Day Two of Spring Break: Reading is FUNdamental
Today's plans include a trip to the library. It's within walking distance and the weather forecast says we should reach 60F. We're actually at the library fairly often (like every two weeks, sometimes once a week) so it's not a *special* trip. But it'll be a nice walk around the block.
Which brings me to my next subject with a big dose of Mommy Guilt. Yesterday we were all a little bored after dinner so I pulled out some old flashcards out for Em and Ally. Their kindergarten screening is in a month so I wanted to see how they were doing. And they know nothing! Argh! What the heck has the preschool been teaching them? Nothing, it seems! I can't believe I didn't catch this sooner (huge frickin levels of Mommy Guilt!).
They went to preschool last fall knowing how to recite the alphabet, count to 20, shapes, colors, the basics. And it seems that the school hasn't helped them progress from there. It was promoted as the same program Zach took last year (but at a different location). So I was expecting them to learn to identify letters and numbers, letter sounds and maybe a few sight words. I know what they are expected to know in kindergarten and I'm completely freaking out because they are behind. I don't mind teaching the girls but when I'm sending them to a program that is suppose to do this, it pisses me off. I feel like I've been paying for very expensive playdates. And I'm kicking myself for not catching this sooner.
So I'm very tempted to pull them out. Either way I need to catch them up on my own. I hate to admit it but I'm not the best teacher (a huge reason I'm not homeschooling). Plus Zach and the girls have completely different learning styles. Zach practically picks things up out of the air. He reminds me a lot of me and so I have an easy time explaining new ideas to him. The girls... Well last night, Em started crying at the flashcard when she didn't know the letter. It's very frustrating for me, "Why are you crying at a piece of paper?" They are social butterflies, they love the playtime and friends aspect of preschool. Unfortunately that is not going to help them in kindergarten when they are introduced to reading. Ugh...
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