First Day of Kindergarten

Well, it's official. The girls are officially school-aged kids. *sigh*

They seem to like it. Maggie seems slightly more excited about it than Grace at the moment. They are in separate classes and Grace wishes she were in with Maggie.

Maggie has perceivably the more fun teacher, better classroom and friends from the neighborhood and t-ball in her class. Grace has a classroom that's maybe not quite as colorful -- and there is not a child in the class she knows. I thought that if it had to go down that way, Grace in the all-new-kids class would be the way to go. She's never had a problem making friends! But, she is having a problem this time around. She talks about a couple kids in her class, but at recess all she wants to do is go find Maggie and play with the friends she already knows or new friends Maggie has made. And, her little eyes seem a little sad every day when Maggie excitedly talks about her day. Grace will tell us a couple things, but she is not bursting with the excitement that Maggie is showing. It makes a mom's heart hurt! I want her to come home, super-happy with her day and tell me she made the best friend ever and she loves her class. But so far, that's not happening.

There were four sets of twins that started Hurricane Town Elementary this year. The administration decided to split them all up, citing reports of better end results. I understand this and was totally okay with it since they split them all up. However, recently, I learned that they kept one set together. I am hoping it's temporary, because they are bringing a 4th kindergarten teacher in for overflow kids. Grace is only accepting it because "that's the way it is with twins". But, if she figures out there's a set together, she's going to really be upset.

For now I'm just hoping that each day I see more and more excitement on her face. She IS very focused on learning. And, she does LOVE her teacher.

Both girls are starting to read a few more words. This is so exciting for them. Both teachers follow the same curriculum using the same books (but a little different teaching styles) so they can talk about the things they learned together. They have special words each week to concentrate on -- these words are sent home on Friday and they use them excessively in the classroom and ask you to use them at home daily. We are doing that. I also tuck a little post-it note or cute, simple picture I draw for them in their lunchbox every day along with a Hershey's kiss. This week is the first week for these "popcorn words", so I've been using them. They are easing them in to it with just two words this week. The words are I and AM. They can already read the words LOVE and MOMMY -- so I just add one or two words to the note and they try to sound it out or let their teacher read it to them. Yesterday's note was I AM THINKING OF YOU! LOVE MOMMY. Today's note was I AM PROUD OF YOU! LOVE MOMMY. It's fun to hear them read the note back to me when they get home from school! ;)

Look at my very grown up looking girls heading out to kindergarten!