The night before the big day we had our annual Back to School Feast, complete with stained glass stars inscribed withe the boys name, grade, and year.
We toasted the new year with shirley temples.
Both boys were excited the next morning. No problems getting up and ready. Freddie had a full day, so he got his daily napkin note packed in his lunchbox. Just a half day for Hans, so he'd get lunch out with Mama and Dad.
I love walking the boys to school. This will be hard to give up one day.
Proud 2nd grader
Then we got to bring this guy to Kindergarten.
He knew his teacher, and said he was ready, but seemed a bit nervous. Told me to go, I think so he could get himself settled and into the groove. There were a lot of moms lingering so the teacher gently shooed us all away.
He was all smiles when I picked him up at the end of the day. We headed into the city with a packed lunch of "pinwheels" to eat with Dad at his work as requested by our Kindergartener.
Freddie's school has a new music teacher this year, who is a rather green teacher. The principal thought it best to break him in slowly with "informal" in school performances rather than the full night of performances by every grade level. I thought that was really nice of her, although I did miss seeing Freddie in his black and white ensemble.
The video is lengthy...sorry! These things are so cute. I smile the entire time watching, but I understand if you aren't are riveted! He is just right of center. Can you see him?
The new music teacher seems to be working out well despite being tasked with teaching grades preK-8, not something any teacher willingly signs up for. I think the plan is to have a spring concert so maybe we'll dust off the black slacks and tie.
I had two teachers to meet with on Conference Day this year! I can hardly believe it. Both boys have very experienced, seasoned teachers and I love both of them. They are strict, have high standards, and are pushing the boys to their maximum potential.
First up: Hans
The first thing Ms. L told me was that she really, really, really enjoys having him. He has a "goodness about him that just attracts everyone" to him.
She says he has a sense of fairness and honesty which makes her seem to always take his word over another student. Uh oh. I hope he never violates that trust he's built.
He tells her every so often that he's an "expert" in something. The latest was he was "an expert hiker" and before that he let her know he was "an expert skier."
His confidence is growing. He no longer seems timid or nervous in class. He participates actively.
"You know he can be stubborn about certain things." I feel validated!
Academically he is making progress and shows interest in learning. She used an example of how he got to choose the patter of the month that would be added to daily during morning meeting (blue, blue, blue, yellow green). After he was selected to choose the pattern he requested to work with patterns for several days after that during his choice time and his pattern complexity expanded.
He can recognize about half of the letters and sounds. He is on track, and she is not concerned.
In Math he has got one to one correspondence down and can can count to 20. He has basic conceptual understanding of addition and subtraction.
She's working on his pencil grip (he holds his pencil like Uncle Christian) and strengthening his fine motor skills to assist in more efficient writing.
When I asked if she had any concerns, she did mention his speech, which was something I was going to ask. She didn't think it was time for an evaluation, but did comment that he can be difficult to understand. She recommended I speak to the speech therapist at school for some informal guidance, but she did not think anything more than that was needed at this time. (He does have difficulty with articulating the R and W but those sounds often don't come until kids are around 6-8 years old)
No report card in preK, a change for NYC public schools. The curriculum in prek is swinging back in the direction of very play based, and although Ms. L agrees with this, she worries about the rather academic kindergarten curriculum and feels it necessary to also prepare kids for a demanding kindergarten curriculum. I think she has balanced it very well so far. Hans is definitely growing in many ways.
PreKindergarten is great. Everyone is happy.
He works and works and works for these spelling tests
And then: Freddie
Ms. Z gave me his 1st semester report card. Working above grade level in most subjects.
His reading level end of 3rd grade/beginning of 4th grade. She says he needs full chapter books beyond what he has been reading. She gave me some suggestions.
He writes well, creating narratives that are sequential and make sense. He has punctuation down but needs to work on appropriate capitalization and spelling. She is not at all concerned about his reversals and said in her experience it can take up until 3rd grade to work itself out.
In math he is doing well with his strategies and has an appropriate level of development in number sense. She thought he needed more automaticity in addition and subtraction facts.
She assured me he would start doing better on spelling tests, he just has to learn how to study. At home we are trying to go with the motto of "hard work no matter what." Sometimes it works and well, sometimes it doesn't. That's life but you always do your best.
She did say he needs to do better when working independently and in groups. He has a tendency to be distracted by the first sign of silliness with his peers as well as be really chatty. Not surprised by this. She added that he is more than capable of everything he is asked to do, and although his silliness isn't out of the realm of normal for a 6 year old boy, she does want more on task behavior.
1st grade is great. Everyone is happy.
I'm thankful school life is so easy for for the boys. I am thankful they have good teachers. I am thankful they are learning. I am thankful they are happy. I know some families struggle with this, and I know things may one day change for us, but for now I am thankful for this all around positive start to their school years.
My last day walking my kindergartner to school with just the two of us.
The last week of kindergarten was an emotional one! When I said "Today is your last Monday of kindergarten!" the tears began, for both of us. And it was the same on his last Tuesday, last Wednesday, last Thursday, and the very last day of school. He really loves school.
4 kids were absent, already traveling to their home countries
Freddie and Ms. Shappee
Charlie, Hans, and I got to visit Freddie's class with other families to celebrate the end of the year and look through all of Freddie's work through the year. So amazing to see how much he has grown academically.
I drew a picture and wrote a note on every single lunchbox napkin this year. Wonder when he'll ask me to stop.
The last day of school he asked that the whole family walk him to school and pick him up. He had decided we'd have a lunch celebration since it was a half day of school.
Last day of kindergarten!
The walk the last day of school was just like all the others. He had to run ahead to get into the building as soon as possible!
My boy picked Popeye's for lunch. I didn't complain, but did find it funny that this was his idea of a big meal out.
He got his report card, and all rave reviews except for one comment from his music teacher about "more singing and less talking." He is quite the social butterfly, but he did take this comment to heart and seemed a bit bummed that it was written on his report card. That's the consequence of being silly in music. Something to improve on next year, my love.
First day of summer vacation
Can't believe he's finished kindergarten, and moving up to 1st grade! I am so very proud of him, and so thankful for a successful start to school.
His reading has really taken off. He reads on a late 2nd grade/early 3rd grade level. Ms. S suggested he continue to read for 20 minutes each night.
Ms. S said he is very capable and is one of the top students.
He is kind, polite, and social. He gets along with and is liked by all of his classmates.
He loves writing and math.
She thought he should continue with the same routine next year as far as homework, with adding some more opportunities to work independently. I agree it is time for a transition to more responsibility and independence.
A very positive end of the year conference. He'll get his report card next week.
Freddie was thrilled to get gussied up again for another school concert. He got another tie and looked super cute.
With his buddy and his brother
Not many pictures of my boo this time. We sat on the wrong side of the auditorium and he was standing next to his friend Diana who is full of personality and in constant motion so pics were hard to get!
In the middle, top row
Way over at the right, with his head behind Diana who is leaning over chatting. Smile
The Kindergarten sang It's a Small World, Row Row Row Your Boat (in rounds which was a hysterical mess of course!), and Kumbaya. Just a little bit....
I did get to see him as he left the auditorium.
Yep, the rockstar blew his mama some kisses.
And then there was this little sweetheart in the audience...
I love, love, love this part of having a school aged kid. So sweet.
