Thought we could maybe start a new thread for those of us with kids starting first grade this 2017-18 school year. I may be late and some have already started!
-
We met her teacher yesterday. It went so well. Last year we had a first year teacher who was learning the ropes/rules of the school. This first grade teacher is a seasoned veteran and I hope she can help keep my DD focused.
Also happy to see that we have a full week to complete homework. Folders on Monday, homework due the following monday. They start on the first week!
The only behavior chart she said they use is a stamp on the kids hands if they had a good day. If there isn't a stamp, they had trouble following directions. If that is ongoing, we can discuss a behavior plan.
I'm so excited!
-
We are gearing up for starting on the 23rd. I know who our teacher will be and I'm very anxious for this next year. Our girl is going to be in a school of choice, Spanish Immersion program. It's a great opportunity but is going to be very challenging.
I've also been "warned" about our teacher being a bit disorganized. And I've also experienced her difficulty with communicating. Her native/first language is Spanish and her written English is rough.
Our girl has finally learned to tie her shoes (woohoo) and she has developed a bit of a smart mouth this summer. I hope we can get that under control quickly.
-
Emotionally? How are your kids doing? My girl has started having nightmares and seems generally more anxious and worried about things. I'm not suggesting this is related to school starting just general development. Anyone else seeing this?
-
My son is super excited to go back to school, he's going to see his friends again, it's place he knows and he knows the routine. His school supplies are all organized and we got our assignment today. I am going in with an open mind because I know nothing about this teacher, but I am sure it's going to be fine. I just hope he gets his attitude under control and starts off on a good note.
For me, it's a hot mess. Last year was pretty challenging with the start times and now I've piled on PTO responsibilities, so I am worried the year is going to be stressful for me.
-
We don't start until after Labor Day so we don't even have our teacher assignment yet. In general I don't think DD is particularly excited about going back. She says she wants to stay home with me, but I'm going back to work part time in the fall. That will be an adjustment for everyone, so I'm probably more anxious about that than anything else.
-
DD will have the same teacher my DS had for 1st grade - its nice that I know how the year will plan out!
They have to read 20 days a month (minimum) and they have homework Mon-Thurs. I have to sign the homework book and each day they mark a color in their book on how they think their behavior was - red (bad), yellow (ok) or green (good) and pink (if they were excellent). Then the teacher looks and says if she agrees or not.
She was a little tough on DS and I'm not sure if that will be a good or bad thing yet for DD.
We go back Sept 5th.
DD is not excited - she wants to stay at camp forever! haha
-
We have big changes this year since we are moving to Thailand just a few days before school starts! We have a new family orientation the day after we arrive, so I'm hoping we meet some teachers then, and then school starts on the 4th. My son will be in a school closely affiliated with his school from last year (keeping him in the French system), so hopefully it will be at the same standard as the previous school. One of the biggest changes will be the bus. Last year I took him to school on the tram every day, but school was only a 15ish min walk from home. Because the new school is nowhere near public transit, there is a door to door bus service. Bangkok traffic horrendous, so I'm not sure how long they will be on the bus every day. School hours are also a lot different, from 8-2 every day, so our days will start early.
Is anyone's child doing extra curricular activities this year? There are a ton of offerings at our new school and I'm thinking about signing him up for at least 2. The new school has a pool on campus, so I will definitely sign him up for swim lessons.
-
@MamaG: Even though DD loves school she felt a bit of anxiety for two days about a week before school began. I had to reassure her with info- showed her types of math questions and that they focus on writing (her favorite subject) in first grade. I didn't expect her anxiousness but I could tell by her tone in the questions she asked. BUt she loved 1st when we started a bit ago and can't wait to go back to school on Mondays.
She still seems to switch recess friends often which I find strange that she keeps rotating them. I tried to get her to pack her lunch (just put it in the bag and zip) but that hasn't gone so well so not ready yet.
She is finishing up three months of singing lessons this month and will start art classes for the next three months. I also plan to teach her how to ride a bike as a hobby and she has season tickets to youth theater. A few of the performances she gets to have a 60 minute small group actor workshop with the lead performers. NOthing else except we have a trip planned during fall break. OVerall, we do battle the wise remarks here and there. She seems so grown up now.
-
Hi! We don't start till after Labor Day so school still seems so far away. I just started working on buying supplies this week (so many)! We know our teacher and I'm going to be on the PTA this year so it's going to be busy.
I'm somewhat dreading getting back in the grind again...LO has been having so much fun and his behavior has been so much better over the summer. He's eating well, resting well, has had a bunch of time for creative free play as well as various activities that we just don't have time for during the year. I'm not sure how to harness that momentum.
I still need to look at extra curricular activities. We did swim lessons over the summer and I'd like to continue those, but I know he also wants to do soccer again. Then we were talking about some type of music lessons. We shall see. -
We moved, so new school. Private, which will be interesting to compare with our experience in public K. We start the middle of the week and meet the teacher monday!
