So to date Rockstar doesn’t take any classes outside of ESF stuff (Kindy hours + ABC Music through the school), except for a weekly hour of Oral Putonghua with a bunch of local kids he likes, which I consider a “paid playdate” (he gets a Putonghua Day weekly in school and we get updates plus I think a newsletter on the parent website). However I’m aware quite a few mums would look at Phonics, Math, Art etc classes, so this is what happened at an early attempt at getting from the horses mouth whether he might need a little extra help to keep up with his classmates:
In the bath after school one day…
Rockstar: (Classmate) was throwing books around during quiet reading time so he got sent to (principal’s office).
Me: Oh, do you like quiet reading time?
Rockstar: Yes, it’s quite interesting.
Me: Do you think you might need any extra help to get your reading up to speed?
Rockstar: O-kay…
Me: I mean do you think you need any extra classes to keep up? More school? Just cos some of your classmates’ mums told me they’re going, so I was wondering if you needed it. Some of your friends are a lot older than you to begin with, I assume they know a lot.
Rockstar: <patiently> I go to school, Mum. E-S-F. It’s quite good.
(I know! It’s funny when your almost-4 yr old authoritatively tells you his school is “quite” good!)
Me: Umm… Are you keeping up alright with your classmates?
Rockstar: My class is very smart. They read very well. They are all smart.
Me: <thinking: he didn’t quite answer the question but let’s just go with it> Erm ok, who’s real smart?
Rockstar: (Classmate). (Other classmate)….. (Other classmate, other classmate….. <pause> Other classmate, other classmate, other classmate – pretty much names as much of his class as he can remember to rattle off while innocently floating a row of boats in the tub.
Me: <suspicious> Everyone’s smart and can read really well? Ok, who’s the smartest?
Rockstar: (Classmate)! (Other classmate)! (Another classmate)!
Me: Those are your best friends in school. Is that why they’re the smartest?
Rockstar: Yeah! Cos they’re my friends.
Me: Are they your friends because they’re smart, or are you saying they’re smart because they’re your friends?
Rockstar: They’re my friends because they’re really funny. They make me laugh.
(Btw this is the fart-joke/ green-poop-for-snacks/ mums-are-sad-when-they-have-their-periods brigade he’s talking about. But I like that he’s chosen friends who make him laugh… Not say, friends who have a heap of cool stuff.)
Me: Ok. I still have no idea if you’re keeping up alright or if you need help.
Rockstar: I can learn from my friends, Mum……
<pause> Mum. Do you know the difference between tortoises and turtles?
Me: So what, this discussion is over, you’re changing the subject? No I don’t.
Rockstar: Yeah hee. Tortoises live on land and turtles live in water. So tortoises are heavier. If they try to go in the water they’ll sink. But (my teacher) told me this. (Guess he means he learned that from his teacher, not his friends)…
According to his school report that came out sometime after we had this conversation, he’s basically doing well… But getting him to say, tell me he is doing even f-airly alright is like trying to get water from stone… I have no idea what’s up with that. And here’s another we also had some time back:
Rockstar: We did Room on the Broom in school! It’s fun!
Me: That’s wonderful! What’s it about?
Rockstar: <seemingly reciting very carefully> It’s-writ-ten-by-Ju-lia-Don-ald-son.
Me: Umm, ok, so what did you learn?
Rockstar: <in same tone> I learned, it’s-writ-ten-by-Ju-lia-Don-ald-son.
Me: Uh, anything else?
Rockstar: I… can’t remember.
Me: <exasperated> Then how can you remember you like it???
Rockstar: <patiently> Be-cause, it’s-writ-ten-by-Ju-lia-Don-ald-son. <nodding reassuringly> I learned that in school, Mum.
Overheard a bit later the same evening, to himself:
Rockstar: I am a bird, as green as can be.
Is there room on the broom for a bird like me?
Me: What did you just say?
Rockstar: I was a bird in school. <starts doing something that I suppose passes for flapping about looking for a lift on a witch’s broom> Well, actually a parrot. Green parrot. (Classmate) was the witch. (Provides some description). (Other classmate) was the dog. (More description). ………………….. Carries on for quite a bit, at which point I don’t bother reminding him he was supposed to have forgotten everything.
Finally:
His Most Proud Achievement: Almost Being Able To Wink
Rockstar: But Mum. I can’t remember anything else.
Me: Ok yeah sure.
(Like, why bother?)
With this winky look, he starts to look like his dad.