Hellobee Boards

@MamaG: What about asking LO to go to the bathroom independently both before recess and after lunch? Then check in and reward if LO followed directions.
I also find with the different morning routine, LO will forget to go to the bathroom in the morning. Sometimes I realize it right as we walk out the door and other times it is right as we get to school. I've always followed an approximate time schedule (630, 930 and 1230). I think that helped.

LO doesn't want to go number 2 at school. She says she doesn't want to leave marks. I told her she can flush twice. Flush. Wait for the noise to stop (bowl to fill) then flush again and it will go away on the second try.

We're about a week and a half in and so far so good. The only problem is poor little girls exhaustion. Much earlier bedtime but it feels like it needs to be even earlier. I'm sure she'll be able to relax more and get into the swing of things, it's had seeing her so tired though and having to spend our short time together with a poor little tired thing.

@Mrs. Yoyo: we have to leave the house at 8:00 (school starts at 8:25). So far I've been waking him up by 7:15, but he's usually up on his own before that.

School starts at 8:30. Right now I can take her later but when I go back to work it will be 7:45. She naturally gets up around 6:15 so it works.

Her bus comes at 7 am so she's up by 615. It's been a bit tough on her waking up earlier than she's used to combined with just tiredness from something new.

@looch: I think ours have them? I never really thought of that as screen time per se.

So my son came home with a giant 4-page worksheet with at least 12 objects on each page. Apparently the kids were supposed to go around the classroom and find the objects, which were labeled, and then write the name. My son found all of them but wrote like 3 of the names, so of course there was a note at top that said he hadn't followed the directions.

That seems like a lot for a kid to do! I mean, it's a big effort for him to write each new word, and now he's supposed to do like 50 at a time? I am starting to wonder whether I made a mistake in not holding him back.

@looch: what's a smart board? Ours has a projector and a screen, which seems like a more modern version of the overhead projector my teachers used. They also have a set of laptops for the class. But I'm not worried about screen time.

@Mrs. Yoyo: that seems like a lot if your kid doesn't know how to read/write (and mine definitely doesn't!). Our teacher stressed during the conference this week that it is completely normal for kids not to know how to read or write when they start, so I would be very surprised to see something like what you are describing. Have they stated what the expectations are for new kindergarteners?

@looch: hmm. Then we definitely don't have one, but it sounds cool!

@looch: He's already come home with notes on his weekly report both times so far that say he has to work on time management. And I am sure he does. But what's the point if he's being given work that he never has a hope of completing in the first place?

It struck me that beyond a stray smiley face or two I'm seeing very little positive reinforcement. I kind of want to know whether my kid is doing anything well!

@T.H.O.U.: It just said "He was supposed to write the names," so I interpret that to mean he didn't finish. I also think she sent the wrong paper home, because she noted that his name wasn't on it, and the writing that is on it is neater than his usually is.

@looch: Yes, we have a smart board. I'm not sure how much they use it. We do virtually no screen time at home that is for entertainment. She gets educational youtube videos while DH makes dinner during the week. And that's it. I know they watch videos at school too, but they are edu-tainment. I'm not sure how much of the day is spent in this manner, but from her discussion it doesn't seem like it's much.

@Mrs. Yoyo: That does seem like a lot. I would be surprised if most kids completed something like that. And notes home about coloring in the lines? Is this her first year teaching? I ask because her expectations do not seem totally appropriate. If you haven't already I would certainly send her an email to express my concerns. You don't want your son to be discouraged this early on!

@MamaG: DD is also getting the "edu-tainment." I asked her how often they watched a video and she said 1-3 videos per day! She said something about how they're supposed to be singing and dancing along or something, but I still give the side-eye to a video every day.

Is the second week of school too early to send an email checking in with the teacher? I'm hearing a lot about how noisy her class is, how they have to put their heads down because their class won't stop talking, now these videos...I know it's early and the kids are just getting used to be in school, and I don't want to tell her how to do her job...I don't know if there is a way to voice my concerns without being THAT parent. Maybe it would be better just to do a general check-in to see how things are going and then voice specific concerns at back-to-school night in a couple of weeks? We don't have scheduled conferences until the end of the quarter, in 7 weeks.

@Pancakes: so while we were at open house some of the kids put on a "video". It was maybe 2 minutes long and went along with the lesson. They were learning M sounds so it was some weird characters dancing saying Mmmm. Think Sesame Street style songs. The kids knew it and were jumping around doing the movements the characters were doing. So I think a video clip might be a more appropriate term and they may not be sitting idle watching.

@T.H.O.U.: that sounds like storybots. They're really cute. My uncle is a kinder music teacher and he uses them in his classes.

ETA: there's a smart board in her class and it sounds like they watch stuff, but hard to get a grasp on what, when and how often...

We got a nastygram about my son not being able to keep up during whole-group handwriting assignments and asking us to PLEASE practice at home.

I'm annoyed. We DO practice. And while I know he's weaker than other kids in handwriting, I've also seen marked improvement lately. I don't know if he just feels rushed at school or what, but when I sit down with him, he can do his letters.

I am frustrated. I am trying to walk a fine line here. I think he feels a lot of pressure and I don't want to add to it and make him hate the process. I also wish she would tell me things he's doing right, because I've been feeling like an utter failure as a parent because my barely-5-year-old boy cannot write fluently already.

@Mrs. Yoyo: Schedule a conference and tell the teacher that. I am sure you will get some useful feedback and get to clarify your perspective. I think you have valid concerns.

Whole group means the whole class doing the activity as opposed small group or one-on-one. Kids can behave or produce work very differently when not in a small group situation.

@808love: Yes, I think that will probably be a next step.
@Mamaof2: I'll check. And I'm not opposed to OT if he needs it. I guess I'm still just a little gobsmacked that this is what's expected right out of the gate. If so, the K readiness lists are total BS.

@Mrs. Yoyo: it does seem like a lot to expect so early on

My DD is cutting and pasting right now