Go Macy! Go Macy!!!

Ok, so I never posted about this but about a month ago we got a letter saying that our Kinder was growing and they were going to have to add another classroom. I remember reading about some of my friends saying it happened to them and they had valid reasons for wanting their children to stay in the same class (One of my friends has breast cancer and didn't want her children moved from their class as they already had enough disruptions going on in their lives.) Anyway, after reading about my friend I realized that I did NOT have a valid reason for keeping Macy in her class, other than she loved her class and I LOVED her teacher, etc. I prepared Macy and told her that they would be taking some kids from each class and she may or may not be chosen for the new class. She was a little worried but we moved on. Then the announcement came and Macy was chosen for the new class. Macy was sad and again, worried - but I talked it up telling her she was CHOSEN (like it was special) and that she would make new friends and still see her old friends at lunch and recess.

Fast forward to now. She's been in her new class. Most days she's fine with it but every once in a while she gets sad and misses her old class and her old teacher. I miss her old teacher too. This new one is nice but she's older and I think a little less "kid friendly" but highly intelligent and probably a great teacher. Her old teacher was very young and sweet. Well, this morning Macy started crying before school. Her throat hurt, her tummy hurt - I see many "fake" illnesses in this child's academic future. Wish I could say I didn't know where she got that from but I'm afraid I do. [she said while rolling her eyes and whistling] She is my only child that WANTS to stay home. Jack and Elle are running to the school and Elle actually gets mad at ME on school holidays - like I just keep her home and everyone else is at school. Don't get me wrong - Macy likes school but she likes to stay home too.

Ok - back to this morning. I feel her head, tell her she's not sick and nudge her out the door. She is crying for me - she misses Mrs. D (her old teacher) she says. I hug her, say I'm sorry and tell her that maybe she can stop by Mrs. D's class on the way in and say hi. Don takes them to school.

When we pick them up the first thing she says to me is "I got to go help Mrs. D in her classroom today!!" She was so excited! So tonight I email Macy's teacher to thank her for letting Macy go visit/help Mrs. D and told her about this morning and how the timing was perfect for her to be able to go to Mrs. D's classroom.

This is the reply that I just got back from Mrs. K (Macy's new teacher):

Macy was one of two students that was allowed to have extra time during free centers because she is always on task. She is a student that teachers dream to have. She leads by example and girls look up to her. Please let me know if you have any ideas on how to reward Macy. I will check to see if it is ok for Macy to visit Mrs. Dobbertein's class more often during free centers.


That makes my heart beam!! And it makes me so happy that Macy's teacher is asking for ways to reward her. I told her Macy loves to help out - so being able to help the teacher (either Mrs. K or Mrs. D) would thrill her. And being able to visit Mrs. D's class and help out is going to make Macy SO happy! And it might help her "want" to go to school more. I love our school and our teachers - I feel they really go out of their way to help the kids. They rock!!!

Elle for President!!!!

Ok, my Elle has always been fascinated by the Presidents of the United States. She talks about Lincoln and Washington all the time. I figured that was pretty normal - after all, I'm sure they learn a lot about these two presidents in Kinder and First grade. Well, today she brought home a book from the library titled "So You Want to Be Predident?" She was so excited. So we sat down tonight to read this book. By the way, I've always been fascinated by the US President's too. I remember learning about them in school - having to memorize them in Elementary school (Joe is the one who helped me learn all of the Presidents - I can remember learning this like it was yesterday. Just don't ask me to name all of the Presidents today!) I've been to D.C., the White House, Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, Washington's house - I loved it! I loved it so much that I bought a book on the Presidents while we were there and read it cover to cover.

Ok - back to Elle. We are reading her book. It's a pretty neat book. Full of interesting tidbits like How many presidents were named James? There were 6. Or how many presidents didn't go to college? 9 How many were born in log cabins? 8 How many had siblings? All of them did. The tallest, the shortest, the fattest, the oldest, the youngest, the handsomest, etc. It's interesting but I thought it would probably be a little over Elle's head - it seems a little older than her but I was WRONG! She held onto every word! When it discussed which presidents could dance the book commented on how Washington could do a "mean minuet" and how he danced with every woman at his inaugural ball EXCEPT his wife. (Mrs. W had stayed home!) After I finished reading that page Elle stops me and says "wait, I have two questions. One, why did he do an angry dance?" LOL! A mean minuet = angry dance to Elle. :))"And two, why didn't he dance with his wife??" She followed every word.

Then halfway through the book she says to me "want to know my five favorite Presidents?" I'm impressed she can just NAME five presidents! So she tells me "Lincoln, Washington, Roosevelt, Jefferson and Barack Obama" I even had her tell me again later (so I could write it down and keep it) and she listed them all again. How did she get so grown up??

And when I asked her if she wanted to be president one day she said "no. People disagree with you and then they will kill you." :(

I love my Elle Belle.