Kindergarten Man

This year, we’ve decided to do Kindergarten with Abe.  We debated a lot, because he won’t be 5 until October.  I am not normally an advocate of early kindergarten, at least not formal kindergarten.  Especially for boys.  But I am an advocate of each child getting what they need and it was very clear to us that Abe needed school.  

That boy’s mind works constantly.  His wheels are always turning and if he’s not directed towards positive ways to use all of that mental energy we regret it.  Free time for Abe= damage control for Ryan and I.  He disassembles, experiments, wanders, and explores in ways that are not always positive.  

When I had more time, I could have provided Abe with more hand’s on stuff just through things I made up and activities off the internet, etc.  But, I don’t have that sort of time to create things right now.  By having him on the lesson plans and in a curriculum, he’s getting more focused attention than he has in the past.  It may be that he ends up having two years of kindergarten, but that will be just fine with us.

We decided we’d give him stuff to chew on.  I was careful to chose very hand’s on active curriculums and chose supplemental materials that are perfect for a busy boy like Abe.  I’m minimizing the busy work and maximizing the concepts and he’s doing great.  He can’t form his letters well, but he knows all of his letter sounds.  He can’t form his numbers well, but he’s a whiz at mathmatic concepts.  He loves, loves, loves school time and he is a joy to teach.  Mostly.  He’s much more of a joy to teach than he is to manage, so we’re teaching.  And he’s learning.  It’s a good thing.

Here are some pictures of Abe during his first few weeks as a kindergarten man:   

Here he is making letters with his letter construction set.  He enjoys putting the pieces together to make letters and all sort of other things.

Abe loves to have his picture made.  Here is an A that he make, but he wanted to add a handle so that I could take his picture.

He's learning to enjoy peers.  Here he is enjoying pizza and a friend at a birthday party.

He LOVES to dress up.  Cape, mask, googles, hat, bandana, you name it... he usually is wearing one.

Abe has two favorite creatures in the world these days, Isaac and Snickers.  He thinks his brother Isaac hung the moon.  And the dog, I honestly think that dog is going to be the key to Abe learning about compassion and kindness. He seems to "get it" with the dog more than he does with people.

Here's Abe showing me his "baby snails" which he loves to visit on the bush out front of our house.