“Writing is an exploration. You start from nothing and learn as you go.” - E.L. Doctorow April 13, 2008
“My name is Spongebob,” said Spongebob.
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“I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” (Mark Twain) April 4, 2008
Yesterday I had a parent-teacher meeting with the erstwhile Miss T (who is now a Mrs), to discuss Ethan’s first two months of school. Here’s the highlights:
* Scored perfect on the six-year sight word test
* Knows his alphabet and all the associated sounds
* Needs more work with numbers, especially counting backwards from twenty-something
* He’s a leftie! This was actually a surprise and is a fair indication that I have not actually looked at Ethan since he was born. Hence he has a terrible pencil grip and can’t hold scissors. Am trying to find a place that sells left-handed pencils online
* Thrives on routine, something we have taken advantage of FOREVER
The sad story that followed is this:
There is a huge influx of small children hoping to attend Ethan’s school this year. Huge. There are only two new-entrant classrooms, and a third opens up midway through term 3 when numbers in rooms 1 and 2 get too high. Miss T said last year before room 1A opened, she had a ridiculous 31, THIRTY ONE YES YOU READ CORRECTLY children in her class. This year is looking even worse, so the syndicate is hoping to pre-empt the overcrowding by sending some of the more competent kids up to a year one classroom.
When? I asked.
At the start of term 2, she replied. That is IN ONE MONTH.
But, she said, he’s academically ready, sure, but not really socially. I agreed most vehemently, but after consideration I have to agree that if anyone does have to move up, it should be him over someone who will be lost in a classroom with bigger children. I just wish we didn’t have to think about it already.
The upside is that some of his friends will go up too, so he won’t be the only new kid. He’ll be challenged and he’ll meet new children, and admittedly a lot of the room 1 kids are less mature and prepared for school than him, while room 3 kids are probably more on his level.
But we really, really like Miss T. Apparently the other day, Ethan went to her and said he had to give her a super-huge cuddle in case he ran out later, and did so. He adores her and she loves her room 1 kids. Children from other classes come to visit her. She has a great rapport with the parents and I enjoy hanging out in her classroom and doing little chores when I have free time, playing with her laminator and NOT SETTING IT ON FIRE OR DAMAGING SMALL CHILDREN.
Ethan’s not allowed to know about it yet because it’s not foregone, only a possibility right now. I think he’ll be quite upset when he finds out, at least until the excitement of a new classroom and new teacher and bunch of kids kicks in. And he’ll have been very lucky to have had such an awesome teacher for his first term at school.
