Learning the kindergarten way

"Back to School Night" at Van Allen Elementary was the calendar item of the day. What a great time! Before we went, Max told us the rules in the hall - no talking, no running and no whispering. Clearly, he's learning the rules quickly. I'm hoping it's because he likes to know the rules and not break them (except at home) and not because he's breaking them and having to be told over and over! Knowing him, it's the former. Good rule follower and enforcer!

Max was most proud of his photo with his first grade friend, John (or you can call him, Johny, according to Max) and their information sheet - how many siblings do you have, how many pets, favorite thing to do outside, favorite toy, etc. He's very into knowing a first grader and any time he talks about John he smiles. I love it. He showed us the calendar, alphabet, birthday and weather area. He told us about the different cards and their meanings - sit down, stay calm, use helping hands when kids are not listening.

We read the Rocket Blast, which I'll have to write down someday. It's a saying recited each day about being a Van Allen Rocket and respecting people and property. Ms. Knupp told us the kids are doing great with it - today they even did it on their own as a group while she was doing some other work.

After hearing about the blue tickets and reading some about P.B.S. (Positive Behavior System) I was interested to see and learn more. I saw the much talked about jar that the blue tickets go in each day for daily and weekly drawings. Ms. Knupp told us that Max gets a good number of the blue tickets. The tickets are given out for showing respect, doing good things and following rules. Most of them are given out in settings outside the classroom: the hallway, cafeteria, outside, other classes such as art, music and library. Classrooms hold daily drawings and at the end of the week, all classrooms put their tickets together and drawings are held for larger items. Max told me the other day, "If Mrs. Dixon, our principal, draws your name, you get to have popcorn or another cool prize." One of Max's tickets was drawn yesterday and now he's just waiting to be the kid drawn again, hopefully, by Mrs.

I was very impressed with the Smart Board in the classroom. The Smart Board is an interactive whiteboard used for reading, math, writing, anything really. It's unbelievable tool. Van Allen is hoping to get one for each grade/team in the next year. Currently, the one or two owned by the school travel between rooms. Max tried it out for the first time and with a bit of practice started getting into the ability to "write" on the board with his finger or a writing tool.

Max introduced us to a couple of his friends - Evan and Claire and we saw Ethan. More than once Max, asked "I wonder where Jake was tonight?" I love that he's making never friends! He pointed out Ms. Shoppa and reminded us "Ms. Shoppa is the assistant principal and Ms. Dixon, the one in here before, is our principal. They are nice." Think he'll always think that about his principals?

We had a great time tonight and glowed as Max showed us around his room and brought us into his kindergarten life. In two weeks time, he's made friends, knows his teacher, other kindergarten teachers, teachers and specialists in other rooms, is comfortable in the school setting, knows the rules for the hallways and in his class, has been line leader, talks about reading new books, doing math work and liking school, he thinks recess is cool and loves eating on picnic like tables in the cafeteria. I'm already thrilled with Ms. Knupp and thankful the year is going well.

By the way, tonight was called "Back to School Night" but Mitch and I felt like it was "Back in Time Night" but with lots of new technology and learning resources!

Not connected to the "Back to School Night" but Max's highlight of his school day - getting a tour with the older kids and seeing where the other grade's classrooms are in the building! These are important things when you're a kindergarten aspiring to be in a numbered grade!