Amy called me conceited tonight . . . ONLY BECAUSE when she read off the letter Madelyn’s teacher sent home, outlining what she would be learning for the next few weeks, I continued to say, over and over, “Tell’em to move on, she already knows it!” Technically, Madelyn is only three-years old; she won’t be four until September 16! Yet, because of the birthday deadlines, she was born fourteen days in time to start Pre-K this year!! I’ve always worried and have been concerned for my nieces and nephews education. With technology and the rapid rate of excelling challenges that we didn’t meet until high school that seems to be demanding on children these days, I worry too about “Keeping their interest in school.” The three older kids have not only set the bar high . . . they’ve encouraged each other by coming home and sharing what they’ve learned with each other. Yet, “The MOST competitive one in the group of four,” Madelyn!! I worry more about Madelyn than the rest, because I fear she’ll become bored and lose interest. The list for the next few weeks consisted of, recognizing her name . . . she not only can recognize he own name, she can recognize and name, Rick, Amy, Emily, Austin, Blake, Giggles and her own name, as well. Check it off and move her on!! Colors . . . really?? Madelyn knows ALL her colors, the only exception for her would be to get into the metallic or neon colors to challenge her!! Shapes . . . Seriously?? She knows all the basic shapes . . . to challenge her she would need to learn geometric shapes like octagons, etc. Check that off too, she knows it, move on!! To write her name . . . well, this one . . . is a yes and no answer! TO MY appeal, she knows how to write MADDIE, I honestly hate that they’ve nicknamed her or shortened her name to Maddie, because to me, there’s no prettier name than Madelyn Grace. Yet, because she already knows the difference between upper case and lower case letters . . . I doubt this is going to be anything challenging to her IF the teachers will call her by her REAL NAME and make her learn to spell her REAL NAME! She even knows the sounds of letters . . . I played a game with she and Blake and she held one for one with him! I realize you all probably think by now that Amy is right, I AM CONCEITED, which I am when comes to my nieces and nephews, no doubt!! Yet, it worries me . . . I’ve seen kids where the curriculum is faster than they’re prepared for and they lose interest altogether in school, because they become defeated, feeling as if they simply can’t keep up, or feeling as if they’re not as smart as another kid. And, I’ve saw kids that were advanced, who weren’t challenged from the beginning who end up forming poor study habits, struggling later in school. Usually, because of the number of kids to a classroom, there’s no other choice but to try and keep ALL the children on the same level of learning, especially with a group of Pre-K kids. I wish there was enough teachers to go around that could divide the kids, giving those who need a little extra help the one-on-one assistance they need. And enough teachers to say, “This one, that one, or these are ready to MOVE ON!” I want ALL my nieces and nephews to have a college education. I want ALL of them to have EVERY ADVANTAGE of having an easier life than any of their family before them! And I really, REALLY want, at least one of them, to use their intelligence and become wealthy enough to put their Giggles in the West Wing of their mansion to care for me in my old age!! I’m not conceited . . . I’m an OPORTUNIST!! These kids are my ticket out of the rest home their mother will put me in, if at least ONE OF THEM, doesn’t get the most exceptional education available!!
Posted on: Fri, 30 Aug 2013 02:50:54 +0000
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