Whittaker Wanderings: Doesn't seem possible!

I must honestly say having a year of school behind us feels a bit surreal. In some ways the year seemed long because Caden's first half of Kindergarten was in TN and the second half here in GA. Kind of made it hard to "connect" really. In TN there weren't really any volunteer opportunities and from the first day of school I had no idea how long he would be there. When starting here most volunteer positions in his classroom were taken, we had missed many classroom activities, and took 2 months before I ever realized their was a room mom and had contact with her. All in all though it was a good year for Caden. He has learned so much and I am SOOO thankful he got a great teacher here in GA. I feel she pushed him and even though her style wasn't his favorite (lots of sitting and writing and structure) he thrived. Caden is a competitive boy and being in a classroom setting is good for him. We have contemplated homeschooling over and over and over. I still cannot get past the idea that Caden wouldn't do well under me or at home (that is a different post). He soaks in the information. I would ask him every day about his day and try to find out what he learned and typically got little information. However, out of the blue he would blurt out facts or questions and revealed what he was learning. He is SOOO much like his daddy.... I love it, but man is it scary!!! From what we are told he is well behaved in the classroom and listens and follows directions (so why are those last two so hard to do at home???) If you asked him if he liked school he would probably say no because they have to work and the days are too long. His favorite thing about school is of course PE or recess.

These 3 pictures I scanned and are from his teachers. The first one is from his first day at this school in January and the second picture is a day or 2 before the last day of school. I was shocked at how different he looked, his face seems so much more grown up. I think it really has more to do with his hair being longer in the first one, but man it was a little shocking.

"First Grade Here I come!"

They don't have a "graduation" for Kindergarten here. They just have a Kindergarten "celebration". There are something like 20 kindergarten classes at this school. The school is only Kindergarten and 1st grade and then the next school is 2nd and 3rd and the next school is 4th and 5th. So with 20 something classes and each having 20+ kids that would take a while. Each classroom has their own program. They shared some of what they learned and sang some songs. They showed a picture of each student and their teacher read what they had said they wanted to be when they grow up and followed it by some sentences. Caden's was "When I grow up I want to be a race car driver. I can go fast. Race cars come in different colors. I would like a black race car!"

I am so proud of him! We are both glad summer is here and I look forward to watching him grow more and more each year. It makes me sad how fast it all happens though!

Here are a few pictures from the program... doesn't he look thrilled ;)