Mar 29, 2018 meeting report: Thank you for the beautiful flowers and the nice card with notes from each of the girls! It was totally unnecessarily, but very much appreciated! The flowers are brightening up the house on this very dreary day.
Since I will be out of town for much of April, here's a list that may come in handy while I'm gone.
-- Thur, Apr 5, 2018: The girls will review flash cards alone over lunch (Dr. D has approved this)
-- Werner Battle: Wed, Apr 11, 2018 (time TBD - as soon as they tell us, I'll post it here)
- Libby Klingsmith (Rece's mom) will be the official team coach, but as far as I can tell, this just
requires her to sit in the audience. The girls are all prepped and ready to go. They know that my
highest priority for them is good sportsmanship. With that said, I think they'll do well in the
competition too.
- Gabby will be the "recorder" and Romy will be the "spokesperson".
- Remember to wear the team T-shirts!
- The girls have talked about making a poster for the Werner Battle. It's optional, and I told them
if they want to do that, they'll need to make it happen.
-- Additional study materials (requested by the girls) are posted below.
-- If the girls win the Werner Battle, let me know! I'll be home in time to attend the District Battle.
Since I will be out of town for much of April, here's a list that may come in handy while I'm gone.
-- Thur, Apr 5, 2018: The girls will review flash cards alone over lunch (Dr. D has approved this)
-- Werner Battle: Wed, Apr 11, 2018 (time TBD - as soon as they tell us, I'll post it here)
- Libby Klingsmith (Rece's mom) will be the official team coach, but as far as I can tell, this just
requires her to sit in the audience. The girls are all prepped and ready to go. They know that my
highest priority for them is good sportsmanship. With that said, I think they'll do well in the
competition too.
- Gabby will be the "recorder" and Romy will be the "spokesperson".
- Remember to wear the team T-shirts!
- The girls have talked about making a poster for the Werner Battle. It's optional, and I told them
if they want to do that, they'll need to make it happen.
-- Additional study materials (requested by the girls) are posted below.
-- If the girls win the Werner Battle, let me know! I'll be home in time to attend the District Battle.
Mar 22, 2018 meeting report: Today my husband, Jim, met with the girls while I stayed home with the sniffles. After updating the reading records (below) and getting books redistributed, he asked the girls to tell him about each of the books. They did and also told him about the overlapping topics between the books. It sounds like it went well.
Mar 8, 2018 meeting report: Marken brought the tie dyed T-shirts to the girls today, and they look great! Thank you, Marken! (And thank you for the T-shirts, Elizabeth.) Marken is also going to make team stickers the girls can wear on the shirts for the competion. This will save you the storage space for a "she'll never wear this again" shirt and leave your daughter with a super cool top she can wear many times.
Our review went well today. We talked about the many reasons we participate in book clubs and competitions, and I found a way to get them to enthusiastically engage in the reviews. (i.e. I suggested that maybe I should give all of the review questions to the other teams if they didn't want to go through them and this seemed to capture their attention and cause them to assure me that they did want to review the questions :) We had fun.
Our review went well today. We talked about the many reasons we participate in book clubs and competitions, and I found a way to get them to enthusiastically engage in the reviews. (i.e. I suggested that maybe I should give all of the review questions to the other teams if they didn't want to go through them and this seemed to capture their attention and cause them to assure me that they did want to review the questions :) We had fun.
Mar 1, 2018 meeting report: The girls are wearing down a little in terms of their interest in reviewing facts related to the books. And I don't blame them! Most of the books were interesting ... to a point. I've let up on them quite a bit in terms of focus on the facts and sometimes we have meandering conversations, although we always include at least some review of the data we've compiled. At the end of the day I want to like me ... or at least not dislike me ;) I have one more trick up my sleeve I'll try next week.
In the meantime, we need to keep the books moving, so please be sure that your daughter doesn't hoard books (or if she does, be sure that she knows the facts cold for competition day). You can review the check-out status for your daughter below.
In the meantime, we need to keep the books moving, so please be sure that your daughter doesn't hoard books (or if she does, be sure that she knows the facts cold for competition day). You can review the check-out status for your daughter below.
Feb 22, 2018 meeting report: The girls were lively and energetic today. We talked about the difference betwee relying on luck vs. preparation if we want to win the competition. We also reviewed more questions and talked about overlapping topics. Now that we have questions from all six books they are struggling more often to answer questions correctly. Reading each book a second time will probably may make a difference in the battle. (See status below.) They're not always eager to read all of the books a second time. And I can't blame them :) Some books were a lot more entertaining than others.
Feb 15, 2018 meeting report: Our meeting went well. We're focusing on the overlapping topics between books. This will be key (I think) in terms of winning if we make it through the first/easier rounds of questions. Each girl has a chart to record any overlapping topics and details they encounter as they re-read the books.
