School is HARD

Kate started Year 1 a couple of weeks ago (a bit later than the others as we were on our holiday that was booked last year, for the last week of summer hols on the UK schedule).

She was so excited to go to 'big school'....(again, because she kinda started 'big' school last year in England, but then is starting it again here because 'big' school here starts at Year 1, not Reception like in England). She loves school, she loves her class, she loves her teacher, she loves her uniform.

She does not love reading anymore.

She was doing really well in Reception, got a new book every day. But when we moved here, she went into a pre-school again, since they don't have 'Reception' in the ESF programme. The pre-school only had reading once a week. Needless to say, Kate's reading fell by the wayside. Some of it is my fault, too - after coming here, our routine was really knocked for a loop, since there is so much stuff to do outside. I didn't keep up reading before bedtime, because they were so exhausted at the end of the day, after having the "Summer Activities Programme", then playing outside, or swimming, or visiting friends....And now I'm reaping the rewards - Kate has forgotten a lot of the things she knew 6 months ago, and is now less confident about her reading. It has been a battle every day to do her reading assignments, and just to get her to focus on the book in front of her. I am really concerned about making this a negative experience for her.

SO. I'm changing tacks. I will not make her do her reading assigments anymore. I will read them each a book of their choice every night, and that will be that. I will put my comment into the homework book that she did not read her book. I will allow the teacher to think I am a bad mother for not doing the reading homework with Kate. I am hoping that she will decide for herself that she wants to learn to read. I am hoping this will work.