Student of the Week

I've still been struggling with the decision of holding Rylan back this year.  I think it's ultimately the right decision but he is really bored at school right now.  I know that the first few weeks of kindergarten is a lot about getting the kids used to routines and being in a big school and that it will get more challenging.  I just hope he doesn't lose his love and enthusiasm for school that he developed last school year!

Rylan has been excelling though so far.  He got to be the line leader the first day of school because he colored in the lines the best on his first worksheet :)

Also, look what he received at the end of the first week of school ...

Last night I emailed Rylan's teacher to tell her about the kindergarten program Rylan did last year and to share my concerns about him.  She responded back with this awesome email that makes me feel a lot better about our decision and what Rylan will be doing soon ...

I am so glad you emailed me because I was just thinking today about Rylan and how ahead he is from everyone else in the class. Rylan is definitely the top in the class. Not only is he the top, but he is also the most well-mannered and kind little boy. Which says so much about you!

These first few weeks of kindergarten has a lot of assignments where us as the kindergarten teachers are giving the students things to complete for us to be able to see what they do and do not know. We are reviewing over shapes right now in math (which I would say 98% of the class already know) but it is our first standard and we have to review it. It is boring and I have tried to make it more fun with the shape YouTube songs that we sing and dance to in the mornings. But yes, it is really boring. In literacy, we are starting stations this week and Rylan's face has lit up when we go to literacy station. These stations are a bit more tough and most kids in the class are struggling with them, however they are right up Rylan's alley at keeping him occupied. Rylan is placed in a higher level literacy group with two other kids (Selma and London) so as literacy stations go on, these three will be getting some small group work with me where I give them things much more challenging. I know these first two weeks have probably been boring for Rylan, but if you guys will just bare with me figuring out who is at what levels the next two weeks, you should see Rylan having more level appropriate work. For the time being, I will talk with my mentor in the morning about some activities she thinks would benefit Rylan while we are learning about shapes and things so that he is not bored. I hate that and I do not want him to be.

Rylan is such a sweetheart and he has also been so kind to our friend Lily in our class who has Down syndrome. You should be very very proud of him.

I will keep you updated on what we decide to do with Rylan as far as more on his level work goes for the next two weeks. If you have any more questions, please do not hesitate to ask and I hope that this helps!