Otto and Aksel recently had their "bilan" at school. Translated directly from French, it means balance sheet, or parent-teacher conference in English.
Aksel's was before the Christmas holiday. The teachers prefer to meet with Ben because their report is in French and they converse better in French than in English. But, Ben was traveling during Aksel's bilan, so I took all three kids to Aksel's classroom after school one day and said a prayer they would play well together for 10 minutes. They did awesome.
I really like Aksel's teachers -- Joffers (teachers) Marianne and Elisa. They are really attentive to me and my concerns, and overall I've had a really good experience with them.
I'm one of two parents that picks their child up from the preschool school. The other 16 children go to crèche for the lunch hour and after school is over for the day. I know this is a special privilege for me -- to be able to see the teachers several times a day, check in about how Aksel is doing and responding and learning (or rebelling).
Because Aksel had been struggling to follow instructions or show any interest in sitting in a chair and doing his "school work", I had been coming into his classroom twice a week for about 15 minutes to sit by him and encourage him to glue, cut, color, or paint. As soon as he saw me come into his classroom, he would yell: go away Mom!
He's no dummy. He knew I was there to lay the hammer down. So, I had been particularly eager to sit down with his teachers and hear more about how he was doing in this new environment. Marianne and Elisa told me they would translate everything in Aksel's "book" into English so that when we return to the states, his teachers would be able to read their reports. I didn't break it to them that in the states, Aksel wouldn't technically be starting school for another year.
Their report:
Ben was in town for Otto's bilan earlier this month and was able to attend during his lunch hour. Otto is in a class split between Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 kids. Otto is in Cycle 1 with four other children. Three of those children were in his same preschool class last year. The Cycle 2 children were in the same classroom last year and with the same teacher. If we were to stay another year, Otto would stay in the same classroom and with the same teacher for his Cycle 2.
I really like Otto's teacher, Joffer Nathalie Elsen, as well. She's kind and attentive and really lets Otto be his own person. She's been very helpful to me in translating papers, giving me information and being patient as I'm always a few minutes late to pick him up (because I pick Aksel up first).
Her report:
I really like Aksel's teachers -- Joffers (teachers) Marianne and Elisa. They are really attentive to me and my concerns, and overall I've had a really good experience with them.
I'm one of two parents that picks their child up from the preschool school. The other 16 children go to crèche for the lunch hour and after school is over for the day. I know this is a special privilege for me -- to be able to see the teachers several times a day, check in about how Aksel is doing and responding and learning (or rebelling).
Because Aksel had been struggling to follow instructions or show any interest in sitting in a chair and doing his "school work", I had been coming into his classroom twice a week for about 15 minutes to sit by him and encourage him to glue, cut, color, or paint. As soon as he saw me come into his classroom, he would yell: go away Mom!
He's no dummy. He knew I was there to lay the hammer down. So, I had been particularly eager to sit down with his teachers and hear more about how he was doing in this new environment. Marianne and Elisa told me they would translate everything in Aksel's "book" into English so that when we return to the states, his teachers would be able to read their reports. I didn't break it to them that in the states, Aksel wouldn't technically be starting school for another year.
Their report:
- Aksel really likes to play and to play with other children. He gets along very well with the other children.
- He doesn’t like the “work” part of school very much.
- Although Aksel likes to do things with his hands, he doesn’t like to color at all (although he has shown some interest in water coloring and cutting).
- He struggles with fine motor skills but loves to play outside -- jumping, climbing and that he's very strong.
- Aksel doesn’t talk a lot in English or Luxembourgish and when he needs to go to the toilet, he just says toilet very quietly until Elisa clues in and hears him.
- He’s very active and he’s always moving.
- Aksel understands a little bit of Luxembourgish but mostly communicates in English or by using his hands.
- He tries to repeat small sentences in Luxembourgish.
- Aksel is really helpful when it's time to pick up toys.
- He can count to four in Luxembourgish.
- Aksel can wait his turn and is very kind to the other children.
Ben was in town for Otto's bilan earlier this month and was able to attend during his lunch hour. Otto is in a class split between Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 kids. Otto is in Cycle 1 with four other children. Three of those children were in his same preschool class last year. The Cycle 2 children were in the same classroom last year and with the same teacher. If we were to stay another year, Otto would stay in the same classroom and with the same teacher for his Cycle 2.
I really like Otto's teacher, Joffer Nathalie Elsen, as well. She's kind and attentive and really lets Otto be his own person. She's been very helpful to me in translating papers, giving me information and being patient as I'm always a few minutes late to pick him up (because I pick Aksel up first).
Her report:
- Otto knows how to play well with his comrades and share toys.
- He always respects the rules of school.
- Otto is very autonomous, but it takes him a long time to get dressed.
- Otto is very timid, especially toward adults when speaking in Luxembourgish or in general.
- I observe him playing with children and friends and he speaks well among his peers.
- Otto talks very quietly, in general, but he's made lots of progress since September.
- Rarely will he talk in front of the entire class.
- Otto understands all of the instructions.
- He has an American accent that is very noticeable.
- Otto has no difficulty with logic and math.
- He knows how to concentrate, to work properly, and is always very motivated.
- Otto is very interested in everything that we do in class.
- In class, he listens attentively.
- Otto loves gym and also swimming.
- He's mastered his motor skills.
- Otto is a perfectionist.
- He colors in the lines and he always wants things done perfectly. It takes him a long time to clean up.
- Otto plays well and does well.
I love the school in Luxembourg and will feel heartbroken
when our time in Luxembourg and our time at the Gasperich Primaire school comes to an end. Watching my boys enter a foreign world and learn to speak and be taught in a foreign language has been heart wrenching and soul stirring. I'm so proud of both of my guys for adapting to the Luxembourgish school system. There is a big part of me that wants to stay here for another 20 years, just for the school. Just to watch my children grow and stretch and become fluent in four languages.
Flourishing as Americans, as students, and as three- and four-year-olds in a rigorous schedule is a day-by-day and week-by-week challenge. Each Friday, I breathe a sigh of relief. But each Monday morning, Otto and Aksel are ready for more. They love their teachers, their friends, and their little world that I'll never experience or fully understand. It's all theirs. They own it. And they love it.
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