Smarty Pants

Yesterday and today were report card day for Ellie and Madeline.  Ellie's school switched over to a new grading system this September that is a bit odd.  It's all based on end of year state standards (can we say teaching to the test?  Good, I knew that you could.) and the grades are E (excels at standards), M (meets standards), P (progressing) and N (needs improvement).  Most of the grading categories are odd and subjective.  For example, Ellie got graded on listening and responding for reading (Odd, I know.).  Apparently she excels at that in school, but I don't think she would have gotten that grade if she were home schooled.  Her entire report card was littered with E's and M's.  On the whole it was a very good report card which is being rewarded with a pull string Woody toy that will drive Madeline insane. (Who says being a parent isn't fun?)

Madeline pulled off straight A's once again.  We're very proud of her, of course, she wasn't too thrilled that we pointed out that her overall percentage grade went down in math.  Madeline hate's math.  She would have loved that Barbie doll from the 90's that said "Math is hard!"  I suppose her straight A's mean that Bryan and I will have to attend another principal's list breakfast at the middle school.  I was even more surprised to see that she has perfect attendance for the first half of the year.  Funny, you would think I'd know that she had perfect attendance, but with the craziness that is our life, things like that frequently escape my notice.