Bugs at School, Bugs at Home

For those who do not already know, we had some tough educational decisions to make this year. Our elementary school received a low rating on the state report card two years in a row, which qualified Hannah to apply for a voucher to attend the private school of our choice. She would only be eligible this year going into kindergarten, however. Otherwise, she would have to attend the public school for a year before she could apply. As we have no interest in sending her to a failing school, this would be our only year to consider this option.

Before we found out about the vouchers, I had often told my friends that a certain private school in our town (From here on out, let's just call it "Private School" since I'd rather not post my child's elementary school on the internet!) would be the only school that would make me consider not homeschooling. I love the learning style and I had a feeling that Hannah would thrive there. Hannah also seems a little socially immature at times, so I thought that interacting a bit more with other kids her age would be beneficial for her. So, we applied, and she got the last place open in kindergarten. We officially received the voucher in August, and she started school last week.

Of course, I felt nervous about sending her off to full-day kindergarten after having her home with me for almost 6 years. But, we love her teacher so far. (We'll call her "Ms. K.") The evening after the first day of school, I received this email from her:

"Just a note to let you know how much I enjoyed being with Hannah on the first day of Kindergarten! She is just a sweetie! She is also my number one bug finder! I love a girl that loves bugs---since I am not a big fan of the creepy crawly pals! She found all kinds of activities during free choice time! She loved my magnetic picture case! You can switch the picture around and use different magnetic shapes! She loves to investigate! How cool is that! We will work on the bathroom routines so she doesn't spend too much time---although even in there you can hear her singing and being happy! She is a doll and I am just so happy to get to know her! :)"

How could I not love a teacher who has figured out after only one day how much Hannah loves bugs?!

Apparently, Hannah can locate every spider web, earthworm hangout, and wasp nest at the school. They had their first library day on Tuesday, and of course, she brought home a Zoobook magazine about insects. She told me that she loves bugs more than any other animal. In fact, she squealed with delight when I accidentally stumbled across a page that identified the strikingly pretty bug that was crawling up her arm in the garden last month. She begged to see picture after picture of the somewhat uncommon Whitecrossed Seed Bug.

Then, this morning, Hannah got up early for school and was ready to go a bit early. We put her backpack in the car and walked out to the garden to inspect the vegetables for a few minutes. As we turned to head back to the car, something white and dew-drenched caught Hannah's attention.

"Mama," she asked, "is this a spider web?"

I looked at the web and replied, "Yes, and see the cool shape? It's called a Funnel Web Spider, because it makes this web in the shape of a funnel."

Hannah bent down very close to the web to study it in more detail just as a tiny bug snagged itself in the sticky threads. Suddenly, a pretty brown spider, about the size of a lima bean, rushed from the hole to see what had disturbed his web. Hannah jumped up and down and shrieked excitedly, gushing on and on about the amazing spider and how he raced out of his web into her face.

I checked my watch and hurried Hannah to the car so we would not be late. The entire way to school, she chattered about the spider, exclaiming that she would tell her teacher and principal all about it as soon as she got to school.

I am not exactly sure how a child of mine learned to love bugs so wholeheartedly. I do not especially like spiders or bees in my house or too close to me when I am outside, but I do think that they are interesting and often very beautiful. I typically prevent the kids from killing bugs when they are outside in their own habitat, though I do kill most bugs in our home. And, I am the one who purchased the Audubon bug guides in order to learn about the many bugs we have seen, so I guess I would say that I have a healthy appreciation for them. But not like Hannah - I think she is in love! Perhaps she will be an entomologist someday... At the very least, I know she will never be an exterminator!