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Feb 8, 2018 meeting report:
Mini Battle - Today was our first Mini Battle, and the girls did great; they tied for first place! Winning the Werner competition appears to be a possibility, so be sure you have both Apr 11 and Apr 30 on your calendar. All (~25) of the kids were really well behaved. You should be really proud of your girls! (The only low point during the event was after I introduced myself and about 4 kids felt compelled to tell me that they have a grandma named Kathy. I am not a grandma yet and found this info a little jarring. Up to that point I had assumed that I looked a lot like the other four coaches who were there ;) Books - We now have one copy of every book to share, so the girls are encouraged to re-read each book. (See status report below.) It's OK to share the books between the girls, but please let me know each time a book changes hands so we keep track of them. Also, let me know if you want me to drop a book by your house. T-shirts - Romy received the four white T-shirts from Madelynn. (Thank you, Elizabeth.) Smart Girls - Before the Mini Battle started, one of the other coaches (a mom) commented to me that I had a "really good team". When I asked her why (and explained I'm an aunt), she said, "They're all really smart." I told her that I agreed and let her know it was bit intimidating to coach them! Today was really encouraging. It was fun to see the four sometimes chatty girls buckle down and perform so well. The other coaches were really appreciative that we hosted this Mini Battle. As I chatted wtih them afterward, I was reminded just how challenging it is to raise kids while managing everything else in life. As your girls proved today, you all are doing a great job. Your effort is paying off! |
Mini Battle Results
FEB 8, 2018
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Feb 1, 2018 meeting report: Today Romy and I had the meeting to ourselves. I had fun and hope she did too. We did two 5-minute quizes and both times she beat the highest team score. And she hasn't read three of the books! (That was a surpising outcome.) During our meeting next week we're going to have a mini battle with 2-3 other teams, so that'll help us gauge how we're doing. Marken is going to help the girls tie dye team T-shirts which Elizabeth will provide. Thank you, Marken and Elizabeth!
Jan 25, 2018 meeting report: Today's meeting when well! The key may have been modifying the coaching strategy; from techniques possibly best suited for college freshman to techniques that are better suited for third graders :) The girls love the idea of tye dying T-shirts. Marken, if you want to organize that, it would be great. Elizabeth is going to supply the T-shirts since she has some that are a little smaller than the ones I have.
Jan 18, 2018 meeting report:
Mark Your Calendar: Apr 11, 2018 - Werner Battle of the Books event (time TBD)
-- Coach Kathy is going to be out-of-town on this day. My apologies! (We were told the event would be held in March, so I made vacation plans specifically avoiding all potential Werner Battle dates and the district Battle date. "The best laid plans ..." :)
-- A fill-in coach will be needed for the Werner Battle on Apr 11, 2018. The coach must remain seated in the audience during the Battle, so I assume this is mostly a matter of ensuring the team arrives, etc. Rece told us she was sure that Libby would want to fill this role, and LIbby has confirmed she will do this. (Thank you!)
Mark Your Calendar: Apr 11, 2018 - Werner Battle of the Books event (time TBD)
-- Coach Kathy is going to be out-of-town on this day. My apologies! (We were told the event would be held in March, so I made vacation plans specifically avoiding all potential Werner Battle dates and the district Battle date. "The best laid plans ..." :)
-- A fill-in coach will be needed for the Werner Battle on Apr 11, 2018. The coach must remain seated in the audience during the Battle, so I assume this is mostly a matter of ensuring the team arrives, etc. Rece told us she was sure that Libby would want to fill this role, and LIbby has confirmed she will do this. (Thank you!)
- Team T-shirts Our current plan is to "decorate" oversized T-shirts. (I have stash of never-worn Mens Size Large shirts we can use.) Some of the other teams are having T-shirts made. We've talked about sewing a patch on them (which I may make) and then decorating them with colored Sharpie pens. The more I think about it, the more I'm leaning toward just letting them docorate them with pens. My guess is that the shirts are going to look very ... "kid created". If anyone is hoping for a more polished look, let me know and I'll gladly hand-off the task of organizing costumes or T-shirts. If I don't hear from anyone by Jan 23, 2018, we'll start down the path of creating our own T-shirts. (The girls seem very enthused about it.)
- We've Read All of the Books! (Sort of) Some of the girls didn't actually read all of the books when they had the chance, so I've poked around online and found ways you can find one or more of them if your daughter fell behind in the reading. (See reading list below.) Reading the books a second (or third) time will also increase their odds of doing well at the Battle(s).
- Lofty Goals vs Reality It's been fun reaquinting myself with third grade girls. (My own daughter is 27 now.) Some of them remind me of myself at that age in that they seem much more interested in the social aspects of competition than preparing for the actual event. I've gone from thinking that with their brain power and my superb coaching skills we'd probably win this thing hands down to wondering if we're going to embarrass ourselves. I can't seem to figure out how to keep the team focused given the distractions of rotten apples, club crackers, Kim Jung Un, gummy bears, noddles, and more! (It's funny, except that I'm starting to worry a bit.) I was told that all of the meetings need to be held at school, but think a Saturday or Sunday session or two might help us deposit some important info into their brains. I'll ask the Werner Battle of the Books leader if this would be OK and get back with you about holding some extra sessions. Or maybe now that the reading is complete, we'll be able to establish some sort of review rhythm during our lunch meetings.
