Preschool

Traditionally for our little ones I do a year of Joy School when they are 3 turning 4. Then that final year before kindergarten we splurge and pay for preschool at a local church. Kindergarten is all day in Texas, so we feel like it's important for our children to get used to a school setting before sending them full-time. And with Audrey, it has definitely proved to be soemthing we needed to do to help her gain confidence and thrive away from Mommy. She is attending the Methodist Day School, which is just a few minutes from our home. She goes to school Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Tuesdays and Thursdays she's there from 9-2 and Wednesdays are 9-12. Audrey favors Wednesdays! :) However, that being said, she's doing really well. It was definitely an adjustment the first few weeks. She cried a lot at drop-off and during the day. However, she has seemed to settle in now. I actually had a parent/teacher conference last week and her teacher was very positive and impressed with Audrey. The only thing she's really had to help Audrey with is not doing the other students' work. Since she can write all her letters and get through her work quickly, her friends were recruiting her to write things for them. Too funny! A lesson that needs to be learned, though. 

I've had the opportunity to go into Audrey's school twice since she's started. Once I went in and helping during Open Door time. It's a time where all the doors (4 classes) for the Preschool 4's are opened up and the children chose where they want to go and what they want to do. Basically different stations at each classroom. As soon as Audrey saw me she started crying. Uh, oh! She cried several times while I was there. But we got through it. I was busy helping kids, so she just had to kind of figure it out. I got to help her, but it's not like I could just console her the whole time. The following week Rachel had early dismissal and wanted to go eat lunch with Audrey. What a sweet sister! I was a bit hesitant about it, because of the Open Door incident. But we surprised her and it went well. No tears and she was excited to have us eat lunch with her. I think Rachel really enjoyed it, too. And it was fun to meet some of her classmates. I've signed up several more times to volunteer the next few months, so hopefully all continues to go well. 

Before preschool actually started there was a Meet the Teacher day and here are some pictures of when we did that:

Audrey's spot to hang her backpack and her checklist she does every morning when she arrives at school (it's upside down):

Audrey was excited to check out the art easels and even Ian joined in:

And then of course, the adorable Audrey on her first day of preschool:

I'm so glad that Audrey has this opportunity to learn and grow. We've also started reading lessons at home and we're flying through them. She's so lucky to have Rachel as an older sister. She has learned and continues to learn so much from her. She likes to learn, but Audrey also LOVES to play. Our house is full of play time every day. I'm really pleased with this preschool. We switched from where we sent Rachel. I feel like this preschool is much more hands-on and worksheets don't even really exist (other than practicing handwriting once a week). I like that! I want my kids to enjoy school and I feel like this school is a great fit for Audrey. It's going to be fun to watch her progress this school year.