Don't Lose Your Marbles!

The boys have been earning {or losing} marbles, as part of a rewards system we decided to try out.  When the boys hit the first line, and half way mark, they earned an ice cream cone from Macey's.  JC, who's been leading the game, filled his bottle to the top line first.  As a reward, earlier this week JC and his dad went to the movies and saw the Smurfs.

Marble idea came from useyourmarbles.com.  The only thing I really did different is if the boys managed to not lose any of their 3 marbles in a day they earned a large shooter marble instead, or when I ran out of those an extra marble.

School Store

Here is the rundown of our incentive program as promised to a few people.

We started off by having JC create our own class money.

We then made copies of the cash.  A list of ways to earn money was created.  For us this was things like on a quiz $1 for 80%, $2 for 90%, and $4 for 100%.  Actual test have a higher payout.  He earns money for reading books and being able to retell the stories to me, and for doing his daily school job.  He also has bills he is responsible to pay for things like computer use and new pencils, notebooks, etc.

On Fridays once we are done with school stuff, we payout for jobs and he pays his bills, then the the school store opens.  It will only be open during this time until the next week.  My prices were pretty low to start out with, but as I add new items to the store the prices are slowly increasing.

D. is thrilled to earn a hotwheel car he's had his eye on.

And JC was so happy to finally earn connect 4, launchers.  This by the way is an awesome game, much better than the original.

Mad Scientist

Today we had a party to celebrate JC's birthday.  He invited his two closest friends.  We had a blast doing science experiments and playing science themed games.  

The kids safety goggles I ordered still haven't made it since weather has caused package mayhem, but the kids didn't care.  JC plans to still hand deliver them to his friends once they've arrived.

 The little scientist.

Lab coats were just mens plain white t-shirts cut down the front. 

I gave each child  a name tag with Dr. their name.

We made their hair crazy with gel and mousse.

Creating their own shade of frosting and decorating mini bunt cakes.
How awesome are the sprinkles in vials?   I found those at Targets after Halloween clearance last year.  Worked out perfectly!

 Everyone needed a candle to blow out for good luck!

Atoms and Molecules ice cream!

The funky glasses were won in a game of Operation.  Each time they successfully removed an item they got to pick a gift, trade theirs, or keep what they had.  Amazingly in the end everyone got what they wanted most!

Blowing out the candles!

Here is a link to the flask cake, I kind of tried out my own thing with my mini bunts, it wasn't awesome.

Reading Like A Rock Star

I swear I didn't read this much in first grade. Am I just forgetting? I remember reading Dick and Jane in like the 2nd grade maybe?  JC had a bunch of site words in kindergarten; first grade has only proven to pick up the pace.

JC continues to impress me at how well he retains most site words, but of course there are always a few tricky ones.  We try to make the chore more fun by making as many games out of it as possible.  One favorite game is to write all the words out in chalk.  Then to improve on this idea, making it even more fun we took turns throwing rocks, bark, whatever we could find, on a word.  Then whatever word it landed on JC had to read.

JC was reading last night with his "Rock Star" glasses.  I don't know how he could see anything!

He was more than happy to show off the book he just got that afternoon from the school bookfair.