lizzybennet (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
lizzybennet) wrote2007-09-05 04:14 pm
lizzybennet) wrote2007-09-05 04:14 pm
(no subject)
The boys started school yesterday. Zack had a great day, no problems. Petey, as expected, had a much harder time understanding the school routine. He's at a disadvantage from the other kids his age, having missed public school kindergarten. However, he seems to have an awesome teacher (if I can go by my first impressions) and I think she will be willing to work with us to help him learn how to act in school. We've been exchanging emails, which I'll put behind the cut for anyone who's interested.
My letter to her:
Hi Mrs. generic-teacher-name,
I just wanted to touch base with you after our conversation about Petey yesterday. I spoke with him about most of your concerns. He and I are going to work on developing his use of eye contact as well as trying not to interrupt. He's just so excited about starting school, and I'm sure he was a bit overwhelmed yesterday by all the "new stuff" he was experiencing. As you know, he didn't go to kindergarten because we were homeschooling in China, so he has yet to learn school etiquette. I feel certain that once he understands the routine of the school day, he will be much more settled and able to listen.
Also, I'd be happy to come into the classroom and help with him, if you feel it would be beneficial to him. I know he can be a handful, and if while he's learning how to act at school you need an extra hand, I'd be glad to come in and assist. Just let me know if you think that would be at all helpful or not. I would like to volunteer in the classroom so you can go ahead and send that paperwork home with Petey when you get a chance.
Thanks for talking with me yesterday to let me know how things go. Petey is such a happy and sweet kid; I hope we can work through these challenges together so school can be a place he loves to go.
Thank you,
etc, etc.
Her response to me:
Hi Tina -
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about Petey. I think you are right-on . . . he just isn't used to school etiquette/behavior/routines/procedures yet. This is completely reasonable and to be expected! I sure appreciate your support at home - he came in this morning saying he worked on behaving at school "for homework". :) I'm confident that if we both keep working with him, he'll be just fine. He just needs time to adjust and lots of practice.
I appreciate your offer to come in and help, but I'd like to give it a go on my own for a couple of weeks. I can already tell a difference from yesterday. Thank you again for your support!
He's an enthusiastic, sweet little boy. I'm looking forward to watching him blossom this year!
I will give him volunteer paperwork to bring home to you today.
Oh - thank you for the scissors! Petey forgot to get his drink and take it to lunch with him, so I brought him back to the classroom to get it. I found the yellow paper and your note in the folder in his backpack (he had forgotten to give it to me when he came in this morning). Also, I wanted to let you know that a mom from another student in the school found Petey this morning crying in the hallway because he didn't know where his class was. She knew me and brought him down. Poor kiddo! I think it all goes back to getting used to school . . . I can't even imagine how overwhelmed he must be! He cried again at lunch over his drink, but we took care of it and he's doing just fine now. Other than that, I can tell he's making an effort today to hold those thoughts in his head. We are continuing to work on that, as well as working on staying in control and staying safe (when we sing and dance to "get our wiggles out", he tends to go overboard and get a little chaotic). He'll get the hang of it!
Thanks again, Tina!
He didn't even mention the crying-lost incident to me. What he tells me is stuff like a kid in his class wore the same shirt today that he wore yesterday. I went to the library today and checked out some self-help parenting books. Even while I know I will read them and try and implement some ideas, I'm thinking to myself "what makes these people any more qualified than the next person when it comes to parenting?" I wish there was some perfect guide. One of the books is called "My Quirky Child." The title caught my attention, I don't know if it will be helpful...I would use quirky to describe Petey, though.
Josh and I are enjoying our time together. Yesterday we went to McDonalds together (a mistake it turned out because all the high school kids were there taking off-campus lunch. Apparently they don't care that they are sitting next to a 3 year old kid, they going to say f--- as much as they want...which is practically every other word.), the park, Wal-Mart and to get him a haircut. We also took a nap together. It was such a laid back, do what we want day. I loved it, and so did he. Today was more of a organize-this-messy-house day.
Lastly, Chris taught his first day of class today. He was nervous, but I must say he looked good in his professorial attire (no tweed jackets with elbow patches for my man!) Still no luck on the car search. I think we're taking a couple weeks off. That's it.
My letter to her:
Hi Mrs. generic-teacher-name,
I just wanted to touch base with you after our conversation about Petey yesterday. I spoke with him about most of your concerns. He and I are going to work on developing his use of eye contact as well as trying not to interrupt. He's just so excited about starting school, and I'm sure he was a bit overwhelmed yesterday by all the "new stuff" he was experiencing. As you know, he didn't go to kindergarten because we were homeschooling in China, so he has yet to learn school etiquette. I feel certain that once he understands the routine of the school day, he will be much more settled and able to listen.
