Pumpkin wing fairy

I sometimes often sit and wonder what it would be like to encounter a fairy. Does a child believe in fairies? They believe in the tooth fairy so why not flower fairies or nature fairies? I asked Faith what type of fairy she would be if she were a fairy. She quickly said she would be a nature fairy due to her love of being outdoors. I agree. Faith is an outside fairy who is close with nature. Her love of flowers, trees, and the outside world makes it difficult in the pre Spring weather to get her to go inside. I am forced to deal with the crying knowing that it probably is the saddest part of her day. I think that we are going to begin reading the journals of Cicely Mary Barker. With the journal style writing I am hoping it encourages her writing and reading. Should she embark on this journey she may discover a part of her she never knew was there; a vivid imagination.

Crazy people

Faith's teacher told me that she was working with a group of friends yesterday. Evidentally she didn't care for what they were discussing. So she got up out of her seat and started walking away. All the while, not realizing someone was listening to her said, "Crazy people. I'm going somewhere else." Oh the joys of having someone like Faith. I never know what she is going to say nor do. I wish that a magic journal would follow her around each day to write down the funny things that no one else hears.

A fluent reader

Faith has become a wonderful reader. I can't believe how fast she has learned this year. I can't believe the difference in my kids in class and herself. Her cognitive ability is overwelming as I see just what she is capable of understanding. Tonight she breezed through Dr. Seuss's book "Are You My Mother?" I see her growth in all her classes this year. I am so proud of her and her determination to become something special. She is trying to write more in her notebook and draw a matching picture. She can write her high frequency words fairly well. She does well sounding out other words but sometimes she forgets her vowels. A wonderful start to 2011.

The Fairy Notebook

A notebook designated for fairies which increases with knowledge for the user as she grows older and more mature. Faith has received her first fairy handbook. It is a adventure log received for travel however we have made it into a fun book to use. It comes complete with colored pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener, tape measure, zipper close carrying case, pad of white paper and tracing paper, small clothes pins and white string. I have added in some pictures that I've created from the internet and Word using characters that are common in her books. Using her Fairy Chronicles books I have added descriptions of those magical items (i.e. ogre, gnome, unicorn, toadstool, elves). She has went from trying to get her friends to play fairies at school but not knowing how to, to pulling each of them in, sharing her notebook and asking for ideas as to how to solve problems within nature. The latest trouble was a volcano that kept erupting because of a spririt that was upset. She made a map for her and her fairy friends to find the volcano. She documented why fairies were important along with what to do if you encounter a pig in the forest. I had no idea this would be such a hit but she has taken it in and her behavior has drastically improved as she is becoming more aware of others and becoming a leader of the fairy circle.

The grades are in

Faith has received her report card for 2nd quarter. She received all S+ which was super exciting. Her teacher commented she is a joy to teach and is becoming a fluent reader. She tries her best. It is my hope that she continues to enjoy school as much as she does now when we move to another city in the Fall. It is my hope that we can find a teacher that appreciates her giddiness and goofiness which allow her to enjoy school and be who she is.

What a listener!

Faith is such a great listener; at school that is. Math homework has begun. She's good at math. I sat her down last night before supper to work on her assignment. Last night's work was all about her shapes that she has begun to learn. She picked up her flash cards and named every one of her shapes including but not limited to hexagon, pentagon, parallelogram, and trapazoid. This is exciting because I am in her classroom during Math time and see her growth. Math assignment tonight...use colors to make a color pattern and shapes to make a shape pattern. Easy breezy. The night after...addition and subtraction. She gets it. I'm not sure how you can hold this kid back. She is always going to be aching to learn more. I offered her Madeline 2nd grade computer game on Sunday. She took it gladly and said it was easy with the exception of math because she had not learned it yet. What a smarty pants.

Fairy Mimosa

Faith and I have discovered our favorite fairy to date. A beautiful fairy by the name of Mimosa. Mimosa is a girl who discovered she is a fairy. She has blonde hair, pink dress and light pink wings. She carries an emu feather for a wand. She is sensitive and understanding of other's needs. Does this sound like someone I know. It does....Faith. I know she picked Mimosa from her Fairy Chronicle book because she wears her favorite color pink but if we look at her more in depth I see that it is Faith as a fairy. In the hopes of teaching her to appreciate art and what someone can make for her, I am painting a bisque fairy who is riding on the back of a dragonfly. Dragonflies are fast and I feel almost impossible to catch. The figurine is the most beautiful fairy I've seen so to turn it into a representation of Faith of a fairy, is going to be a challenge. But I find myself wanting to paint all the time to escape life and the daily hustle and bustle. Mimosa is beautiful just like Faith.