1st Elementary School Parent-Teacher Conference

We had our first parent-teacher conference with Colin's teachers last week. It was, all'Italiana, pretty disorganized. They said that they were assigning slots for the 4pm - 6pm period, so we wouldn't have to wait long. Our slot was at 5:40pm, but we didn't see the teachers until around 6:30. We finally left around 7pm. We brought the kids along thinking that it would be a quick 20 minute deal, and we would let them briefly wreak havoc in the hallways while we talked to the teachers. Instead they ran screaming up and down the halls for about an hour and a half. At least they were really tired when we put them to bed that night!

The teachers' comments were about what we expected. They said that Colin was a bit shy for the first couple of weeks as he was trying to find his way in the new environment, but that he has really blossomed and seems to enjoy school. They said he is a very sweet boy and is a pleasure to have in the classroom. They also said, to my surprise, that he is always enthusiastic to do whatever the teachers suggest, never complains, and that when they correct him for something (like erase a letter because it wasn't written well so that he can try again) he is always positive, and says "Yes, I'll make it better this time".

One of their "concerns" (aside from the handwriting thing, which we expected) was that he "sometimes has trouble concentrating and focusing on what is going on". Basically they said that sometimes he just goes off into his own little world and starts singing a song, or telling himself a story out loud. They were saying that they had just learned a new song the other day, and that when they were done singing, Colin just sat there, happily continuing to sing the song, not really caring that the rest of the class was trying to move onto something else. They teachers said that they needed to work on this with him, because they wanted him to stay present and not distract the other kids, and I agree. But I have to tell you, the idea that Colin is so happy at school that he just starts singing or chattering away to himself, makes me smile......