Yes, this is a month late but better than never! The girls started off the 2012 school year at the beginning of September. Ali started 2nd grade and Sofia started 3rd grade. Since our town splits the schools up this is the "together" year when both girls are in the same school. This is exciting for them becuase they have the chance to see each other in the halls or at lunch or at recess. It is exciting for me becuase they get to get on and off the buss AT THE SAME TIME!!!! This means I get a longer day to get all my jobs accomplished. It means that after school activites can be scheduled earlier. It means I don't have to crock pot meals 4 days a week!!Since there are so many kids in our town there are about 230 kids per grade which translates to about11 classes per grade. With that many teachers I had no way of knowing what to expect from the girls teachers this year. When you ask around it seems nobody ever had the teacher that your children have that year. Towards the end of August however the teachers send a letter home. This was my first insight into the teaching styles we would be looking at for the next year. Ali's teacher was very loving and community togetherness and Sofia's teacher's letter came across as very kind but all about business. There was no expectation of chit chat or playing around. There would be no whispering to your neighbor through the day as Sofia had last year. I personally like this approach better. It teaches the kids discipline, the rewards of hardwork and focus, and respect. It was however, a tough tranistion for Sofia.
We knew Sofia was struggling with the transition to third grade but we assumed her acting out was happening only at home or at sports. (I know, it seems ridiculous in hindsight!) When I went to curriculum night I asked Sofia's teacher how she was doing and was shocked to hear that Sofia was acting up. She wasn't listening, drawing on her fingernails during math lessons, playing with her pencils and pencil sharpeners, talking to other kids in class during lessons, etc. I was shocked and incredibly angry with Sofia for behaving in such a way that she knows is not acceptable. Fortunately for her and for me she was in bed when I got home so I had time to calm down. The next night Jason and I had a long talk with her about appropriate behavior and tried to help her figure out what was going on within herself. Come to find out she was deathly afraid of the MCAS test which I find so maddening. The schools stress the MCAS so much that it scares the kids when the reality it isn't a test for the kids at all but a test to see how well the teachers are teaching. So let's stress out our children because we don't know how to assess a teachers ability! Anyway, she was also having trouble making new friends. Again our town makes kids change schools every two years. You would think since Sofia didn't have to change schools this year she was be all set in the friends department but she wasn't becuase not only do we change schools every two years, the kids change classrooms every year. Sofia went into her 3rd grade class with only knowing one girls from last year. There are three lunch periods and she didn't have any of her friends at her lunch either accept for Ali and Ali's frind Maggie. It was like she was starting all over again. While Sofia portrays herself as a confident child she is actually shy in many ways. She is afraid that kids don't want to play with her or that they will say no if she asks to play. We gave her advice on this and how to approach other kids. We discussed consequences if bad behavior continued in the classroom and that I would be checking regularly with her teacher. Fortunately, our long talk had a positive impact. She is doing well in class and has made some new friends.
Ali did not seem to have any trouble settling in to second grade. She had the luxury of moving to a different school in a different classroom with her best friend. Her best friend was in her class last year and is also on her bus which made the transition so easy. She even lucked out and had her best friend sitting at the same table with her in the classroom. She seems happy to be in second grade and she likes being able to see Sofia at lunch and recess. They both seem to like being able to chat about things that happen in the school as well.
We are looking for a fun year ahead now that we have worked out the kinks of the first month.
Teachers in different grade levels have different approaches when it comes to disciplining their students. I learned this from PTA (Parents-Teachers Association) meetings. But whichever grade level your child is in, you should talk with your child's teachers and open your concerns to them. This will help you learn about your child's academic performance and behavior in school, and how you can help improve your child's learning abilities.
ReplyDeleteDaniele Ickes