I didn't expect our family's first preschool experience to be overseas and in a foreign language, but Ben and I regularly agree that Otto's Précoce is easily the best part about living here.
This week we had the American equivalent of a parent-teacher conference called bilan (balance sheet in French). It was for half an hour and Otto's two teachers, Tess and Tesśy, provided us information on Otto's progress:
- Counts from 0-9 in Luxembourgish
- Comprehends and can follow instructions in Luxembourgish
- Very reserved with the other children and teachers
- He doesn't speak much with the other students, but spends most of his time playing with legos and cars
- When he does speak, he whispers
- Can repeat (whisper) most Luxembourgish phrases
- When playing he sings a lot
- Very independent
- Identifies basic colors in Luxembourgish
- Although he is the smallest and one of the youngest in his class, he is the only child that can get his gym clothes on without assistance and put his boots, hat, gloves, and coat on by himself
- Loves to observe what's going on around him and often imitates the older children
- Good at freehand drawing, coloring and cutting
- Interested in all of their activities and works very hard at school
- Avoids conflict and will often move or hide to avoid children who are fighting
- One of three (out of 15) that can write his name
- Sits in the same chair in the same place at the table every day
The teachers provided us with a binder full of art projects he has completed thus far, as well as a notebook filled with drawings. We brought them home and I spent time with Otto look at each one and letting him tell me about them.
For months I've been asking Otto what he does every day at school, and apart from the occasional one word answer, I didn't really know because he couldn't really tell me. So, it was really fulfilling for me to be able to see loads of things he's participated in and made.
This week was also the fete de Noël (Christmas Program). The entire family was invited, and I was asked to make refreshments, so we brought pumpkin bars and chocolate chip cookies.
The children sang four christmas songs and then refreshments were served along with a slide show of all the children from the past three months. The children would yell the name of the child appearing on the screen. Otto was thrilled to have Aksel in his classroom and showed him around.
Throughout the past month, his class has been using an advent calendar. On December 8, Otto was able to open the no. 8 door and was given a Luxembourgish book. He's never been happier. Each day he tells me what door number was opened and who was given the privilege of opening it.
There's a little girl named Assya who is enamored with Otto. Whenever she sees him, she says really loudly and sweetly, Moien Otto! His teachers also say Assya will often seek Otto out during the day. She stood right next to him during the singing. Cracks Ben and I up.
Otto claims to spend most of his time with Alexandre. Interestingly, several other children also claim to spend most of their time with Alexandre. He's big, he's fast, and he's definitely a ring leader.
I can tell Otto feels a real sense of ownership over his life as we walks the three blocks to school each day and he chatters away about the color of Frida's snack box or how Elias has a hat that covers both his head and his neck. It's fascinating to watch him interact with his teachers and other children who are speaking Luxembourgish. It's a little unnerving that Ben and I don't speak Luxembourgish, but Otto seems to have compartmentalized this information just fine. If I say a word in Luxembourgish, he is quick to tell me I don't speak Luxembourgish.
I asked Otto if he wanted to give his teachers an ornament or chocolate for their Christmas gift. He selected chocolate. Ben bought two boxes of chocolates from Oberweiss and Otto gave them to his teachers today. When I picked him up, he was genuinely disappointed the teachers didn't share and requested we buy more chocolate. I happily complied. He's a little champion. I'll buy him as much chocolate as he wants.
