That's My Boy!

Jonathan doesn't have many days left in K. I can't believe how much progress he has made! He has had so much growth this past year. In every way. He is way taller, way more self-reliant, he can read and write and do math, he is so much more independent. He has spent more time away from me than he ever has and it has made him stronger. I have seen moments where he wanted to cry and stay with me and he sucked it up and carried on, getting out of the car, squaring his shoulders, lifting his chin, and walking himself right into school. Dealing with the occasional mean kid has also been good for him, even though I hated that he had to deal with it. His skin is tougher, and thicker, and therefore more protective, I think.
I remember a time, summers ago, when he couldn't bring himself to jump off the diving board at swim lessons, and I told the lifeguard to go ahead and throw him off. This isn't typically my parenting style, but I knew he could do it. I wanted him to know he could do it. I didn't want a whole year to pass with him thinking, I was one of the only kids who couldn't do that. The look on his face when he had conquered that fear brought tears to my eyes. He was so proud of himself. He told me later that he wasn't brave enough because he was too scared. And I told him that anytime he will need to be brave in life he will also be scared, but he will do it anyway. That's what being brave is.
I know some aspects of this school year have been worrisome and a bit of a stretch for him, and that has been so good for him. I am SO proud of him. His teacher sent home a reading assessment she did on Friday. He read 66 words in 1 minute and had 100% accuracy. I can't believe this! He knows most of his consonant blends and can sound out almost any word. I think watching him gain mastery in reading, writing, math, and art over the past year has been a cooler and more exciting time than watching him learn to crawl, talk and walk. He knows his stack of sight words upside down (literally, I am really bad at putting the stack away correctly).
I am so proud of him for all the progress he has made and also grateful that he has had such an excellent and professional teacher. She has placed a high value on literacy, and this has enabled Jonathan to become a rather fluent reader. I feel that being able to read well is the most valuable thing my children can ever learn in school. She has placed an emphasis on self-reliance and independence, and this has been invaluable. And even if she has not been a cuddly teddy bear of a teacher (like my own Kindergarten teacher was), she has created a safe and calm atmosphere where the kids know what to expect. While we have had our moments over the past school year, as some of our more loyal readers may know;), I honestly believe that I couldn't have paid for a better teacher or a better first year of school for our son. Way to go, Brevard Public Schools!