The hubby and I went to the annual open house at the boy's school on Tuesday night. We arrived fashionably late so that we could avoid listening to the boring prattle by the principal and PTA board. Snore.
The boy has a male teacher this year, Dr. M. Let me begin by saying that the man is wonderful. After two minutes in his classroom, I knew that this was going to be a great year.
Dr. M. has extremely high expectations, yet is generous with his rewards for hard work. Aside from just focusing on all of the academic requirements, he puts a significant amount of focus on teaching personal responsibility, time management and hard work. Be still my beating heart.
Someone other than the hubby and I talking about personal responsibility... I am certain that I heard a choir of heavenly angels singing.
Dr. M. also outlined his discipline policy. Students are required to stay in the "Family Circle" in order to be able to participate in "Fabulous Friday."
I am not ashamed to admit that I love the Family Circle and wish that I had thought of it myself when the boy was small. In essence, the Family Circle is akin to the "Circle of Trust" that Jack Byrnes, the retired CIA operative, explained to his daughter's suitor, Gaylord "Greg" Faulker in the movie Meet the Parents.
The Circle, which hangs at the front of the room, consists of a picture of the earth surrounded by three circles, brown, red and black. Dr. M. took a picture of each of the students, cut them out and then glued magnets on the back.
At the beginning of each week, the little magnet students start out in the brown ring, feet firmly resting on the earth. When a child misbehaves, his head is moved into the red. Another violation lands their entire body firmly in the red. While being in the red is not good, the student is still considered to be "in the Family."
Only after a third infraction is the student moved to the black circle. At this point they are considered to be "out of the Family" and disqualified from participating in "Fabulous Friday."
What, you might ask, is Fabulous Friday? I'm so glad you asked.
Fabulous Friday is just a fancy name for regular Friday, but there is a perk. The students who are still in the Family get to each lunch in their classroom while enjoying the old black and white episodes of Tarzan. Anyone who is out of the Family has to eat lunch at the class table in the cafeteria by themselves.
Dr. M.'s brilliant scheme was all the boy needed to be on his best behavior. Watching Tarzan while eating... it's every eight-year-old boy's dream. I am happy to say that the child has bounded in the door each afternoon proclaiming that he is "still in the Family Circle!"
I can't wait to hear all about the Tarzan movie when he gets home tomorrow.
2 comment(s). Leave yours!:
Glad to hear this should be a good year for the boy!
I was wondering where you were as we were sitting, sitting, sitting and waiting for the Principal to speak! I called the school in the afternoon to ask WHEN exactly would the principal talk. They told me 6:30PM. I clarified this is when the principal is talking and not when the info. booths are open. They said "yes. Principal talks from 6:30-7, then he dismiss you to classrooms at 7." So, we showed up at 6:15...and hung around for 50 minutes before the principal talked. UGH!!! At least we only had to sit through one grade school speech this year.
Here is hoping for a great year!
Sign me up! I want to be in 3rd grade. It sounds like it will be a fabulous year.
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