Summer's Here!

I think I learned just as much about having a school age child as Madison learned about being a first grader this year. Around the end of the third quarter, we had a parents teacher conference. I was so stressed out because in the course of about two weeks before that, Madison was recommended to meet with with the reading specialist, recommended to attend summer school for math and recommended to join a social skills group with the school counselor. I felt like a complete failure as a mother and was concerned that my child was in a rapid down ward spiral. My first mistake was comparing her with students in my own class that I recommended the same things for. That would be the lowest of the low students that are extremely needy who often times aren't always getting the support at home. Being the cooperative parent, even though as a teacher I did my own assessments with her at home and felt she was holding her own, I still agreed to the extra help. I said no to summer school, because part of the problem was that she needed a much needed break and I am after all a certified first grade teacher. Not to mention I just don't think summer school is really that beneficial. I had her right on track for reading, a little behind in math, partially because the program was so challenging and I was really puzzled by the whole social skills thing. We have always thought this was a strong suit for her. Her teacher explained to us that she was extremely popular with the other kids and needed support with learning how to share her time. Again, I go back to students in my own class. The kids that can't keep their hands off of other kids who who hide under tables yelling and refusing to come out. That is what I consider a kid that is in desperate need of a socials skills group. Not one needed help with popularity. But again, I was trying not to be difficult. I really saw Madison maturing over the next two months. She was really changing. But I was still dreading the report cards. In the end she had a fantastic report card. She ended on grade level for reading and actually did okay in math too. Not to mention, she was marked as exceeding expectations for interacting with peers. After all of that worrying and tormenting myself, she made it! So the lesson I learned was that although I teach in a great school district, it is very different from the district we live in. We are privileged enough to send our kids to schools in a place where those middle of the road kids get some extra help too, not just the kids in desperate need. I need to be grateful for the opportunity for her. Every year Joey and I look at a few of these kids that we really gave the extra blood, sweat and tears for, at the end of the year and say, they just need a little more time. Then they seem to be miraculously saved in second grade:) But the real truth is exactly what we thought. When they are given just a little more time, they get where they need to be. My own kid helped me really see that. I need to put a little less pressure on myself both as a mother and a teacher and realize that the most important thing is I'm doing my best. And with a little time and patience, we'll get there. Kindergarten and first grade have been huge transition years for us. I think we've really started to settle in and second grade is going to be a great year. But, boy are we sure glad for the summer break! Here are some before and after shots of Madison on the last day of school. Even though she complained so much about home work, she really did love First grade.