So proud of our beautiful boy whose daily reports from school usually look like this nowadays.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Home School June Week 3
Due to the Bulgarian Adoption Reunion, our home school week was only three and a half instead of seven days long. Hence, we did not cover as much material. We did some math, ESOL, and sight words of which Ella was able to add seven more to her mastered repertoire. We also continued with our book reports and summer journaling.
Our theme for the week was Our Street, Our Town and it was our most hands-on topic yet. We spent some time walking our neighborhood and discussing concepts such as house numbers, fire hydrants, and street signs. While in the car, we talked about highways, exit and entry ramps, stores, schools, churches, etc.
I was a bit impressed with Ella's quick understanding of maps. Working on drawing a map of her room, I told her to pretend she's a bird in the sky and asked her how her room would look from that view. "Like a big rectangle," Ella immediately answered and we went from there.
Even though it was not home school, Ella also learned a lot at the Bulgarian reunion, especially in the social emotional realm. She made friends with several different children quickly, some older, some younger, some peers. She learned their names, participated in new joint games like Four Square, did crafts, became very confident riding a scooter, etc. Ella picked up many new words and phrases from the other kids. She also appreciated seeing many children with limb and other differences and once again thinking about the idea that everyone is able in his or her own way. Ella was brave and touched the animals at Parky's Farm (even the snake which scared her so) and did the bungy activity. She was rather obedient during the entire reunion weekend and, given the amount of stimulation and "newness" she experienced, behaved very well. I told her at the close of the weekend that I was proud of how she had handled her first event of this magnitude.
Our theme for the week was Our Street, Our Town and it was our most hands-on topic yet. We spent some time walking our neighborhood and discussing concepts such as house numbers, fire hydrants, and street signs. While in the car, we talked about highways, exit and entry ramps, stores, schools, churches, etc.
I was a bit impressed with Ella's quick understanding of maps. Working on drawing a map of her room, I told her to pretend she's a bird in the sky and asked her how her room would look from that view. "Like a big rectangle," Ella immediately answered and we went from there.
Even though it was not home school, Ella also learned a lot at the Bulgarian reunion, especially in the social emotional realm. She made friends with several different children quickly, some older, some younger, some peers. She learned their names, participated in new joint games like Four Square, did crafts, became very confident riding a scooter, etc. Ella picked up many new words and phrases from the other kids. She also appreciated seeing many children with limb and other differences and once again thinking about the idea that everyone is able in his or her own way. Ella was brave and touched the animals at Parky's Farm (even the snake which scared her so) and did the bungy activity. She was rather obedient during the entire reunion weekend and, given the amount of stimulation and "newness" she experienced, behaved very well. I told her at the close of the weekend that I was proud of how she had handled her first event of this magnitude.
Thursday, June 25, 2015
Kindergarten Report Card
Ella's final report card for her Kindergarten semester arrived this week. She passed with flying colors.
Plus means meets expectations, check mark means progress toward expectations, PA means participates and NA means not assessed
We're immensely proud of our fierce little Armenian firecracker. She started Kindergarten at two months home, having been immersed in the English language for only that long, but she managed to hold her own with her peers and academically perform in the range of the normal for a child her age.
In addition, Ella had a check-up at our local international adoption clinic this month where she tested out of the Denver II Developmental Assessment, showing off great skills across the board to the team there. This girl is on a roll!
Plus means meets expectations, check mark means progress toward expectations, PA means participates and NA means not assessed
We're immensely proud of our fierce little Armenian firecracker. She started Kindergarten at two months home, having been immersed in the English language for only that long, but she managed to hold her own with her peers and academically perform in the range of the normal for a child her age.
In addition, Ella had a check-up at our local international adoption clinic this month where she tested out of the Denver II Developmental Assessment, showing off great skills across the board to the team there. This girl is on a roll!
Monday, June 22, 2015
IAC 318 and 319 Results
*IAC 317 has not yet been posted.
