We're now three weeks in to M's school journey and although there are still some glitches that are yet to be ironed out, she seems to be settling in a bit. Generally from what I can gather, socially she seems to be getting on fine and since meeting another mum at the parents' evening we have sorted out a lift share a couple of afternoons each week. We've only done it a couple of times so far, but M and her friend A have spent some time together after school as well. In fact they chose to get some homework done together last Thursday after school at our house.
As far as the academic side of things is concerned M seems to be doing fine too. She really doesn't like homework, but often gets in and gets at least part of it out done and out of the way immediately. Homework has changed absolutely hugely since I was teaching, nevermind since I was at school. Admittedly it's 13 years since I taught, but text books seem to be a thing of the past, at least in terms of each child having one that they take home with them. In addition to that a significant amount of homework is now both set and completed online, in SNA's case on showmyhomework.co.uk, along with other websites, such as hegartymaths. The vast majority of the homework she has been given so far has been online (mostly maths tasks) and learning vocabulary for French and German (which fortunately she doesn't find too difficult) along with some finishing off classwork and drawing exercises for technology and art.
Until a couple of days ago, M had been very vocal in her dislike of school. She has stated very firmly that she made the wrong decision in going to school and was not happy. She understood why we had said she had to continue until Christmas, but that did not stop her railing against it. I was absolutely gobsmacked when yesterday morning she said that it seemed like everyone expected/wanted (I can't remember exactly what she said) her to stay at school and that she might stay for the whole year. I reminded her that it's her choice and that it doesn't matter what other people think of her decision to which she replied rather grumpily that she knew that and I had told her that a million times already!
M has made it through to half term now, as tomorrow is an inset day. That feels like quite an achievement and I'm cautiously optimistic that the next half term will be a bit less of a struggle. M is talking about starting an after school activity after the holiday, probably either the concert band or a sports club, which I'm hoping will help her continue to settle in. As to what she will decide at Christmas when we talk about options again, I have no idea!
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