Technology in the classroom.

I moved Nadia from a fancy private school in Ann arbor half way down on her kindergarten level, I felt that the school, although it is great but it doesn't have a warm feeling all around. Nadia grows up with lots of hugs and kisses, touch, and lots of love. I heard about this school from someone, in a city that I never thought about going there, because we are just stuck with Ann arbor for private schools.
My husband thought we should have sent Nadia to public schools. Our public school systems are one of the best in the country, but I felt that Nadia, a dreamer girl, she will fit much better in a much smaller school environment with one on one attention like Montessori system. I know, it is a waste of money considering you pay so much money for property tax in public school system.
Since Aidan kept bugging me that he wanted to go to school with Nadia when Nadia starter her Kindergarten, her school she was attending doesn't have pre school, they do have it at the other branch which is too far of a drive for me. There was another awesome school, still a montessori system private school, which is 40 minutes away.
I started to think that maybe sending Nadia to public school is a great idea, you don't have to drive her to school, the bus will pick and drop her off. I called the public school, they said she will spend about roughly 1 hours in the bus, that means 2 hours or more of her time in the bus, which the school is only 15 minutes away. For me it doesn't make sense. I would have to drive her then.
So this school that my doctor told me about, she sent her kids there and I remember correctly that she was so surprised that I sent Nadia to the "D" private school, she said : "Why D ? It's so expensive and the school that I sent is comparable if it's not better. I know because my friend is a teacher there at D" At that time I had already paid her tuition half a year in full. I couldn't back off.
So after half a year done, I called this new school. I went to visit with Nadia, and Miss Kathy, the head of the school is just a doll, very warm, friendly, and it really obvious that all the kids in that school LOVE her. That was a great impression. So Nadia stayed for half a day in the kindergarten class room, I noticed the kids were a bit advance from her in writing. That was a surprise since "D" school is pretty much a wonderful school (It should be with the tuition that much). I came to pick Nadia up, then I asked her if she likes the school. Nadia said she does.
Lucky me, they have early 3 and preschool there. SO it goes from preschool until 5th grade. I signed Aidan up for 3 day a week early 3 class.
Aidan was in love with his teachers, Miss Sandy and Miss Cindy. Nadia was in love with Miss Kathy.
Unlike at "D", which has 'cold' environment (for example, on our first kindergarten orientation for parents, we have all new parents in a room, and not one parent I saw come to each other and talk and introduced their names. I said hi to one of the parent, just because I know them before and started to talk, that I found it is reflecting the behavior of the kids. If we are in the environment of people who can afford this tuition for their kids, means, they are well above average to afford things, let's call it 'Richie'. No, I don't want my child to be around people who are snobbish because of they think they have money), the new school is so 'warm'. On my first week of dropping Nadia and Aidan off in the morning, I was asked by lots of parents, asking if I was Aidan and Nadia's new student. They introduced their names, and said what their names are and their kids names. What a 180 degree change. I saw the kids got hugs and kisses, not only from their parents, but also from their teachers. I feel that it is a blessing to have found or have told about this new school. It is still a montessori private school, but I found it is exceeded my expectation. The drive is the same as I go to drive Nadia up at her old school, with less hectic and prettier roads.
This is our second year, Aidan went to preschool and his fave teacher moved with him to his class, and Nadia really love her 1st grade head teacher, Miss Bonnie.
I loved it that when I picked up my kids, the parents said hi to each other, the teachers (although they are not necessary in Aidan or Nadia's class) come to me to report what they saw about my kids, e.g. "Hi Sari, guess what Aidan did to Miss Sandy today ? He is such a lovey boy, he gave her a shoulder massage when she was putting the kids boots today.", or "Sari, you got quite an artist and sweet girl! She just drew a dinosaur and everyone loved it and we made photo copy of it and distribute them to the whole class." something like that, something that I wouldn't even get it from the "d" school.
Because of her art gift, Nadia is personally invited by her art teacher, Miss Cindy to expand her talent and gifts at her home studio to draw more, no charge whatsoever. She fell in love with this gifted child.
Aidan got his best friends from this school, and I love their parents, the same as Nadia. I found lots of loving parents in this school. Every one knows every one, I guess my doctor was right. It is a gem in our backyard, not lots of people know about it, only the blessed people, I guess.

I took picture of Nadia's 1st and 2nd grade classroom from outside, she learned so much from the school software and technology that they put into the school. Amazing. They put up the huge touch screen interactive monitor on the wall, just like a writing board with chalk, but it is also hooked to the computer system using macintosh system. They have 5 macbooks in the classroom for the 25 kids (1st and 2nd) to use on their project time. As a montessori school, kids got to choose their own project and their own progress. Miss Bonnie just personally told me that Nadia is a great writer. She used to be sloppy when she writes but she expanded so much and she put every detail of her story with drawings, too.