Today I took Pumpkin in to school for his Pre-K evaluation. They wanted to know if he could write his name, identify a few letters, count to 12. The usual stuff. When I got the letter in the mail detailing the prerequisites I called him in and asked him the questions. He knows all of his letters and their sounds. He can sound out words if needed, and can identify ones like: me, the, it, I, a, cat, dog...on sight. In counting he got to thirty before I stopped him. Does it sound like I'm bragging? Maybe I am. I know there are a lot of pretty smart kids out there, and Pumpkin is one of them.
Every mom in my neighborhood recommended one Kindergarten teacher. She's been teaching for 30+ years and really knows her stuff. There wasn't a place to put a request on the preliminary Kindergarten sign-up sheets, but I asked the admin and she told me to place the teacher's name at the top and she'd see what she could do. As luck, fate, or God would have it, we got the teacher we requested, Mrs. G. Having now met her I can see what all the fuss was about. I'm pumped to have my little guy in her class this year.
For the 30 minute Pre-K evaluation she pulled Pumpkin into her classroom and left me in the hall filling out endless forms. I don't mind. Forms are fun. Like a test that I know all the answers to!
After 15 minutes they came back out. I was surprised, thinking something was wrong. Not so, Mrs. G told me. He'd just passed with flying colors and he was definitely ready for Kindergarten. He'd answered all her questions so quickly and easily that they finished the interview in half the time and she wanted to know if I had any questions for her. Just makes a mother's heart glow to hear her kid is a smarty, doesn't it?
We chatted about field trips and water bottles and bookbags. I asked about before-school procedures and basic admin stuff. Then I asked her where I could be of the most help. She had sign-up sheets galore, but I wanted to know which position she was most desperate to fill. There were positions for art helper, room mother (1 day a week for 1 month only!), "reading assistant", field trip helper, etc. She said she was most desperate for a reading assistant. During the last 45 minutes of class she pulls out 5-10 kids who are all in the same reading level and ushers them to one side of the classroom. They each get their own book and are able to read with the teacher in a more intimate setting. The reading assistant stays with the other 15-20 kids and makes sure they're working on their assignment/craft. She basically holds down the fort so Mrs. G can concentrate on reading time.
So, after a quick call to a friend who agreed to watch Princess if I agreed to pick up her Kindergarten aged son from the classroom next door, I signed up! Maybe this doesn't seem like a big deal to anyone else. But, ever since I was a kid and saw moms come into the classrooms to help, I wanted to be that helper mom. I'm even more excited to do it now, when I see how much Pumpkin loves learning. I want so badly to be a part of his school experience and now I get to! One day a week for the whole year!!!
It will help me get to know his teacher better, get to know his friends, get to be part of his school world, if only for 45 minutes a week. This kid has spent nearly every day with me for the last 5 years. I love him so much and it's going to be hard for me to let him go. But if I can keep one pinky toe in his life away from home, I'm hoping that we can still maintain the bond we have now, if somewhat diminished.
Neither of us can wait for school to start! He's got his calendar and he's counting down the days. And now I'm doing the same. I loved school and I have the feeling that Pumpkin is going to love it, too. Hooray for Fall!
For the 30 minute Pre-K evaluation she pulled Pumpkin into her classroom and left me in the hall filling out endless forms. I don't mind. Forms are fun. Like a test that I know all the answers to!
After 15 minutes they came back out. I was surprised, thinking something was wrong. Not so, Mrs. G told me. He'd just passed with flying colors and he was definitely ready for Kindergarten. He'd answered all her questions so quickly and easily that they finished the interview in half the time and she wanted to know if I had any questions for her. Just makes a mother's heart glow to hear her kid is a smarty, doesn't it?
We chatted about field trips and water bottles and bookbags. I asked about before-school procedures and basic admin stuff. Then I asked her where I could be of the most help. She had sign-up sheets galore, but I wanted to know which position she was most desperate to fill. There were positions for art helper, room mother (1 day a week for 1 month only!), "reading assistant", field trip helper, etc. She said she was most desperate for a reading assistant. During the last 45 minutes of class she pulls out 5-10 kids who are all in the same reading level and ushers them to one side of the classroom. They each get their own book and are able to read with the teacher in a more intimate setting. The reading assistant stays with the other 15-20 kids and makes sure they're working on their assignment/craft. She basically holds down the fort so Mrs. G can concentrate on reading time.
So, after a quick call to a friend who agreed to watch Princess if I agreed to pick up her Kindergarten aged son from the classroom next door, I signed up! Maybe this doesn't seem like a big deal to anyone else. But, ever since I was a kid and saw moms come into the classrooms to help, I wanted to be that helper mom. I'm even more excited to do it now, when I see how much Pumpkin loves learning. I want so badly to be a part of his school experience and now I get to! One day a week for the whole year!!!
It will help me get to know his teacher better, get to know his friends, get to be part of his school world, if only for 45 minutes a week. This kid has spent nearly every day with me for the last 5 years. I love him so much and it's going to be hard for me to let him go. But if I can keep one pinky toe in his life away from home, I'm hoping that we can still maintain the bond we have now, if somewhat diminished.
Neither of us can wait for school to start! He's got his calendar and he's counting down the days. And now I'm doing the same. I loved school and I have the feeling that Pumpkin is going to love it, too. Hooray for Fall!
