My first school meeting and what do I do? I volunteer!

I went to Sofia's parent meeting at school the other day.  I wasn't sure what to expect but I knew it wasn't an individual parent teacher meeting.  All I knew is that it was a gathering of all of the teachers (two for each class) and the parents.  Of course it is hoped that all of the parents participate in the meeting as I found out it covered the curriculum for the school year, gave us the opportunity to enter the classroom and see what the kids have been doing and talk about your child with the teachers.  Oh yeah and one more important thing... class representative elections.    Of course only about half of the parents showed up, and they were obviously the ones that care about their children's education, but as I came to find out not the ones that complain about things. Isn't that always how it is!

So I show up to the meeting a few minutes late. (I know that there is absolutely no point in showing up early or on time...lord knows I'd be the only one there.  Therefore I have given up on being a punctual American in these situations and as they say... "when in Rome do as the Romans do" or as I like to say "when in Bagnoregio (or more precisely Vetriolo) do as the Bagnoresi do"!  Even after showing up a few minutes late it takes us about 15 minutes to get settled and then another 10 to allow for the stragglers to finally come in and sit down.

First thing on the agenda was to nominate a class representative for each class, to then be voted for at the end of the meeting.  Last year's reps had both immediately said "oh no, not again this year I am done!"  Naturally this didn't bode well, but as a first year mom I listened to what the duties of a class representative were and it didn't sound too difficult.  Meet with the teachers 4 times a year, collect fees for English lessons and supplies from the parents in the class and keep the account for the class, nothing too difficult or new to me, so I was sure someone would volunteer...hmmm...well, I should have known better.  After the teacher asked for volunteers everyone started looking at the walls and sitting on their hands.  So I look a my friend and said well let's do it together...sort of the I'll do it if you do it kind of thing.  Plus nobody was volunteering for our class.  The only thing was that as foreigners, we weren't paying close enough attention and misunderstood that instead of two per class it would be ONE per class, so of course I went and got myself elected as class representative.

But back to my daughter's teacher as mentioned in the title.  Of course she is one of four teachers in the school and one of Sofia's two teachers.  Don't get me wrong I really like both of her teachers and they seem to teach with the same methodology, but I really like Anna.  As a school the teachers all meet together to propose the curriculum for each year and then propose it to the school district.  (Lots of bureaucracy around here)  I really liked what I heard, they seem to be following  the same type of curriculum that an American preschool would follow, which of course I didn't expect but am totally thrilled about.  Of course I am happy to hear that they will be continuing with English and music with external teachers, because as Sofia's teacher says "there are some things that only an expert should teach such as language, music and physical education.

 Well at the beginning of the year I was excited to hear that the school offered what is locally called as baby dance in the past.  However at the meeting we were sadly notified that the government doesn't have the money to support Gym class.  At this point I'm thinking, why is it that this is the first thing that gets cut!?  Of course I am glad that it was gym and not English or Music, because at least I am taking my daughter to swimming lessons two hours a week.  But when the teachers proposed making the parents pay 15 euros extra to provide the service at our school and it was turned down by the school board in the name of equality for all of the schools I was really irked!  

As the meeting ended I noticed a lot of moms eager to leave, some of which cut out at the end a bit early (now if everyone would have shown up early we could have been done early, but c'est la vie this is Italy).  But I was itching to see Sofia's classroom and talk to the teacher about her progress.  I have always been eager to see her classroom, but after having sat in the cramped little room of the other class (Class A) with all  of its well meant decorations and clutter, I was hoping for something a bit less chaotic.   A couple of the other moms and I asked one of the teachers if they wouldn't mind us taking a peek at the room which was thankfully well received and encouraged.  In new situations like these I never quite know what to expect.  When I entered Class B's classroom it was like a breath of fresh air.  Of course I was hoping for a bit more on the walls, but it was much more relaxing than the other which was a bit like a paint box that had exploded.

