but we know it’s not ‘that’ bad.
The reality is… she’s just started her second term of her school life.
She’s moved classes and has a new teacher.
There’s now twenty children in her small classroom. The children in the class are all getting used to each other and a new teacher. Five, of the twenty children, moved up from new entrants. The existing children bid their term one teacher farewell as she is now on her own personal journey of motherhood.
That’s quite a change in dynamics!
Now take a look at Sophie’s personality…
She is HIGH energy ALL day.
She is highly enthusiastic, motivated, keen, bright, physically active, a ‘chatter box’, always asking questions, full of ideas and wants to please.
One has to ask, is she really going to be happy with six hours a day of little personal attention, having to learn at a set pace, with little opportunity to ask questions and express new ideas?
Let’s look at the Sophie of LAST week that attended school 4 out of the 5 days:
- Not easy to motivate to get out the door in the morning.
- Very tearful after school and highly emotional.
- Exhausted emotionally, but not physically.
- Talking about the children in her class, that had already done one term of ‘Year 1’, as being ‘not good role-models’ (she’d heard this from her teacher).
- Disappointed at not having a day a week to bring in news.
- Finding the work very easy and boring, asking to see and do things outside of school to feed her mind – visit the museum, library etc.
- Looking withdrawn, downcast eyes, sad.
Now, let’s look at Sophie of THIS week (not attended school all week):
(She has a cold. She would be ‘okay’ to go to school, but is very reluctant)
- Happy every morning & cooperative in getting dressed, even though she’s clearly blocked up with a cold and cough.
- Keen to learn.
- Completed a numeracy activity book for 5 to 7 year olds.
- Completed a phonics activity book for 5 to 7 year olds.
- Delighted in playing with her younger sibling and having an opportunity to bond.
- Asked to help with domestic activities in the home and delighted in feeling ‘useful’ and being responsible.
- Suggested ideas for baking and meals.
- Spent hours writing (without any persuasion by me) – coming up with words beginning with certain letters.
- Received a letter from a friend and wrote one straight back (decorating it) – all unprompted, self-driven.
- Created a beautiful piece of artwork.
- Completed puzzles of her own choosing.
- Ran on the beach.
- Enjoyed seeing Wellington from the top of Mount Victoria.
- Played at the playground with children of all ages.
- Investigated fungus growing in the garden and an old butterfly cocoon.
- Talked with various adults we’ve met at shops and been listened to.
- Chatted with our gardener that comes once a week.
- Read books and asked to visit the library to get more out.
- Sketched pictures at will.
- Been happy, helpful, cheerful, positive, outgoing, wonderful!
AN OBVIOUS DIFFERENCE!
What to do?!
(Charlotte, in the meantime, is LOVING school this week!)
Life’s rich tapestry hey….
Related posts
September 27, 2011 I hope she’s not thinking about me as much as I am about her
December 1, 2020 Term 4 and winding down to the last days of school for 2020
March 10, 2011 Running with Passion
December 1, 2008 School too easy?
August 12, 2008 An Olympian in the making?!
April 15, 2008 Making Real Friendships
What a bright child!! What to do indeed. Let us know what you decide…
hey love
life has a few loops huh. there’s a lot of wonderful organic learning going on this week. you know what i’d love – to have a ‘best of both worlds’ life – homeskool/coolskool – where it all intertwines and the kiddos thrive and there’s no national standards and endless assessments.
sunshine vibes to yas – and yay mama for your intuitiveness with this lovely space for sophie X X X X X
What to do ….. how old is she? if not 6 yet then take her out – no need for a home school application & let her home school – legally kids do not have to be in school until 6 years old. Make it a trial run & see how you all like it. BUT I will warn you many families find it easier to then have all home schooling. Not all but many.
Love Leanne
Hope Sophie hasn’t got what I’ve got and she gets better soon. Clearly being at home she’s having much more fun and feeling more confident in her self. Sounds like you’re heading towards making a big decision. Good luck with that.
my sweet friend you know what you have to do well in my opinion anyways 🙂
I really like Leannes idea
Have you thought about homeschooling? She sounds like she might enjoy it, but it is a huge commitment for you – but so enjoyable when they’re young. I homeschooled the primary years, but I’ve just put them all back into school. If homeschooling is not an option could you look at private? A friend was having the same struggles with her bright little girl at a public school and changed her to private and it’s going great – much happier.
Oh Sarah, I’m really sorry that your lovely girl is so unhappy 🙁 (I know how she feels – school made me feel like that too, hence I’ll never be a classroom teacher again!). Even though my munchkin is only 2, I spend a lot of time worrying about what will happen to him in a class of twenty kids…there’s not a lot of room for sparkly children & individuality going on. Of course there are definitely amazing schools out there, and incredible teachers – in a magical world we could match up our kids with teachers & classes that would enhance their lives every time!!
