Swifter, Higher, Stronger

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Posted by Kirsten Patel, Elementary Mommie-on-the-Run | Posted in The Elementary Mommy-on-the-Run | Posted on 28-06-2012

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Dear First Grade Teachers,

I want to thank you for a fantastic year. My son was happy to go to school each morning, his writing improved and he mastered some new math skills. Most importantly, he was excited about what he was learning and would come home and look things up on the internet he wanted to know more about and he would teach me new facts.  This kind of enthusiasm only comes when teachers are also happy to be in the classroom and excited about what they are teaching. So I tip my hat to you for creating classrooms that were engaging and relevant to six and seven year olds.

I love that you ended the year learning about the upcoming London Olympics, brilliant and so timely. We are huge Olympic fans in our house. The Olympics gives the world a chance to celebrate our shared humanity, put aside our differences and come together in the spirit of athletics and competition.  The object is to perform fairly and honestly and to the best of our natural abilities. The Olympic spirit can be felt not just by the athletes that compete and not just in those who take home medals. The real spirit of the Olympics is seen in the athletes from poorer parts of the world with limited resources who represent their country with pride and dignity. As the Olympic Creed says:

“The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well.”

It’s moments like this that get me every time:

watch?v=HFKpZnok10s&feature=player_embedded

I love that my son is feeling patriotic.

I love that he (almost!) knows the Olympic motto and can explain to his sisters how the Olympics started in Greece.  I love that he knows the colors of each ring and that they represent the five continents.
I love that he is obsessed with checking the progress of the Olympic torch every morning and he’s looking forward to the moment they light the flame during the opening ceremonies in London.
I love that he can tell me all kinds of crazy facts about Usain Bolt and Michael Phelps.  I love that he is anxious to watch and learn about athletes whose names we don’t know yet, but are making their way to London right now.  These athletes whose stories and Olympic moments we will be talking about for long after the closing ceremonies.
I’m looking forward to showing my kids that sometimes it’s not about the most talented athlete. Sometimes it’s about who trained for that extra hour or two every day. Sometimes it’s about who’s underestimated, who wants it just a little bit more, who has more guts, grit and determination.
I love that you spent time learning about a variety of sports, not just track and field and gymnastics.

But.

Team Handball?

My son is now fascinated with Team Handball.  I thought I knew everything there was to know about the Olympics, and I had never heard of team handball before. Anders has watched every YouTube video featuring team handball, almost all 20,000 of them.  My husband says it looks like a sport for short guys that can’t play basketball, which might not be such a bad thing for Anders.

I have been searching for a team somewhere within a 50 mile radius that will train a seven year old in team handball.  Shockingly, I’m having a bit of a hard time with that.

Thank you. Thank you first grade teachers for sparking the Olympic spirit in Anders. But perhaps next time scratch team handball from the curriculum.

Sincerely,

Kirsten