Clubs

I have been volunteering at Xander’s school all academic year. The last couple of weeks, Eva came with me. Her preschool was over and I wanted to keep the commitment I had made. She was a great helper, playing the games with the kids and helping me carry things, laminate, photocopy, and laminate. After each week, one of the teachers would let her pick 2-3 books out of a box. They were all above her reading level, but enjoyable for her to listen to all the same.

Typically she picked books that were at a first/ second grade reading level. Once home, I would have Xander read them out loud so I could get a better sense as to his reading level. (They were all pretty easy for him it seemed.) One of the books he read is called “The Open Door Club”. He loved it!

At the end of the book, there is a section for teachers to check comprehension. I would ask him these questions and he would answer them. On the one he couldn’t answer, he knew exactly which page to find the answer on. The last question is meant to help the child relate the story back to their personal experiences. In “The Open Door Club”, it asked what kind of club he would make if he could have any kind. He responded with, “Pizza Club!”

I thought about it for a little while and then asked him if he really wanted to have a Pizza Club. He was really excited about the idea so we sat down and wrote up invitations. The club will meet once a month over the summer and while here, the kids will have different kinds of pizza. The first month is make your own pizza, followed by from the freezer pizzas, and the wrap up will either be Pizza Hut or Rocky Rococo’s.

Also, after reading the book, I ran across a little ad for the public library system. They are also hosting a club. A Lego Club! As a family, we attended the first Lego Club meeting last weekend. A children’s librarian read a couple of stories about flying. A spaceship was in the first story and a plane was in the second. Then she dumped the biggest bucket of Legos that I have ever seen onto the floor.

The kids went crazy building their own flying creations. Xander made a Star Wars inspired ship. Two of them actually. He even made a landing dock on the bigger ship so the smaller ship could land on it safely. Eva made a boat. It only had the ability to fly when the librarian used blades to make a motor that would propel it through the water. Eva decided that it would also fly the boat through the air.

After reading, building, and cleaning up we went across the street to Ella’s Deli for ice cream. They sell Chocolate Shoppe which is among the best in Madison. Xander only eats the topping off of his ice cream and then proclaims he is done. That happened, as usual. Jeff said Xander should start trying different flavors because he might find one he likes and would actually eat.

Xander rebelled! Not that is unusual when it comes to trying new foods. But when Eva said her ice cream tasted like fruit loops, everything changed. He couldn’t wait to have Blue Moon again. Not that he actually did the next time, but there was hope and far less fear. Overall, I would call it a win!

There is another Lego meeting next month. If we remember, I think we will take the kids to it. And possibly to Ella’s Deli again!