Benny got a five in sings on pitch, keeps a steady beat, knows the white piano keys, knows all the basic notes, can identify instruments, demonstrates musicality, and repeats a rhythm. He got a four in follows directions and listening skills. He got a 5+ in musical creativity.
In art, he got a five in knows shapes, knows colors, artistic creativity, fine motor skills, and enjoys art projects. He got a four in understands concepts and artistic aptitude. He got a three in works independently, but on the report card it's spelled "independantly" so I discount that. JUST KIDDING! Heh heh.
In dance he got a five in large motor skills, can hop on one foot, attitude, self confidence, tumbling, and expression. He got a four in coordination, moves to the beat, follows instructions, and works well in a group. He got a 5+ in enjoys dance.
Teachers' comments:
Miss Monique (dance) wrote, "Benny has shown terrific improvement in his listening skills. He truly enjoys his time in my class."
Miss Claudia (music) wrote, "Benny enjoys musical activities and often participates by observing. He shows an appreciation for musical arts well beyond his years."
Miss Jessica (art) wrote, "Big improvement on following directions."
So there it is. :) I feel like maybe if you read between the lines you might interpret that Benny's been a bit of a handful for the teachers. That information is not buried very deep. It helps also to know that one of the little girls at the birthday party on Saturday said coyly to me, "Benny's a BIG trouble-maker! He's ALWAYS in trouble!!!" Yikes.
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
On Saturday Benny went to a birthday party at the Virginia Children's Museum. The party was for Gabe, Benny's friend at preschool. Benny is, as we know, not very forthcoming with information but apparently Gabe and Benny are good buddies at school. Here's how Gabe put it to his mother: "When I see Benny I say, 'Benny you smell like HAIR!' and Benny says, 'No Gabe YOU smell like hair! It's our game!!!" Hehehe. Benny had a fantastic time at the party and today Benny and Gabe are going to McDonalds after preschool so they can run and climb in the pipes and Gabe's mother and I can watch them. I told Benny that we were going to do this and that he could have a Happy Meal and he said to me, with wide eyes and face-splitting smile: "In a Happy Meal there's a TOY!!!!" *cackle* The beautiful, transparent, relish that Benny takes in the tiniest little lamest crappiest things, like a plastic toy in a Happy Meal, is just so incredibly moving. He's sitting there really ANTICIPATING this TOY, and running in the pipes with Gabe, which he described in detail to me in advance. Munching his cereal distractedly. He went outside to go to preschool and we noted that one of the echinacea sprouts is getting really big and I said we should maybe plant it in a pot. And Benny said, "YES! First I go to PRESCHOOL! and then I go and play in the PIPES with GABE!!! And then we will plant sprouts in a GREEN POT!!!" Nice life! Heh. Sweet boy.
Benny did something FANTASTIC yesterday at his violin class. He played Twinkle Variation A with Mrs. Ford accompanying him and he made it all the way through the song correctly with lovely intonation and beautiful sound!!!! I was so happy I almost fell off my chair. Mrs. Ford looked at me halfway through and said, "Hey, Mom, why don't you R-E-L-A-X?" and I realized I was not only on the edge of my seat, I was wringing my hands and glaring at his fingers and my feet were off the ground with nerves. Heh. Me nervous? ME? Mrs. Ford was very happy with his progress and said he can move on to other variations now... we know "Wish I Had A Motorcycle" so now we can do "Run Pony Run" and "My Bow Has Hiccups" AKA Variations D, C, and B. It was very exciting and thrilling and he got a slurpee afterward and relished the victory. Mrs. Ford said that at the next group class he can play Twinkle by himself with the piano for the other kids. Yikes.
