preschool update

December 12th, 2011

Asher’s been in preschool since Sept and although he is only there a whopping 6 hours a week it has really been amazing for him. Lucky for us, he was not one of those kids that hates school. I was a little nervous because for over 2 years he was home either with us or with Jackie but ever since day 1 he has run into the classroom and ignored us when we try to say goodbye. 5 or 6 other kids could be crying and he doesn’t even want to throw me a pity wave. It was shocking but frankly, I think he needs time away from me as much as I need time away from him.

His class is made up of 13 2 year olds, the cut off is Sept 1 so he is among the youngest but it doesn’t seem to matter. There are 3 teachers and they are all warm and fabulous. His head teacher sends out a monthy curriculum outlining what they will do every day. Its so handy because according to Asher what happens in preschool stays in preschool. Until very recently he wouldn’t really talk about it.

Unsurprisingly they pack a lot of adorable activities into 6 hours a week. On the agenda for last class was:

• Making snow covered spruce trees for our winter season mural
• How do we know it’s winter?
• Fun with flubber -  making animals that hibernate
• Yoga with Jennifer

I mean, its pretty freakin cute. Yoga every week? I wish I got to yoga every week. And I totally had to google flubber. Considering if he was home with me during that time we’d probably be doing “build a train track, do the caillou puzzle again” its great that he is there learning about weather and seasons and holidays and all kinds of other crap. They always have a few play stations set up in the morning and he walks right over to the art project every single time. A few weeks ago I was hanging up his coat and checking his cubby for notes and by the time I turned around he was on the floor getting his body traced

The next time we went to school the same thing happened. I walked over to check his cubby and when I turned around he had a smock on and his teacher Sophia was asking him what color his hair was.

“Yellow!”

(these other kids were washing babies because that week they were talking about bodies. get it?)

I’m talking 30 seconds to hang up his backpack and he already has a paintbrush in his hand. I was shunned on my way out and when I dropped him off last week I noticed these on the walls.

I’m sure it will be rolled up by his cubby for us to bring home tomorrow. Last month they had a show and tell and I was completely stumped on what he could bring. He got pretty excited about this little plane I brought him from a work trip so off they went.

This is what Asher said about his plane: “A white airplane – LOOK! It makes noise and its going to an airport. I show my friends. Look!! My friends!!”

They sent all the parents a list of what the kids said and if only I could be a fly on the wall. Julian’s mom sent me an email saying they were laughing about Asher’s show and tell days later.  “Look! my friends!” She actually said it again to me the other day.  I think it stuck.

Tomorrow is another show and tell day and luckily I had the brainstorm to send his guitar (aka the thing he wont leave the house without) so I can only assume there will be comedy gold. Considering he ends every song with “THANK YOU BROOKLYN WE LOVE YOU!” I am thinking of planting a video camera in between the pom poms and the popsicle sticks.

We had a little parent teacher conference which I mocked up until we went there to sit on the tiny chairs and talk to Lindsay. I thought they would be like “oh he plays nicely, he can follow directions when he feels like it” but it was waaay more than that. She went through 10 or so different milestones and gave personal anecdotes about Asher, like she was actually paying attention to him. Hmm. Ok awesome. His report was great, they love him. He’s doing well as far as speech, language, gross and fine motor skills, and all that stuff. he knows how to use a crayon properly and can walk up and down stairs holding a railing. Isn’t that nice? At home we have a big, big problem with transitions but she made a point to tell me how GREAT he is with transitions and especially with cleaning up. OF COURSE HE IS. (wtf?) He also tells other kids not to play with toys when its circle time. What a nerd.

We found out last week that we got our 1st choice in classes for next year. He will be going 5 full days -  really 5 days until 230 – but still. I am so excited for him, he is going to have a blast. I am also excited for me. I think 3 years being home with him has earned me the odd day off to live my dream…a few hours in my house ALONE. Preschool FTW!

Entry Filed under: My little nugget