Beginning of School

We have made it through the first week of the school year and have started the second.  The girls are so happy to be back at school and they absolutely love their teachers.  I am amazed at how well Ali has adjusted to year one.  She was half excited about year one and half afraid it was going to be boring becuase she would have to do math and reading which she wasn't a big fan of last year.  In the first week of year one her teacher, Ms. Willets, has actually changed Ali's tune and now she is having fun with both math and reading.  Her reading skills have improved greatly.  I'm now not sure if she could have read more over the summer but just played us for fools and pretended she couldn't or if Ms. Willets somehow found the right button to push and turned Ali's brain on to learning her words.  Ali brings home a book every night and we sit and she reads it to me.  It is still not a fast read but it is nice to see her making strides.  Ali also comes home every day talking about the math they did in class.  As we spoke about it yesterday I asked her how she knew where to put the number in the game they were playing and her response was brilliant.  She said, "because I'm smart."  I love seeing that confidence in her. 

Sofia's teacher, Mrs. AuCoin, is from the States and is new to the school this year.  She has such amazing energy and really seems to have a passion for teaching.  I think she will challenge Sofia this year which will be good since I don't think Sofia was very challenged last year.  Sofia also brings home a book to read every day and there is a comments card that comes home as well which the teacher will write on and I can also write on to give feedback to the teacher.  Her teacher is now focusing on intonation and punctuation with Sofia which she needs help on since she will just rush through reading the story.  Her reading comprehension is getting better as well so I will let Sofia read her story by herself while I'm working with Ali and then I will ask her questions about her story to see if she in fact read it and understood it.  I'm waiting to see what Sofia will have for spelling homework this year since she already completed all the year two key words last year.  The spelling from last year was also easier for her and she never had to study them after school to get them right on her quizes.  I think she is up for the challenge this year especially becuase she seems to love her teacher.

Overall it has been a great start to the new school year.  The kids will start their after school activites this week so it will be another week of adjustment but all in a goof and fun way.