The following results were issued in IAC session 318 held on May 7, 2015:
1) Spanish dossier from December 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months
2) Spanish dossier from March 2011 referred a male child aged 6 years and 5 months
3) US dossier from May 2014 referred a waiting child (#2803) with a profile on the MOJ site
4) Italian dossier from May 2014 referred a male child aged 6 years and 1 month with features in health status
5) US dossier from July 2014 referred a male child aged 5 years and 1 month with features in health status
6) US dossier from October 2014 referred a male child aged 2 years and 4 months with features in health status and a family history
7) Italian dossier from November 2014 referred a female child aged 10 years and 10 months
8) Italian dossier from January 2015 referred three waiting children (#2874 & #2875 & #2886) with profiles on the MOJ site
9) US dossier from January 2015 referred a waiting child (#2802) with a profile on the MOJ site
10) US dossier from April 2015 referred two children (#2009 & #512) with profiles on the MOJ site
11) US dossier from April 2015 referred a waiting child (#2563) with a profile on the MOJ site
12) Italian dossier from April 2015 referred three siblings, male and female aged 7 years and 1 months, 9 years and 6 months & 3 years and 9 months
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following results were issued in IAC session 319 held on May 14, 2015:
1) Spanish dossier from November 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 1 month
2) Italian dossier from January 2013 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status and a family history
3) French dossier from July 2013 referred a waiting child (#2909) with a profile on the MOJ site
4) US dossier from January 2014 referred a male child aged 2 years and 8 months with features in health status
5) US dossier from February 2014 referred a waiting child (#2821) with a profile on the MOJ site
6) German dossier from February 2014 referred a female child aged 2 years and 1 month with features in health status
7) Italian dossier from June 2014 referred a male child aged 8 years and 3 months with features in health status
8) German dossier from September 2014 referred a male child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status
9) Belgian dossier from November 2014 referred a female child aged 9 years and 10 months
10) Canadian dossier from April 2015 referred a brother and sister aged 9 years and 5 months and 11 years and 4 months
11) US dossier from May 2015 referred a waiting child (#2652) with a profile on the MOJ site
12) US dossier from May 2015 referred a waiting child (#2759) with a profile on the MOJ site
The following results were issued in IAC session 318 held on May 7, 2015:
1) Spanish dossier from December 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 6 months
2) Spanish dossier from March 2011 referred a male child aged 6 years and 5 months
3) US dossier from May 2014 referred a waiting child (#2803) with a profile on the MOJ site
4) Italian dossier from May 2014 referred a male child aged 6 years and 1 month with features in health status
5) US dossier from July 2014 referred a male child aged 5 years and 1 month with features in health status
6) US dossier from October 2014 referred a male child aged 2 years and 4 months with features in health status and a family history
7) Italian dossier from November 2014 referred a female child aged 10 years and 10 months
8) Italian dossier from January 2015 referred three waiting children (#2874 & #2875 & #2886) with profiles on the MOJ site
9) US dossier from January 2015 referred a waiting child (#2802) with a profile on the MOJ site
10) US dossier from April 2015 referred two children (#2009 & #512) with profiles on the MOJ site
11) US dossier from April 2015 referred a waiting child (#2563) with a profile on the MOJ site
12) Italian dossier from April 2015 referred three siblings, male and female aged 7 years and 1 months, 9 years and 6 months & 3 years and 9 months
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
The following results were issued in IAC session 319 held on May 14, 2015:
1) Spanish dossier from November 2010 referred a male child aged 1 year and 1 month
2) Italian dossier from January 2013 referred a female child aged 2 years and 3 months with features in health status and a family history
3) French dossier from July 2013 referred a waiting child (#2909) with a profile on the MOJ site
4) US dossier from January 2014 referred a male child aged 2 years and 8 months with features in health status
5) US dossier from February 2014 referred a waiting child (#2821) with a profile on the MOJ site
6) German dossier from February 2014 referred a female child aged 2 years and 1 month with features in health status
7) Italian dossier from June 2014 referred a male child aged 8 years and 3 months with features in health status
8) German dossier from September 2014 referred a male child aged 1 year and 9 months with features in health status
9) Belgian dossier from November 2014 referred a female child aged 9 years and 10 months
10) Canadian dossier from April 2015 referred a brother and sister aged 9 years and 5 months and 11 years and 4 months
11) US dossier from May 2015 referred a waiting child (#2652) with a profile on the MOJ site
12) US dossier from May 2015 referred a waiting child (#2759) with a profile on the MOJ site
Home School June Week 2
This week's themes were Months and Seasons of the Year. Ella can now name all twelve months and some things that happen in certain months. She knows there are 12 months in a year and four weeks in a month. She can name the four seasons and describe them. Ella also mastered 10 more sight words, bringing the total to 30. I love seeing her recognize these words in books when we read together.
