Meet and Greet

Last night was the official meeting and greeting of all the faculty and staff at Colby's school. We received an agenda of what our children would be learning and doing in Kindergarten. Kindergarten has changed since I was a kid. They are actually learning. No more baby sitting. In my head I thought I knew this, but after seeing it spelled out I was in a bit of shock.

I knew that he would have to say, spell, and recognize his name. I knew he would learn how to use scissors if he didn't already. Colors, shapes, numbers that was a given.

Most of the things he is going to learn, he already knows.

But there were a few things that surprised me.

Learning the value of money. I learned that in second grade. I actually learned it at home, but it was introduced to me in school til second grade.

Reading. Again I learned at home. But if they aren't reading sight words by Christmas break, then they are already behind in Kindergarten.

Telling time. I learned this very early, but only because when Jennifer learned she stood on the kitchen table and used a yard stick to teach me. Not because I wanted to learn, but she wanted to teach me.

Addition and Subtraction 0 to 5.

We have actually been doing this already, but it's more of his curiosity than me saying lets learn how to add and subtract. I know I didn't learn this til second grade.

For the most part, I am really happy that Colby knows most of this. I don't know that he actually knows the value of coins, but I know he'll take a quarter over a penny any day. He won't even trade you 1 quarter for 6 pennies. Scott and Alison always fell for that trick. If they had a dollar you could give them 2 pennies, because everyone knows 2 is more than 1.

He will know the difference between a writer and an illustrator. Who ever thought to teach your kids that when reading a book. I say the author's name, but I never thought to say, the author writes the book, and this person drew all the pretty pictures.

He will also be able to recognize and know the use of a (.) and (?). I know I learned this in second grade, becuase I remember Mrs Collins (my 2nd grade teacher) taught me how to make the (?).

And finally rhyming words. We have a lot of fun with rhyming. I say a word and he thinks of a word that rhymes with it. Or, I say a group of words and he tell me what rhymes.

One time playing this game I said "grass" and as soon as I said it I knew my mistake. He started laughing, and I said I change my mind I want you to rhyme chair. Colby said "No, a bad word rhymes with grass and since you said grass I have to say the bad word." He didn't but he wanted too.

When my little brother (Scott) was learning to rhyme he had a hard time with it. He said when he got married he was going to marry someone who could rhyme. Maggie if you read this I've always wondered are you a good rhymer?