Some Little Kindergarten Stories

As we packed bags for the second day of Kindergarten, Daniel was grabbing his sweatshirt and decided to share with us that, "Yesterday, you know what? I put on my sweatshirt in class in the classroom for an hour and you know what? I didn't even sweat! So all those things they said at Montessori how we can't wear our jackets inside the classroom and how we have to wear them outside? Those are LIES!"

The second week of school, Daniel started singing, in his best rocker style, "I love Lafayette - put another dime in the juke box, baby!"

At school this year, they do a "letter of the week" and then at the end of the week the kids bring in something that starts with that letter for a guessing game - this is instead of doing traditional "show and tell".  Last week, the letter was S and Caroline chose her item - a swing from her doll house - early.  But she spent the rest of the time being amazed at how much starts with the letter S - "Oh! SSSubway! There's so many S words!"

Just three weeks into the year, I had an exchange with Daniel about math.  He begged me to "do math" with him. He then proceeded to teach me the pattern of "1 + x =" using a number line and counters. Common core for the win in kindergarten.

They are going on their first of their 8-10 planned field trips this Friday - it's kind of amazing.  I don't remember going on more than a handful of field trips throughout the entire five years of my elementary experience.  They are also doing PE, dance, weekly library visits, reading buddies with fourth graders, outside education in the garden, writer's workshop, and technology practice in reading and math.  They have daily homework (which they do with help in the after school program) and I get weekly emails from each of their teachers giving updates and explanations.  

Every morning they line up with their classes and say the Pledge of Allegiance (Max asked me if he had to say it and I told him he didn't have to, he just had to be polite and respectful), which is followed by the "Pledge of Respect".  I'll admit that when I first heard the Pledge of Respect I thought it was cheesy, but it has definitely grown on me over the past month and a half. 

"I am a smart, special, and valuable person.
I respect myself and I respect others.
My words and actions are kind and honest.
I expect only the best in all that I do.
I am proud to be me."

That really is what I want them to learn in elementary school - all the rest of this is gravy, right?