Parenthood-the movie-Total Vent- Feel free to skip this one
Starring: me
please note: some names have been changed in order to protect the privacy of these parties! :)
I am so................
I am so................
*stamps her foot*
*thrusts her fists in the air*
*clenches her teeth*
and tries VERY hard not to cry.
Last week, I got a note home from Bug's teacher saying:
Dear Kristi,
Just a note to share a concern about Bug. We have seen a signifigant slide in the quality of his work since the Christmas break. While he has performed well on his assessments, his independent working skills and and neatness has not been what we would hope for. He has also seemed quite distracted.
Journal writing has also been an issue. We have watched him just sit for long stretches of time, and not complete his journal. We have written a lot about the winter season and we thought his unfamiliarity with snow and cold weather might be contributing to his current struggle with writing, but I dont know that that is the case.
Please talk with Bug about the importance of completeing his journal in the morning and doing his best work every time. I will be sure that he is seated close to the front of the group at circle time and I will keep you posted about his progress....
Thanks!~the teacher.
So....I talk with Bug about how he needs to pay attention and do what he is asked. I also talk with him about how he needs to work hard and make sure his work is neat. I also decide to take away his precious 15 minute W*ii video game time that he gets with daddy right before he goes to bed. ...explaining that he needs to do well in school in order to get to have privledges at home.
I am confident at this point that the problem has been nipped in the bud.
As a side note: I am thinking at this point it is because I have slacked slightly in our daily routine of homework after dinner since the Christmas break. We (Brad and I) have started a "new members" class at church and on wed nights, this requires us to rearrange our schedules as far as dinner and the nightly routine go, and expand his 7:30 bedtime to a 9:00 one.
Not that this justifies his behavior any.
A second side note: as far as his "daily homework I do with him....we DO about 30 min extra work EACH night...between practicing handwriting, reading, sight words, and a fun math workbook....not to mention the homework he gets from school..which is about 4 pages ( we do 1 a night of those). He loves his homework time and often ASKS to do it before I say it's time.
Now I KNOW....one of the things I have said in the past, is about how I LOVE this school BECAUSE of the fact that it is rated top notch on the east coast, AND I loved the student/teacher ratio....AND the teachers really ARE awesome!
But then I get a second....far more confusing, note home yesterday....This one says:
Dear Kristi,
I wanted to let you know that Bug had a really difficult day today. He was very teary eyed and just could not 'get it together'.
I am concerned with Bug's lack of initiative in the area of problem solving. Since Christmas, we have noted that while his academics are on track with the other students, he has great difficulty thinking for himself and moving independently from one activity to another. Example: he ordered pepperoni pizza today for lunch. When we lined up for lunch I asked the children who ordered pizza to line up; they all did so except for Bug. Bug continued to sit on the carpet until I insrtucted him to line up. We have had quite a few instances like this. When we stand firm and expect him to think and work it out for himself, he becomes very upset and cries. We feel badly about this, but sometimes feel that it is a necessary thing in order to force him to think for himself and not wait to be rescued.
Our expectations for students are alway high, but I think they are fair and attainable. The expectations become higher during the latter part of the year as we look toward 1st grade. I want to see a greater independence as we move toward the goal of a well prepared first grader.
I would like to talk with you about his further and perhaps we could come up with some strategies to help Bug become a more proficient problem solver and independent worker.
Please let me know which afternoon would be good for you next week.
Thanks! ~the teacher
*stamps her foot again*
O.K. lets do the positives first:
I am GLAD she is kind enough to notify me of a concern early on so we can work together to resolve it.
I am GLAD she cares enough to offer me solutions instead of expecting ME to know what to do.
I am GLAD the ciriculum is so hard and that they expect so much from their students, I have seen Bug GROW so much these last few months.
I am GLAD Bug truly enjoys the teacher, and his school and talks for 10 min after he gets home from school, about what he did.
BUT: (and there is a big BUT)
he IS in kindergarten..
he IS in kindergarten..
he IS in kindergarten!!!
Have you ever seen the movie "Parenthood" with Ste*ve Mar*tin????
I feel like he did.
Here is a clip I found...not the one I wanted...but close enough...
I have a son that is over-emotional...
and a daughter who, in the past, HAS placed things on her head and ran into the wall.
And then to top it off, I get a report card as well yesterday with O's and S's.(outstanding and satisfactory) Plus a few +'s (indicating he is above and beyond his age group) And only 1 S-.(in independent work)
So MY thinking is....
He is doing well in school ACADEMICALLY....
He is NOT a disturbance in the class
So WHY is this a huge thing that he didnt line up....perhaps he didnt hear?! Or understand what you meant....I don't know.
All I know is that all was fine as he got off the bus and told me what a good day he had, and then I get this note...(which upsets me right away as a first reaction)tell him I have a note that says otherwise and he has a COMPLETE meltdown. He didnt even KNOW he had a bad day!?!?! How is this possible. I read him the note and ask him why he didn't line up.....he said "the pizza wasn't good" I don't get it. Did he DELIBERATLY ignore her. Or what?
So after the meltdown and realizing he had NO idea....I start to question my "punishment". Did he deserve it? He didnt do anything wrong, so to speak.
It all boils down to a parent/teacher meeting at 3 on Tues.
I dont want to go in there defensive, because I KNOW she is trying to help. So how do I get a handle on my emotions, and allow her to help??
Any suggestions?
I am trying not to read too much into this.....I mean...he is doing GREAT
