Foundation (Prep/Kinder) 2014 Chat

IWe also have attitude issues!! Rude, ignores us and just plain terrible!! Hope it improves soon as he used to be a polite and nice boy !!! At school apparently is fine!!!

Brought home readers tonight with a letter saying he swaps them on Tuesdays so guessing next week not tomorrow! And a letter about show and tell and saying his day is Tuesday! And needs to start with letter of the week!! DS1 did say was D but not sure what he can take and talk about with that little notice!!! He did suggest dogs lol hmm don't think teacher would be happy !!!

DS2 misses DS1 when he isn't at cc himself. Asks often about picking him up!!! Get home and fight!!!

Just readers here thankfully. DD2 is a little moody, just putting it down to tiredness and change of routine. She is a routine bunny, so once she gets used to the new one she should be fine.

My little man started yesterday and he loved it! Today he walked in there like he knew it all, lol. Big sister (who did kindy last year) has been offering tidbits of advice. It's so cute. They walked to school hand in hand yesterday.

As for exhaustion, DS1 was crazy come about 6pm yesterday, that's how he expresses his tiredness- he gets out of this world insanely crazy, hyper, running around, yelling random things. DD turns into a sullen, cranky, bite your head off little brat. I find if I can feed them a really decent snack and then get them to have a bath almost as soon as we're home, they really calm down a lot. Particularly DD.
And then I also make bed time about 15mins earlier than normal, and they sleep in about 30mins later than normal in the morning. If bed time is too early, then I seem to miss the boat and that window of being dog tired is gone and they get over tired and mega whiney and get up and down from bed for about an hour!

Well we are almost a month in. How are all the mums/dads and children adjusting to school life?

Things are mostly going well here. DD loves school and also has pleasantly surprised me with how much she loves before and after school care (3 days per week). She has made lots of friends and is loving being part of the school community.

On the negative, we have had a lot more attitude than normal. I'm sure it's tiredness/adjusting to school life. We have had a lot of forgetfulness - that is leaving book bags, headbands etc in places she can't remember. Nothing has been permanently lost yet! Again I know this is part of her adjusting to the extra responsibility that comes with school.

Me- I've put my hand up for the Parents Committee to do the communications/newsletters. Looking forward to becoming more involved.

Let me know how you are all going.

Janie x

Hi Janie :)

We are going well. Everyone struggling with tiredness... All the kids. I think the rush to school in the morning is affecting us more than I'd expected. Plus DS1 is adjusting to a new routine as well, which I keep forgetting. Even DS2 is faced with changes as he loses his little play buddy at home. All changes, all need time to adjust.

I thought they were all tired tonight. DH out, so I put them all to bed by 7.15pm. 8pm both DSs still awake. Get DS2 up. DS1 gets up too and wakes up DD. Gah!! :wall:

At least we can have a bit of a lie in tomorrow morning. Last Wednesday off and then into full hours and days next week. Could be interesting.

Someone earlier here said that the 4-6wk mark can be the peak of tiredness. So I am keeping that in mind and trying to be more lenient with her.

She's starting speech classes in a few weeks. I started a thread about that separately.

Apart from that, she seems to be settling in really well.

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Someone earlier here said that the 4-6wk mark can be the peak of tiredness. So I am keeping that in mind and trying to be more lenient with her.

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Me! And yes, we had the wall hitting tired mark late last week! Then Monday morning around 11 I got a call to say DS was crying and saying his ears were sore - off to the Drs and he's on ABs again. Back to school tomorrow

Janie - DS also loves OHSC, he goes Tues/Wed mornings and loves it too, they have so much for the kids to do, its a long day as I drop him off at 730 but he copes well.

I am volunteering too. We have to pass a police and reference check (which I have cos I'm a nerdy goody two shoes) and tomorrow night I am attending a Volunteer induction night. They just run through expectations, appropriate ways to interact and talk to school kids (which is kindy silly as you'd hope all the parents are well across this, but good too as I guess some people are just a bit clueless even if they are parents) and various other bits of info. I've volunteered for school excursions and Morning Literacy (reading with the preppies). I plan to arrange for DD to go to childcare every few weeks to I can clear the morning to make myself available to DSs class. His teacher is happy to keep Thursday mornings free for me seeing thats my RDO. Cant wait, I loved it when Mum came in when I was a kid.

