How is school going for everyone?

The girls have gone to school for 7 days now (three last week and 4 this week) and things so far are going well. They both like their teachers and they each know some kids from last year in their class (or they know the kids from their sisters class last year). They are excited that they get to see each other at lunch time and even get to sit at the same table since they have pb&j sandwiches. Which in their school if you have peanut butter you sit at a different table then everyone else so they have been asking for it so they can sit near each other (they can't always sit next to each other since they aren't aloud to change seats so it depends on when their class gets to the lunch room). Kira started crying yesterday because she wanted to go to Spanish class (her's is on Mondays) and her sister was going Thursday so she was upset about that since we haven't had school on a Monday yet. Right now Kira is having fun doing her homework after school and Katrina is enjoying not have any (last year Katrina had it everyday and Kira only had it everynow and then). Katrina gets no homework until Oct (her teacher does give homework at all in Sept.).

Thankfully so far everything is going smoothly even in the mornings before school we haven't had much of a problem (well nothing like last year with screaming, crying, and yelling).

So how is everyone elses children doing at the beginning of school?

 

Hayden and Brady are doing great. My only concern is that we are moving from "invented spelling" in 1st grade (I do NOT like that experiment!) to spelling tests in 2nd grade. My boys are still stuck in the groove of spelling things like they sound. It's going to be a tough habit to break.

We went to middle school orientation for Jackson last night. The teachers were talking about how much homework the kids should have been bringing home, how I should have been seeing and signing the assignment notebook, etc. So far, Jackson's had maybe two nights when he brought home homework, and I've seen the assignment notebook once. He insisted I didn't have to sign it this year. So I got a little panicky after the orientation, remembering what a train wreck the start of 5th grade was. He and I sat down for an hour together yesterday evening, going through every last folder, spiral, paper, and the assignment notebook. I was very pleased to see he is incredibly organized this year and he's been doing what he's supposed to, and that his homework grades have been acceptable. He assures me he's been turning everything in on time, which I hope I can believe. I will find out in a couple weeks when I get his progress reports. So I'm still a hesitant to say things are going fine with him. I'll know soon enough.

Glad to hear your girls like their teachers and are adjusting well!

 

The kids are doing so well and loving it. They are in 1/2 day kinder. and it's perfect for them. Dh takes them in the mornings and I pick them up so that's working out well also.

Once at school, they have art, music, or p.e. everyday on a rotating scheduele. It's first thing in the morning. They have computer class once a week and alternating library or counselor once a week. They have recess right before they leave. The only homework has been completing things for show and tell. This week was an "all about me" book where they picked pictures to glue or draw into the book.

I don't know that they've made any close friends, but I'm started to hear more names pop up in conversation. They seem to be doing well. My kids that love routine even did well on the day that they had a substitute teacher for class.

Marissa

 

The girls are both doing well. They really like their teachers (as do I!), so that worked out great. I've had to buckle down with Morgan and lay down the homework law for her (not getting up out of her seat until she is done, and no talking to anyone else), as she is easily distracted and would take forever to do her homework if there wasn't rules. Anyway, Brooke is doing great. She has good homework habits, so she does hers quick, neat and accurately.

 

Connor & Maddie are enjoying school. Last night was Open House so I got to talk with both of their teachers. Maddie has a lot of kids from her K class which is nice for her. Connor only has a couple from his K class and I think that is a good thing too.

Maddie did have an issue the other day and had to take a "Stop and Think" time out. She got hysterical because they were picking books from the class library and she wanted one. She didn't get the one she wanted so she started crying and was almost inconsolable. She had to sit down and draw a picture to reflect on why she was sitting alone and calming down.

Connor also has PE one day, a special one on one with the PE teacher another day and PT with the therapist a different day. He comes home very tired on those days! LOL

 

Annie is in first grade and thinks it's too easy! I had to remind her that it's only been 4 days! Next week they start spelling words on their Word Wall words, and she will be getting 5 extra more challenging words as well. She's already a bit bored with the books they are reading.

There are 2 new girls in their class and I reminded her that it can be hard to start at a new school. So every day I've asked her of she's had a chance to talk to the new girls; it would be at recess because neither of them are at her table. Today I asked and she said that she's really been playing with Elivia and she's her new best friend, but she still plays with her other friends too! Oh to be 6 again and make a new best friend in 4 days!

 

The boys are doing well. Marcus has lots of homework Mon. thru Thurs., I am hoping Jon will pick up with more work. They both tell me how easy it is, and I have to remind them that it is just the very beginning. They both already completed a science chapter, and they loved that! I haven't met Jon's teacher yet, but will this week for Open House. Marc has the teacher Jon had last year, so I already know what to expect there.

 

Nadia is loving kindergarten so far. She is attached at the hip to a little girl named Savannah, and plays quite often with another little girl named Danielle -- so, I think it helps that she's made friends already. She also already knew a couple of kids from preschool.

She's the kid that won't go to the bathroom if there's anything remotely more interesting to do, so we've had to kind of force the issue...and, she's not a big eater, and is being kind of picky about the school lunch (we're not allowed to pack a lunch). I expect these things will improve as she gets used to the routine.

I'm still getting adjusted to the early mornings -- blegh -- but Nadia is dealing just fine, thank goodness. The school work is *really* easy so far, and they don't get official homework (that they have to complete themselves, with no help) until after spring break.

In general, it's going great -- and, Nadia lost BOTH her front teeth just in the past couple days, so I feel like she's officially a big kid now. Look:

No teeth!

 

No teeth!
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She is ADORABLE without her front teeth!

Glad to hear everyone is off to a good start!

