Remember my freaking out about Katie and gym class?
Well, we got some good news. Apparently, the gym teacher had been concerned about Katie but it wasn’t as bad as we thought. She had been very withdrawn and shy in the beginning – that’s our Kate! – and I guess not terribly participatory. Because of that, the teacher had to give her a poor mid-semester grade (C) but the teacher is confident that it is turning around.
(I know a lot of folks expressed dismay about the grading system so early. For what it’s worth, I think it’s a No Child Left Behind kind of thing. I think the teachers have to give letter grades in public schools now – even in gym.)
The silver lining in all of this is that we have been reminded how much we really do like our choice of public school. One of our major concerns going in was whether we would receive the same kind of quality feedback about Katie as we did at her private school. We certainly have. When we got the first comment, I sent an email to the gym teacher who tried to call me but got a busy signal. He emailed me back and then met with Katie’s classroom teacher before the start of the next school day. When Chris dropped Katie off at school, her teacher met him with more information. It was nicely reassuring.
I feel better about the grade. I worry a little for Katie. She has inherited some of that standoffishness from her father. I’ve noticed it in other things – her first ballet class, the first soccer lesson, parties, you name it. Chris feels it, too. So we’re working on it. One of the things we’re doing is trying to put her into more comfortable social situations. While she loves her art and her reading, those are solo activities. I want her to branch out and make new friends and feel confident in groups. She is a smart, funny, lovable little girl – she just needs to *get out there* and show it.
I think some of what is holding her back is insecurity. I think her size (she is smaller than most of her peers) compounds that a bit. Amy said that girls on the playground called Katie, “Kindergarten baby”, which Katie denies but I think Amy is telling the truth. I especially think it’s true since Katie really didn’t want to talk about it instead of her normal vehement disagreement.
So far, what’s worked best is Girl Scouts. She is in love with Girl Scouts. And it’s nice because it’s a group but a small group. And the kids are not the same as at school, so there’s a whole new audience. She also loves the patches that she earns. It’s a nice confidence booster for her.
I guess that means all is well. For now. You never know with kids…
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
aside from a semi-irresponsible principal, cook has maintained its good reputation. and for a reason. the teachers are dedicated, and there is a considerable amount of parent involvement (compared to other publics)
and that gym teacher? a dream. i worked with him one summer and he’s fantastic. you’re lucky you live in those boundaries.
It’s not a No Child Left Behind national thing to give elementary students grades. (Although I think each state can apply it how they see fit.) We are in public schools in MA, and my kids didn’t/don’t get grades until they’re in 6th grade. Right now, if my 5th grader gets a “C,” she is very proud because it means “Commendable.” My older daughter is in 7th grade, and her academic “grade” is still broken out from her effort and behavior, so, in History, she got an A-, 2, 3. The A- was the average of her grades, the 2 was her effort (on a scale of 1 – 4), and the 3 was her behavior. Because she talks too damned much.
I have no idea where she got that from. But we’re working on it.
Are you the biggest most stereotypical yuppie mother in the world? My sources say yes. I stumbled upon this blog randomly and I want to vomit for having read it.
Vomit away. I’m guessing you don’t have kids. And I’m far from being a yuppie.