The teacher called home--ALREADY?!
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Last night at 8pm, Sydney's teacher called the house. My DH looked at me and said "It's been four days and she's calling already?" LOL
Let me start by saying--she's intense. She was very friendly, but intense. I guess the kids like her though and learn a lot. Parents are not sure what to think. When we tell people Syd got her for a teacher, they all pause and say "Oh, she is strict, but the kids learn a lot."
She called to let us know that they started in with their academic schedule yesterday. She said the first week was to get used to the routine and then she thought she would just jump right in and give it a go. She said that Sydney needed prompting to get focused on the school work. (Ok, I was good--I'm not going to get defensive! LOL) I said "Yes, she's my social butterfly and enjoys talking and visiting with other children." She said this isn't unusual since some preschools have very open/free schedules. (Ok, I did get a bit defensive because Syd blossomed at her preschool and I LOVED it.) I just said that I loved her school and that she had a teacher who taught for 20 years, whom Sydney responded very well to.
Anyway, AGGH!!
Then, she says they started their "writing" by drawing pictures to tell a story. The kids were asked to write a true story. I guess Sydney said "I turned into a princess...." Well, her teacher said it was fine for now, but that she'll need to really "write" about something that has actually happened to her. (Ok, now in the conversation, I'm thinking "Holy crud!")
She goes on to tell the importance of writing about true events and how that leads to "labeling." Like if we went grocery shopping and bought tomatoes, tomatoes start with "T."
I ended the coversation by asking what I could do to encourage the process. She told me we could try "writing" stories at home about things that have happened and having Syd tell me about the story and the picture. Then, she said to read out loud and to really talk about the pictures and have Syd tell me about the pictures she sees. (Ok, now I'm feeling overwhelmed again! LOL) She said to also get books with patterns. She said "I see a teacher, I see a desk.."
She reminded me about the open house coming up and that she really talks about the cirriculum. How did I guess? LOL
Okaaay....very intense! I'd keep an eye on the situation as you don't want to sour Sydney on school already.  Is it full day or half day?
Good grief and Give me a break! We are talking about Kindergarteners for Heaven's sake. My dd does think she is a princess. That would be a REAL experience for her.
DD knows the difference between reality and fiction but has a very vivid imagination. She's all the time saying "Let's pretend, Mommy!" I'm sure your dd is the same. I don't blame you for feeling overwhelmed. You sound like you held your tongue very well, but man, that would have been hard. Learning alot is great but they are only in K. It's still time for some fun. Lighten up lady!
wow. that is intense. My dd is a second grader and still likes to "be a princess" i even call her princess!
My ds is in kindergarten too and he would do the same thing as Syd if he were told to write a true story. True stories are BORING! It's much more fun to be a princess or a dinosaur (which would happen in my ds's case LOL).
You did a good job holding your tongue Eve! I know i would have been nervous if i saw the teacher's/school's name on the caller ID!
I think the teacher seems to be a bit mixed up. What she's doing is appropriate, as far as having the children draw pictures and then write something about them. Being something that is true to life is not what's important. If Syd draws a picture of herself as a princess, she should just write "I am a princess". It's that simple.
I think that if she's trying to teach the difference between true an make belief, she could do that by telling different stories to them herself.
Whatever happened to "children learn through play"?
I hope she calms down, because it could make for a loooong year!!
Ditto Marcia! As a mom and former Kindergarten teacher, all I can say is, "WOW!" 
I second Trinas WOW... I don't even know what else to say except WOW.....
Do you have any other options? I think she is going to squelch any creativity and cause a bad taste in the mouth for school. I'd switch teachers if at all possible IMHO. Yikes!
Ditto, Marcia. I guess I would be worried about a teacher calling to tell me my dd needed to be "more focused" if it were her only her fourth day of Kindergarten. Aren't the first few days about feeling comfortable? Perhaps settling in to a new schedule, new friends, new everything?
I think she should be able to write about being a princess. Early writing is just supposed to flow, not be about a certain topic.
Okay, I don't have time to post much now BUT I taught K for 7 years and all I'm thinking is W-H-O-A!!! This chic needs to lighten up! K's don't write about TRUE things that happened to them because they have imaginations! There is always something made-up and that's the way it should be. For heaven's sake! She knows how to label things already. I really can't believe she said all of that!
Have to agree with Pam...possibly switching teachers? The problem with that is there's a stigma to it within the grade level AND with the teacher herself. Plus, you have to go through getting her switched and why. All I'm thinking is that if this were Natalie and I got that call a)my big mouth would have been open and loudly and b)I'd be switching her so fast her head would spin!
