Independence...

Teagan joined the Rainbows - within the British Guiding movement.
Wednesday was a big day as it was the 100 year celebrations of the British Guiding Movement
and Teagan along with all of the other Rainbows, Brownies, Guides and Rangers from
Doha attended the celebrations at the British Embassy here in Doha.

It has been some time since One has posted. There have been no drastic happenings, merely, some lives being lived in somewhat different conditions to those ever imagined. For this post, I thought I would just touch on my outsiders view of Teagan's first few weeks at school and the results of those first weeks!


One uses the phrase "outsider" to describe Teagan's schooling as I am, in so many ways, not allowed in! Secrecy was the name of the game for Teagan. We heard stories of her classroom being decimated, painted in grey with children sitting the middle watching the teacher run around, soon after the stories progressed to even more extreme (and rather fascinating) imaginations. One and her darling husband decided that it was just far too much to take. We believed that these stories were the result of one child thinking she was on to a really good thing and did not want us to know. And yes, we were right indeed. Teagan believed that as she was playing all day, "we don't do any learning, no, no learning", that we might take her away. Following an active sharing discussion at dinner when we all talked about what we did when we went to school at five years old, Teagan discovered that her Mum and Dad played too! Needless to say, we now know a little of what goes on.

So what does Teagan "learn" through her play? First the good, she has two lessons of French per week, two lessons of Arabic, two music lessons and two P.E lessons along with the standard 3R's. Teagan has been sharing her new languages with us and we can now count to three in Arabic (un, deux, trois)!!! Yes, she does get it a bit confused, however, she is certainly gaining on the languages. Her music is lovely and always has new songs or instruments to sing and play. Now for the one little bit I am not so happy about, the formal learning in the British Reception programme is all about the foundations and as Teagan is pretty much the oldest in her class she is at the top end of the foundations. When Teagan started school she could already read and write. In New Zealand, the schools would have expected this as many many children can, not so here, so the net result for us is further investment into early readers and extra tuition at home - Teagan is quite happy with this - our aim is to ensure that she stays aligned with her Kiwi counterparts. It is important to note that most of the children in Teagan's class would not be at school yet and if in New Zealand would end up being one year level under Teagan due to the September cut off date.

All of that said, the good far surpasses the less ideal. We have a child who has increased her confidence, her understanding of what she observes has increased, has friends of many different nationalities, and managed to read a story book to the rest of her class as "Miss Teacher Teagan", she has also exponentially grown her already high "animation" component (Grandma - have you sorted out drama school yet?). We are delighted with the school and in particular feel privileged to have Mrs D and Mrs K as our daughter's first teachers assistant and teacher. The skill and love they bring to the children is amazing.