Certain mathematical concepts are a bit of a struggle for Ella, partially due to the language of math and non-exposure to these concepts in the first six years of her life. She counts easily and has 1 to 1 correspondence and answers the question how many with no problems. For simple addition and subtraction, she needs manipulatives or math sliders to solve the problems. However, in situations where she doesn't think she's doing math, she sometimes surprises us. For example, she asked us one night this week who would be eating the pizza for dinner and I said, "Well, there's six of us, but Rex and Emilia cannot eat this pizza." And Ella quickly responded, "Then four of us will eat it (Craig, my mom, Ella and me)." Along the same lines, she does better with math word problems than with strictly numbers ones.
This week Ella and Emilia also earned their first prizes in the local library's Super Summer Reader program. Each read four books (having someone read them to you is allowed) and in return both girls received a new book and a coupon for a meal at a local restaurant. Of course, with the rainy weather we've had here lately, there's been a lot of reading: Spring Is Here, My Daddy Loves Me Because, Four Seasons Make a Year, Eloise Takes A Lesson, Water is Water, Moo Baa La La La, How Things Grow, I See Things Differently, The Big Book of Feelings, Home Sweet Home, Rosie's Family - An Adoption Story (Ella learned the words birth parents, birth mother, and birth father). Ella especially enjoyed the Eloise book because Eloise is six just like her and they share some personality traits. Ella went so far as asking me to participate in acting out some of the scenes from the book which had her laughing hysterically. We'll certainly try to get more Eloise books and I told Ella if she works really hard for the next six weeks, we will watch the Eloise movie at the end of the summer break.
And lest you think it's been all work around here, the kids had some fun, too, joining another adoptive family at Pogoplay, learning how to bake a yeast cake from Oma, playing in the rain, and finally swimming in our pool again when the sun returned.
Certain mathematical concepts are a bit of a struggle for Ella, partially due to the language of math and non-exposure to these concepts in the first six years of her life. She counts easily and has 1 to 1 correspondence and answers the question how many with no problems. For simple addition and subtraction, she needs manipulatives or math sliders to solve the problems. However, in situations where she doesn't think she's doing math, she sometimes surprises us. For example, she asked us one night this week who would be eating the pizza for dinner and I said, "Well, there's six of us, but Rex and Emilia cannot eat this pizza." And Ella quickly responded, "Then four of us will eat it (Craig, my mom, Ella and me)." Along the same lines, she does better with math word problems than with strictly numbers ones.
 |
| Our work minus the book reports and journal entries |
This week Ella and Emilia also earned their first prizes in the local library's Super Summer Reader program. Each read four books (having someone read them to you is allowed) and in return both girls received a new book and a coupon for a meal at a local restaurant. Of course, with the rainy weather we've had here lately, there's been a lot of reading: Spring Is Here, My Daddy Loves Me Because, Four Seasons Make a Year, Eloise Takes A Lesson, Water is Water, Moo Baa La La La, How Things Grow, I See Things Differently, The Big Book of Feelings, Home Sweet Home, Rosie's Family - An Adoption Story (Ella learned the words birth parents, birth mother, and birth father). Ella especially enjoyed the Eloise book because Eloise is six just like her and they share some personality traits. Ella went so far as asking me to participate in acting out some of the scenes from the book which had her laughing hysterically. We'll certainly try to get more Eloise books and I told Ella if she works really hard for the next six weeks, we will watch the Eloise movie at the end of the summer break.
