Thank you for all the comments/help on yesterday’s post. We won’t know the correct answer to the reasoning riddle (if there is one) until Friday.
Ironically, after yesterday’s rant about Ashlyn’s teacher, she came up to me to inform me that Ashlyn was not focusing on today’s classwork. Ooooh, I wonder if the teacher reads this?! 
I was soooooo pleased that Miss M finally approached me and said something. I feel better now knowing that she acknowledges Ashlyn’s deficiency. That simple gesture pretty much wipes the slate clean with me. Yes, I’m soft. It doesn’t take much to get on my good side. I don’t think I have high expectations from a teacher, but I do expect to be informed if my child’s behavior or academic progress needs attention. Up until today, I’ve not heard a peep from Miss M….instead, I’ve received a few calls from concerned moms that noticed when volunteering.
Ashlyn is a really smart kid. And it kills me to know that she chooses to socialize rather than do assignments. At home, we’ve been working on helping her maintain focus and teach her the importance of listening, following instructions, school, classwork, and homework. Together we came up with an incentive chart (above). If she collects enough stickers, she can choose something fun to do over the weekend (ie…movie theater, Chuck E Cheese, bowling, Disneyland, Kids Museum, etc..). So far, we’ve noticed that it’s working…of course, today’s lack of focus in class costed her the Star Party tonight (Astronomy Night at school).
Anyhow, we just completed the assignment that she didn’t finish in class…and again, I’m tripping over the complexity of kindergarten work. Venn Diagram on a book they learned in class. 
I must be an idiot, because at this rate, Ashlyn will be passing me up by 5th grade.
Tags: school
January 24th, 2007 at 4:55 pm
I think you’re doing a great job as a mom! I really liked the sticker and reward idea! I always enjoy your posts.
peg: THANK YOU!!!
January 24th, 2007 at 11:57 pm
I think Ashlyn is bored with the academic aspects of public kindergarten. She sounds like Cade, who is going through the same thing. He doesn’t want to do his work b/c “I already did this in kindergarten.” He will come home with incomplete assignments but a killer ferarri drawn in detail on the back. Hopefully when the GATE scores come in, you can begin aplying for the Gate Magnet school for grade 1 (and you do NOT want Cade’s fundamental teacher, she’s a ‘gem’). Ashlyn probably loves the social aspects of school, but maybe she is not being challenged enough (although her homework looks tough).
I am thinking about puttin cade in kumon. are you interested in it as well?
January 25th, 2007 at 12:17 am
WTF? Is that Ashyln’s homework? I didn’t start reading or writing till the first grade! She has to put sentences together in Kindergarten? DAMN! Her class is very challenging. WE NEVER had homework in kindergarten. Don’t be too hard on her, this is NOT easy for a 5 year old, is she 5 yet??? SHE’S HELLA smart!
January 25th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Venn diagrams?! Yikes! I wonder if kids labelled with A.D.D. might just need to be challenged differently. I’m not so smart now, but as a child, my parents frequently got calls and letters about my socializing and lack of concentration. But I was a straight-A student all the way through high school (by that time, they were getting comments about my delinquent behavior). Manny is also a huge daydreamer and can’t pay attention well in a class format, but he’s extremely gifted in math and science. Anyway, I think you’re definitely making a great effort to motivate her. I don’t want to just say “switch schools”–maybe there’s some way to get her to open up to you about why she might not be attentive or participating.
January 27th, 2007 at 4:05 pm
I almost forgot to mention. Wasn’t her pre-K a Montessori school? Kids who go from a Montessori school sometimes have a harder time adjusting to regular public school as the structure is different. there are a ton of articles online about it.