Sauntering Vaguely Downward

Every evening at tea time, we ask the kids which zones they were in at school. The children all start in yellow zone, and they can move up into green or silver, or down into red or blue. Sometimes the whole class moves zones.

Today they both proudly reported they had moved up individually because they had known something no one else in class did. Humuhumu (Year 4) said her teacher had asked what atoms were made of. She answered that they were protons, neutrons and electrons. Keiki's teacher (Year 2) asked him for a science fact. He told her that two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom made a water molecule.

Major credit for knowledge absorption goes to a combination of library books, Storybots episodes, Toca Elements, and Minecraft. Minor credit goes to two nerd parents.

[Humuhumu and Keiki standing in front of the house, holding hands, with their school uniforms on. White hearts are covering up their school name and emblem.]

Today was Keiki's first day at school, in Reception (Kindergarten for USians). He was very proud and pleased to walk in those doors with his sister.

He also proudly told us at the end of the day, "I went to the head teacher's office! I saw the rainbow award board with all the really good school work."

With more than a slight amount of trepidation, I asked carefully, "And were you by yourself, or with other children?"

"With other children," he replied.

"And did the whole class go?"

"Yes," he said, "but we couldn't go all at once so we had to go in small groups."

Much relieved, we showered him with praise.