The Good Parts of Educational Advancement

Last night as part of Family Home Evening (yes, on Wednesday, we had to reschedule this week) we told the boys who their teachers for the new school year would be. This is the first time since we've had children in school that we've lived in the same place for two school years in a row, so it was a new experience for all of us. The assignments were just made and the boys have been eager to learn them.

First we told Cooper his teachers. In the Intermediate School, the kids have two main teachers, one for science and math and the other for language arts and social studies. Since he's going into fourth grade, the youngest group at the school, he wasn't familiar with the names. But he thought it was cool that both teachers are men, a first for Cooper's educational experience. Then I told him I knew of two kids from third grade that were in his class.

Me: Oh, and Gillian (his friend) will be in your class.

Cooper: (nodding) Anyone else?

Me: (thinking) And Lily.

Cooper: (gasping, then grinning) The blonde one?!

That gave us all a good laugh. Cooper is our little ladies' man, so I wasn't totally surprised. He tried to play it cool, but it was too late. Bryan pulled out his phone after Cooper's question and subsequent laughter.

Then I read the names of Peter's teachers. Because he's already spent a year at the school, he knew at least some of the names of the sixth grade teachers. And he's been anxious to hear about his math class in particular. Bryan had his camera at the ready this time for us to deliver the good news.

Peter made it into Pre-Algebra for next year. Here's his reaction.

A few minutes after this picture was taken his elation dwindled a bit when he realized what this advanced math class will mean: more homework.