Table Talk

Two questions each night at dinner.

1. What is one thing you learn at school today?

2. What is one thing you did to be nice or help someone today?

I love to hear their answers. Isaac is usually ready with a new fact or concept, and Meagan has surprised us more than a few times. Today Isaac told us that he learned that insects hear with their legs. Sebastian is learning about rounding large numbers. He is also learning about exponents of tens.

One of my favorite all-time "what did you learn today" answers came a few weeks ago from Meagan, when she educated us all about glockenspiels (not only did she tell us that she learned about them, but she described them to us in detail & then proceeded to tell us how they differ from xylophones... true story... cracked me up!).

But the best thing is hearing how they are helpful to others. Isaac often picks up after others without being asked, and without being recognized. For instance, at the end of the school day, his friend was in the hall getting his book bag & coat and had not yet put his chair up on his desk to leave. Isaac did it for him. Another time, a girl at Isaac's table left some books out that should have been put away, so Isaac put them away for her. Stuff like that. I love that.

Sebastian is often helping to explain class work or help others work through assignments and such. And Meagan, well, she's still trying to get the hang of thinking of anyone other than herself *lol*.

When Lucas first started asking the kids what they did to be helpful or kind, they gave us the deer in the headlights look. As time has passed, though, we have been able to watch them slowly transform from totally unaware of others' needs to being aware and thoughtful of others. It is the coolest thing.