I spoke with Reid on the phone on Thursday. As I was wrapping up the conversation, I reminded her that there were only two more sleeps before Ken and I would be there. Reid answered, in a disinterested voice, I know. Feeling proud of her independence, and maybe a little sad she wasn’t looking forward to seeing me, I asked her if she had saved me any kisses and hugs or if she’d given them all away. After a long pause, Reid said, I have something to tell you and it doesn’t have anything to do with kisses. And then she belched. Right in my ear. In her clear, sweet voice she said, Excuse me. That wasn’t very smart but if it had come out the other end, it would have been a fart. There were giggles on her end of the phone. (Surprise!) I asked who taught her the rhyme expecting Dylan or Brock or Shea but she proudly told me that it had been Aunt Karin. It’s good to know my sister is playing Miss Manners with Reid! I’ll have the principal call Aunt Karin when Reid teaches everyone in the second grade her poem and the other parents call to complain.
Archive for the ‘Language skills’ Category
Message received
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010Reid was angry withh my yesterday morning because I wouldn’t help her wrap herself in two towels. She was cold and I wanted her to put on her clothing. When I got home last night, I noticed this on her bedroom door:
I didn’t mention it but Reid did, “Remember this morning when I was so angry? I wrote this.” I nodded and she continued, “It’s my room and you can’t go in.” I was looking in through the doorway, feeling relieved, because that room is a mess and someone has to clean it before Grandma Joyce and Aunt Pam come. I’m glad I’ve been banned!
Reid paused a minute and then went to find her pencil – which she seems to keep in Ken’s office – and returned to add to the note. Poor man had nothing to do with the dispute.
Can I say how happy I am that Reid is starting to write independently? These are very exciting times at our house!
Did I hear you right?
Friday, February 19th, 2010Reid and I were looking at Scholastic book order forms last night and she asked me to read the title for a “Dear Dumb Diary” book. She asked me what “diary” meant and I explained that it was a record of what was happening in a person’s life and what she or he was thinking at a point in time. I was tempted to say that diaries are the old-school equivalent of blogs but it seemed like we might go off on a tangent if I did. Reid suggested, tentatively, that it also was about when you’re sick. The light bulb clicked on and I clarified that “diary” was close to but distinct from “diarrhea”. Maybe I need to ennunciate more clearly.
No one ever said English was an easy language
Thursday, January 28th, 2010On the way home last night, Reid was telling us about something that had happened in class but she first used “him” for a girl and then auto-corrected to “she”. It seems to me that this is a new error in her speech but maybe it’s been there all along and I’m noticing it now because the other non-standard expressions are disappearing. In any case, we had a discussion that went something like this:
Me: He is opposite of she. Him is opposite of her. You want to say “her”.
Reid: I’m doing another kind of opposite.
Me: What other kind of opposite? (I know of only the one kind.)
Reid: The kind that means the same but sounds different.
Me: You mean synonym. Him and she are definitely not synonyms.
Ken: Antonym is the opposite of the word you couldn’t think of.
I greatly admired Ken’s quick and funny, or punny, response. I love grammar jokes. Reid ignored us both and continued with her story.
A few minutes later, Reid called out “atqp” and asked what that spelled. I told her that she a “q” needs a “u” beside it. She revised her “word” to “atqup” and I sounded it out but said that it wasn’t actually a word. Reid protested that it had an “a” – I’ve told her before that words need a vowel – and I agreed that she had included both vowels and consonants, which was good, but that letter collections need to also have meaning to be considered words. Reid’s next attempt was “cpa” and I told her that the consonants needed a vowel between them. And got out of the car to check the mail. When I got back in, Reid was delighted to report that “cap” spelled cap. It was a bit of a Eureka moment for her.
It continues to be interesting to me that Reid is very interested in spelling words. Occasionally she’ll agree to sound out words in a story that we’re reading – though she did scam Ken into reading a Fancy Nancy early reader book that I told her she needed to read to me – and she does a good job at decoding the words. She points out more and more words and asks about what the rest of a piece of text has to do with the word that she recognizes. Reid doesn’t, however, exhibit any inclination to learn to read. I feel a bit like a scientist observing an intriguing animal in the wild. It’s all very cool for a language nut like me.
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs 2010 in our house
Friday, January 22nd, 2010Last night, Reid and I played a version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. I was Snow White, Reid was the Seven Dwarfs and the scene was set in that period where Snow White is taking care of all those guys who don’t really appreciate what she does for them. In our variation, the dwarfs have different names and all represent facets of one kid throughout a single night.