-
@lamariniere: I meant to post to your other thread- my cousins lived in bankok for a few years and had an amazing experience. They were at the American school...I think there's a great expat community and lots of fun stuff to do.
-
What a great thread!
My DS will be starting 1st grade at a new school this year. We're switching schools since he got into the magnet/charter school near our home by lottery. (He didn't get in for kindergarten.) We don't start until the 22nd, and don't meet his teacher until the night before during Back to School Night. I hope he'll be able to make new friends. Some of his friends from after school daycare and camp (which is also his old pre-school) will be there, but not sure if they'll be in the same class.
Summer was so laid back, and therefore, it'll be difficult to get back in the routine. His old kindergarten teacher tutored my DS and 3 of his friends once a week for the entire summer, so they don't forget their reading and math skills. Hopefully, he's ready for 1st grade at a new school.
-
Our school starts Wednesday August 23rd, and we won't know who her teacher will be until the day before, just like last year. They do this so that parents can't try to petition for a specific teacher.
My daughter seems neutral about going back to school. When I ask her how she feels about entering first grade, she just gets a bit sad about the idea that some of her Kinder friends won't be in her class again.
@lamariniere: So excited for you! We love Thailand, and DH lived there for a year in his 20s. For extracurricular, DS and DD will have Chinese and gymnastics. DD is also doing piano lessons.
-
@Baby Boy Mom: everyone I've heard from so far that has lived in Bangkok has loved it, so I'm really excited for the opportunity! My DH had a chance to talk to the guy he is replacing and that guy's kids went to the American school too, and they also had a very positive experience.
@Mrs. High Heels: that's very cool about Chinese! If we stay at the school long enough, it will become and option (it's offered to the older kids). The kids will have one hour of Thai per week (mandatory by national law). The French school offers English as the first foreign language. I'm glad though, because my son hasn't learned to read or write it yet. Although, I'm very worried about both of my LOs losing their German.
-
@Mrs. High Heels: Yes, that's what LO was anxious about. She didn't have her closest friends in the same class this year. We were bummed about that but she transitioned pretty fast when 1st started as she saw the old ones at recess and became closer to the others.
-
@lamariniere: Oh wow, that's a big move, congrats and a good entry to the entire family! I suspect they will lose their German if they don't use it, but maybe there is some kind of tutoring that you can do? I think you have to kind of decide to either let it lapse or continue with the instruction. I feel like if you're going to move frequently, you either have to keep going in the first language, or you have to accept that they will be exposed to many languages but when it comes to mastery, they won't have much beyond basic conversational skills. I don't know what road I would choose!
I am going to try some afterschool activities with my son this year. On Saturdays, we're doing family Tae Kwon Do and swimming, so I want my son to choose something that he wants during the week. I am not certain what the offerings are just yet, but the sign ups are by lottery, so we might not even get in.
My son is super pumped about getting his own desk. He was like finally, no one will put their papers all over my space.
-
@MamaG: Hang in there. I was surprised D was as nervous as she was meeting the teacher and the class. She seemed excited this morning though.
-
Does anyone have a child in gymnastics around this age? We quit the city group a while ago because even though it was super cheap (like $50 per semester) it was a really far drive and she wasn't getting any instruction or much out of the class.
I'm debating signing her up for an actual gym but prices are much higher like $65-75 per month for one hour a week.
-
@lamariniere: Good luck with the move! I hope you can get settled quickly and that orientations goes well.
-
@looch: thanks! For now, the plan is to try to do videos in German and I'm going to make an effort to find some German speaking playmates or a babysitter. I know there's a huge expat community there (including a Swiss school), so there's got to be something! I would love for them to be able to retain their ability to speak and understand, but in not putting any pressure on the reading and writing aspects.
@T.H.O.U.: thanks! The movers came today and our place is now empty! Eek!
-
Removed image for privacy.
-
@T.H.O.U.: love it! Hope her 1st day is fantastic!
-
@T.H.O.U.: Soo adorable!!MY LO wore a navy skirt and sandals on first day too!
-
@lamariniere: huh, who knew? I think at least going with a babysitter is an excellent idea.
-
@T.H.O.U.: so adorable! I hope she has a great first day!
-
@looch: LO loves her desk too. When it is not covered with stuff she will sit there and work on her projects. Not much writing but more working. It was definitely the right move for her. I think even DH, who was sad we removed the dollhouse since she has since she was two, finally realized she needed it when he saw how much she uses it.
-
@808love: Oh, I meant in the classroom....my son has his own desk in his room and has since he was about 3. It's a huge space waster, but it works sooo well for him. I am glad we have it.
-
@808love: She has PE today but I figured they wouldn't be doing much today so I let her go with a "cute" outfit!
-
@looch: Oh thanks for clarifying! I thought you had the desk from before because I remember you getting me excited about it.
