Today was Eliot's first day at the Dutch school. It feels like a huge milestone - not school itself because he went to Waldorf last year but because of the language. My sister went to Dutch preschool - the Pookey School - in Suriname. Its a nice connection. I went with him to school today. Jim took Miles to pick up my parents from the airport.
If you ask Eliot about it: "was pretty cool, fun." "We met one new friend - Jason." As always, he's not full of a lot of details.
The day was nice. Eliot was quite nervous (heck, so was I) but did great. We started with the Kring (circle time). The school is very much about doing what the kids are interested in. At the start of circle, Luciens (his teacher) said Guter Morgen to each kinder, pausing each time for a reply or at least a nod. He introduced Eliot casually and said his momma is here today. All this is in Dutch. Then they sang a song and Luciens reviewed the morning's activities: circle discussion, playing/working, cleanup, discussion, eten/drinken(snack), and outside play. From what I gathered, children had brought toys from home (which were put on the circle table). Luciens took a smaller group to another room to work on language skills. The remainder of the class, including us, stayed in the circle with Marie (sp?), the assistant. Four or five children were asked to explain or describe their toy; their classmates could ask questions about it (a hand raised with a fist is for questions, one raised with the pointer is a request to go next). One was a stuffed toy from Shark Tail, another a motorcycle of some kind. After this, each child was asked about what they were going to play with during free time. Sometimes, there would be too many and they would be encouraged to find something else to start with. Sometimes, certain friends would want to work together. Eliot was allowed to not say anything - Marie said he could just look around and do whatever he'd like (in English this time).
Circle seemed to be about vocabulary, language, social skills, and manners. It was nice and must make the children feel good about being listened too. I got lots of reassurance kisses from Eliot during this solely Dutch conversation (probably 40 min). I must say it was daunting for me with all the Dutch. I am sure Eliot will adjust quickly, but it must be a little scary.
Then we started what I'd call free play: Eliot started in the one area he knew - the Bouwhoek (building corner). We made a very cool backhoe loader with a special Duplo set (with setting pins to keep it together). The toys in the classroom are great - puzzles, house area, games, blocks, train track, marble runs, Duplos, legos, painting and drawing supplies, computer, clay, dress up, sand table. Children seemed to start with their initial idea and then moved to various things. Some like Jason are encouraged to work on one thing longer, while smaller ones are allowed to work on the same thing (trains for example). This I learned from an English discussion with Luciens. Eliot and I worked with Jason on a marble run and then used some plastic shapes to make pictures of a train, an airplane, and a helicopter. A 5-minute warning was given at the end of the 45/60-min free time. Clean up time and then everyone moved their wood & metal chairs back to circle. A few students requested to discuss their worktime projects, which they put on the circle table. The circle focused on a description of their work and questions from the class and teachers. Jason had make a Boekje of stamped letters for "his [pointing to Eliot] momma" - me! A gift on our first day.
A few children were chosen to bring in the tubs of backpacks for snack and hand them out. We sang a song and everyone opened their lunchbox (our Bob De Bouwer is borrowed from Gina) and started eating snack (sandwiches, bread mainly) and drinking juice or milk. As children finished their meal, they would go and get a book to read until everyone was finished. Marie got me a second (and much needed) cup of coffee. One boy had Giraffes Can't Dance in Dutch, which made Eliot and me smile. Eliot was so hungry that he ate his whole sandwich, cucumbers, and apples. Just as Eliot was choosing a book, Luciens started the put the Boek back song.
Luciens asked the older children to stay (4-6 year olds are in the class) for a special activity, while us younger ones were released to the playground. We didn't go to the playground equipment, which is shared with the apartment building next door, but I get the impression they do sometimes. There were lots of tricycles, wagons, cars to play with plus a big sand box (zandbak) with lots of diggers, shovels and pails. At first, Eliot stayed by me, but did venture out some. While he was in the sand box, I decided to go to the Toiletten and hung back hidden when I returned. Eliot was doing fine.
Outside, both groups 1-2 were outside together, so it was a lot of kids (30+). Once the children, especially the girls in the other class, learned I spoke English, the children all counted to ten in English for me (most skipped seven and eight). It was so humbling: I had so many "converstations" in Dutch where I had no idea what the kids were saying. Since they haven't yet learned English, there was no way to figure out what they were saying. I just kept nodding. I finally figured one girl was just telling me that she spoke (or I spoke) English - in Dutch of course.
I talked with Luciens in the school yard. He said the teachers discussed it, and Eliot will be fine once momma is not here. He'll come out of his shell. He said that he would have Eliot sit by him next week on his first real days of school. Luciens will talk with him in English when necessary. They seem to really understand each child's needs and focus on those things they need to learn (academic and social). I like his teacher a lot and the assistant seems very nice and great with the kids. It's very loving and kind.
At 11:50, we headed in for wrap-up and then broke for lunch. Most kids would return for the afternoon (1-3). We biked home to see Grammy & Pop. We saw our swan family still together floating in the Kolk as we headed up the hill to Westvest. They are so beautiful and graceful. It was a good first day.
Impressions & Observations:Of the 16 kids in Eliot's class, 6 are white; most are middle eastern or african; very different from even the race make-up in center Delft
They all speak Dutch much better than me
The kids are very nice, happy, and helpful to Eliot
The school approach is perfect for Eliot - social development over academics, very language centered, focused on the individual needs
Eliot will be well cared for
posted by Whitney @ 7:47 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home