School Days
Posted By pamelamyers on October 11, 2016
Sam’s school year has been going pretty well. There are definite upsides, like the fact that she loves riding the bus (even if it comes insanely early in the morning), she likes her teacher, she has actually been eating something at lunch, and our mornings have been smooth. Some of these things don’t surprise me (the bus) and some of them do (mornings and lunch). I am happy that she loves her school and seems to like first grade, although, she is not liking it as much as kindergarten. It is a big adjustment. It is a much longer day and a much more difficult curriculum. If you ask her if she likes school, you will get a loud yes! but there are signs of anxiety. She has some nervous habits that have resurfaced and she seems, well, on edge, sometimes. And there have been some sleep issues. Yeah, I know, she already has sleep issues (i.e. her inability to stay in her own bed), but she has been having trouble falling asleep.
A few times, I got her to open up to me and let me know what is going on that has her upset and we did find out a few things, and I tried to solve a few. The length of the day, not much I can do there. That is just something she will have to adjust to. But she was also worried about making friends for various reasons, and I tried to help her work through that. Part of her concern was who she sat with at lunch due to the peanut/no peanut arrangements at the tables, and we figured out a way to let her sit where she wants to. It’s a long story, but it has worked out. She also strangely was obsessed with her inability to reach the monkey bars in the playground. Mark and I wound up taking her to school one weekend to let her practice. There have been other random issues we have either worked through or no. But it’s been interesting to say the least.
Homework was going to get thrown into the mix at the beginning of October and I was a bit concerned about that. She is so exhausted after school, I didn’t know how she was going to cope with focusing on homework. Thankfully, it’s not a lot. 15 minutes of reading, sight word practice, and 15 minutes maximum of math. Thankfully, Sam has been having no trouble with her homework and we sail through it pretty easily. Yay! To give her something special, I had made her this lap desk at which she could do her homework if she wanted to, instead of at our kitchen table. Sam was so excited when I gave it to her! I decoupaged a bunch of stuff I knew she would like on it. The very first day, she had to use it. At the table (which makes no sense, but….I am glad she loved it). Here’s my little cutie, plugging away at her work.
Hopefully, as time goes on, school will get easier and she will adjust to the schedule. I was able to have her bus pick up time moved a bit later, she is making friends, and is figuring out her schedule with all her various teachers. I have every confidence my little girl will be a success. I just hope she believes it too.
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