And lest you think it's been all work around here, the kids had some fun, too, joining another adoptive family at Pogoplay, learning how to bake a yeast cake from Oma, playing in the rain, and finally swimming in our pool again when the sun returned.
 |
| A baking lesson with Oma |
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
News From MOJ In Bulgaria
Last week, a meeting took place between the Bulgarian NGOs working in international adoption and members of the Ministry of Justice in Sofia. The discussion during this meeting centered largely on the availability for international adoption of young, healthy children from Bulgaria and the fact that the wait times for children fitting these criteria continue to grow longer. This trend is partially due to more and more children being placed into foster homes and Centers for Family Type Accommodation where registration for international adoption lies at the discretion of a child's social worker. Once again, MOJ intends to take measures to improve this situation, but whether they will be successful or how long it may take to see results remains unknown. MOJ has attempted to increase the number of children registered for IA several times since joining the Hague Convention.
You can read more about the meeting on the website of Family National Association.
In light of this news, several NGOs and US placing agencies are currently encouraging their clients to expand their age and/or special needs parameters or even consider a switch into a different country program. MOJ is asking families in process to update the list of special needs they would be willing to accept or consider and has added to this list further conditions that may decrease referral waits.
You can read more about the meeting on the website of Family National Association.
In light of this news, several NGOs and US placing agencies are currently encouraging their clients to expand their age and/or special needs parameters or even consider a switch into a different country program. MOJ is asking families in process to update the list of special needs they would be willing to accept or consider and has added to this list further conditions that may decrease referral waits.
First Pomegranate
One of the fruits symbolic of the country of Armenia is the pomegranate. This is partially due to the movie The Color of Pomegranates, a 1969 Soviet film portraying the life of Armenian poet Sayat-Nova. Pomegranates are also believed to have originated in the region of modern day Iran, a neighbor to Armenia, so it's not far-fetched to think that pomegranates have been enjoyed by people in that part of the world since ancient times.
Yesterday, Ella had what I assume was her first taste of pomegranate, prepared for her by my mom who's visiting. True to her Armenian heritage, Ella liked the pomegranate very much and ate almost all of the juicy, red seeds before declaring that she'd had her fill.
Yesterday, Ella had what I assume was her first taste of pomegranate, prepared for her by my mom who's visiting. True to her Armenian heritage, Ella liked the pomegranate very much and ate almost all of the juicy, red seeds before declaring that she'd had her fill.
Monday, June 15, 2015
Home School June Week 1
I have been very surprised with how exciting and enjoyable home school has been this first week since summer break has begun. Ella has been motivated and interested and I think it's been quite helpful that I prepared my topics and materials well ahead of time.
Our themes this week were colors and weather. We had daily math, reading/sight words, ESOL, twice a day weather checks, and day of the week. Ella pretty much knew the days of the week already, so this was just to reinforce the concept. Our book was Weather Words and What They Mean. Ella enjoyed some sequential processing games on the computer, used an online beginning reader program, and watched a few videos about weather. Among other things, at the end of this week, Ella is able to read 20 sight words, name the primary colors, say hello in two new languages other than English and Armenian, and spell our last name.
Ella also got her very own library card and signed up for our library's All Star Summer Reading program where she can earn prizes for reading a certain number of books. This week we read The Tooth Fairy Tells All and Brown Bear, Brown Bear along with the above mentioned book. Ella's teacher sent home a very nice Summer Reading Journal, so we have been writing book reviews as well.
Emilia worked on reviewing letters, painting, standing on one foot, listening to books (Brown Bear), and inset puzzles. Her expressive language has made leaps in the last six weeks or so and we now hear her using some adjectives as comparatives and more consistent plurals of nouns. This week she surprised us with sentences like, "Look, two cars, a green one and a red car", "Ella's sleeping!" (screamed toward us from the van's third row where the girls reside while we're driving), and "I want cut knife. No, don't touch."
