Yup. For the first time since MK started at his new school, I think that I can actually stretch out on the sofa and say, "Everything's fine." We met the new teacher today. He is a relaxed, innovative guy who doesn't believe in homework and seems much more interested in teaching students how to reach specific educational goals than in having them conform behaviorally. In his comments on MK's first week in class, he had nothing but positive things to say.
MK now has two aides: one for the morning and one for the afternoon. The afternoon aide we already knew was very good. I met the morning aide today, and she seems intelligent, organized and kind.
It's like some fairy has waved a wand and transformed it into a different school, one in which people want MK to succeed, and have the good sense and flexibility to help him do it.
Maybe this a "pink cloud" and we will be pulled up short in a few weeks, but I'm going to enjoy it anyway. The last time that things looked this good at the beginning of the year, the whole year was a roaring success. Who knows, maybe it will happen again.
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3 comments:
This is awesome. Lucky you, lucky MK, what a gift this teacher seems to be.
I am always amazed when teachers are NOT like this. If you teach young children, you should be all about creativity, flexibility and inclusion. Not homework and textbooks and standardized tests, but alas, that is how it goes for us folks here in NY.
Sigh.
Thanks, Kristen.
You know, the right teacher can make even standardized tests and a moderate amount of homework fun and confidence building. That may sound impossible (I certainly used to think it was) but MK had an excellent teacher in NY in grade 4 who did all those things and more. The key seems to be knowing what you want your students to learn (and hopefully, why) and then being both flexible and highly organized in getting them there. It's no mean feat, I know, but like you I am shocked by teachers who don't even try to do thins, and focus on getting everyone to complete the same exercises in the same way.
Woo-hoo! That's fabulous. Wish our teachers didn't believe in homework. Trying to get it done after the afternoon therapy session is a pain in the patookas.
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