Monday 15 June 2009

Week 34 - waving or drowning ?

Unfortunately still drowning - in homework.

J is still drowning in homework and this is exacerbated by his Friday teacher taking over for the week as his regular teacher seems to be on honeymoon. Just when you thought it was safe to get your head up, another wave comes by.

Forgotten homework

On Wednesday he forgets a piece of his maths (of which there are 4 pieces on this subject alone just for one day) and is highly distressed by this. So I ring his teacher and explain that he has forgotten. She suggests that he comes early on Thursday to finish it – I’m quite clear that I’m not asking her to excuse him from it, but just apologising in advance. She is very charming about the whole thing, but I do feel that it’s a very heavy workload.

Thank goodness she’s not the main teacher Monday-Thursday.

Besuchermorgen

Friday sees our second Besuchermorgen as parents in school. The boys are clearly much happier and more confident in their classes now – which is a relief to see. J is joining in putting his hand up when the class are asked difficult geometry questions – and whilst we understand more of his class, he clearly understands all of it. The difference between the 2 levels is extremely noticeable – in J’s class they all sit still and concentrate very hard, whilst in C’s class (grade 2) the amount of movement and motion is non-stop, with children moving from their desks to areas to collect resources and then back again and then up to the teacher’s desk to have their work marked. It’s a much more relaxed atmosphere in Grade 2 and I’m beginning to appreciate why the teachers went so far to explain the stricter rules for Grade 4 and onwards at the beginning of the year.

Different sort of bazooka

J also receives a letter from a Schiessensportverein, a sportsclub in one of the villages in the gemeinde, inviting him to try out shooting, presumably because he is now 10. There are 2 trial evenings later in the month.

Real rifle shooting, not play shooting with toy weapons. Heaven help us.

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