Rapunzel’s school uses the Accelerated Reading System. In short books are assigned a level and a possible point value.

It works like this:

Where the Red Fern Grows

BL (book Level)    4.9 (Fourth Year Ninth Month)

AR Points (Possible points to earn on the AR Test) 11.0

This is where it gets interesting,

Nancy Drew books that we have fall between 4.0 – 6.0

The last book I read, The Red Tent, is a 6.5.

The book I’m reading now, A Million Little Pieces, is a 4.2.

Rapunzel’s new books the Sea of Trolls, 4.7, and Land of the Silver Apples, 5.0, have higher levels than what I’m reading.

Check out what your kids are reading.  You might be surprised.

Shawn took the test for his CDL today, and passed all but the Hazmat portion.

The only reason he didn’t pass was because we didn’t study for it. But when you take the test at the same time there’s no additional fee up front, where if you take it later you have to pay 30-something dollars. Now he just has to get a physical before he can get his actual permit.

Then he has to pay $94 dollars to have a TSA background check done so they know he’s not a terrorist and going to highjack a load of Palmolive* and blow up a building with it. Hopefully we’ll have the money before he takes his drive test in a month, which is the first available appointment. If not he’ll get his license without the hazmat endorsement, and pay for it after he starts driving.

So tomorrow we’re going to go back and he’s going to retake the hazmat portion. Hopefully one night of cramming will do.

Oh, and before I forget, Rapunzel is getting an award tomorrow but we don’t know what for. So you know what I’ll be writing about tomorrow, right? She’s so proud of herself.

*And yes, dish soap is considered a hazardous material when in transport. For that fact so is Coca-Cola syrup.