The Play's the Thing

This past weekend was the school play. They did a production of Mulan and my daughter was one of the Chinese soldiers—no speaking part, but lots of singing and choreographed dancing. The play kept her extremely busy with rehearsals after school and even two Sundays. She often got home at around 6pm, have dinner, then try to get homework done. Between the play and being out for an entire week of school last month, things started to slip.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t on top of her enough and she didn’t tell me everything, so we’ve had some issues come up recently. A phone call from her Language Arts teacher to tell me she hadn’t finished a project that she was given an extra week to finish. Fortunately, the teacher said she could work on it over the weekend and though she wouldn’t get full credit, she wouldn’t get a failing mark either. The kiddo and I had a talk and she worked really hard for hours on Sunday to get the project done. I talked with her about Pete’s motto, “Kill monsters when they are small,” and how we can both relate to avoiding something hoping it will go away. The fact is, though, things just get worse and scarier and more stressful. She worked hard and the teacher was so impressed with what she did, the kid ended up getting praise. I hope she learned a lesson.

This week I found out she wasn’t doing so well in math, but most of this was due to missing lectures and not fully understanding those sections…and not asking anyone for help. Her grades are improving now that she is back on track. We have another major project to tackle tonight and tomorrow night for her Language Arts class, and then I think we can get through the rest of the school year. She is extremely smart, but easily distracted and doesn’t enjoy the more rigid assignments that middle school offers. It is frustrating because she tries to fall back on the “I’m stupid” excuse and it drives me crazy. She’s made honor roll the first two quarters this year and I’m certain she can make it again this quarter if she stays focused for a few more weeks.

The school offers an alternative curriculum for each grade that embraces a more free-flowing, open education with group projects and work that integrates all subjects rather than a separate class for each. I tried to get her interested in this before starting sixth grade, to no avail. I think she’d do much better in this sort of environment. She has become friends with some seventh graders this year through chorus and drama club as well as the play, and after knowing some kids who follow the alternative track in their grade, it became more attractive. She’s applied to get in—it is a lottery, so there is no guarantee—but I’m keeping my fingers crossed. I honestly think some of the stuff she does now just bores her. We shall see.

The play was great, by the way, and quite the production! I worked backstage on opening night as a volunteer and ended up spending the time in the girl’s dressing room. Yikes. Girls that age are truly awful. I’m so grateful my daughter is friendly to everyone and stays away from the cliquey girls. On Saturday she had an entourage in attendance for her: Pete and I, her father and his girlfriend and her mother, my parents, my aunt and uncle, and my parents’ best friend, and of course Charlie and Cecily!! Imagine if she had had a speaking part! Ha!

Comments

[siobhan]

The play was fab & the costumes were extravagant.

[Angela Campbell]

I remember being encouraged to do the same thing in school, and I guess the fear of not being "normal" makes the alternative learning seem unattractive. I really hope she does it though, because as we all learn a few years out of school, very little of what you did socially matters anymore!

[Lisa]

Sarah,
I've been a reader for quite some time - found your blog via Cecily's and also found Welcome to the Dollhouse via Cecily, too. I just wanted to tell you that the baptism photos you took of baby Zara are just beautiful!!! Really stunning!! :) You have an awesome talent. Take care.

Lisa

[melissa]

oh, jeez. middle school. i was "not working up to her potential." i wish there had been an alternative like you are describing. sounds almost like a montessori approach. fingers crossed for the kiddo.

on another note, i'm borrowing pete's motto of "kill monsters when they are small." that is a good one. :)

xo