Back to School = Mommy needs a drink!

Scott is back in school... 4th grade. I had heard that his teacher this year was pretty strict but that wasn't a big concern. He could use some structure and motivation to stay on task (at home too for that matter!). He knew of her (we'll call her Mrs. L) and was really happy she was going to be his teacher. I kept HUSH about what I had heard... let's keep things positive and happy, right? Sneak-a-peek the day before school was pleasant. She seemed really nice, organized, and already had nice things to say about Scott.

A week later... was BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT!

Parents funneled into the classroom, dreading having to squeeze into those little chairs. There's always those stragglers... whose kids also seem to be tardy for class on a regular basis. Whats that saying about the acorn? LOL Most of the kids have been together on "Blue Track" since Kindergarten so we all know each other pretty well. There's the normal gossip/small talk going on. We sign in and are told to find our child's desk and have a seat. Promptly at 6:30 Mrs. L begins with "There are instructions for you on the board". Immediately I think... "she's testing me to see how well I follow instructions" so I read through them and start to leave Scott a note on a purple sheet that the instructions said I would find on his desk. I'm thinking to myself... "Are other parents writing more loving notes than me? More supportive or encouraging words? Will Mrs. L be reviewing our notes?". GET A GRIP I tell myself (as I strain to see what others are writing!)

We dive into a Back-to-School packet that feels comparable to a Webster Dictionary! "How did she get a staple through this damn thing?", I'm wondering to myself! I'm scared!

* Forth Grade Criteria is covered. Pretty basic.
* The daily scheduled is outlined... so far so good.
* She goes over all the ways to contact her... phone, email, via the kid's planner (huh? planner?)
* Next are the classroom expectations. We're cool here. Scott really is a good kid.
* Sample pages of the planner (we have to buy in the office) are in our packet. Each subject has a place for the kids to jot down what was done that day, and any homework. There is a detailed LEGEND of codes the teacher uses to communicate with parents via the journal. We have to sign the bottom EVERY day. If you lose that legend, you're pretty much screwed!

[HERE'S WHERE IT STARTS TO GET TRICKY]

* Reward & Consequence System. There are no less than SIX systems in place for individual, team and class behavior with some running 1 week, 2 weeks and a month! ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW? I look around and tired mom's and dad's who probably just got off a 2 hour commute home from work, are starting to look panicked.

1. If they are "caught" doing something GOOD, they receive an Award Ticket. On Fridays she draws from all Award Tickets and the winner receives a drink from her frig for lunch.


2. If they are caught doing something BAD, they get a Card pulled. Number of remaining cards = coupons which can be used for a pass if their planner is forgotten, bathroom pass etc.


3. Kids who turn in all their homework and have their planner signed EVERY day for 2 weeks do a "fun activity". Those who miss a homework or planner, go to study hall instead. (Guess it's study hall for Scott... he's already forgot his planner once!)


4. Kids can earn Points when working as a team. The team with the most points in a week receive a "special reward".


5. As a class they can earn minutes for PAT Time (Preferred Activity Time). They start with 10 minutes and can lose or earn time.


6. The last one is NO ACTIVITIES LIST! Chelsea had that at Jr. High... these kids are 9! This one takes a series of incidents but the kids would lose out on all the good stuff... computers, music, parties, assemblies etc.

BRUTAL! Tell me, how does she have time to TEACH when all this is being kept track of for 27 kids??

[MY HEAD IS SPINNING]

* Next we go over the homework. I KNEW this was going to put me over the edge. "Did anyone bring a beer to class?"

1. Reading; 30 mins. X 4 days a week with the date, book title, time read and parent's signature required. Journal is due on Thursdays. (Note: Journal is different than the planner)


2. Writing; 2-4 times a week (evidently it's a surprise which days!), responding to specific prompts as found in the homework journal. Once again... HUH? The date, topic, time spent writing and parent's signature is required (for every writing assignment). Journal is due on Thursdays.


3. Spelling, Vocabulary, Grammar & Language; 2-4 nights a week (again, a surprise which nights). Work is due the next day.


4. Math: A) Practice Book; 2-4 days week, due next day. B) Spiral Review; frequency and due dates vary. C) Problem Solving; Word problems sent home on Mondays, due on Fridays.


5. Monthly "At home" Projects; Assigned the beginning of the month, due the end.

I don't think my Outlook Calendar PLUS my cell phone scheduler PLUS my frig calendar could keep track of all those due-dates. She might as well throw in there "this is due every other Tuesday, but only if Mars is aligned with Jupiter and it's an even number day"!

[I SWEAR there were parents on the verge of crying, myself included, and she wasn't finished yet!]

* She firmly reminds those who haven't' turned in the new-year emergency paperwork to do so. (Thank God mine was in!)
* She continues on about needing volunteers to help in the classroom (no shit!). I have helped in Scott's class going back to Kindergarten off and on depending on my schedule, but I'm already thinkin' that I best get my ass in there regularly so I know what the hell is going on!

Almost every topic in the packet had a page where I and sometimes Scott, had to sign off (might as well have been in blood!) that we had completely read and understood the content.

I'm completely overwhelmed but remarkably, Scott seems to have the overall system under control. THANK GOODNESS SOMEONE DOES!