Kindergarten update

March 12, 2008 · 6 comments

We went to the kindergarten open house this morning. It was more structured than I thought it would be, complete with powerpoint presentations and a question and answer period in the media center. Matt was taken to a classroom right away, and he went with the teacher without so much as a backward glance at me or his brother. They told us about typical days in the classroom, assemblies, lunch, gym and art. We got the grand tour of the school and then went to see our kids in action. Matt was playing and having a great time. They had tested him on his name, letters, colors and such, and he made a monkey puppet and a fruit loop necklace! They were busy in there!! Then we all went on a bus ride (Hey, c’mon, we’re going on a bus ride! – stupid doodlebops)

The boys thought the bus was pretty cool.  We live too close for Matt to take the bus (fine with me!), but he will ride it for field trips, so it was nice to be able to ride with him while he checked it out.

All in all, he was pretty excited about kindergarten. A couple kids from his preschool class were there, too (although the one mom? totally panicked about her daughter going to school all day. I think she’s why I started worrying!) which was cool.  The classes are to be about 20 kids, with a teacher and a parapro in there at all times. There’s a sink and a bathroom in each room, and they even have quiet time!

Oh, and the ALL DAY portion? 8:59 am to 4:07 pm.  (unless it’s modified between now and then). So it’s about 4 hours more than he goes now, each day, with lunch somewhere in the middle.  Is it tragically long? Nah, it’s more me than him. Besides, he’ll get a nap or at least quiet time in the middle of the day while I get to spend my day with his crazy little non-napping brother!!

Thanks for all of the comments…I know it’s hard to give advice on a kid you’ve never met.

I think it’ll be ok. We’ll definitely have to work on some things over the summer – like getting up and dressed and out of the house in the morning. Oh, and wiping his own butt. Woohoo!!!

{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }

Patty H March 12, 2008 at 3:18 pm

mom, you can go up there to wipe his butt! now you got me thinking about Hannah at the Montessori preschool. They had to be potty trained and she was, but I don't recall much about her butt-wiping skills at that age. I wouldn't think they would've been very advanced. And she was 3 1/2. But I do remember my niece who's momma had to wipe her but until she was about 8 or 9. Or there's the employee's daughter who's momma washes her hair and shaves her legs for her and she's 16. I think wiping booty at 5 for a little boy isn't so bad but you might want to nip it in the bud over the summer. Who knows what it could lead to? bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!

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Shine March 12, 2008 at 7:02 pm

I was going through the EXACT same thing as you last year. Except for when I caught up with my little guy at the end of their time in the classroom, teachers were asking me if I thought he might need another year of preschool! He couldn't write his name, wasn't so good with scissors and was quiet with the teacher. Right now, his is doing great! He can read, write and is a little ham in class. Matt will do GREAT in Kindergarten! The Fall though will be an adjustment for the both of us as it will be Punkin Pie's first time all day too! We could do lunch!! LOL!

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Michelle H. March 13, 2008 at 5:48 am

Wow, I'm so glad to hear the open house was a positive experience. Sounds like such a good school. They're so organized!!

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Paige March 13, 2008 at 7:32 am

Sounds like a good experience!

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Above Average Joe March 13, 2008 at 6:39 pm

The Champ is in K now and he's doing fine. Though we kept him back a year. He wouldve been the youngest kid in the class if we sent him last year. The structured day seems to keep his attention focused, too.

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phenom March 14, 2008 at 4:42 am

It IS the same elementary school I went to, so it's bound to be good for him. I mean, look how I turned out! 🙂

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