New School for Dominic

This week, Dominic started at a new school, World Academy. It will be very exciting for he has so many new adventures to look forward to with the new school. However, Humpty Dumpty (his previous school), was his first school and it was hard to leave.  All the teachers were so wonderful and they really loved him.  

Dominic started at Humpty Dumpty when he was about 10 months old.  While he was there, he started out in the infant room and then graduated to the toddler room.  Watching him grow up there and become a big boy was so much fun.  He learned so much and had so much fun with all the activities they did.  In the toddler room this year is where they started "Zoo-phonics". "Zoo-phonics" is a method developed to make children strong readers and spellers using a phone (hearing), oral (speaking), visual (seeing), kinesthetic (moving), and tactile advanced phonemic concepts through an easily understood, concrete method of presentation.  Zoo-phonics uses animal drawn in the shapes of letters for ease in memory.  A related body movement is given for each letter.  This concrete approach cements the sounds to the shapes of the letters. Lowercase letters and their sounds are taught first, capital letters and letter names are taught later.  When Dominc left, which was the end of the school year (June 12th), we were given a binder which was his completion of the Zoo phonics program.  This also included pictures with him and his friends completing the program through the year. There was also a good-bye letter from all the teachers with a note on how much there going to miss "Dom".  

June 15th was the first full week at World Academy and Dominc had a great report.  His classroom is called "Owls" and consists of Nishi, Patrick, Gavin, Ainsley, Shaikha, Atharv, Joey, Owen, Corinne and Elina and his teachers are Tatiana and Alyson. At this school, it is a similar daily program to Humpty Dumpty where they have story time, circle time, activity, music & movement followed by an activity.    They also promote potty training every time there is a diaper change and Dominic has been going at least 2-3 times per day.  

The first day I dropped Dominic off, he was very comfortable and started to play with his new classmates.  Every day since then, he has been good about saying his goodbyes but still tends to be shy. When I pick him up from school is the best because he shouts out  "MOMMY" and starts sprinting to me yelling what hes done today.

This week, I surprised Dominic and picked him up early only to find him with his friends being pirates and playing in the water.  Dominic and his friend Joey were jumping over the sprinkler and having a lot of fun in the water.  Dominic slipped several times because he was running so fast but got right back up and laughed.  

   

Some things Dominic conquered this week were pretty cool;

• Climbed the caterpillar at Benson Park
• Getting much better with putting his long socks on
• Walking on the balance been all by himself
• Conquered taking the soccer ball from daddy with his feet, not is hands
• Ate mommies lasagna and new cheese pasta dish
• When I ask why he likes something his new word is "because" but not in a mean way

"The Caterpillar"

"The Snake"

Two weeks ago, mommy and Dom took an other trip to the beach where we had a blast and meet some new friends.  He did so wonderful with playing in the ocean, getting messy with the snails we found and played A LOT in the sand.  We dug many holes and filled them with ocean water for the seagulls to come back and play.  This is how we started to make our friends who then helped us with this project. This led to a whole day of play and getting sandy.  It is always hard to leave the beach but after every trip I am so proud of my little guy.  Its not easy carrying all the beach stuff and having a crazy two and half year old on your hip.

Till next time and our next adventure and update on Doms new school and all the awesome things hes learning.