I can't help but start out by saying it seems like just yesterday Aiden was starting in his very first wee threes classroom in RI. He was just about three months from three years old. That was about three years ago! While it seems like just yesterday I read back over
his school boy post and I wonder why I expected to cry? I can't even imagine crying now because I know what lies ahead. I know that these independent guys of mine will love school.
Keaton just turned two and half, so we were lucky that his new school had a space for a new student over 30 months (a combination of their sibling preference policy and some fire marshall rule meant that all their space for kids younger was filled). Lucky for us they had just met for the first time one week ago, so technically he just missed the first class even though we are starting almost a whole month into Aiden's regular year.
I'd picked this school option because they had these Step into Preschool one and two day a week class options. I figure there is no rush for a full 5 day a week program, but I really wanted him to have an outlet in a classroom because I knew he would love it. I also liked the idea that he'd get to know the same group of friends (versus all the rec center classes where we usually see new faces with each new class). I also had heard such great things about this Coop school and even though it was not Montessori I was happy to see that they do a lot of the same independence building for this age.
Keaton and I had a chance to visit last week to meet his new teacher and see his new classroom. He bounced right in the door and greeted his teacher. She showed him the class caterpillars and the growing fish, which he was really excited about. He said the little fish where going to grow into big sharks, which made his new teacher smile. He left saying his teacher's name with the cutest little voice, Ms. Quig-ley - which doesn't that sound like the most adorable character name for a teacher?
This morning was a bit gloomy and everyone was a little bit tired. I struggled to get a few shots of this guy in what he calls his pack pack. By the time we dropped off Aiden at school, Keaton told me he was ready to go home to cuddle. When I said we were heading to his new school, he said, "No, not today, thanks" so matter of factly, I was a little bit worried I was bringing a fussy new friend to the class. But once we pulled up in the driveway, he was ready to pop right out of the car onto the little path that leads to the school. The school is tucked back into a wooded area, and the parking lot is surrounded by a path for safety. It makes a nice relaxing mini hike into school.
When we got to the classroom he didn't really want to hang up his pack pack, although he figured out that it would be fun to take his picture ring hanging from his hook into the classroom hook. So he bounced right in to meet his new friends, hang his hook, and wash his hands. His teacher said that she liked his froggie boots and he showed how they were good for hopping.
I was so happy to stay in the classroom today to get a good feel for how his morning goes. The first thing Keaton wanted to do during his free choice time was to make a painting at the easel. He really stuck with this for a while with a few hand washings in between. He fed the fish, explored the sand table, played tea with his friend and the teacher, played with puppets, arranged felt farm animals on a board, played rhythm sticks, stamped with farm stamps, painted with toy tractor wheels, sang songs together, took a walk to the playground area (before the rain poured down!), walked to the indoor activity room, slid down the slide into block towers, raced cars on the giant track, read some books, ate a snack (which was practically a full lunch with strawberries, cheese, rice crackers, and edamame.) and even celebrated his new buddies' birthday with rice crispy treats - Keaton loves singing happy birthday so that was a special treat!
That is a super full morning for a tired guy that just wanted to go home, and he handled it really well. During the goodbye song I got lotsa hugs, and that will probably end up being the sweetest part of the day when I start coming to pick him up during that time. Boy, I am so glad he got a spot and I just know this will be so great for him.
