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When I think back on my former students, the ones who seem to stand out are the children who were not afraid to ask for help. The students who stood up for themselves, led in class discussion, talked to me about their lives, and let me in on their real selves. It’s absolutely natural and normal for certain students to grate on a teacher’s nerves, and of course there have been a handful of those students throughout the years. Students who feel as if they need to challenge you on every single thing during class, students who decide to bully as a form of social interaction. And then, there are the students who are so painfully quiet that you spend so much time trying to get to know them and they seem to just want nothing to do with you. Here is my confession: I’m deathly afraid that my 5-year-old is becoming one of the quiet ones. He is a sweet innocent little boy who loves to learn. He loved Pre-K and made a lot of friends. He gets invited for playdates and birthday parties, and plays with the neighborhood kids. But he does not talk to adults. Oh, he talks to his father and me all day and night. He’s certainly not shy around the house. But if you put Nate in a room full of adults (including aunts, uncles and grandparents) it’s a pretty safe bet he’d faint from nervousness. I’m so scared he’s going to get left out when he starts school in a few weeks, or fall behind because he won’t ask for help. What’s more sad to me, is that his teacher won’t fully know what a wonderful little boy he really is, or how funny he is, or what a great hockey and baseball player he is, or how much he loves Spiderman and the Sabres because HE JUST WON’T TALK! How do I fix this? How do I encourage him to speak, or at least let out a gruntwhen someone asks him something? Well, let’s hope that the kindergarten curriculum involves the Sabres and Spiderman and a miracle will happen.
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I’ve seen those quiet students all the time in school, and believe me, they all come out of their shell sooner or later. Nate will be an excellent student, with many friends, and great listening skills; which will defintely help him with the NYS testing!! He may be shy, but trust me, the kindergarten teacher will know that Nate is a wonderful boy as soon as she meets him…how could she not?
It was a treat to have Nate tell me all the things he likes about school (in a very animated way!). This new milestone is definitely a positive one for him, and he seems to be thriving. I look forward to our next visit (maybe he’ll divulge the “cute girl’s” name)! You can breath easier now Mom & Dad!