Also, I'd be happy to come into the classroom and help with him, if you feel it would be beneficial to him. I know he can be a handful, and if while he's learning how to act at school you need an extra hand, I'd be glad to come in and assist. Just let me know if you think that would be at all helpful or not. I would like to volunteer in the classroom so you can go ahead and send that paperwork home with Petey when you get a chance.
Thanks for talking with me yesterday to let me know how things go. Petey is such a happy and sweet kid; I hope we can work through these challenges together so school can be a place he loves to go.
Thank you,
etc, etc.
Her response to me:
Hi Tina -
Thanks for taking the time to share your thoughts about Petey. I think you are right-on . . . he just isn't used to school etiquette/behavior/routines/procedures yet. This is completely reasonable and to be expected! I sure appreciate your support at home - he came in this morning saying he worked on behaving at school "for homework". :) I'm confident that if we both keep working with him, he'll be just fine. He just needs time to adjust and lots of practice.
I appreciate your offer to come in and help, but I'd like to give it a go on my own for a couple of weeks. I can already tell a difference from yesterday. Thank you again for your support!
He's an enthusiastic, sweet little boy. I'm looking forward to watching him blossom this year!
I will give him volunteer paperwork to bring home to you today.
Oh - thank you for the scissors! Petey forgot to get his drink and take it to lunch with him, so I brought him back to the classroom to get it. I found the yellow paper and your note in the folder in his backpack (he had forgotten to give it to me when he came in this morning). Also, I wanted to let you know that a mom from another student in the school found Petey this morning crying in the hallway because he didn't know where his class was. She knew me and brought him down. Poor kiddo! I think it all goes back to getting used to school . . . I can't even imagine how overwhelmed he must be! He cried again at lunch over his drink, but we took care of it and he's doing just fine now. Other than that, I can tell he's making an effort today to hold those thoughts in his head. We are continuing to work on that, as well as working on staying in control and staying safe (when we sing and dance to "get our wiggles out", he tends to go overboard and get a little chaotic). He'll get the hang of it!
Thanks again, Tina!
He didn't even mention the crying-lost incident to me. What he tells me is stuff like a kid in his class wore the same shirt today that he wore yesterday. I went to the library today and checked out some self-help parenting books. Even while I know I will read them and try and implement some ideas, I'm thinking to myself "what makes these people any more qualified than the next person when it comes to parenting?" I wish there was some perfect guide. One of the books is called "My Quirky Child." The title caught my attention, I don't know if it will be helpful...I would use quirky to describe Petey, though.
Josh and I are enjoying our time together. Yesterday we went to McDonalds together (a mistake it turned out because all the high school kids were there taking off-campus lunch. Apparently they don't care that they are sitting next to a 3 year old kid, they going to say f--- as much as they want...which is practically every other word.), the park, Wal-Mart and to get him a haircut. We also took a nap together. It was such a laid back, do what we want day. I loved it, and so did he. Today was more of a organize-this-messy-house day.
Lastly, Chris taught his first day of class today. He was nervous, but I must say he looked good in his professorial attire (no tweed jackets with elbow patches for my man!) Still no luck on the car search. I think we're taking a couple weeks off. That's it.
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Sounds like you are enjoying spending more one on one with josh (and so is he for that matter).
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I couldn't get the hang of kindergarten and school because of severe learning diablities and being deaf for the first three years of my life. I just found the letter informing my parents that I was being kicked out of school (all of five years old)! The teacher didn't even TRY to work with me. And like Petey, I had trouble making and maintaining eye contact and I interupted the teacher! Just be careful and be aware that they may eventually try to slap the label of ADHD on him. That's what they did to me.
Anyway, I'm glad things are going well!! YAY :)
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(Anonymous) - 2007-09-10 20:25 (UTC) - Expandno subject
Tabby has what was a huge communication problem when she was three, now just a borderline processing issue, that the school manage sympathetically. I used to be really scared that she "looked" defiant and naughty, when actually she desperately wanted to be good and really couldn't follow instructions. Those fears never materialised, but I think it did help to be an involved sort of mummy. Doing PTA, helping in class. Her teachers have always known I cared and took her education seriously, and I was readily available to talk to.
Bonding
I wish you had taken a picture of Chris; he does clean up nicely. My mom instinct is that he will do great, too!
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(Anonymous) 2007-09-10 08:29 pm (UTC)(link)Hey, another kudos to Chris - you know that Canadian guy we hired? Well, he got here, but because of all the fuss with his move and all the complaints he wasn't able to teach this semester! He didn't get here in time! The big dummy! Anyway, kudos to Chris for doing things the right way - well, as far as the administrative side of hiring goes *lol*. Yay Chris!