I was lead to Sofia's name on the wall where all of her "hard works" (as my family likes to call them) were hung.  I found lots of drawings and happily no coloring in!  Here in Italy that seems to be something that is very important (coloring in) but not too much in Sofia's class.  But I saw paintings and drawings each with a teacher's note of what she had identified the drawings as being.  All of the paper, pens, glue and paint were neatly organized on a shelf and the class was neat and tidy.  On the door to the classroom there was a caterpillar which was composed of many green circles that wrapped its way down the length of the door each one containing a small drawing done by each child, supposedly of themselves.  I was quite impressed with Sofia's, only being 3 I expected lots of large scribbles in a single color like many of her younger classmates, but Sofia's though not your typical circle with appendages sticking out, looked a bit like a person with a larger circle at the top and smaller scribbles down the length of the oval, each in a different color!  They also had a large tree made of construction paper on the wall to discuss the changing of the leaves and the fact that it was fall.  Each student in her class is given a colored shape to identify their names.  Sofia is a blue rectangle.  This is placed next to her coat hanger in the entry hall and in the classroom on the attendance board where each morning during circle time is placed on the board by each student present.  I love how they integrate teaching shapes and colors and associating them with their names to help them identify things.  Sofia even knows what her favorite classmates symbols and colors are!  They talk about the weather, the day of the week (there is even a poem giving each day of the week a color to help them remember)  They sing songs, play games, tell stories and do plenty of art and the teachers encourage them to "use their hands" I am amazed that Sofia always comes home clean!  There is a wall called the color of feelings.  the color of sadness was determined to be blue by the class and each child drew a picture and talked about what made them sad.  Sofia apparently wasn't there that day.  It was a bit sad to see that the majority of the kids in the class said they were sad because their mommy or daddy hit them , or yelled at them.  But my favorite one was the response of Sofia's good friend "sadness is when Sofia won't play with me".

Both of Sofia's teachers were very complimentary of Sofia's behavior, that she was very polite and cooperative.  She was active in class and got along well with all of the kids.  When talking about her drawings I was told that there was always something very particular that she was drawing and she always knew what it was, but looking at her pictures they were nearly always labeled "house" and "dog".  I guess that means that is what she is thinking about most.

Just before leaving my fellow expat and I were speaking with my preferred teacher and she said that she was very impressed with both of our abilities to speak Italian so well, I suppose I just assume that it darn well had better be after 10 years here, but I guess she encounters plenty of foreigners at the school that don't speak so well.  But my favorite part about talking to her was her analogy.   You see Anna is definitely a student of child psychology and a practicer of yoga.  After having complimented both of us on our healthy choice of snacks to send to school with our daughters I made the comment that "yeah, but Sofia never eats hers".  Anna's response to this was, " you know she isn't bringing homemade muffins for snack she is bringing mommy, that is why she doesn't eat it".  My response was well I suppose it is also because it takes her half an hour to eat breakfast  in the morning so when we arrive she has just finished eating and probably isn't hungry.  Anna's response?  "yes, children need a lot of time in the morning for breakfast because after sleeping all night they are detached from reality so they need to rebuild that  mommy child bond in the morning, they don't eat milk and cereal for breakfast they have milk and mommy".  It is incredible, but after that I have LOTS more patience with Sofia in the morning.  Man I love her teacher!  Who knew I could learn so much from a preschool teacher!

My walk to work

TAKING TIME TO SLOW DOWN AND ENJOY THE SURROUNDINGS...

I have recently been doing some work for NAUSI in Civita and after a couple of days of getting up early and trekking up the bridge to my destination I realized that I sometimes forget to enjoy the beauty of the place that was the catalist of me coming to Italy in the first place over ten years ago.  So today as I was making my way up the narrow footbridge I decided to slow down just a bit and enjoy the beautiful autumn morning and as I did I took a few photos of my walk to work. 

My Superstar!

I went to pick up Sofia from preschool today and was happy to find that today was Maestra Anna's turn for the afternoon. ( Sofia has two teachers who alternate morning and afternoon with the kids since they are there from 8:15-3:30) While I was waiting for Sofia to go back inside to get her things I was approached by her teacher. She began to tell me that she was very happy with Sofia and was particularly eager to give her compliments for such a polite and well behaved girl. Of course I am relieved because since she could talk I have been persistent with having her say please and thank you, and I am happy to hear she has even taken it to the next level by always asking, "may I play with this please?" followed by "thank you" according to her teacher. I even received kudos for her at school snacks that I send with her every morning. Though this is something aside. As opposed to sending the store bought cakes and muffins like most moms do around here, I send homemade muffins, dried fruit, fruit leather or carrot sticks. Although I don't do it for the compliments, I do it to encourage good eating habits, the compliments never hurt!


But the biggest relief was that the teacher said that Sofia has adjusted very well and gets along with the other kids in her class, she has learned quickly how things work in the classroom and is eager to participate. She said that she is very intelligent, and observes the situation before acting and then makes choices that are to her advantage. She is a joy to have in class...

Can you say beaming mommy with tears in her eyes! OH YEAH!

