(if you saw my angst in my other thread- I have been angsting) I have been so worried wanting to do this (milestone) right. �It's my first year as a school parent too. �I don't want my son to "not like" something he's never even tried. �(pre-empting a big red flag bad gifted habit). �We're changing "I don't like" to "I don't know if I like" and filling out a short satisfaction everyday after school (just a simple check the box beside the smiley, frowny, and question mark. �If it's a frowny I want a one word answer why. �My other conclusion is if you're going to go to school you're going to have to do things the way your teacher wants you to. � I know the work is too easy for him right now (he had to write "the" three times, yesterday he had to color a few shapes and cut squares another day). �While I would rather have him learning grammar rules and spelling lists during his work period- he has to do the work the teacher gives him. I made this clear the second time they sent unfinished work that he completed in under a minute. �I gave him an hour's worth of writing and told him "if you do your work at school then you'll be done, if you bring home work I'll give you more work. �Do your work at school". �I think what he needs to know is I support the teacher. �The other side of that is if he really doesn't like it I will not hesitate to homeschool.�
I don't know if this is helpful or not. �I don't know how we'll all feel about this even next week, much less after he's grown. �But that's my story just this week after worrying about being pushy. �Unless you mean being pushy with the teachers. �I know they're busy. �I've stayed in touch with what's happening a lot by asking a simple, one sentence question when I pick my kid up. �Or when they tell me something I come back with a simple one sentence answer the next day. �I know they're busy with all those kids just starting school. I also want to be an involved parent and also to parent my own kid. �
*If he does more advanced work at home send a sample in his backpack and tell him to show his teacher. �He's got a lot more time to show her. �It might not change anything, but at least she'll know.*