DS had his first show and tell last friday - they run it around the jolly phonics program so they have to select something starting with that weeks letter. He picked Spiderman for s :)

Week 5 and we're going well. We've found our little groove and things are running fairly smoothly all things considered.

Ds had his first class birthday party already, and his first play date invite. He's also tried to bring home a friend or two. Most of the mums seem to be second or third timers which means they already know one another, so feeling a little on the outside and missing my old playgroup friends myself. Between working and school we just don't catch up like we used to. But that's enough boohoos for me.

We finally have homework and ds is doing well. I volunteered to do parent reading and I'm glad he isn't the only kid who just memorises the books and doesn't attempt to read the words lol.

He also seems a lot more settled than some of the other kids now but I think that is his mister independent personality. And I've stopped getting a report everyday about how loud he is lol. He got there. Woo.

He is already succumbing to peer pressure of sorts and wants everything the other kids are having. Which I'm finding frustrating.

He is very sweet with his learning more in depth about god. And praying, he is a very literal kid so while praying before bed he asked god a question, then shoved his chest in my face, because he wanted me to listen to gods answer because "god is in my heart mummy". Was a very sweet awww moment.

I knew it was someone intelligent ;)

I really want to work out how I can get in to do reading etc. DD's school is great, they don't mind siblings attending but I just can't take DS2. He's too little and would just run around being an 18mth old, lol. But I can't put that on him, it isn't fair.

So. Will try and work something out I guess.

DS1 is loving school and is happy to go each day. We walk with some friends most days some days I take a friends DD and others she has DS1 for me. Last week was first day of starting ASC and he could not wait was very excited to be going!! Loved it again this week. He goes to friends place 2 mornings a week when both of us are working, the other morning will be BSC once they start wednesdays.

I am very sad that tomorrow is last wednesday off, as means that I start back working wednesdays and as it really helps break up the week, as we are rude, tired, angry at everything and fighting with brother constantly and super emotional.

He is not eating as much at school as I expected. And not eating much breaky either!!! Hoping this will improve as normally a good eater. I think at school he is too keen to play!! They eat inside and then after a certain time they can go out or can stay inside.

Readers were going well last 2 weeks tonight we had issues and I was bad and got short and cranky at him.

Bed time is crazy he will be so tired and yet still fights bed and sleep.

I am on School council.

Had prep info night last week.

And plan to go to info night thursday night about helping at school. Allready have WWCC as need it for work anyway.

DD is the same feeb, she doesn't eat anything much, she has her sandwich and brings all the fruit home, she breaks it out as soon as she can so I think she's starving but too busy to eat at school!! Silly girl! I hoping it will settle and she'll learn the value of eating properly!

Glad to hear my DD isn't the only one too busy to eat!

OP I would love to help in the classroom also, but have DD2 with me on my days off work. I'm hoping DH may be able to work from home on occasion so I can go in.

Good glad to hear not just my child not eating!!!!

I am unsure how to work helping at school and DS2 as he wouldn't sit quietly even at home doing DS1 readers he helps!!!!
We need to go to this info day if we ever want to go on an excursion etc as well so figured should go it.

So glad to see everyone is finding a bit of routine, the teachers warned all the prep parents that attitudes and tired kiddies can be the norm so as I sure we were all well prepared.

On the food front I've found DD has settled on her eating a bit at school too, we had a discussion about it yesterday though so hopefully she is back to eating her full lunch box in no time.

DD had pretty much a week off school because of the fires here but the school has been amazing, they organised BBQ's and had interstate firies come in over two days and do things with the kids.
They have offered support if we need it and reassured the kids that everything is ok.

She is loving school and hasn't been too tired or cranky, she does get a bit of an attitude say one night a week and then she's back to her bubbly self.
She enjoys playing with the older kids at school and they all race out to greet her and fight over who saw her first, it's vey cute and I am really pleased with choosing to send her to this tiny little school now, especially after the last couple of weeks, the community spirit is AMAZING there.

