Volunteering at Bishop Thornton

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of volunteering at Tim's school for the morning. (Yes, Tim's school is still in session, and the last day isn't until July 22nd!! Isn't that crazy??!! The schools here have more week-long "holidays" throughout the year, which I suppose accounts for the late school year). Maddie's preschool on base ended last week, so she came along with me. We both really enjoyed ourselves.

Tim's class is made up of three grades, Reception (ages 4-5), Year 1 (Tim), and Year 2 (ages 6-7), and is taught by a wonderfully enthusiastic and expressive, Mrs. Ward. There are only 8 students in the whole class! I was able to watch the students participate in a whole-group phonics lesson that challenged each of the students at their level, and I then helped some of the older children who were writing their first book report. I also watched a maths (yes, they call it "maths") lesson, where Mrs. Ward again challenged each at their level during a whole-group activity, and then split them up to do different activities according to their abilities.

I know I mentioned this before, but the classroom is really wonderful. It is filled with everything you would want in a classroom for your kid: educational toys everywhere, reading center, building center, art center, Smartboard and computers. One of the corners of the room is designated as a rotating center, where it changes as the class theme changes. For example, last half-term the class studied houses, so there was a house corner with a play kitchen, etc. Their theme now is "The Sea," so the corner has a pirate boat, sea artwork, and (magnetic) fishing poles made by the children, along with a treasure chest, maps, and Brucey and Jaws, the class's two new pet fish. The outside play area is also like an extension of the classroom with scooters, water and sand tables... there was even a small tub filled with green spaghetti!! I just love it. The whole atmosphere just peaks a child's curiosity and sense of adventure. I really am so fortunate to have my kids begin their school careers here.

It was really a treat being in the class, and seeing what could be done with only 8 students. Each of the students received a lot of personal attention from the teacher and the teacher's assistant. There was also a neat sense of comradery in the classroom.... the children were almost family-like in how they all got along with each other. Actually, knowing how my kids get along, this was more like "heaven-like."

Mrs. Ward made a special point of including Maddie in all of the activities, and Maddie just loved it... so much so, that she didn't want to leave at lunch time. I don't know if I've mentioned this in the blog before, but Maddie will actually be attending Bishop Thornton this Fall. She has been visiting the school occasionally during their preparatory "drop-in" sessions, and every time, she asks me to leave! She already knows all the kids in the class (such a social girl), and is fully prepared to leave me all alone at home to go off to school. I didn't think I was ready for my 4 year-old to be away from me all day already, but with the baby coming at the end of September, it's starting to sound ideal.

Anyway, I thought I would leave you with a few British words/phrases that Tim has learned at school:

• The letter "Z" is actually pronounced "zed" here. When they sing the ABC song, it ends with "....W, X, Y and Zed." I don't know if they sing the last line or not, because zed certainly doesn't rhyme with "me."
• They play "Monkey in the Middle" but they call it "Piggy in the Middle", and "Tag" is called "Tig."
• All the time, Tim is saying how he has "loads" of something, instead of "lots."
• When beginning a race, it's not "Ready, set, go!," it's "Ready, steady, go!"

So cute!