To show off our efforts, we taped everything we worked on this week to the dining room wall and took a photo to remember it.
And lest you think it's been all work around here, we've had fun, too, visiting the zoo, camping with extended family, having dinner with our cousins, and swimming at home.
Our themes this week were colors and weather. We had daily math, reading/sight words, ESOL, twice a day weather checks, and day of the week. Ella pretty much knew the days of the week already, so this was just to reinforce the concept. Our book was Weather Words and What They Mean. Ella enjoyed some sequential processing games on the computer, used an online beginning reader program, and watched a few videos about weather. Among other things, at the end of this week, Ella is able to read 20 sight words, name the primary colors, say hello in two new languages other than English and Armenian, and spell our last name.
 |
| Our sight word kitchen cabinet wall. Twenty of those words came off at the end of the week and nine new ones went up. |
Ella also got her very own library card and signed up for our library's All Star Summer Reading program where she can earn prizes for reading a certain number of books. This week we read The Tooth Fairy Tells All and Brown Bear, Brown Bear along with the above mentioned book. Ella's teacher sent home a very nice Summer Reading Journal, so we have been writing book reviews as well.
Emilia worked on reviewing letters, painting, standing on one foot, listening to books (Brown Bear), and inset puzzles. Her expressive language has made leaps in the last six weeks or so and we now hear her using some adjectives as comparatives and more consistent plurals of nouns. This week she surprised us with sentences like, "Look, two cars, a green one and a red car", "Ella's sleeping!" (screamed toward us from the van's third row where the girls reside while we're driving), and "I want cut knife. No, don't touch."
To show off our efforts, we taped everything we worked on this week to the dining room wall and took a photo to remember it.
And lest you think it's been all work around here, we've had fun, too, visiting the zoo, camping with extended family, having dinner with our cousins, and swimming at home.
 |
| Relaxing in the cuddle swing that hangs in our front room |
Thursday, June 11, 2015
Field Day
A couple of weeks ago, Rex and Ella had school field trips on the same day. Ella's class went on a farm adventure. She was close to losing her mind with excitement. Rex's class headed to the zoo. Craig, Emilia and I accompanied him and his friends there.
At the farm, Ella saw, touched and learned about multiple farm animals. She was brave and milked a goat, brushed a pony, and held a chicken.
Meanwhile, Rex and Emilia had a blast at the zoo. Rex has improved so much in his ability to walk when held by the hand and stay with an adult. His favorite thing at the zoo is the carousel.
After the school field trips, we decided to take a family field day to Coney Island where we all had so much fun with the rides for about three hours.
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| Ella's picnic lunch: she's so easy to feed |
At the farm, Ella saw, touched and learned about multiple farm animals. She was brave and milked a goat, brushed a pony, and held a chicken.
Meanwhile, Rex and Emilia had a blast at the zoo. Rex has improved so much in his ability to walk when held by the hand and stay with an adult. His favorite thing at the zoo is the carousel.
After the school field trips, we decided to take a family field day to Coney Island where we all had so much fun with the rides for about three hours.
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Harvest Coop
For years and years I have wanted to join a farming coop that would deliver or allow me to pick up (close to our home) fresh local produce. Unfortunately, in any of the previous locations we have lived this was not an option. Therefore, imagine my excitement when I found out a few months ago that a coop delivers weekly boxes at the office of Rex's cranio-sacral therapist, seven minutes from our house. I immediately signed up for a medium weekly box at $20 and yesterday we received our first one.
We got four kinds of leafy greens, radishes, green onions, beets and turnips. I will roast the beets and turnips and we'll eat the radishes in salad along with the lettuces. I might try my hand at making kale chips... time permitting. The green onions are a favorite for Ella and me and there's no shortage of uses. I am pleased with what came in this week's box and can't wait for the next one.
We got four kinds of leafy greens, radishes, green onions, beets and turnips. I will roast the beets and turnips and we'll eat the radishes in salad along with the lettuces. I might try my hand at making kale chips... time permitting. The green onions are a favorite for Ella and me and there's no shortage of uses. I am pleased with what came in this week's box and can't wait for the next one.