Reading is going really well, she has already gone up a reader level (despite a week off) and her teacher thinks she is going to go really well with the levels.
They have also started Study Ladder at school and she can use it at home, she is bored with the levels she is on now but her teacher has said she will watch her in class over the next week or two and then if she feels she will cope she will put her up to the higher level, she wanted to join in and do the grade 1/2 work but it's sequential so she has to do all the base work first... cheeky girl.

She is loving homework and does it the minute she walks in the door and we are going to be making some new sight word flash cards for her to use in correspondence with books she's reading.
She stood up at assembly a couple of weeks back and showed some of her work to the whole school which she was quite excited about.

In all I am very happy with how she is going... she's loving it and that's all I can ask for.

I'm one of those 2nd time mums and we're all happy to chat to anyone...new mums included :redface:

I have also done readers/assisted reading for the last couple of years with small child in tow. Last year dd1s teacher worded them up saying I wouldn't be able to bring Holly back if they fussed too much (like I had a choice lol, I single parent most of the time). She is a friend of mine and perhaps a bit more tolerant, but they became excellent at setting her up something and then slipping away, or taking stuff out of her mouth or removing stuff from her reach. When I did the reading they loved to 'read' to her.
So all that waffle was meant to say was you might be surprised. We have a small community and even the biggest kids know and greet Holly. Ts been as good for her as it has for some of them.

We can't bring younger siblings to school to help out. It's a shame but it makes sense I guess.

All the mums dads and grandparents outside DSs class chat to everyone, 1st time school mums and 2nd and 3rd even. It's just a nice bunch of people who all have a child who they love in that classroom. At least that's the way I look at it.

I had a talk to the teacher about the 'not eating' thing and by the end of the second day he was eating almost 100% of his lunch box. She said its so important that she knows these things because she has subtle ways to help the kids, and they concentrate so much better on a full tummy. DS was suffering from tummy cramps by the time we got home because he had hardly eaten a thing. Love that teacher!!

Smaller school, so most parents are pretty friendly. One has organised a Prep/Foundation mums dinner, which is nice.

DD2 is not eating much during the day, but she seems to be eating a much bigger breakfast, so I do't worry so much. Just wish she would eat more fruit ;)

Going on school council for the next 2 years. Will be interesting to see the inner workings of the school.

We're one of the smallest schools in town but still feeling on the outter, maybe the mums just don't like me :-P the teachers are all very friendly so at least ds feels at home.

He ran off the other day with hugs and kisses so I take that as a good sign.

I'm slowly getting to know some more mums. I had three ABA friends there plus one kinder mum friend so there's always generally a smiling face somewhere.

Lenny that's a really good idea about mentioning it to the teacher that she isn't eating. I hadn't thought of that!

We had a family fun night tonight. The school was open for viewing for about an hour and then we had an assembly where they welcomed the preps into the school community. BBQ/picnic dinner. Really good fun!

DP took the girls to a welcome BBQ tonight, I had a dinner with friends but he said it went well. :)

I have been slack reading this thread so sorry if it's a topic already covered but:

Homework in prep: anyone else find this full on? I think the fact I have a brand new baby has made me pretty blasé about school but I cannot get my head around doing a reader each night. We read stories every day and dd tries to 'read' to her brothers sometimes, but I am not pushing it.

Dd doesn't have any interest in the readers she brings home so they just sit there. I don't feel right pushing her to do anything...she's only just 5!

I am wondering if I'm just slack or should I try harder to get enthusiastic about school type activities at home?

At this point, the reader should just be for you to read to her.

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At this point, the reader should just be for you to read to her.

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I didn't realise this, I thought the idea was for them to 'read' to us (in whatever capacity) and be prompted and helped by us.

DD is really looking forward to starting as a full week next week!

There isn't much point if a child can't read though. I'd look through the book and talk about the pictures first, then read the book to her. Engaging a child that way is much better than a child struggling to read itms.
When DD1 was in prep, home readers weren't just about her reading to us, us reading to her just as important.

