There is something I love about October at school. August is full of excitement, new backpacks, new teachers, new classrooms and figuring everything out. September is when we start getting into a rhythm. But by October, something changes.
We really start to know each other.
Teachers know who comes in ready to talk first thing in the morning and who needs a few quiet minutes. They know who will volunteer for absolutely anything and who is secretly hoping nobody notices they know the answer. They know who loves math, who could listen to stories all day, who needs a reminder to slow down when writing, and who needs a little encouragement before trying something new.
And the children know us too.
They know the routine. They know what we mean when we give a direction. They know where things belong and what happens next. They know that there is a time to work and a time to play. They are starting to understand the expectations of their classroom instead of simply following everyone else.
This is also around the time when we begin seeing more of who each child really is.
The first few weeks of school don’t always tell us everything. Some children are unusually quiet at first. Others are so excited by everything new that they have a hard time settling down. Some children need several weeks before they feel comfortable enough to show us what they know.
By October, those layers start coming off.
That’s one reason the relationship between families and teachers matters so much. You know your child in ways we never will, and we get to know them in an environment you don’t always get to see. Sometimes a parent tells us something that suddenly makes a classroom behavior make perfect sense. Sometimes we notice something at school that a parent hasn’t seen at home yet.
Neither one of us has the entire picture by ourselves.
When parents and teachers can talk openly, ask questions and assume that we are all trying to help the same little person succeed, children benefit tremendously.
I think that’s worth remembering as we move further into the school year. Your child’s teacher isn’t simply teaching a classroom full of students anymore. She’s getting to know your child.
Their sense of humor. Their strengths. The things that frustrate them. The things that make them proud. The places where they need to be challenged and the places where they still need a little help.
Psalm 139 tells us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. Every child who walks through our doors comes with a personality, gifts, challenges and a story that is completely their own.
By October, we are beginning to see more of that story. And that is one of my favorite parts of the school year.
Want to learn more? Come visit us at Cornerstone Christian Academy in Justin, TX. We’d love to welcome you and your child into our joyful, encouraging school family.