Back "2" School...

Wild Man went back "TWO" school today as an official SECOND grader. Wait! A second grader? Are we old enough to have a 2nd grader? Apparently we are. {Sigh} I vow not to be nostalgic. I will not blahblahblah about how he SHOULD NOT be in 2nd grade. I will not admit to being a little teary while walking behind him down the second grade hall. Nope. I will not. I will also not admit I was relieved to hear the bickering and sighs of boredom fade into the distance with each passing minute. Goodbye dog days of summer. Hello routine and structure for all. He has been SO READY to go back to school and see his friends. He really missed them. This year he is in a class of 17 but with only one classmate from Kindergarten. He was a little unsure about that lineup. Before school we talked a lot about how to have a friend you have to be a friend. He was a little nervous but by the end of the day he was telling me all about his new 2nd grade pals. He's going to be just fine. Like it or not, he's growing up (whether I put a brick on his head or not). I can't wait to see what 2nd grade has in store for our Wild Man.

First Day of Kindergarten
Wild Man and Mrs. Polka Dots
August 2008

First Day of 1st Grade
Wild Man and Mrs. Patience
August 2009
First Day of 2nd Grade
(Registration Day)
Wild Man and Mommy
August 2010
Unfortunately, Wild Man's new teacher is recovering from surgery and wasn't at school this week. We are hoping and praying she will return soon so he can get in a good routine from the beginning. In the meantime, we'll take it one second grade day at a time.

Schooools. Out. fo. Summa...

It seems a lifetime ago I was walking away from Wild Man on the first day of Kindergarten. That day, and in the weeks that followed, I was so anxious about how his days in "Big Boy School" would go. It did not take us long to discover we had been blessed with an amazing teacher, Mrs. Polka Dots. She quickly learned what makes Wild Man tick and hit the ground running. She has been out of school on maternity leave the past few weeks but came back to see the kiddos a few times this week. Wild Man was SOOOO happy to see her before summer vacation and to meet her new baby boy as well. I wish we could take her to First Grade with us next year but I'm pretty sure she wants to stay in the comforts of Kindergarten.
This is Mrs. C, Mrs. Polka Dot's Assistant and Wild Man's Reading Partner. Mrs. Polka Dot's started the Accelerated Reader program with Wild Man a year early. He was ready and it gave him something extra to work toward. Both teachers cheered him on for months (along with many hours of reading at home). By the end of the year, he was reading at almost a 3rd grade reading level! We are sooo proud of how he has transitioned into school. He is such a bright little boy with so much potential. We are praying his First Grade teachers will create the same wonderful learning environment he experienced in Kindergarten.

And the Award goes to...

Mrs. Polka Dots gives out her own class awards at the end of the year. In addition to school wide awards, she believes that every child deserves an award. Today Wild Man received the Outstanding Reader award for Mrs. Polka Dot's class!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Play...

Every year the Kindergarten classes put on their own production of the Very Hungry Caterpillar (based upon the book by Eric Carle). This year Wild Man was given the part of {insert dramatic music here} a pickle. That's right. He was a pickle...the best little pickle in all of Kindergarten. He practiced his lines every day for weeks. "...one pickle...but he was STILL hungry". Here he is in action...
Once the caterpillar turned into a beautiful butterfly the entire Kindergarten sang the chorus of "I Believe I Can Fly". It was really sweet {but all I could picture in my mind was R. Kelly singing in the middle of the corn field--one of those strange memories from my first year of college}.

Searching for us in the crowd...
Take a bow...
The cast of characters (back in the classroom)...
Grammy and Little Miss cheering him on...

Brought to you today by the letter J...

As an end of the year assignment, each student had the opportunity to play teacher by presenting a letter of the alphabet to the class. Wild Man chose the letter J and set out to create a lesson. I helped him come up with a plan but he had to execute it in the classroom.

He began his presentation with his best teacher rendition of "1-2-3-eyes on me". He must of said it 5 times until he had every students complete UNDIVIDED attention. Not a shy bone in the kids body. Not one.

First he presented a few items beginning with the letter J...Jump rope, Juice box, Jeep, and Joke book...Then he moved on to his main demonstration--how to make JELL-O. I served as his assistant boiling the water and holding the cheat sheet Just in case he forgot one of the steps...

I tried to inconspicuously snap an action shot but as you can see he paused mid-stir for a photo op. Thankfully it's only Kindergarten. I'm sure someday he will lose a few points in Public Speaking 101 when I bust out my camera for a scrapbook moment. :-) I'm only kidding... well... maybe...
Like a pro, he remembered all of the steps to making Jell-O without the cheat sheet. Wooohoooo! He moved on to asking his classmates other words that begin with J and praised them all for their correct answers (as any good teacher would do). The only part of the lesson he selectively forgot was how his Mommy FORBID him to tell any Jokes from the Joke book. He pulled that secret out of his back pocket for the grand finale...

