We had Back-to-School night on Tuesday. I drove into work so I would get home sooner than I do on the bus. Good think too, we walked out of the school just in time to see the bus that I would have been on drive by, but I digress. Kanga is starting 2nd grade and is continuing in the Chinese immersion program and Tigger is starting kindergarten. They are both excited and we're looking forward to seeing their teachers.
Even though Tigger won't know which teacher he will have yet, they went by both of possible options' rooms. He might have the same teacher as Kanga did, but he might not. Angel told me that when he was talking with the other teacher she asked what subject he was excited to learn in kindergarten. He replied, "Science! Like volcanoes and space!" She smiled and told him that they won't be covering science in kindergarten, but that she was sure that he could tell her some interesting things about volcanoes and space. He started to immediately. I was also pleased with him when we went to visit Kanga's teacher. While she waited to talk to her teacher Tigger found something interesting.
The teacher had this math balance, fully loaded with all of the pegs on. Tigger, in his tinker, must-push-that-button kind of way took one of the pegs off and the scale tipped. Intrigued, he started shifting, removing, replacing, and adding pegs. He was experimenting with the pegs, not knowing the significance of the numbers on along the top, but clearly experimenting with the different positions and seeing what would happen. Tigger is very much into seeing what will happen, but unfortunately, it often lands him in trouble because what often happens is something gets lost or broken. I really, really don't want to stifle his curiosity, so watching him explore the math balance gave me some hope that we can help him explore in a safer way.
Kanga, at this time was sitting quietly at her desk waiting for your Chinese teacher. She does not speak Chinese often to us, but we have learned a couple of phrases. I was a little anxious about how much she has retained. The teacher came up and started talking to her in Chinese and Kanga didn't even blink but responded in kind with confidence and comfort. They didn't talk long and I'm sure that it was not a complex exchange, but Kanga looked more confidant than many of the other students. She was also able to explain the conversation in some detail as we were leaving. Perhaps I'm just being influenced by my fatherly pride, but I am very proud of her abilities, particularly when it comes to Chinese.
I'm sure there will be challenges - I hope that we can get Tigger to complete homework for instance. But I am glad that my children love learning new things and are looking forward to school.
Even though Tigger won't know which teacher he will have yet, they went by both of possible options' rooms. He might have the same teacher as Kanga did, but he might not. Angel told me that when he was talking with the other teacher she asked what subject he was excited to learn in kindergarten. He replied, "Science! Like volcanoes and space!" She smiled and told him that they won't be covering science in kindergarten, but that she was sure that he could tell her some interesting things about volcanoes and space. He started to immediately. I was also pleased with him when we went to visit Kanga's teacher. While she waited to talk to her teacher Tigger found something interesting.
Kanga, at this time was sitting quietly at her desk waiting for your Chinese teacher. She does not speak Chinese often to us, but we have learned a couple of phrases. I was a little anxious about how much she has retained. The teacher came up and started talking to her in Chinese and Kanga didn't even blink but responded in kind with confidence and comfort. They didn't talk long and I'm sure that it was not a complex exchange, but Kanga looked more confidant than many of the other students. She was also able to explain the conversation in some detail as we were leaving. Perhaps I'm just being influenced by my fatherly pride, but I am very proud of her abilities, particularly when it comes to Chinese.
I'm sure there will be challenges - I hope that we can get Tigger to complete homework for instance. But I am glad that my children love learning new things and are looking forward to school.
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