My girls are in a new Kindergarten program this year (in the public school). The school used to have 1/2 day Kindergarten, but the teachers were finding they didn't have enough instructional time with all of the specials and pull outs. They needed more time to focus on the general curriculum. So, they started an Extended Day program. The kids go to regualr Kindergarten in the AM, have lunch and recess, and then go to an Early Intervention classroom in the afternoon. The teacher is an interventionist. She works with ALL of the kids, but is also qualified to work with special education students and will be aware any developmental issuse for all students. There is also a speech therapist who is in the room 3 days a week. They have all of their specials in the afternoon and any therapies are scheduled then, too.

Brynne and Maya are dong well, but are EXHAUSTED. I've especailly noticed how tired they are this weekend- fighting crying and VERY crabby. They both loved going to school. But, today Maya said that she didn't like school anymore because it's too busy for her. Too many transitions (cafeteria, recess, specials, etc.). She'll get used to it! She's also had some confusion about lunch. They have a morning snack, lunch and then an afternoon snack. Twice she forgot to eat her sandwich because she said it was too busy in the cafeteria and she was distracted. Her morning teacher said that Maya takes her sandwich out everyday at morning snack and has to be reminded that it's for lunch. Then at lunch she thinks she needs to save it for afternoon snack. Confusing! We need to work this out, somehow.

Brynne is dong great! I was worried about her on the first day when she said she had a a"jibbery and jumpery belly ache". Poor kid! But, now she loves it! She's very tired! They both have some old and new friends. They both LOVE recess best! :laughing:

 

Philip & Katherine have started kindergarten (M-F mornings) and it is going well.

Katherine was so excited to start. She literally counted down the days. Philip kept saying he didn't want to go because he would have to work and he didn't want any of that. :nea: Can you tell he has older siblings?

So a couple of days b4 the big day, Katherine comes to me & says "We made a deal Mom. Philip is going to go to school & I am going to do all his work". :laughing: Team work.

They have only gone three days so far, but everything is good. They are in a familiar school - same as their preschool & the school all of our children have attended the last 7 yrs.

How am I doing? :acute: Great! I am going to love having my mornings to myself. It is not a long block of time, but it is all mine. It has been 14 yrs.

 

Wow! 14 years! Do something for yourself- you deserve it!

 

So far so good. We've only had 3 full days here and then her 1st day was only an hour long "orientation" as it was a new school for all 1st graders. She likes her teacher and knows 2 kids from her KG class and really seems to be enjoying school except that on Friday, she was yelling at me in the morning that she didn't want to go to school and it wasn't fair. I don't think she's adjusted to the full days everyday thing as easy as I thought she would. She loves school and I think she's just tired and needs a day to just chill. She keeps saying "I just want to stay at home and do nothing". Unfortunately we started swim lessons on Sat. and then had church this morning and relatives from CA. so we were busy all weekend too. Next weekend is the twins' 4th Birthday, so we do have plans then too. I feel bad b/c she really just wants a mental health day (like we all do). She loves to tell me the games they are playing in school, what they're learning, funny stories from the playground, what she bought for lunch (she feels like such a big kid getting hot lunch so I've been letting her), etc. She hasn't had any homework yet, so I'm not sure how we'll fit that in when it starts. I'm already kinda scrambling as it is on the days I work. I get off work and get to the bus stop to get her. The bus has been 30 mins. late all last week and then I have to go get Abby and Gabe from daycare/preschool. By the time we get home and have dinner they don't have too much time for anything but baths and a bit of relaxing time before bed. Soon I'll have to figure out how to fit her homework in there once it starts coming home. I'm also a bit overwhelmed with the extracirricular things we have going on. The kids are all in swimming on Saturday mornings, Abby is in gymnastics on Tues. mornings. Gabe wants to do Karate and Isabel wants to do Art classes. I just feel like we are NEVER home and don't know how to make it even for everyone without being somewhere all the time. I hope that b/c this week will be our first full week that we'll start to get settled into our routine. Sorry, that was much longer than intended but I feel better getting that out.

 

My 2 stared kindergarten 3 weeks ago. They split the boys against our request initially, but put them together in the same class on the fifth day (this was so stressful). The teacher that has both of them said how much happier Nicholas is now that his brother is there. I think the transition has gone really well, and they seem to be enjoying it. Starting this week part of the class comes early and part comes an hour later and stays for lunch. My boys are late birds and stay for lunch. We just found out had they stayed separated they would not have been lunch together (we found out right before school started that they would have recess together every 4 weeks if they were in separate classes).

 

Just one week into second grade here. So far they really seem to like their teachers and classroom. We had meet the teacher night tonight and I really like their teachers too!

 

Glad to hear so many are adjusting well to being back in school. We just met their teachers last night and Katrina's teacher is weird but I guess she will fit well with Katrina. Kira's teacher seems very nice also and very straight forward which is a good fit for Kira.

 

My 2 youngest (ages 11 1/2 !!) started 6th grade this year. This is Middle School for us so they are at a new school. Fortunately many, but not all, of their classmates from their elementary school are at this school too. Lots of changes for them this year and so far all is going well. They are taking the bus, they are changing classes, and they have P.E. daily which includes "dressing out." Meaning: changing into P.E. clothes in a locker room! They were very nervous about this of course, being fairly modest girls and quite a bit more developed than many girls their age, but they've adjusted pretty well so far and are old hat at in now! LOL.

Homework hasn't been much so far, but they both have a science project due next week already. I HATE science projects! Ugh. Our school district has adopted a great thing called "School Loop." Using the computer you can see exactly what assignments your child/children have everyday, what is due and when, what they've turned in (and what they haven't :headbang and what grade they've gotten on a DAILY basis. It is awesome. The kids still have their homework/assignment binders, but this computer webstite thing is great as a back up. You can also email the teachers directly from the site.