Last Day Prek3

Last Tuesday was D's last day of prek 3.  And if you clicked the link and read back ... the teacher was overwhelmed and she ended up leaving by November.  It was a rocky start for D, without a good leader to guide them to what they were supposed to be doing.  Mrs. F let them rough house to an extent that wasn't good.  The boys (6 in this class who had all been together last year) were diving under tables and running around in circles.  By October no one was putting away their belongings, lining up, or listening at circle time.  But yet ... everyone was getting treasure box every day.  Chaos reigned.

In November, when the TA took over the class, hearts were broken because there was no more treasure box every day.  And they had to put away their own things.  And they had to line up.  Rules were enforced (per usual) and what was perceived as a really nice teacher initially was now a mean TA.

And when they got their new permanent teacher, there were more rules.  And you had to earn stickers for good behavior to get treasure box (which is normal) and it just put him and his new teacher at odds.  Added to this the bathroom incident where she took away the book and he never clicked with her, at least that I saw.  He still talks about Mrs. A from last year, and going to see her.  He barely ever says his prek 3 teacher's name.  At all.  I had to ask all throughout the year if he even knew it.

I feel that Mrs. L was a kind teacher who had to make order from chaos and that meant separating friends and spending time where it was most needed.  And again, as all things, my kids fall in the middle.  Well-behaved enough to be below notice, smart enough to work independently and learn.  With D it's hard to know what he's picking up because he just doesn't parrot new information.  But then suddenly you'll be in the car and he'll read a road sign.  And you're like ... whoa, he is learning!  And that's proved true over and over again this year.

And D did get in trouble.  He is stubborn and emotional.  And he got in trouble a few times and had to apologize ... and wouldn't.  This again put him at odds with the teacher, who embarrassed him and made him say things (sorry) he didn't want to say.

She was a good teacher and it was a big learning year for him.  In my brain preschool breaks down like this:  MDO (year 2) - learn to be away from mom.  Prek 3 - learn to be in a classroom.  Prek 4 - learn how to learn from an instructor.

And by this standard he did get where he was supposed to be.  He put his things away and did some independent behaviors.  He did line up and remain orderly (at a level befitting a 4yo).  He still struggles with circle time and listening to a story.  But I have a hard time with this at home, too.

He has done well.  And the year is now over.