I can't believe it, but Gavin has completed his first year of preschool! Time just flew by this school year, it's hard to believe his academic year ended a month ago. This kid just really loves school and loves to learn. He's looking forward to a year of developmental kindergarten (half days every day Monday through Friday) starting this fall. A few of his friends from preschool will be joining him and others will go on to a second year of preschool for four-year-olds.
Between feeding and snuggling a newborn, I've been working on a photo book (to be posted to the blog soon), capturing copies of all of Gavin's school crafts and artwork. I was looking for a way to "keep" everything, without actually keeping it, so decided that taking photos of everything throughout the year and creating a photo album would be a good compromise. I did keep some things - about a quarter of what he brought home.
In addition to my photo book, one of Gavin's teachers also compiled a scrap book of school memories for each of the kids, loaded with little projects and lots of photos. It was so sweet of her to do this - particularly given the time involved in making each of the fourteen kids their own book. Preschool was the first real time that Gavin was away from home for any significant period of time. All of those moments that mom and dad weren't there are captured in the book. It gives a fun look into what the days were like for him and his friends.
If I had to summarize Gavin's learning's this school year, I'd highlight the following:
1) A very strong knowledge of letters and numbers. He knew them all going into school last fall, but now can confidently write and identify each one and knows the sound that they make. He can sound out words and identify the letters. No reading yet, but he just loves for us to read him books and magazines. He gets two regular magazines in the mail now - Lego Junior and National Geographic Kids. He looks forward to their delivery with much anticipation. And then reads them and re-reads them until they are falling apart. He's also quite good at creating his own stories from memory and from pictures in books. He falls asleep each night "reading" stories to his soft friends. It's a hoot to listen to him through the door.
2) He's become a good friend. Staying home with dad definitely has it's perks, but Gavin has really developed social skills with other kids this past year. He's made lot of friends. We're working to get them together over the summer, too, so they can keep in touch. Gavin looks forward to school days so much, for the most part due to a desire to see his friends and teachers. I think he'll do really well going to school every day this coming school year, allowing him more time to develop friendships.
3) Listening to and following directions from teachers, adults other than mom and dad, has been valuable. Mrs. B and Mrs. V are wonderful woman who really love these kiddos. We heard all about them from Gavin!
4) Art skills! This kid just loves projects, coloring, painting, gluing, taping, cutting, stickering, etc. He now colors in the lines for the most part with his crayons and markers. It's one of his favorite things to do. His creativity shines through his creations.
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