At bedtime, Reid, in the guise of a dwarf, was Tricky, pretending that she fell asleep in the car so that someone would carry her up to bed. Next, she was Pouty because she really doesn’t like to lay there in the dark all alone. Then, she was Smarty and remembered that we should turn on the humidifier. At this point, Prince Charming, aka Ken, made an unusual early appearance to fill the reservoir.
Throughout the supposed-to-be-sleeping part of the night, Reid, I mean the dwarfs, were by turns: Sniffly, Sneezy and Wakey. Poor Snow White had a lot of trouble sleeping while tending to these demanding fellows.
No one was surprised that the dwarf who emerged from Reid’s room this morning answered to Sleepy and had exceedingly dark circles under her eyes.
Snow White, being a good caregiver, thought of keeping the dwarfs home from school today but this is Field Trip Day! and who wants to miss school when the rest of the kids will be going to the Canadian Children’s Museum?
Now Snow White (that’s still me) is waiting for the poisoned apple that will bring uninterrupted sleep. I know I can depend on Prince Charming to wake me at the right time. If only my brain and body would quieten itself to sleep without the apple. Until then, I tasting apples left, right and centre.
Wish my poor little dwarfs good health, won’t you. She has had enough colds already this winter.
And, by the way, why is the plural of dwarf not dwarfs? Seems wrong to me.
Seeing things from Reid’s perspective
Thursday, January 21st, 2010I took Reid to Melonheads hair salon for kids on Monday night. She’s been resisting having her hair cut because she wants her hair to be long for Amanda and Nam’s wedding in May. I finally persuaded Reid that a trim was necessary since it was getting more and more difficult to brush her hair. As always, Reid didn’t make a peep as her hair was washed, combed and cut. I can’t offer a police motorcycle for her to sit in at home but I do let Reid watch videos – especially Sesame Street on YouTube – or read when I brush her hair. Still, there is carrying on. After the trim, the hairstylist sprayed sparkle hairspray on Reid’s hair. Reid looked at herself and said, “Look, Mama, it’s like I have fireworks on my head.” And she was right. The way the light glinted off the sparkles was a lot like the little handheld fireworks. I’d never noticed that before.
On Tuesday morning, the biggest-ever snowflakes were falling as we went to Reid’s school. Reid was chattering about the “bits of fluff” and then she was silent as she stood, mouth agape, trying to catch some snowflakes on her tongue. It slowed us down but put a big smile on Reid’s face. It’s as important to take the time to taste the snowflakes as it is to smell the flowers, you know.
On Wednesday morning, I was combing Reid’s hair while she watched the Muppets singing Bohemian Rhapsody on YouTube. Ken was brushing his teeth but came out of the bathroom to ask, “What are you listening to?!” His voice conveyed surprise and disbelief. My matter-of-fact “the muppets are singing Bohemian Rhapsody” didn’t allay either. He had to watch for himself. It really is something to see, especially the part where Animal improvises on the “Mama” passage. Reid liked the song and I liked introducing her to it.
Oops, I just missed my bus stop. Writing is too distracting.
Starting to add up
Thursday, January 14th, 2010Reid is increasingly interested in reading, finally agreeing to sound words out when prompted. Her passion, though, remains math. Tonight she chose to work in an addition book while I got supper together. At first, Reid told me the numbers that she was adding together and then she gave the answer. After a bit, she started regrouping the pictures of items to be added and then asking me for the answer. When I told Reid that it was she who needed to practice addition, she assured me that she knew the answers but wanted to know if I did. When I hesitated in answering a question, Reid would offer the initial sound of the correct answer. I was tempted to defend myself – the delay was due to distraction not an inability to work sums less than 10 – but that would have seemed ungrateful since she was giving me hints.
Always listening
Monday, November 9th, 2009I was listening to a story about H1N1 vaccination clinic in Toronto on the radio yesterday when Reid asked me what “eligible” meant. I explained it meant that people qualified for or could get something. In a plaintive tone she said, “I’m sad that I’m not eligible.” I burst out laughing. I didn’t mean to, but I did. No sense denying it. I told Reid that she had had her shot last week because the rules were different in Ottawa. (Our health authorities said “6 months to 5 years” rather than “6 months to under 5 years”.) Reid said, “Oh, I didn’t know what it was called.” She sounded a bit relieved. I don’t know how much Reid has assimilated from reports on the radio about H1N1-related illnesses and deaths but I’m periodically reminded that she is always listening.