Kindergarten Observation...

Today Mike and I went to Paige's Kindergarten observation. In JK they don't get report cards, but the parents attend a informal observation to watch the child in the classroom, and then have a talk with the teacher about how they're doing.

So while Grandma and Grandpa came over to babysit Rose, Mike and I walked Paige to school and got our visitor's pass. We went into her classroom and sat in the back to observe (we were the only parents there today). We saw that they hang up their things in their cubbies and then bring their communication folder to a bucket. They then find their name on the floor for the attendance, and then choose a book to look at while Mrs. Lang writes down the attendance and gets some things organized. During attendance she calls Good morning to each child, who then responds with "Good Morning Mrs. Lang" and then returns their book. From then they went on to a few songs, some reading and word recognition activities, and then onto rotating centers about letters and words. The letter of the day was "P" which may have been deliberate, as Paige is the only kid in the class with a name that starts with P.

Paige sat at the front of the group and sure put up her hand a lot, which I was very very surprised about. I had asked her if she ever puts up her hand and she said "only 1 time". Besides that, there wasn't anything I was surprised about. She seemed to get along well with her classmates and she did as she was told. There was a song where the kids got to suggest different winter activities to insert into the song. Paige put up her hand and said "make snow puppies"! Another kid chimes in "I knew she was going to say that!!" which I thought was hilarious, given Paige's puppy obsession, and then fact that she only brings home puppy library books. After her, a little boy Yusuf, who Paige claims talks about trains all day long, says "Make snow engines!". Paige catches my eye with a big smile as if to say "SEE!?".

We were really happy to be able to see the routines and learning that go on in the classroom, because if you took Paige's word for it all she ever does is play puppies at the house center all day long. She never mentions anything else, even if I try to ask her about other centers, or learning activities. I know she is learning a lot as she can recite tons of songs and rhymes, and comes home with letter practicing sheets, etc.

Her teacher mentioned the things she needs to work on which don't come as much of a surprise. She said that she is the child who takes the longest to get ready to go outside. She says she will sit on the bench at the end of the day as if to say "I'm done" and just watches the kids get ready forgetting to get ready herself. I can believe it. She needs to be reminded to get ready constantly. That's just like at home. Sometimes I have to tell her numerous times to get ready, and sometimes I actually think she gets innocently sidetracked and forgets. I don't really know what to do, as it is prevalent during a lot of daily activities...taking forever in the bathroom, walking to school slowly, getting dressed slowly, etc. I think she is just thinking and daydreaming mostly. And at school at the end of the day she is hungry and has to go to the bathroom. She barely eats and avoids the bathroom at school, so she's pretty tired and anxious when we get home before she visits the bathroom and has a snack. During circle time she apparently needs to work on attentive listening if she is in the back of the group.  She will apparently get silly and not listen if she is with Bo and Will.  If she is in the front of the group she is fine, so she tries to make sure she's near the front.  So easily distracted and side tracked.  Oh--the other thing she needs to learn is cutting with scissors. hahah. Her cutting is pretty jagged and all over the place....not toooo concerned about this skill.

The other thing her teacher said is that she never puts up her hand or participates as much as she did today. Obviously it was for show with us being there. I won't mention that to Paige but I think I'll really praise her after school for being such a good listener, putting up her hand so much, giving good answers, etc., pretending like I assume she's always like that. Also on today's and tomorrow's agenda--cutting with scissors!

She gave us a form about her observations of Paige in the classroom, the ones above as well as more detailed things--things like following classroom routines, participating and expressing ideas, social development, academic skills, work habits, etc. She checked off if Paige is doing really well, is beginning to do something, or if she needs work at that particular skill.  I'm happy to see that she is doing the best in her social skills...sharing, taking turns, not always being the leader, etc.  She says that she loves having Paige in her class so I take it that the good outweighs the bad.