Getting Crafty

So I have always been a fairly crafty person.  Like most American kids I did all kinds of crafts at school, it was one of my favorite things to do, (obviously math wasn't my thing).  I remember to this day some of the things we did even back in grade school if not preschool.  I did cross stitch, crocheting and basket weaving in elementary school.  In highschool I loved my art and technical drawing classes, and at the UW decided that I would go into architecture, which sadly never happened though I didn't stray too far and went in to Community and Environmental Planning, still plenty of design, but not so technical.  When I came to study in Italy I learned that I was actually a pretty good at architectural ink drawings, not technical ones but the ones that you see people doing on the side streets of European cities and villages.  I was actually good enough that a tourist actually bought one from me!

But after I graduated from the UW and moved to Italy, I gave up my crafty side (unless you call cooking a craft). Then, I got PREGNANT.  I started doing scrapbooking, but that was about the extent of it. Then I started making little things for Sofia's room.  I started with little wooden letters for her door, then big ones above her bed.  I even finished up a little shelf to hold all of her little things two days before I delivered.  Then picture frames for the wall and eventually a special one for each of her three birthdays (the craft store lady here LOVES me!)  When we couldn't get the electrician to come fix her bedroom light, I decorated a little lamp for her bedside table.  This last year I have even gotten into making jewelry, heck if you can make exactly what you want for less than what you can buy it for why not?!  Plus it is a great creative outlet.  Just as long as Sofia is a school and not wanting to "help"   I have also done a lot of decoupage and glass painting which have made for plenty of Christmas gifts along the way. 

 I learned how to make a picture board and hairclip board. And now I have learned to knit and crochet thanks to Jo.  I have made who knows how many scarves and hats for Sofia but my latest accomplishment was very satisfying...I made her an afgan with the little granny squares!  I am so proud of myself because I was able to actually finish this one in only about ten days!   

Now I just need my very own little crafts room to keep all of this stuff in, and lots and lots of space to work.  If people don't start coming to visit me soon I think that extra bedroom just may become my new Office/crafts room. 

My little socialite

When I picked Sofia up from school on Thursday I found a birthday invitation in her backpack.  I looked at the name and didn't recognize it.  I asked my friend if she knew the boy and I realized that I had met the mom at a previous birthday party.  Of course it didn't surprise me to find a birthday invite in Sofia's back pack because it is common use here to invite the whole class to your child's birthday party (30+ kids can you believe it!).  This is something that obviously won't be happening with Sofia's 4th bday! 

The idea of a birthday party to me is that you invite your friends, the ones that you do things with, the ones you play with, this particular little boy didn't even remember Sofia's name when we got to the party!  Of course this didn't bother Sofia one bit, she is 3 of course and they aren't bothered by things like that.  Sofia did her usual stood by mommy and observed the scene, which was fine by me because although we had shown up nearly 45 minutes late there still weren't many people there yet and I didn't recognize anyone but the mom of the boy.  (Yes, it is customary that birthday parties start around 5pm but nobody really shows up until around 6pm and of course the parents stay because there are no games or activities set up for the kids to do so it is kind of like recess with snacks on big long tables set off to the side.)  Of course this no longer surprises me anymore, not since my first experience with it as Sofia's first birthday!

The thing that did surprise me a bit was Sofia.   Although she was staying close to me she had told me that she had seen Giulia from school there but of course as usual was asking me to ask her if she wanted to play.  I said, go ahead and ask her she is your friend.  When the girl said she didn't want to play, I tried to get Sofia to go in to get some snacks while we waited for her dear friend Sara.  After about 10 minutes more kids had shown up and within no time she was off and running around.  Of course she wasn't really playing with anyone in particular because most of the kids were older than her.  But this is not what got me because she has done this before. It is what happened a few minutes later.  I was watching her and lost sight of her in the setting sun and then PANIC!  I couldn't see her anymore, I got up and started looking around for her trying not to look crazy because it had been literally 30 seconds, but then when I really started to worry I spotted her, sitting on a wall next to two older boys totally and completely content. 

This continued throughout the evening as more and more of the kids from her class arrived.  At one point she had her two good friends Sara and Martina with her.  She was leading them around by the hand telling them where they should go next and what they should do.  This, coming from a mamma's girl who three weeks ago could remember 3 words in Italian! 

Later on she was walking up to the older girls and putting herself right in the middle of the group as if to say so girls what are we doing now!?  I couldn't believe my eyes my little wallflower has been turned into a complete socialite, totally confident of herself!  I LOVE what preschool has done for her in just two short weeks!