DS1 is reading some of the books. Others I am reading to him then he is memorising and reading back.

I wonder how DS1 will cope with the full week as so tired and emotional.

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I have been slack reading this thread so sorry if it's a topic already covered but:

. We read stories every day and dd tries to 'read' to her brothers sometimes, but I am not pushing it.

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She is reading!!!! That's exactly what she should be doing, interpreting the pictures!! She's doing ace my dear, keep doing what you're doing!
DD loved reading eggs, I credit that with teaching her to read at 4.5, she still loves it at grade 2 but we don't push her either.
Xxx

Thanks for the reassurance. That helps a lot. I thought she would be more engaged in reading tbh but I'm happy she is setting her own pace.

I keep forgetting to look into reading eggs. I will do it now!!!!! Thanks again

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Thanks for the reassurance. That helps a lot. I thought she would be more engaged in reading tbh but I'm happy she is setting her own pace.

I keep forgetting to look into reading eggs. I will do it now!!!!! Thanks again

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Check with school as we have been told we will soon be getting usernames and passwords for reading eggs and mathletics and something else.

That's ok then DD1 is reading & gone up a level already, we've been lucky I think... DD2 is going to be hard work next year.

Anyone else have Study Ladder? The school is using that at the moment, DD loves it.

We have only had one piece of homework so far, and it is just to bring two pictures if her family and write where everyone was born. Ie what country. And she needs to draw a picture of her family. She can't wait to do it. I just want to sit down with her this weekend and help her. She keeps begging to do it. And she does bring home two books a week from the library, but we arnt expected to read them per say. Also the prep teacher made it clear that homework in prep isn't compulsory. We can take it or leave it.

My boy starts full days on Monday ( he was doing 9 till 2 ) and also will go on the bus to and from school with his big brother (he's 10). I will probably be a be anxious all day at work until I see him in the afternoon. Browning up too fast.

Had our first birthday party with school kindy friends today. Was nice to meet a few of the other parents too. I don't generally see many in the morning or any at pickup due to work (Start at 9 and finish at 2) .

Home readers: he seems interested most of the time which is good. Fingers crossed it stays that way.

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We have only had one piece of homework so far, and it is just to bring two pictures if her family and write where everyone was born. Ie what country.

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Same Bella - Bailz loved filling in the Family tree :) We have a little Jolly Phonics book supplied by the school, we just revise that weeks letters before bed, takes 5 mins and DS enjoys it. Teachers told us we dont start with any readers until Term 2 at the earliest. Term 1 is all about learning school and settling in, getting used to the 5 days. They would prefer us ensuring the kids have an early bed time and are acclimatising to the 5 day school week. I'm pleased with this philosophy, its such a big change to their lives.

In fact when we were researching schools I was keen to find a school with a homework philosophy that suits us. Frankly I think homework should be revision time only, I expect that the bulk of school 'learning' will be done at school, and home is more for teaching 'life skills' etc ITMS. I don't want our evenings filled with too much homework. As working parents we are busy and want to spend some down time with the kids too. So I am pleased that the homework is very age appropriate and minimal in junior primary here. DS wont even be 5 until late April, there is plenty of time ahead for homework......

DS has been very tired this week. When DH picked him up on Tues his Teacher gave DH a heads up that he almost fell asleep and had no energy from lunch onwards, Wednesday was similar although he tired earlier :( She said she'll keep an eye on him and its not unusual but thought it wise to give us a heads up. I've given DS an early night the last two nights (6pm instead of 7pm) but he's such an early waker - his body clock is set early, always has been, he's up between 545-6 normally. Such a long morning before he even gets to school. We'll just try to slow things down a bit for a few weeks until he adjusts. He goes to OHSC two mornings also which isn't ideal from a tired perspective, but not much we can do about that as have stretched our work flexibility to the absolute maximum already. Hoping he adjusts soon. I feel so bad, he is doing well in every other area (socially, behaviour, academically) but he's just so little he needs more stamina

Maybe look at some high protein foods for morning tea

This week has sucked and I have cried for poor DS1. Tuesday he came out if class sad as 2 kids had given out party invites and he didn't get any. Some kids had 2 some 1 and some none but this broke DS1 heart as to him it was everyone had one but him. 1 of the kids is someone he plays with a lot and this kid always find him as soon as we arrive at school, and wed when I picked him up from ASC he was playing with this kid!!