-
We start in a couple of days. LO is excited to see friends, I'm sad because summer felt like it went too fast. I miss the days of school starting in September!
-
@lamariniere: Good luck with your move! You need to write a Guest Post about moving to Bangkok. Your kids will be so good at languages....my DH's co-worker has lived in the US, as well as Taiwan and Iran. He speaks all 3 languages fluently, so I'm sure your kids will be trilingual or even more.
My older son will be in Japanese school during the school year. Debating on whether to start cub scouts for him, but I know he'll want to join a basketball league next year (league starts in 2nd grade), which will definitely take up a lot of his time then. So I don't want to start cub scouts this year, and then have to quit right after.
Right now, just busy getting all of his school supplies ready and labeling his backpack, lunchbox and headphones (required by school). His new school requires uniforms, so I'm having trouble finding shorts/pants that fit his slim waist. I had to look into the toddler section for a few shorts. They also state that all pants with belt loops require a belt, but I'm worried he won't be able to unbuckle it very well when going to the bathroom. Therefore, I'm trying my best to find pants/shorts with elastic bands.
-
@lamariniere: That's awesome that your kids will get exposed to so many languages! I'm sure they will pick those up fast as well. Does your husband speak German?
@T.H.O.U.: Both my kids are in gymnastics. Those prices sound about right. It's $70/month for 4 week months, and $87.50 for 5 week months. There is a small 10% discount for the second child. It's also one hour a week.
My daughter has nut allergies, so one thing I need to do is get all the paperwork signed by her pediatrician to give the school permission to administer drugs if needed. Other than that, I already bought all her school supplies, and we plan to reuse her same backpack and lunchbox from last year. Not sure what else there is to do.
-
Oh man, suddenly dealing with a lot of anxiety and tears from my son over starting at a new school. He's worried kids won't like him and that school will be boring (even though a handful of kids already know and like him, and this school supposedly has a much more hands-on curriculum and way more recess). Nothing I can say seems to console him
-
Non-school related but perhaps age appropriate?? DD picked out names for her future daughter and son. LOL! She says she can't wait to be old....eight. She's barely 6.5.
-
@DisneyBee: my kids are already trilingual since we are a bilingual household and then they picked up the German through daycare.
What does Japanese school entail? Is it a language program? Or after school activity? @Mrs. High Heels: DH speaks basic German. The kids laugh at his accent though.
I have amassed a decent vocabulary, so I know lots of words, but I can't say I speak the language. @Mrs. Yoyo: aw! I hope your DS will feel more comfortable and confident once school starts.
-
@Mrs. Yoyo: Aw I'm sure he'll do great once he goes through the first day! Sometimes anticipation is scarier than reality. After every new week of camp this summer, my daughter would get anxiety over, "but I won't know anyone...", but after the first day, she would end up loving it and proudly tell me about the friends she made. I try to remember that even adults struggle with this! I was feeling a bit of anxiety over a social event just last weekend.
@808love: So cute! That's hilarious that she thinks 8 is old... then I must be ancient. What names did she pick out?
@lamariniere: Ah ok! I knew they were trilingual, but couldn't remember if German was a language you and your husband spoke too.
-
@Mrs. High Heels: She told me she wanted "Liam" for a boy's name about a week ago and "Aria" for a girl today. Believe me, we don't have or encourage baby-naming conversations (she is our one and only and want to keep it that way) but she seems pretty definite. I just asked her and she said Aria is a girl in her class and Liam just sounds like a good name. We have known 2 other Arias (which she never mentioned) and 0 Liams.
-
@808love: Too cute! DD is starting with the whole talking about "boyfriends" and "love" and "kissing on the lips" etc.
@Mrs. Yoyo: Im sure he will do great. I agree sometimes the anticipation is worse and we just have to stop talking to her about things because she will work herself up.
@Mrs. High Heels: Thanks. I talked to her last night and told her if she could show me she was serious about wanting to go and could keep practicing at home her hand stand and cartwheel then I would enroll her.
-
@T.H.O.U.: Eek. This school year, DD talked about boys that are friends and that one is like a best friend because he always says Hi to her.
She already had a crush last year but we squashed it or it fizzled. That boy was 'very strong and helpful' and she blushed.
The other day, DD walked up on us without noticing as DH was saying if he had a son he could throw a football to him right now. (Sexist, I know.) I told him to wait until DD gets a boyfriend one day and he could throw one to him. She said, Oh guys! Come on. If I can't talk about a boyfriend than neither can you!!!!
We quickly changed the subject!!
She still seems to switch recess friends often which I find strange that she keeps rotating them. I tried to get her to pack her lunch (just put it in the bag and zip) but that hasn't gone so well so not ready yet.
I have amassed a decent vocabulary, so I know lots of words, but I can't say I speak the language. Subscribe to our newsletter
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
228 comments