School So Far

A few weeks into the school year, Asher's first in-person (he did kindergarten remotely for the whole year), I can say it's been a mixed bag.  His teacher is great, and our little social butterfly digs that his days are filled with being physically around others.  But he's been less enthused about the classroom learning part of 1st grade.  

Now, what kid doesn't prefer summer vacations and morning recess over sitting at a desk and learning your letters and numbers?  But, he's experiencing some of the loss of missing in-person kindergarten, which to me is a critical transition period in which you go from a pre-school setting that is largely play-oriented to a school setting that is largely learning-oriented.

You will argue that learning happens in lots of different ways, including through play and including through recess.  And you will be correct.  But, let's not swing to the other side of the pendulum and think that traditional classroom instruction is irrelevant.  What remains to be seen is if this 1st grade year, Asher's first in person, can double as that transition into the classroom portion of learning alongside all of the classroom learning that is covered in 1st grade.  It's early, so we'll continue to keep an eye out.