Today he comes out of class sad as said another friend wouldn't play with him so he played on his own :-(. This child lives across back fence from us and we walk to and from school often together, I was VERY proud when DS1 went up to his mum and said "excuse me ...... wouldn't play with me today" she was horrified and had words with her son on way home about always including everyone at all times.

My heart breaks for him as he has been loving school but today not so much :-(

Aww Feeb, poor DS. This is one of the reasons why I am so pleased we waited for DS1 to go to school - his resilience for these things is so much better than it would have been one year ago, and he has suffered a few missed birthdays at kinder last year and a few 'you're not my friend anymore' etc. Not saying its not still upsetting, but its easier at 5 years old (nearly 6) than 4 years old (nearly 5). For us.

MN - my DS wakes before 6 too. And has done since forever. We put him to bed at 7.30 but its rare these days he is asleep before 8. He is still awake now and it's nearly 8.15.
He has 3 hours before school. Breakfast is inhaled before 6.30, so he gets so engrossed in his play at home that school is a bit of a nuisance interruption.

Oh Feeb your poor DS :( I hope tomorrow is much better for him.

As for us, I made the teachers aid cry. *sigh* I swear I didn't mean to, I wasn't mean, I didn't yell, I was just matter of fact in the situation. I don't suppose its a good sign if you put the teachers aid off side before term one is even over? :( *sigh* Sums up the start to our year really.

Lenny definatly agree DS1 is 5 and 1/2 and would not have coped younger (not that we had choice being July) last year at kinder the party invites were done on the sly and he had none from kinder but that was ok as he didn't know about them. My personal thought is either invite all kids in grade OR hand out invites to parents when waiting for pick up or get teacher to put in bags!! As kids handing them out at school is terrible!

Another reason glad DS2 will start school at 6 and not 5.

Black cat ohh dear hope you can get back on track and things with aid work out.

Feeb: Hugs to your lil man. The birthday party thing is hard.

I was so paranoid with DD1 in prep about the lack of invites, I blamed myself as we were still newish to the area and had not made many connections, found out though that it was due to most of the birthdays being in the last half of the year :doh: With DD's birthday we invited the whole class (I think/I hope). It gave us an opportunity to meet other school families and we made a few more connections. We will do the same with DD2's birthday this year.
Thankfully it seems to get easier as they get older. There seems to be more understanding about missing out on a party. I try to make sure I don't project my concerns and take it personally like my mother did, often I would be unaware of the lack of invite, but my mother would bring it up and make a big deal of it :rolleyes:

Black Cat: Oh dear, hope things look up for you from now on with school. :hug:

Oh Blackcat :hug: what happened?

Feeb that sucks doesn't it?

Feeb I am the same with birthday paranoia... I'm sure there's been a few DD has missed but fortunately she doesn't seem to care or notice so I'm trying not to stress about it.

DD's birthday was a few weeks ago and we didn't have a party. Did I say this already? She kept saying she wanted to invite kids from kinder because she didn't really know anyone at school yet so I decided we'd put it off until maybe term 2, to give her a chance to invite some actual friends from school. She's been to two parties so far, where they invited the whole class.

BlackCat: big hugs, what happened??

Today I was able to spend some time at school doing reading. As I've said, I can't plan to do reading because of the boys, but DH has been home this week as I've been sick and he's had a light load at work so I thought I'd see if they needed anyone to do reading today. Turned out the two mums on the roster were both unable to do it so it was great that I was there!

It was really interesting. Huge, huge variety of aptitudes and skill level. Some kids are streets ahead, some didn't even want to read at all, and the rest are in the middle. Dd is in the middle, pretty much average which is ok by me!