School

Ava LOVES school.  Who wouldn't if you could be a part of her school and how they learn.  It is incredible.  The respect for the child is just off the charts and the willingness to learn what the child wants to learn is incredible.  If she wants to bring in a book that she learned how to "read" (more like memorize...but still, it was a long book) they embrace her thirst for learning and have her read it to her little class and then to the 3 year olds.  As she does, the 3 yr olds sit and pay close attention, hanging on every word.  Ava reads with such expression and speaks nice and clear at a nice volume.  I am so proud of her.  After the long weekend, she cannot wait to return to her classroom where she hugs her teacher and tells her that she missed her.  Her teacher says she missed her too and I absolutely believe it.  It is a community.  A learning place...learning about friends, letters, numbers, animals, plants, trees, Paul Revere, bell making, Ididarod racing, rhyming, bell ringing, carol singing, phases of the moon, why the days are named what they are, and anything else you can think of.  This is her last year at Seaside...she was there last year as well.  She will go on to public school kindergarten where you sit in a circle, line up, have specific activities at specific times, and have to follow rules.  My heart breaks a little every time she expresses her love for school because I know what is coming.  I hope she makes the transition well and that she still has a thirst for learning and an excitement for the next new project.

We were lucky to send her to Seaside for the two years.  I wish it could have been three, but there is no kindergarten program next year.  In any case, whenever she would leave the school and move on, it would be hard.  No matter when.  For now I will try to enjoy her passion for her school and not think about the future.  Today is all I have.  Tomorrow is just my imagination.