Jan 11, 2018 meeting report: Today we received the final book. We're almost done with the reading! We also decided to do away with many of the responsiblities we'd been managing in an effort to make the effort easier. (I now manage the folders for the girls and will create the review questions.) We also started thinking about "costumes" for the competition and agreed we'll decorate some unused plain white man-sized T-shirts I have sitting on a shelf. (I forget why my husband rejected them, but they should work well for the girls to wear over their regular clothes the day of the competition.) Happy New Year!
Dec 21, 2017 meeting report: Today we talked about working hard to avoid distractions. Ask the girls about the things I did to try and distract them so they could practice this skill. Ask them about the video we watched too. They did really well (and way, way better than I expected). This is really great and will serve them well in the future. I'm still working on this myself at age 55!
Dec 14, 2017 meeting report: Today we talked about the value of a team and how different members have different strengths and that almost always enables the team to accomplish more than any single member could on their own. We talked about the fact that studies have proven this point.
We also talked about overlapping topics in various books. e.g. sharks, goats, pasta and mucus are mentioned in at least two books we've read so far, and I expect lots of overlap between the books about Benjamin Franklin and the Great Barrier Reef given that both are likely to cover the history of England and the US.
It's hard to remember the four things we need for each meeting; 1) the book, 2) the questions, 3) the folder, and 4) the reading. When we forget our books other teams can't read them and may fall behind. It'll be really important (and hard, I know) to remember our books next week right before the holiday break, but it's really important that we do! -- Kathy
We also talked about overlapping topics in various books. e.g. sharks, goats, pasta and mucus are mentioned in at least two books we've read so far, and I expect lots of overlap between the books about Benjamin Franklin and the Great Barrier Reef given that both are likely to cover the history of England and the US.
It's hard to remember the four things we need for each meeting; 1) the book, 2) the questions, 3) the folder, and 4) the reading. When we forget our books other teams can't read them and may fall behind. It'll be really important (and hard, I know) to remember our books next week right before the holiday break, but it's really important that we do! -- Kathy
Dec 7, 2017 meeting report: Today's meeting went well. We've got a new rhythm for reviewing facts that should serve us well. I can really see the value of the team, but doubt the girls themselves see it. They were all super obedient. They're a fun group. -- Kathy
Nov 30, 2017 meeting report: Today's meeting went so well! All of the girls remembered to bring their book, folder and questions. All had finished the book. They stayed focused and enjoyed answering the questions. I was so proud of them! (I asked if their parents or peers had encouraged them to "shape up" and they said no. They told me they were on their best behavior because I had been stern with them at our last meeting and told them we shouldn't continue the activity if they weren't going to participate.) I'll have new books by Fri, Dec 1 and find a way to get them to them. -- Kathy
Nov 16, 2017 meeting report: Today's meeting was a challenge. Some of the girls were eager to review facts from the books, but others seemed uninterested. Maybe there is some holiday energy building? I was most impressed with the insight expressed that any questions that mention technology must be from the Inspector Flytrap book because the other book, Strega Nona, was clearly set a long time ago. As I said, impressive! All four girls are clearly smart and attentive readers. If they all decide to apply themselves, they're rock the "battle". And they may even rock it if only a couple apply themselves. We'll see! -- Kathy
Nov 9, 2017 meeting report: Today's meeting was great. The best yet! We talked about whether or not we really want to participate in Battle of the Books. Participation means reading the books, creating questions about the content of the books, quizzing each other on the content, and returning the books. All of the girls assured me that they want to participate, even though not everyone is fully participating. So we spent time brainstorming ways to be sure that everyone is fully participating. We also had our first practice "Battle" which went very well. We talked about how we ought to behave during the real battle. All four girls are really fast learners! -- Kathy
Nov 2, 2017 meeting report: Today we discussed the book Strega Nona. The book is set outside the US. Ask your girls about that. If you're looking for an interesting dinner conversation topic, you might want to talk about the phrase "the punishment fits the crime". We also talked about respecting the books. One of us had an "accident" with the book. Ask your daughter who had a little trouble respecting the book recently (i.e. who had the accident?), and how this person will avoid future accidents. -- Kathy
Oct 26, 2017 meeting report: Today's meeting went well. We got to know each other and each of the girls was exceptional in a unique way. One proactively thanked me at the end of our meeting (gratidude!), one rearranged the chairs to meet her needs (initiative!), one said the coach was "awesome" (brownie points!), and one voluntarily gave up her folder so that another who also wanted it could have it (generosity!). I had fun and hope the girls did too. -- Kathy