We met with Beth's teacher Mrs V last night.
Academically, Beth is progressing well.
Socially, she is still a bit withdrawn and prefers quiet play on the mat with a few others (of similar personality) at lunchtime, rather than the boisterous yard play that most kids like. It's good that she has that choice and that she is not judged for it.
In her work attitude, Mrs V is not sure whether Beth's occasionally erratic results are because of boredom and lack of challenge, or because she is a bit lazy and easily distracted, or because she is underconfident and a perfectionist.
I said it's probably all three at different times.
I know that when I sit with her at home to supervise her homework or keyboard practice, she has a tendency to lose concentration after a few minutes, to get bored and want to do something else, to give up if she can't get something right immediately.
All these are her learning patterns and personality traits and we will have to work closely with her to channel them towards productive outcomes.
Mrs V also observed that Beth used to feel that she had something to prove, but is now doing the work with an eagerness to please the teacher. That is a good thing.
We also talked about how we could help Beth relate emotionally to what she reads. It's probably not so much a comprehension thing but because she hasn't yet gained enough life experience to draw on so that she can understand where the author is coming from.
As an aside, Mrs V suggested that there might be a niche market for children's books that have a high-interest content for young advanced readers. I feel an *aha* moment coming on...
At bedtime, we had a discussion about the qualities of Jesus.
How did he respond to children? (He welcomed them instead of treating them as pesky irritations.)
How did he treat the poor, the sick, the sad, the downtrodden, the unkind? (He blessed the poor and on occasion did miracles of provision, he healed the sick, comforted the sad and in some cases directly addressed the source of their problems, he stood up for righteousness, he was firm yet kind with those who did not deserve kindness.)
I asked Beth if she felt loved by Mummy and Daddy. She said 'yes'. (One can never assume, and I do want my children to know positively that they are loved and accepted by us.)
I reminded her that God loves her regardless of how she performs at school and what her failings are. Nevertheless, she has been given certain gifts and abilities, and it is her duty to use them to do good to others and give glory to God.
On the way to school this morning, we prayed in the car for Beth to grow in God's wisdom and to know how to interact kindly and appropriately with her peers. Carmel reminds me that Beth is "only six" and "still little".
On one level, I know Carmel is right and perhaps I expect too much of a six y.o., but on another level, I wish I could fast-track Beth into the kind of person I imagine God would want her to be (wise, loving, honourable, forgiving...) without her having to learn about life 'the hard way'. Do you know what I mean?
Anyway, CA and I told Beth that because she had a good school report, she deserves a special reward, so...she gets to order lunch from the school canteen this Friday! A lunch order is something we reserve for extra-special occasions like her birthday, so for Beth it means a lot.
Of course, it also saves me packing her lunch. A win-win for everyone. :)
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