Starting School with Huitong School (Whittle)
Summer really got away from me!
We got back from vacation in Japan (I still have those posts in drafts) and I literally fell off.
Now that we're charging into October (holy shite) I do feel the need to get back on top of these posts.
The boys started school the first week of September and have really been enjoying it so far. The work load is much different than what they were used to at home (optional if any homework, etc) but with some regularity and adjustments (myself included) we're able to get the work done in a reasonable amount of time.
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| lunchtime |
We decided to enroll Nolan at the third grade level due to his academic standing in America, which was not a decision made lightly because it does make him the oldest kid in third grade, though its not a difference any of the other kids notice yet, as far as I am aware. Nolan has made incredible improvements in his adult-led activity tolerance, both at school and during homework time, but he is still very vocal about how much he misses his school in America because it "wasn't so hard". He's able to complete the work though with some light to moderate guidance from either me or Keith and it's really incredible to see his progress. He's in a book club after school twice a week which just started so hopefully that goes well!
He's using his behavior strategies in the new school and loves being there. We had a meeting with his academic advisor (also homeroom teacher) and the two lower school department heads (one is also his math teacher) and they were extremely supportive of Nolan's needs and were able to implement the IEP we had provided (minus the behaviors that are no longer an issue) with minimal issue.
Oliver is also getting into the swing of things at Huitong. He's made some good friends and is doing well in his classes. Oliver seems to get overwhelmed a bit with all of the new sights and sounds and smells of his new school. He recently started drama club and is loving it, which I'm sure to those of you who have spent any amount of time with him, this comes as no surprise. I'm having a bit of trouble having him to more than what he feels like he needs to do. In his writing, he doesn't use his best handwriting skills (which is normal) but completely gives up on the idea that fixing it would be worth his time or effort, or even taking the extra minute or two that it would be to slow down and create better work.
I remember having conversations with my parents about how I should create things that I was proud to put my name on, but having little concept of the idea of pride (besides that it was a sin) it was not enough to spur me to use better skills when I felt I had completed the job to the best of my ability. I wonder if I project my insecurities onto my kids sometimes but it's something I want to be proactive of instead of reactive to, and I feel like I'm falling into the latter category against my wishes. I just want to support him so he sees the value in taking the extra few minutes on himself, and I have to sort of gear up for the fact that, like me, he won't see the point until he's much older.
I was able to check up on the curriculum that they'll be doing over the course of the year as well as some of the school's attitudes towards learning at back to school night. I was pleasantly surprised that the Chinese portions were live translated into English via Bluetooth (though I did wish I had an alcohol wipe).
We're off for the next week for Mid-Autumn (what Ollie's been calling mooncake) festival and they've assigned a pretty in-depth project, which I'm kinda glad for because they needed something to do over the break. I'll follow up with how that turns out!
Catch ya later
Kristen
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| keith always rides up front in the taxi so i dont have to :) |
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