My son may be going through a change of schools. How do you make this transition easy? It will be a smaller school with more one on one contact. It is better acidemically and I am sure for his growing brain it will be a better fit. I just dont know how to make this easy on an almost 5 year old.
He has a tendancy to act out when he is put in a new situation. I also want to have this school be more informative on a day to day basis so that I can encourage what they are learing at home. This is something the school he is at now does not do. It feels as though I know nothing about what he is learning unless he tells me. How do I encourage the teacher to communicate more? I want to be involved and have an open line of communication.
Azrieling- The school he is in now I have pryed for information. I get the he is doing well. But then I get a letter that he needs to work on XYZ. I go in almost everyday with him and try communicating but I get the same result. This was a great preschool but is lacking in the Kinder area. I have talked to the principal and he has tried to help me. It may just be this teacher.
A good teacher will do everything you are concerned about without your having to ask. A smaller school with more one on one contact sounds like a good start.
In my opinion, in kindergarten you don't need to "encourage what they are learning at home" -- home should be for family fun. That's the best supplement to their school learning.
We went thru this...the best thing for your son is to visit the school when the teachers, principal, etc., are all there and talk to each one. Don't just visit an empty building!! Show him the little "cubby" or whatever they'll use for coats, etc., the bathroom, water fountain, cafeteria, office .... EVERYTHING!!! If he'll be riding the bus, introduce him to the bus driver; drive the route and actually go to the school and park where the bus would park and walk the route into the building - tell him to NEVER walk off the path and go straight into the building. Do the same if you'll be driving him.
In other words, just familiarize him with everything!!!
As for communication - make sure the teachers have phone numbers, email addresses, etc. so you can stay in touch. I know for our school, each teacher sent out a short little blurb every Friday so we knew what they would be working on. If the teachers don't do this maybe suggest it to them as a way of letting parents know what they'll be working on. At this age, especially, we can't rely on the kids to bring home papers that parents need to see.
Also, can you volunteer at the school? Maybe not just in the classroom but maybe the playground, cafeteria, etc.? It was really helpful for my kids to see me periodically thru the day since not only had we switched schools but had moved as well and it was a very difficult and emotional move.
Good luck!!!
Perhaps visit the school and introduce him when it looks like it's going to definitely happen.
You don't want to bury your kid in school stuff when he gets home. It's like an adult coming home from work and having to work more. Not a good idea. If he has challenge areas, that's different - then you need feedback from the teachers to help improve. At my son's kindergarten, the teacher sends home a little summary of what the kids are learning from week to week. It's not a daily contact, but it's a head's up so you can do what you're asking. Like this week is seasons - so we talk about how winter and summer are different, etc.
I would let the teacher know that you want that open communication, and ask her what is typical in terms of that. For teachers to have every day contact with EACH parent would be overloading, but touching base weekly may make sense. Let her know you care, and work out something you both like.
I'm at a big public school and I've never had an issue with updates from the teachers. I used to pick my child up at the classroom and after class the teachers will talk to any parent about their child and what needs to be done if there is an issue. But ever since I have 4 in school now, I feel that I'm losing control since I can't pick them all up at once so I do feel like I don't' know what's going on even with the newsletters they send. But I do know they are all open to:
Emailing them
Leaving messages
School page online has a teacher page
Talk to them before or after school. Just to get that repertoire.
Teachers will be encouraged to communicate with you if you are communicating with them, it's not one way. They have alot of kids to work with and if you are concerned about your one kid, you need to do that extra leg work otherwise the only communication you will get is the bad bahavior ones and once in a while the good work stickers.
If you have a little time before the switch, you could try to plan a small get together for the kids who will be in his class. Ask the teacher if she could forward an e-mail from you to the parents in the class (she may not be able or willing to give out their e-mails). Just set up something on the weekend, like "my name is 2boys and my son is xxx, he can't wait to meet your children as the new student in class. we are going to Chuck E. Cheese/ McDonald's Play Place/ Bouncy House place/ wherever on Saturday from 1-2pm. We'd love it if you could come for some fun".
We did this when my daughter switched schools. The teacher sent the e-mail from me inviting everyone (non-hosted aka pay your own way) to an indoor trampoline place. We had about 10-12 kids show up. Perfect for her to meet some kids and at least recognize some familiar faces when she showed up for her first day.
If nothing else, ask the teacher for a suggestion. Maybe she has an idea of a possible friend who you could arrange a playdate with or another suggestion. She knows the class and the families, and can probably point you in the right direction.
Good luck!
