New Teacher Meeting Went Great

I would have written last night, but I really, REALLY wanted to stitch for a bit. The meeting with DD's new teacher was great. I think every parent there was impressed with him. He is young (about 24) and he is so full of enthusiasm for teaching and finding new ways to make learning fun. He is very into computers and science and stuff like that and for the first time this year, the children will have simple science with simple experiments (like growing a plant). M had science last year (first year for old school for 1st graders) and she loved it. So she is looking forward to what Mr. F will come up with. He is doing these Mad Minutes for Math and it is a race to see who gets all the problems (15-20 simple addition/subtraction) done within a minute. He said the kids are crazy about them and are trying to beat their times already. He never even mentioned it to them. He just looks at it that it is keeping them sharp with basic skills as they are now entering money and time and addition and subtraction is kind of on hold right now. So far DD has 1 minute 20 seconds on Monday and 1 minute 5 seconds on Tuesday. He said on Fridays they will have the "real" Mad Minute and he will award a small prize (star sticker, piece of candy, pencil, etc) for the winners. He said they love it. He also is teaching them about decision making and other things and the way he is going to go about it is so much fun that the kids are not going to realize they are learning. Our principal talked with us too and we can see why she was impressed. She told us she had interviewed 5 teachers before Mr. F and she told us stories. Hoo Boy, I am glad those 5 teachers were not let loose on my DD and her classmates. Mr. F seems to fit right in and the important thing is that DD likes him and is excited to be going to school every day. He also told us that he realizes he is the 3rd teacher these children have had this year and he is not planning on going anywhere. So the meeting went really, really well. Now time will tell. DH and I finally started breathing again during this meeting. Like I have said before, the past few weeks have not been fun in our household with the was DD was acting toward school.

Today, the kids are taking a virtual tour of the White House with President Bush as their tour guide. Mr. F said it is awesome and the kids will feel like they are actually with the President. DD was very excited this morning to be going on the "tour" as Mr. F made a big deal about their virtual field trip today. So I think things will go well for the rest of the year. Of course, he gave us a list of supplies the children will need. I did feel like it was September again. LOL So I will trek out some time today to get the things DD needs which isn't much but I still need this stuff before Monday and want to do it on a day there is no snow forecasted or no below freezing temperatures.

Have a great day everyone!!