Kindergarten Assessment

The big boys got to go to Kindergarten for the 1st time today. It was only a 2 hour assessment, but they were excited (well, Jack and Collin were). Ryan was so brave all day until we were actually on the way there. Then he announced that he wasn't going. Oh, the joy of my emothional child!

Once we got there, he was fine until he only had about 3 minutes in the library with me before the 10 teachers took the 15 kids off to play in 2 of the Kindergarten rooms. Apparently, the talked with them individually, went over colors, shapes, letters, numbers, etc., they played in centers, cleaned up from that, had storytime, etc. The teachers use the things they observe to help balance the classes.

What I learned:
1. The school looks great! It is just opening this fall, and it is awesome! They'll find out who their teacher is on this Friday, have Orientation on Wednesday, and then 1/2 of the kids go on Thursday, 1/2 on Friday. I requested Friday since Brian is off that day.
2. No homework until October, and then all 5 classes will have the same homework. YEAH! They'll get a packet every 2 weeks with 12 activities; they get to choose 8 to do.
3. They have "exploratory" classes each day (music, art, PE, computers, media, Spanish, and one other that i can't remember). They also go on the playground every day.
4. Lunch is at 11:35 or 11:45. Yeah ! A normal eating time. They'll also have an afternoon snack since they don't get out until 3:35 pm.
5. Beginning in October, they'll be grouped 3 days a week in literacy groups, so they'll swtich teachers a bit. This will be great for all 3, b/c they are all on different levels for reading prep.

All in all, it went well. Hopefully Ryan won't have to be physically pulled off of my for his first day next Friday.