Tuesday night J and I went to back to school night for the girls. We had to split up since they’re both there now. And since Kayla’s teacher was not there the first half of last year I didn’t want her talk to be skipped. J went to Kayla’s classroom while I went to Alysa’s. Once again I was very impressed with Alysa’s teacher. She’s very animated and fun and sweet. She has taught in traditional schools and holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree and then was trained at a Montessori Academy in New York. She became a Montessori teacher because she believes in the philosophy behind it which is what I want in a Montessori teacher. The Montessori Method is very important to me and it is what I’ve always known I wanted for my kids. I believe this is only her 2nd year as a full teacher but she has been at the school for at least a couple years more than that as she did her Montessori internship there. All the kids in Alysa’s class were asked to draw pictures of their family or parents and then we, the parents had to guess which ones were us. I did correctly guess as she drew J with no hair and a beard. :) I was told this morning that I have to hang up her picture. Did I mention I’ve run out of room to hang up all that Alysa brings home from school? One thing she also said that really hit home with me was at the end of her presentation she thanked us for bringing out kids there and said she really enjoys our children and she said, “they are my children as well”. I remember my Mom telling me I had a teacher once who told her the same thing. This really warmed my heart. If someone has my child for hours each day I want to know they love and care for them and truly enjoy not only what they do but my child specifically. And believe me from what I was told by her teacher and assistant they are definitely enjoying Alysa. I was told she is fun and they love her. Her teacher was not surprised at all when I told her Alysa started reading last week just one day after Kayla started. She said Alysa’s concentration and focus amazes them. Nothing distracts her from her work and her teacher can see the concentration on her face and that she is absorbing what is going on around her. If Alysa is sitting near the teacher while she’s helping another child with reading, she can see Alysa kind of looking out into space but deep in thought/concentration as she absorbs and listens to her teacher. We were also told her fine motor skills are excellent. She said the only thing we need to work on with Alysa is her love of the child-sized potty. Apparently 3 weeks has not been long enough to make the novelty wear off. She will go to the potty very often ‘just because’. So I will be adding daily conversations with her about how you only go to the potty when youreally have to into our daily routine. But hey, if that is their only issue with her I’ll take it. Otherwise it seems I have a wonderfully engaging, intelligent, funny and loving 3 year old (almost 4 year old). :)

I can’t give as much detail about Kayla’s teacher since I was not there. But J said it was a good presentation. She is almost done with her Montessori certification which makes me happy. I was very weary when she was hired mid-year last year with no certification. But thankfully she has been wonderful and believes in Montessori as well. Not to mention Kayla adores her. And when I say she adores her, I mean it 110%. Kayla is constantly inviting her over to our house and on outings, etc. It’s so cute. I have actually invited her over for dinner in October. She was very happy to accept and Kayla is just beside herself with excitement. I was told Kayla is doing wonderful with lunch and is handling it very well both practically and emotionally. I also spoke with Kayla’s other 2nd teacher. They combine the Kindergarteners in the afternoon so Kayla is then with her teacher and another one. Kayla is warming up to her pretty well and last week gave her her first hug. J was given a poem with blank lines to fill out what things he thought Kayla would say – favorite things to do, etc. They will then ask the kids the same questions and we’ll be able to compare them. I’m looking forward to that.

While I was there I ran into the Mom of one of Kayla’s old classmates. Her son is now in First grade, so I stopped to talk to her and ask how he was doing. She then proceeded to tell me how her daughter talks about Kayla and will tell her Mom during activities, such as making brownies, that Kayla can’t eat them because she’s allergic to dairy. Her son is allergic to peanuts so she does get the allergy thing. I thought it was cute but was a bit surprised her daughter remembered Kayla. Her daughter did join her brother for Kayla’s party in August but that was because the parents were away and the Mom offered to pay to have her come if I didn’t mind since their babysitter would have both kids. But I was surprised she would remember Kayla. But in talking to her Mom I found out her daughter is in class with Kayla in the afternoon as her teacher is Kayla’s 2nd/new teacher. Then as I was getting ready to leave the light bulb went off over my head. Her daughter is the little girl Kayla has been talking about. A girl it seems Kayla is really bonding with – her first from school actually. And this little girl talks about Kayla all the time too. It makes me happy and it’s so ironic that it’s Kayla’s “old” friend’s sister and how she was actually at her party in August and Kayla didn’t even realize it. And then her Mom said how when Emma talks about her, her son will say, Kayla’s my friend. Hey – you can’t have too many friends, right?

So it was a great night and we really enjoyed ourselves. I love getting to see their rooms and what they do. And to top off the night I came home to Kayla who readily read me a new Bob Book - #5 in the series. So her excitement of reading is growing and so is her confidence. Such an exciting time!!!