His chosen Joke from the "Jokelopedia: the Biggest, Best, Silliest, Dumbest Joke Book Ever"...

Q: Why did the kangaroo lose the basketball game?

A: He ran out of bounds.

Bwaaah-haa-haa-haa! Can't you just hear the six year old laughter erupt?

To our Wild Man--I mean Mr. Womble--you did an EXCELLENT job! Perhaps you'll have your own classroom one day. If you do, please do all the kids a favor and leave your Jokelopedia at home.

Most Outstanding Boy...

Remember last fall when I sent my baby off to Kindergarten? Remember how I worried about the year to come? If he would be placed with the right teacher? If she would "get him"? If she would be willing to go above and beyond the typical Kindergarten classroom to meet his educational needs? Keep all of that in mind and fast forward 9 months...

Last week we received an invitation to Wild Man's school awards ceremony. Of course we checked the box that he would attend and returned it the next day (it was by invitation only) . Then we waited to find out what all the fuss was about.

Apparently we didn't get the memo that we should have arrived several hours early to snag a decent seat. I'll have to tuck that away for future reference. Anyway, once we all settled in to the very last row on the far side of the gym and threatened the life of explained the importance of the evening to baby sister the program began. In came a boat load of smiley Kindergarten through 2nd grade students. You could tell they were so proud of themselves.

Kindergarten was up first. There are 11 Kindergartens so it took some time to get to Mrs. Polka Dot's class. He was about to jump out of his sweater vest waiting for his turn on stage. He couldn't wait to get up there. Finally it was his turn. Mrs. Polka Dots is out on maternity leave so his interim teacher presented him with the award. He looked like such a big boy walking across that stage. The Principal, Mrs. Goodness, announced

Most Outstanding Boy
in Mrs. Polka Dots class...
Wild Man Womble
"This award is presented to Wild Man for your academic brilliance and all around great attitude."Each class had a Most Outstanding Boy, Most Outstanding Girl and Most Improved along with any Perfect Attendance or related arts awards. These are Wild Man's classmates who received awards tonight minus Most Outstanding Girl, Rosemarie. She had already gone before we took the group photo.Both Grammy and Nanny came to see him receive his award. He LOVES to have both of his grandmothers together. We have been so blessed this year with a wonderful school and most of all a phenomenal teacher. She was the key to his success this year. Mrs. Polka Dots went above and beyond the typical Kindergarten atmosphere to make sure Wild Man was being challenged. She praised him daily for his success. She learned his quirks and helped fine tune them. She disciplined without breaking his sweet spirit. She communicated with us and listened to our concerns. Most of all, she loved our baby little man while he was learning all about the great adventure of "big boy school". We love you Mrs. Polka Dots! Thank you for everything!

March 2009-Mrs. Polka Dots surprise baby shower hosted by the class Moms

Spring Fling...

Wild Man's absolute favorite thing in the world--JUMPY HOUSES...


(Yes, I forgot to make him wear his class shirt today. Oops--bad Mommy--bad Mommy!)

Fine Arts Night...

After each PTO meeting, one grade has the opportunity to show off in the area of fine arts (art, music and physical education). The entire gym was covered in art work made by the Kindergartners. Here he is with all three of his masterpieces...
The Kindergarten music theme was Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (his class--looking at photo--far left)...
They even mimed a song in it's entirety. Surprisingly, the entire Kindergarten was in unison. I wonder how many hours they practiced? Wild Man does not like music class--AT ALL--so we were surprised he was having so much fun.Trying to teach Little Miss to mime...

Kite Day with Dad...

The Kindergarten Christmas Spectacular...

I love to watch little kids perform. They get so nervous and excited. They search the crowd for their Moms and Dads and smile HUGE grins when they finally find their cheering section. They even stop singing long enough to smile for the camera when everyone else is staring at their music teacher...
Nearly 200 kindergarteners serenaded us with a few lighthearted Christmas favorites complete with hand motion choreography. Today's song lineup included I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas, Santa Claus is Coming to Town, I Ain't Gettin' Nothin' for Christmas, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Feliz Navidad, Blue Christmas and my personal favorite, I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus. J thought that was HYSTERICAL! MG left her Christmas cheer at home so I spent much of the performance in the foyer instead of in the bleachers. At least I could hear from out there or I would have been really disappointed.
Santa, Grammy and the little girl with the crazy smile. Can't you just hear her saying "ChEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEze"

Thanksgiving Feast x 2...

J's Kindergarten had a Thanksgiving performance this morning at 10:00 am followed by a feast at 10:30. MG also had a Thanksgiving feast at preschool at 11:00 am. Daddy and I made it to both activities but it was a whirlwind morning. Aunt Donna was also there to see J perform. He was thrilled we all came to see him.
J's part in the finale: "N" is for neighbor...The necklace J is wearing is the "Happy Birthday" necklace since today is his 6th birthday!
Taking their bow...Jack-o-pilgrim...MG's feast...