Kindergarten is coming

We went to a literacy meeting at Trina's school last night. And it was strange that I got teary eyed a few times...well, maybe it shouldn't be unexpected, but I guess I didn't figure I'd get so emotional until the first day.

I wasn't at all surprised how kids learn a love of reading through their parents or all of the things that can help kids get ready for reading and writing. I was a little surprised about how adamant they were about the kids not using markers...I'd never heard how pencils and crayons are so much better for their hand strength and introduction to writing.

I was surprised how overwhelmingly frustrated I was when the principal started advocating strongly for full-day five-day-a-week Kindergarten. I was angry! Now, I grant, that if a child is in daycare already, I would definitely advocate for them to be in a learning environment instead of childcare that is not focused on the child's learning and development. But there is no way my 5 year old needs to be separated from me (her First Best Teacher--as they put it) for more academics when she can learn so much from me...including morals and values that they can't instill at school. I'm absolutely for choice in this area...but not a mandated extra grade level.

Why do kids have to grow up so fast? Why do we push them into the arena when they are so young? Why can't they ease into school?

I enjoyed the evening, and apart from the principal's statements on that one area, I am so excited about the school and all the Trina is going to learn. :) We get to go again in May, so I look forward to that time with Trina and Roger. By the end of May, we should find out what schedule she will be on, but we won't know her teacher until July.

I guess its time to get out Robert Fulghum's Everything I Ever Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.