Monday, June 1, 2015
Summer's Taking Shape
We are only four days away from the start of summer break, so it's been fun to make plans for those glorious laid-back months.
My mom is here with us for the entire month of June. We have some fun stuff lined up for the month, including camping and the Bulgarian Adoption Reunion. We are also hoping that Oma can help us get the 2015/16 fall and winter wardrobe into shape by making adjustments and repairs. The girls are over the moon excited to have their Oma here. During June, I plan to do daily academic work with both Ella and Emilia. She will focus on reading, writing, math and building vocab and Emilia will review her current knowledge of letters, numbers, shapes as well as continue to tackle basic math concepts (see Ella's home school schedule below).
In July, Ella will be attending summer school for four weeks. She will go to class for four hours each morning and get instruction in math and reading. We think this will give her a great academic boost for first grade. For that month, we'll be hanging around at home and enjoying the entertainment offered by our backyard: swimming, swinging, climbing, sliding, running, riding tricycles, jumping on the trampoline, looking at bugs and rocks and leaves... no shortage of things to do.
The first half of August will be true time off for the girls and me. Craig and Rex will also step away from work and therapies for several days, so we can all kick back together. We're already looking forward to this special time as a family before school starts again in mid-August.
ELLA'S JUNE HOME SCHOOL
My mom is here with us for the entire month of June. We have some fun stuff lined up for the month, including camping and the Bulgarian Adoption Reunion. We are also hoping that Oma can help us get the 2015/16 fall and winter wardrobe into shape by making adjustments and repairs. The girls are over the moon excited to have their Oma here. During June, I plan to do daily academic work with both Ella and Emilia. She will focus on reading, writing, math and building vocab and Emilia will review her current knowledge of letters, numbers, shapes as well as continue to tackle basic math concepts (see Ella's home school schedule below).
In July, Ella will be attending summer school for four weeks. She will go to class for four hours each morning and get instruction in math and reading. We think this will give her a great academic boost for first grade. For that month, we'll be hanging around at home and enjoying the entertainment offered by our backyard: swimming, swinging, climbing, sliding, running, riding tricycles, jumping on the trampoline, looking at bugs and rocks and leaves... no shortage of things to do.
The first half of August will be true time off for the girls and me. Craig and Rex will also step away from work and therapies for several days, so we can all kick back together. We're already looking forward to this special time as a family before school starts again in mid-August.
ELLA'S JUNE HOME SCHOOL
Daily: sight words, math with manipulatives, one ESOL worksheet,
weather check, day of the week
Week
1 Theme: COLORS & WEATHER
1)
Daily weather check and chart
2)
Weather terminology
3)
Primary and secondary colors (hands on mixing activity)
4)
Water color activities with weather imagery (rainbow, rain and
umbrella, sunset, snow covered trees, etc.)
5)
What’s in the weather today in …?
Books: Weather Words and What They Mean
Week
2 Theme: SEASONS & MONTHS
1)
The months of the year
2)
What happens in each month of the year (cut, glue, draw, write one
page per month)
3)
Seasons and what they are like
4)
Which month is in which season
5)
What do you wear in winter, what in summer summer
Books: Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book Ever, Four Seasons Make A
Year
Music: Super Simple Songs Month Chant, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPeAo1hz8GA
Theme
3: OUR STREET, OUR TOWN
1)
Explore our street on foot with targeted worksheets
2)
Create map of Ella’s room, our property and our street
3)
What makes a town
4)
Create a town from blocks and other materials
Books: My Town (Young Geography), Richard Scarry’s Best Word Book
Ever
Week
4 Theme: TREES
1)
Kinds of trees, parts of a tree
2)
Trees in different seasons (four worksheets to decorate)
3)
Family tree
4)
Outdoor tree exploration (bark and leaf rubbings, etc.)
Books: The Giving Tree & Tell Me, Tree: All About Trees for
Kids
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