School update

After praying and thinking through Nate's current school situation, I kept coming back to something I had dismissed at first: keeping Nate in 3rd grade again next year (holding him back). This would mean he would be the oldest (but not by far--only 9 days!), not the youngest. It could mean he would be in his cousin, Cami's, class, which he would love. It would mean he'd have another year to catch up on the things he's behind on (fine motor and gross motor skills, music, handwriting, some math). It would mean he would have a different teacher, and both of the possible teachers (there are two classes for that grade) are more experienced and stricter than Nate's current teacher.

Jon has reminded me that this solution won't solve everything. Nate quite possibly will still be teased. Jon has rightly observed that Nate doesn't know how to react to other boys' typical teasing behavior. He reacts weakly, angrily--basically inviting more teasing. So whatever happens with his classroom situation, Jon and I need to be even more diligent in training him and talking with him about this. He can't control other boys, but he is in control of how he reacts.

I spoke to the principal last week about the situation and my idea. It was obvious he had heard from other parents about the current classroom situation and knew the teacher wasn't equipped to lead this class well. He was very open to my idea of holding Nate back; in fact, it sounds like he thinks it's a very good idea. I think there are formalities that need to take place (approvals, seeing if there is room in one of the classes as far as numbers go, etc.), but I'm pretty confident it will happen. Although I would like to move Nate now, I think I'm the only one who thinks that's a good idea. Since I've never done this before, I'm willing to agree to the timing everyone else recommends--so it will probably be over the summer. In the meantime, he's still in the same situation and will be until June. That makes me sad, but I do feel renewed energy and motivation to do better at guiding Nate in how to behave and react.

We haven't spoken about all of this with Nate, yet. Once things are more solidified, we will. I think he will think it's a good idea.