Second Grade, Here I Come!

Can you believe Cole is in second grade already?  Here are some pictures from the first day (you might note a recurring Star Wars theme again)!

Happy, confident, and ready to take on 2nd grade!

Showing off the cool new backpack.

Making the trek to the 2nd grade doors.

Cole and his good buddy, Ethan (they've been in class together since Kindergarten!).

My attempt at a cool first day of school lunch (in case you are not Star Wars savvy, that is a Millennium Falcon sandwich and a lightsaber sticking out of his note).

Our back to school cake.

And now, the keeping it real portion of the blog...

Cole had a good first day, but unfortunately things went south, fast.  Starting the second day, Cole started complaining about school, not wanting to go, hating his teacher, having no friends in the classroom, wanting to switch teachers, move, or be homeschooled, hating that recess was before lunch this year, blaming Mr. Quada (principal) and mad that I hadn't volunteered in the classroom yet (there may have been more complaints, but those are the ones I remember - I have tried to block a lot of it out).  Some mornings Cole reluctantly went to school, some mornings it was a drag out, knock down fight to get him there (literally hitting and kicking and screaming).  I was in the classroom more the first two weeks than I think I was all of last year, talked to the teacher, counselor, friends, read articles, etc. to try to help Cole get things worked out.  Finally, we are doing okay.  He isn't excited about school or his teacher, but he goes willingly every day and does have some good moments.  Mark and I aren't thrilled with his teacher (not challenging him enough, LOTS of worksheets, etc.) but she really went above and beyond to try to help Cole feel comfortable in the classroom.  Essentially the problem was that Cole had two good friends in his class, and no one else that he knew.  In first grade, he had been in Kindergarten with 16 of the 22 kids in his classroom (which is not typical), so he had a wealth of friends and kids he was comfortable with.  He hadn't really had to go out of his way to make new friends since he started Kindergarten.  Cole finally realized that his classmates might be good kids and that he had to give them a chance and get to know them before he judged them, and now talks about some new friends he has made.  So second grade didn't get off to a great start, but Cole is doing better now and is much happier and acting like the great kid that he (usually) is.  We're glad because second grade is way too early to start hating school!  Whew!