Looking forward to hearing what you decide to do – as Leanne said, she’s not legally required to be in school until she’s 6 – so you can always have a trial run & see what happens!
I hope today is another gorgeous one, filled with adventures & the amazing learning that can only come from ‘real life’ stuff!
xx
been thinking about you two
have you contacted the home schooling group in your area you can say your still thinking about it
they will be able to tell you what their group offers
they might be able to help you decide having got that info and they will support you along the way should you decided to home school
Sounds like you’ve already made up your mind 🙂 Gorgeous pics as always xx
What are you THINKING of doing?
Becoming a homeschooling mama?
Every kid is different; maybe that’s what she needs?
Whatever you decide I’ll bet you’d be great at it 🙂
PS I tried to leave a really long comment on your post the other day but lost it and then couldn’t log in to disqua. hope this one worKs!
xÂ
Thanks Simone. We always have home-education as a wonderful alternative – but will give this term, with the new teacher and class a bit more of a go first. Lots of changes for her and we obviously want to keep Sophie feeling positive. She was so happy last term. All part of life’s rich tapestry hey! 🙂 x
Thanks so much Jen for your constant support. I certainly am keeping all options in mind. Will give this term more of a go first and see how we go, thanks x
Thanks Kathleen x We did have a lovely day and will try to ease Sophie into her new class with half day’s next week. I’m sure, with plenty of love and opportunities for creativity out of school hours she’ll be okay eventually. I’m going to organise some play-dates so she can get to know a few of her new class-mates better. I think she’ll be a lot happier when she has established some firm friendships. Have a great weekend, Sarah x
I’ve thought of homeschooling for all my children many, many times. There are around 150 home-educating families in Wellington, who get together for numerous group activities and support. The only thing holding me back is the worry that I would run myself into the ground. I can very much visualise it working and being wonderful – but I’d have to pace myself.
I read numerous home-education blogs and absolutely admire families that make it happen. There is definitely a sea-change needed in the way our future children will learn; they are, increasingly so, independently driven to self-learn – given the tools and right environment – and so intuitive too. It pains me sometimes to see that special energy quelled in dated school systems. Thankfully, our local junior school does have many wonderful teachers – but they are confined somewhat by bureaucracy.I am also looking at some excellent private school options for when they turn 10 – but expensive!!!
She’s only 5 and a quarter. We’ll stick out this term, with half days here and there, and see how we go. I have been doing lots of reading on alternate options and am weighing everything up. I’m very grateful for your kind words of support. Best wishes and hope you have a lovely weekend, Sarah
Thank you for your sunshine vibes 🙂 x
It’s been a nice week of Sophie & Alice time.
We’ll take things step by step, with lots of love, and find a path that is the best fit for us all – though of course there will always be a few bumps in the road here and there – all part of life’s rich tapestry hey!Â
I would so love a mix of both worlds too x
Have a great weekend with your amazing family, Sarah x
Thanks for your kind words of support. So many changes for her at the moment – and when not ‘A1’ it makes the changes more of a challenge to handle.
We’ve had a great week to take stock and we’ll take it easy next week with some half days, lots of love and some chats with her teacher, to see how we progress.
Just so grateful to live in a country that offers so many alternatives, all of which are well supported.
Have a great weekend, Sarah x
That sounds like a wonderful idea :)Â
That’s the direction I guess we’ll go in once the time comes – I know I would drive myself insane trying to home school (I just don’t think I can be a good enough teacher & mum at the same time…and I know which is more important to me!), so there’ll be a lot of creativity & excitement around school hours to make life more magical when it’s lacking!!Â
I hope you find some lovely little people in her class to get together with – life is so much happier when you’ve got some true friends by your side!
x
Best of luck Sarah, hope she feels better soon and school improves for her. Â I know quite a lot of kids struggle when they first start school, settling in can take quite a while. Â Also I get how important it is to have your kids challenged at school (something we deal with). Â I’m sorry I don’t read your blog all the time but I know that the gifted thing commonly runs in families (I just read about your older daughter). Â My youngest is in year one too (started in term one) and I’ve managed to get him a lovely understanding teacher thank goodness! Â She had my eldest last year and so we already have a good relationship. Â I had the home school thing in the back of my mind if regular school didn’t work out for us (One Day School is just up the road too), I know it’s early days but so far so good. Â What a rant!! Hey your photos are lovely too.Â
Hi Meg, thank you so much for taking the time to write and I very much appreciate your kind, supportive words.
Glad to hear your youngest has a lovely teacher. Today was a much happier day for Sophie and we had a really positive talk with her teacher. We’ll get there… taking the rough with the smooth! x