The Twinkies

The format has changed now that the kids are in Primary rather than the Young Children’s Community. There is a whole list of skills which are marked with a E for “established”, a P for “In progress”, an I for “introduced” or a W for “needs work”.

Much of the sheets for the kids is blank as they have only been in primary since March. Everything marked was a P except:

James:
Good relationship with adults: P-E
Works with repetition: I-P
Work is neat and orderly: I
Demonstrates care of the environments: I
Shows interest in working with the bells: P!
Knows letter sounds: P (loves “ih”)

James is very exuberant. He learns very quickly and has a rel fascination for learning new language and letter sounds. He is a wonderful addition to our class. I enjoy working with James! I am working on helping James soften his voice while not wanting to curtail his contagious enthusiasm! James makes good choices for himself and usually completes his work cycle, He is very observant and interested in learning. I look forward to his development next year!

Fiona
Speaks with increasing self-confidence: I
Speaks about events with increasing detail: I
Shows understanding of numbers 1-10: I

Fiona is a sweet little girl who is obviously content in her new environment. She is friendly and relates well with others. Fiona is a great observer thus she is beginning to have a better understanding of the expectations in her classroom. Fiona enjoys having lessons and works with repetition. We are delighted she is with us!

The school had Mother’s Day celebrations all this week. They spread them out so if you have children in multiple classes you can go to more than one.

James’ was Tuesday. All the parents were waiting in the foyer and the teacher came out to tell us the children were lined up and perfectly silent so could we please tip-toe in. We all file into the classroom and there are the students, 3-5 years old, lined up ready to sing. The teacher turns to them and praises them for being able to wait silently for all the mothers to come in and at that exact moment James pipes up with, “Hi, Mama!”

Fiona’s was Thursday. Again, the mothers filed into the classroom where adorable children were neatly standing in three lines, ready to sing their rehearsed songs. At the end of one song, just as they were all done, Fiona sneezed. It was a very cute, classic “Ah-choo” sneeze and all the mothers’ cooed at her. So she did it again and looked up for her reaction. Four times.

Later one mother, who had a camera, asked if she were shy in front of the camera. I managed not to snort when I said, “no.”

(insert hysterical laughter here)

Yeah.

The kids have been “promoted” to the next classroom at school, which is “primary” in Montessori-speak and “preschool/kindergarten” in the rest of the world. Except that you have to be fully potty trained to move up and they aren’t. And the other 4 kids moving up at the same time are younger AND fully potty trained.

I’m not sure if I suck or those mothers are far less lazy than I am.

J, put away your cleaning supplies so we can go watch TV.

My toddlers fought this morning over who got to use the child sized mop to mop the dining room.