This week Honeybun’s school had their “back to school” nights where parents were invited into the classrooms (without the kids) to meet the teacher, learn about the classroom and school and find out about the curriculum and expectations. It was important to us that hubby and I both attend so we hired a babysitter for the girls and I got permission to bring my “quiet” baby with us (of course he thought he should talk the whole time and spit up all over the floor but at least he didn’t cry!).
I am so glad we went because after attending I feel so much more comfortable with our kindergarten situation and the experience Honeybun is going to have. Most importantly, I love her teacher. No, seriously, I LOVE her! She totally seems like the type of person I would be friends with outside of school (and hubby likes her too cause she grew up 25 miles from where he did). She seems to have a lot of the same views of talking to and dealing with children I do. She is no nonsense but in a loving, best for the children kind of way, expecting them to act responsibly and respectfully at all times.
I was also happy to hear there will be no formal homework until October. Back in January I described how we opted out of the pre-school homework last year (see “Battle of Mommy vs. Educator”) and I’ve been concerned about how it would work this year. I don’t think homework is necessary or appropriate for 5 year olds and I was concerned with it taking too much time and priority in our family. During September they will be working on learning sight words but reviewing these will be the extent of their “homework” until October and I am more than happy to have one more month of free afternoons while we settle into our new routine.
All of the schools in Florida are adopting the “Common Core” curriculum which is also being implemented in 45 other states. It’s nice to know that if we ever move, the standards will most likely be the same (so long as we don’t move internationally again!). While I need to do more research into the curriculum, I am very disappointed to see the curriculum only covers 2 areas of learning: English Language Arts and Mathematics. What has happened to science and social studies? I mean, I know most anything can be found online these days (I mean, I’m the ultimate googler!) but I still think it’s so important to know about your world, and that’s what science and social studies teach.
I was also very surprised to hear that nowhere in the curriculum is penmanship/handwriting covered. NOWHERE. It’s no longer part of 1st grade curriculum as it was when I was in school. The teacher pointed out more than once how Kindergarten is the new 1st grade (I’ve known this for a while and am genuinely worried about how it is affecting our children) but handwriting is not part of the kindergarten curriculum either! I’d heard that the school district I attended growing up has removed cursive from its curriculum but now we’re not teaching printing either?!?!?!?! So basically it is up to hubby and me to teach our children how to properly write. Let me rephrase that…it’s up to ME to teach our children how to properly write (I don’t know that a chicken-scratcher would be a good handwriting teacher!)
So basically, I’m weary of the curriculum but am happy with the teacher and class so for now my only concern is December when the teacher I’m madly in love with goes on maternity leave (yeah…surprise, she’s pregnant! And, according to my 5 year-old, the music teacher is her husband).
[And for those who may be wondering, we won the battle (see “Off to a Rocky Start”) and she is indeed in the high achieving class!]
