Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
Monday, April 08, 2013
Like walking for the first time
I did a closet clean-out of Levi's clothes today (after the first two shirts he put on for church on Sunday were too small!) and brought in the next size up in all the hand-me-downs. Flip-flops were among the new wardrobe, and he was excited about those. I don't think he has ever had them before! Learning to walk with them is tricky!
Friday, April 05, 2013
School update - Nate
Hey there! A lot has been going on in the school realm around here. Lucy is doing well and is officially headed to 1st grade in the fall. Nate is doing OK--not great. The reasons for that are twofold: 1) he feels he doesn't fit in and hasn't made friends and 2) he gets easily frustrated with the work they do that is hard for him.
Regarding friendships, Jon and I are seeing Nate struggle in this area because other kids aren't necessarily always being kind but ALSO (and maybe more frequently) because Nate either misinterprets/exaggerates what someone says (e.g., someone tells him to stop doing something and now he thinks that person doesn't like him) or because he is not being thoughtful/kind. He still needs to learn how to be a friend. We're talking about it, but talking and doing are two very different things!
The work in class he is getting frustrated with are the things I knew wouldn't be his favorite: form drawing (art and handwriting related) and music (they are playing the wood flute this year). They aren't his favorites not because of what they are but because they are difficult for him. He wasn't at this school in 1st grade to start learning form drawing, so he started the year at a disadvantage. And the fine motor skills required to cover the holes on the wood flute are frustrating for him, and I think he just gives up. He doesn't want to do anything hard.
Jon and I met with Nate's teacher, Miss Torrey, this week at her request. She showed us some of his work and said generally, he is doing well. His spelling, math, etc. skills are on par. He is a great reader, of course. The more artistic things are improving. But, sweet thing, she said at the beginning of the year Nate was such a light--so enthusiastic and happy. And recently she says he hasn't been that way and seems unhappy at school. :( She was spot on. Jon and I said it's because of the friendships thing and the frustration/not wanting to try with some of the work. But he is still generally a happy kid and doesn't "fight" going to school in the mornings. It's sad to think he's unhappy, BUT I think it will be a life lesson for him if he can push through, learn to be a friend, and end up thriving. Miss Torrey believes he will integrate much better into class come 3rd grade. At Journey School, the children stay together in the same class, so Nate will be with all the same kids next year. Miss Torrey saw some of the children who were new in 1st grade have a hard time, but then they fit right in when 2nd grade started. We're hoping that's the case for Nate.
Regarding friendships, Jon and I are seeing Nate struggle in this area because other kids aren't necessarily always being kind but ALSO (and maybe more frequently) because Nate either misinterprets/exaggerates what someone says (e.g., someone tells him to stop doing something and now he thinks that person doesn't like him) or because he is not being thoughtful/kind. He still needs to learn how to be a friend. We're talking about it, but talking and doing are two very different things!
The work in class he is getting frustrated with are the things I knew wouldn't be his favorite: form drawing (art and handwriting related) and music (they are playing the wood flute this year). They aren't his favorites not because of what they are but because they are difficult for him. He wasn't at this school in 1st grade to start learning form drawing, so he started the year at a disadvantage. And the fine motor skills required to cover the holes on the wood flute are frustrating for him, and I think he just gives up. He doesn't want to do anything hard.
Jon and I met with Nate's teacher, Miss Torrey, this week at her request. She showed us some of his work and said generally, he is doing well. His spelling, math, etc. skills are on par. He is a great reader, of course. The more artistic things are improving. But, sweet thing, she said at the beginning of the year Nate was such a light--so enthusiastic and happy. And recently she says he hasn't been that way and seems unhappy at school. :( She was spot on. Jon and I said it's because of the friendships thing and the frustration/not wanting to try with some of the work. But he is still generally a happy kid and doesn't "fight" going to school in the mornings. It's sad to think he's unhappy, BUT I think it will be a life lesson for him if he can push through, learn to be a friend, and end up thriving. Miss Torrey believes he will integrate much better into class come 3rd grade. At Journey School, the children stay together in the same class, so Nate will be with all the same kids next year. Miss Torrey saw some of the children who were new in 1st grade have a hard time, but then they fit right in when 2nd grade started. We're hoping that's the case for Nate.
Monday, April 01, 2013
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