Shhh…Schoolwork Comparisons

I know it's not recommended to compare your kids to each other. I read through the kids' reports cards and Anthony was reading at a DRA level of 12, 28 and 34 at the end of kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades respectively. Ramsey was reading at a DRA level of 24 and 34 at the end of 1st and 2nd grades respectively (don't know about kindergarten, no comments in the report card about DRA level). I always assumed Anthony was a better reader than Ramsey but I now see they are about the same…Anthony can read/pronounce nearly any word but that doesn't mean he understands what he is reading (recall in 1st grade he read through 3 Harry Potter books but COULD NOT summarize what was happening, even at a high level…that was our first clue that pronouncing words doesn't mean understanding). I have some great comparison shots of their work in school. Shhhh….



This feelings book was completed in 1st grade for each boy (Ant on top, Ram on bottom). Ram completed 3 more pages than Ant did. I do recall his teachers telling me that Ramsey is a hard worker and would volunteer to do more work when he was done with what was assigned. I do know that Anthony likes to be one of the first to finish his work and then he'll take out his book and read. He doesn't like to do more than he has to.



"Me On the Map" was also completed in 1st grade. Ant on the left, Ram on the right.



Above are shots from the 2nd Grade Memory Books. Ram sure writes more neatly than Ant, does't he?



Above left is one of my favorite pictures that Ram drew about the owls in our neighborhood. Here is the original post I wrote about this back in June 2008. Above right are some doodles that Ram drew in 5th grade. Aren't they amazing pen and ink doodles?

School Work from 2008 to 2015

We need to empty out the office for (as yet unscheduled but will happen) hardwood floor work in the office due to the as yet unidentified water leak. I have located and sorted through Ramsey's preschool, kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th grade work and Anthony's preschool, kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade work. I had so much paperwork in that office from the kids' school work. I have now recycled 3 large garbage cans (the ones in our kitchen) worth of paper and am archiving the good stuff.

Here's some work that I took pictures of:



This is Ramsey in I think 1st or 2nd grade. He has a picture of himself with coins and on the backside says, "I like geeting muny." There is a picture of what I think is he and I. So cute and nothing has changed about that boy and his love of money.



Above is a picture of Ramsey and the words, "In Kindergarten, I really liked to hav reses." Above that is a picture of a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. "If I stumbled upon a pot of gold, I would spend some of it on toys. I would then save the rest to look at." I think this is 1st grade.



Above is all Ramsey's 3rd grade work. He had a lot of trouble with spelling in 3rd grade (he still does) and had to be pulled out for special group work with a specialist/aide. I found that there were timed multiplication tests (1 minute) and Ramsey didn't do so well. I wonder how Ant will do in 3rd grade.



Above is some Ramsey 4th grade work. His spelling is still bad and he is still having timed multiplication table tests. He also wanted to learn long division -- he was taught to do multi digit multiplication and division via a lattice method. I finally had to teach him long division via the "house" method (divisor out of the house) and he now uses this method.



Above is work from what I believe to be Anthony's kindergarten work. "From Anthony I want a red real lightsaber." On the right is what to do in the morning. First snuggle with my dad. Second eat breakfast. Third Brush my teeth. Fourth go to the bus stop. This must have been kindergarten or 1st grade because that was when he took the bus to school in the morning.



Above are samples of Anthony's work mostly from kindergarten and 1st grade. Notice that his penmanship isn't as neat as his brothers nor are his drawings as detailed or colorful. However, I don't have a photo but Anthony had a PERFECT score on all of his 2nd grade spelling tests except for one when he spelling great grate.



Last, this is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow in 1st grade piece that Ant brought home: "My family is more important than gold because I realy love them and I realy love living with them."

I love going through their work because I can see them learning and growing. What I am sad about is they are bringing home less (and in Ram's case none) art work than in the earlier years.