The NOTEBOOK

SO. I've just learned today, after four plus weeks of school, that there exists a certain notebook in his class. Managed by the teacher, the children have to write their names in it when they have done something wrong (talked out loud over top of the teacher, not listening, etc). I've just learned today that this is how they measure ill behavior. Hmm. All this time, all these weeks, I've heard nothing from him (or the teacher) that this is how they measure it. Don't get me wrong, I'm totally in support of it, it's just odd I didn't know of this. Every time they get thier name in the book, they get one minute taken away from Fantastic Friday each week. Fantastic Friday is 20 minutes of just having fun, playing with whatever they want, Legos, any toys in the class; whatever. So while the class is playing for every time his name is in there from the previous week, he sits at his desk for those many minutes. Ingenius really. I like it.

So I ask him, "have you ever BEEN in this notebook before?" after I learn it exists for the first time. And he says, "if I tell you the truth will you be happy?" Ok, go ahead, hit me. It's gonna be bad. Then he tells me, "just three times". Oh, I'm thinking, that's not bad, three times since school started, not great, not the best but not overly horrible right? THEN he says, "three times this WEEK." OY. Now that hurts.

This boy of mine. He is so not perfect. He's horribly smart. Every single thing sent home, classwork, all tests, he gets 100's. He's so on top of his game in that way. But behavior? WHY is it so hard? Am I too hard on him? Go ahead, hit me, give me your opinion. Meanwhile, I've sent an email to his teacher inquiring about all this business.