I don't know how my nerves could handle this transition without this board! Thanks everyone for the input. I really do hope she will follow through on these things and is not just blowing smoke you know where. She's an experienced teacher but does not seem burnt out (at least in the time I've been in the class). She's very calm and clear (unlike the typical "perky" kindy teacher I would imagine). At least she's thrown me a bone.
How often do they go to the library? Can he check out books? To read when?
Can he do something else during basic phonics work? (I assume he is reading well.)
Do they have advanced books in the classroom?
(They had advanced books in DD's library as well--but they hardly ever went there. The ones in the classroom went up to very easy chapter books, like 2nd grade level, which I think were brought in just for her. They were bad, like "Barbie Has a Party" sort of thing. The higher level picture books were better, honestly. More should have been done. Also, she was not allowed to sit out "The rat is on the mat," which was a crime. She entered K reading at about a 4th grade level, give or take.)
They haven't gone to the library yet, so not sure how that works. We have an amazing local library near us (and my ds is well-known by the children's librarian)...so if we have to go there to get what he needs we will. I did ask permission for ds to bring in his own books during their "quiet time" (some of the kids actually nap). So, ds has been bringing in his geopgraphy/science/how-this-works kind of books for over a week now. He says he reads them for their rest time but no other time. Right now, all of his silly phonic worksheets have elaborate drawings and writings on the back that he does when he's finished(cracks me up, actually). I'm hoping that the 'challenge work' can be done instead of or in addition to this work instead of my ds doodling. I imagine she would not be upset if he read his books if he was finished with his work. The classroom books are pretty basic (from what I've seen). I have no issues with sending a slew of more advanced books for the class if necessary. I found a garage sale this past spring with a former home-school mom who was liquidating her library. Every book and resource: $.25 to $.50! I got at least 20 science-fact type books, 10 Magic School Bus books, and even these amazing logic-puzzle Usborne workbooks (those I'll keep at home
).
I do feel like I've been holding my breath since school started, so it feels good to take a breath again. We have been told by virtually everyone (friends, clients, neighbors) that this school is the finest around. We live in a college-town and 'bedroom community' with lots, LOTS of highly educated physicians, executives, and the like. Surely (surely?) they've handled advanced kids before.