Ditto on being focused, too. That's ridiculous! Ditto Marcia also. It's not the writing and sotry-telling, it's the real vs. make-believe. We NEVER discussed that until later in the year and I NEVER made my students do only a true story. A story is a story, as long as they know the meaning of true and make believe.
YIKES!!!
It's not the writing and sotry-telling, it's the real vs. make-believe. We NEVER discussed that until later in the year and I NEVER made my students do only a true story. A story is a story, as long as they know the meaning of true and make believe.
I totally agree. In the speech therapy world, we call it narrative discourse or writing and it is more about a child being about to list or write a chronological sequence of events that makes sense---it doesn't matter at all if it's fiction or real-life. Kindergarten should be all about going with the flow and exploring creativity. Honestly, this makes me mad enough to spit nails.
article about writing
This is what I think kindergarten writing should be about. They should be allowed to use their imaginations. My kids had journal time and they wrote a few sentences and drew a picture. They were really quite cute.
Deanna, I was hoping you would see this and have a chance to respond. So glad to hear this is not the "norm". I know standards and expectations have changed some for this grade level, but this is a bit much.
Wow Eve, you did a lot better with that situation than I would have ;-). And I was worried about my 2nd grader having a strict teacher this year. Our district went to full day kindergarten last year because there just wasn't enough time in the day to get everything done-maybe Syd's teacher is just trying to cram everything into a half day? She also must have had to call every child in that class-I can't imagine there were many kids who were ready to sit down and do academic work after just a few days of school. ((((Eve))))
Thanks, everyone. The funny thing is, I think she was just calling to see how Syd was adjusting. LOL I was the one that started asking questions. (I can't help it!)
I feel much better since talking to my sister. She's taking a language and writing class right now and is reading about this very age group. She said she thought the teacher was wanting "true" stories, because it might relate the "labeling" back to everyday life and might encourage her to start looking. Like if she gets that tomatoes start with "t" then maybe when we shop, she will start to look for other items. That was just her thoughts anyway. She also gave me some other tips...something called a "picture walk" where the child looks through a book before it's read and creates a story on their own. Then you read it together and talk about how it was different.
I'm not ready to switch her yet. I know LOTS of other Mom's who have had this teacher and are really pleased with her. I'll let you know how the open house goes next week. Also, I'm taking Sydney's cues. Right now you ask her about her teacher and she says "She's SO cool!" So, hopefully this is a fluke. *fingers crossed* I plan on staying really involved, so hopefully that helps! Thanks for everyones advice.
Eve, I was going to say the same thing as your sister. I think she'll start to feel confident about labeling real things that she sees over and over. No matter what grade level, it's the practice that helps...especially using real life as an example. They're great for conversation at the dinner table and really challenges 5 yr olds.
The transition must be so hard though! You are actually lucky that the teacher called home already. I find that those are the best teachers.
I can't see how labeling has anything to do with real vs make believe. A princess is a princess, whether it's Princess Diana or Princess Sydney.
I also taught K for a few years. We had word charts to work on labeling, and drew the items beside the word. We put words all over the classroom, ie the word "chair" on a chair, etc. I think they're 2 totally different skills.
I'm glad Syd likes the teacher. Hopefully she'll have a great year, and the cool teacher will chill out a bit.
Ditto Marcia again. I also taught K, and think this teacher is expecting too much of 5 yr. olds, especially this soon in the year. I hope Syd continues to like her teacher and has a good year!
I'm not sure, Marcia. My sisters only thought was how often do you see a princess or a space ship? But, we see tomatoes often. That at least makes some sense to me. I'll be sure to ask at open house and let you know what she says. I'm curious too. I have my Mom asking her teachers too! LOL They said the same thing as my sister. (Not that they agreed.)
Also, the teacher did respond to Syd's princess with a nice answer, that was something like "Oh, a princess! Yes, sometimes I feel like a princess if I put on a pretty dress." So, at least she didn't tell Sydney she was wrong.
Like I said, this teacher and this whole school have a reputation for being really good. All of our schools are working on the same ciriculum though, so it can't just be this one teacher. Syd still says "Oh, she's totally cool and nice." She is a child that will speak up, so I'm just waiting and watching. I'll let you know how open house goes.
Speaking of which, Trina! Oh Trina! LOL (My email is still funky) Do you have plans at 6pm on Thurs. the 21st? Not a problem if you do. I've been meaning to call.
Eve, I was going to ask you the same thing. LOL! Tyler's Open House is that same night. I usually go by myself because it's too difficult to arrange for a sitter on a school night.
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