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Aug. 12, 2011: Beginnings

As a way to excite my soon-to-be Kindergarten student about returning to school, I told her that school was going to be GREAT! because this year her teacher would teach her how to read. Last Friday, after her second day, she returned home visibly disappointed from school. I asked what was wrong, and was unprepared for her response: “You told me that my teacher was going to teach me how to read and she didn’t!” Probably not the moment to mention the 180 days still remaining in the school year.

It takes a bit of time at the beginning of each year for students, teachers and parents to get to know each other, build trusting relationships, make friends, and settle into the new routine. We all begin a new school year with our own expectations, dreams, and hopes. It is hard for children and parents when aspects of their new class are unfamiliar or different than anticipated. It is scary to make new friends.

We believe in the importance of children feeling good about coming to school while also recognizing that part of this is adapting to new situations and overcoming some challenges. When situations are tentative for students, it is important for children to feel connected to a variety of different teachers and staff, and to know that we will work as a team to make sure that everyone is safe, healthy, and feeling as good about being at school as possible. We also know that some things take time, like learning to read and making new friends, so we are patient with children and ourselves to let processes unfold.

When we allow time to pass without running in to fix the discomfort that new situations create, we empower our children and students to develop new life skills. My daughter told me yesterday after school that she still hadn’t learned to read but her teacher had taught her MATH!! Math! We hadn’t even considered math over vacation! Beginnings are also filled with surprises. May this beginning be filled with wondrous surprises and lots of good learning.





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