There's nothing better than change if change means growth. Growth and development - these are words we hear all the time - ad infinitum, ad nausium, and they become pulp in our heads. But growth and development - real growth and development - are what most of us are all about every day.
Yesterday, Seth learned a lesson about Santa, Alexa started wiggling her first tooth, parents learned that their child's art work is really neat, and we all learned a few new games. One of the most impressive things I learned yesterday is how one teacher, Mrs. St. Louis, can really teach a child how to draw and angel. It was miraculous.
I have always loved teaching the youngest because their growth and development is so in your face. Mrs. St. Louis reminded me yesterday that the kindergartners are still the youngest only with some abilities. We had a good laugh.
I just love my class. It's filled with an abundance of personalities you couldn't make up. We have the quiet, refined children who do everything with great precision like Madison and Logan and Justin. They are the dependable children who will always give their very best, pay attention, and do what they need to. Justin in particular is an amazingly perfect child. He does his work really well and never calls attention to himself. He's the ideal classroom child.
Then there are the auditory learners who do everything you ask but in their own way. Faith and Taylor will listen and because they hear so well, they bypass what all the other kids think you said and just laboriously do their work. There's a lot of thought going on there.
Then there are the "need help" kids. Aidan will always double check everyone's work just to make sure he has it right, and that takes some time, so he's usually beginning his task when the auditories are finishing. Daymon is a needy soul. I need to see every breath, every wink, every mark on his paper. "Miss Judy, look, look, look... ad infinitum." Then there are the rush through its. Dawson can probably mimic more paper work than anyone, but ask what it is, and he's lost. He's got a really excellent brain in there someplace.
Then there's Seth. Seth needs a big dose of growth and development. He's just not, and that's his problem. If he were even interested in the staircase of growth and development, he'd be a different child.
Kaito is still struggling with the English. It's hard to know how much he knows because he's silent most of the day. Japanese kids are like that until they can get it right.
Abby is just preciously precocious. She listens politely, does her work slowly - would rather socialize, than do paperwork, and I don't blame her. Once I really move into that room, we might have a reading clubhouse.
From now through Christmas, it will be a project to project time. We will do group tutorials for the beginner readers, and math projects and skill honing while we wait for our new teacher to begin. It's an exciting time, and Mr. Tom has promised to fill in the gaps. I think the kids will look back on this time as their favorite because it will involve a lot of skill races and games. Since we are a year round school, we can afford to spend some time practicing in a play atmosphere and still manage all the learning. It's fun to be small.
The games Mr. Matt sent are all educational, thought provoking games. My new favorite might be Squint. It's a "can you build this" kind of game with parts of geometric shapes. It's a mental match, group, make and think with a timer. It's a lot of fun.
These games would make good family entertainment.
Some has suggested ice skating as a possible field trip. Any comments?
Speaking of ice and snow, the weather is indicating some slippery tricks this week. Please watch for school closings. If either Warrick or Vanderburgh is closed in the morning, the Garden School will also be closed. If the weather turns really bad during the day, we will close school by 3:00 to avoid our children being out on perilous roads. It's never our ability, but some crazy who doesn't know that roads can be treacherous. I always worry about our kids and the fruit cakes.
Pax with an a.
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