Whew. We made it through kindergarten. Yesterday was Lulu’s last day of kindergarten. It was our family’s first year having a school-aged child and it definitely felt like a family affair. Thanks for an amazing kindergarten year!
My oldest daughter, Lulu goes to a parent-volunteer public school. Every week this school year, my husband and I took turns volunteering in her kindergarten classroom. It was a lot of work and learning for all of us. The entire family really had to step out of our comfort zones this year. We as parents learned a lot about working with kids (We chose wisely not becoming kindergarten teachers). Lulu has learned a ton this year. She has gone from mostly knowing her letters to full on reading. Books. She reads actual books now!
Thanks to the amazing kindergarten teacher
Lulu’s kindergarten experience has been more wonderful than I could ever hope for, in large part thanks to her incredible – and incredibly patient – teacher.
Two weeks ago, I was volunteering for my shift and the teacher was giving 24 kindergarteners a test. They don’t call it that of course, the kids were told it was a “writing activity” but that’s basically what it was. We even put up cardboard dividers between the kindergarteners so they can focus on their own paper. They were given instructions on how to write a story (things they’ve learned previously) and then they had to read it to one of the adults when they’re done.
I have never been more grateful for [good] kindergarten teachers. Even though I had gotten used to the kindergarteners’ antics through this year, trying to get them to participate in the writing assessment was a whole other ballgame. I was about to lose my mind with these kids, my own little troublemaker included. More so than usual. Maybe they sensed the pressure, I don’t know. Some of them just plain refused to write anything because they didn’t “feel like writing a story”. Some were whining about “why did he get a divider and I didn’t get one?” Some refused to follow the directions of what was assigned. Keeping them on task was trying my patience. I have no idea how that kindergarten teacher stays so calm and patient every single day and manages to get them to listen to her and even teach the kindergarteners something besides. But she definitely made this and amazing kindergarten year for Lulu.
Thanks to the amazing PACT school
Aside from being reminded why teaching is not the job for me, I was reminded how grateful I am to have my daughter in such an amazing community. The staff, the parents, the school administrators have all been incredible. The last few weeks of school were a crazy whirlwind of activity with what seemed like a million events crammed into a couple weeks.
All year long I grumbled about how there are way too activities. Too many pot lucks and field trips and parties. You’d think with all the volunteering the parents already sign up for, they’d take it easy with planning even more things but the school was constantly abuzz with extra activities planned by teachers and parents. For all my grumbling though, it was an amazing kindergarten year because everyone in this school, both staff and volunteers go above and beyond. Husband even go to chaperone a field trip to NASA! I definitely think the adults were way more excited about that experience than the kindergarteners. These kids don’t even realize how unusual that is!
A couple months ago the second grades in Lulu’s school were setting up booths to sell snacks after school. It was part of their Project Based Learning chapter – setting up a business. All proceeds were going to charity. One of the classrooms was going to be selling shaved ice and Lulu couldn’t be more excited. Ever since our trip to Hawaii, that kid LOVES shaved ice. Probably more than ice cream and candy! I gave Lulu $8 to take to school with her so that she could participate and buy snacks. It was for charity after all. When I came to pick her up from the after school program, I wanted to hear all about it – this was her first time “shopping” for anything with real money. She told me she didn’t get any other snacks, only one shaved ice. “Oh so you only spent $1” I asked her. “No, I used it all” she replied.
“How many shaved ices did you have?”
“Just one”
“So how did you use all the money I gave you?”
“I shared my money with the kids who didn’t have money so they can get shaved ice too”.
I laughed so hard. I could see by her face that she didn’t understand why I was laughing but I couldn’t help it. That’s my favourite story of her from kindergarten. You rarely hear anyone say they “shared” their money. It also made me realize that perhaps we need to teach her a little more about using money and buying things. But I do want to preserve that generosity in her.
Thanks for an amazing kindergarten year
Overall, as I reflect on this kindergarten year I am grateful to have had the opportunity to see Lulu in class, participating and learning and making friends. Normally I drop her off at school at 8:30am and I don’t pick her up until 6pm from the after school program. Often by the time I pick her up, we’re all tired and hungry. I don’t always get the best version of her at the end of the day. If it wasn’t for those volunteer hours and pot lucks and field trips, I wouldn’t get the chance to see what an amazing little person my kindergartener was becoming. I am so grateful for all the wonderful experiences my kiddo had this year at school. Even if I didn’t manage to make it to all of them.
Lulu has grown so much this year and our family life changed dramatically over the last 9 months. I went back to working full time after 3.5 years of being a stay at home mom. Both Booboo and Lulu are in full-time childcare now. Lulu got glasses, which was a more complicated ordeal than I could ever foresee. Most importantly, Lulu thrived so much. My favourite part was seeing what a strong, independent, generous human she is. Part of the reason we chose an alternative school where parents have to volunteer is because I always think of Lulu as being shy, not jumping into the fray. I feared that her she would hold back from opportunities or that she would become a follower and give into peer pressure. I worried that being the youngest in her class would be a disadvantage. This year I got the chance to see her holding her own on the playground and standing up for herself and others. I saw her being the center of attention but also playing independently when that’s what she felt like doing. I heard the other parents in the class tell me how great she is to work with. None of them believe me when I say I was worried about her because she’s so shy and sensitive. They see a confident, smart, friendly girl. I am so proud of her. I am happy to be her safe place when she falls apart after school because I get to see how well she holds it together and thrives there.
I asked Lulu yesterday if any of the kids cried on the last day of kindergarten because they’d miss their teacher. She said “no, because we we can come and visit her and give her hugs when we’re in grade one”.
So This is my Thanks for now. Thanks to the amazing kindergarten teacher who ensured that Lulu loves school. Thanks to the amazing school and parents and staff for a wonderful year. I look forward to being back there in August.
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