Fuller is wearing a blue hat and above the first "O" in the word Chattanooga in the first photo. He is above the "C" on the second photo. Fuller came to us three weeks before he started 1st grade. Kindergarten had been a rough year for him due to all the changes he was experiencing at home. He passed Kindergarten but started out on the weak end of the spectrum when he started 1st grade in a new school. Reading was his main challenge but that little dude put forth his best effort! Due to his hard work and perseverance, he was awarded a free admission ticket to the Chattanooga Lookouts game this week. Before the game, kids from his school got to parade around the field in recognition of their hard work. He also had a coupon for a free hot dog, drink and popcorn! I think he was more excited about this than possibly Christmas! We were just as elated!
Every child deserves some one on one attention from their parents. So, my parents took Shyne and Zippy for the evening (which by the Shyne has a baseball game of his own that night) while we headed north for a night in the big city. We gushed over Fuller and made him feel like King for the night!
School is so much different that it was when Billy and I were there. First of all, we didn't start learning to read until 1st grade. Now they are learning sight words in Pre-K. For a while, I think we were a disadvantage to Fuller on the school front. I had trouble getting a good grasp on where he should be academically. Teachers used acronyms in which I had never heard. Of course, I asked for clarification but it was almost as though they were talking a different language. It was hard for me not having the opportunity to be a part of the natural academic progression from Pre-school to Pre-K then onto Kindergarten and finally a 1st grader. The only thing I could compare things with was my own obsolete 1st grade experiences. At first, he would read to us and we thought he was Einstein little did we know that it was not up to par to the most current scoring standard!
In January, we received a letter from his teacher stating that we may consider holding him back next year. Yeah, half way through the school year seemed a little early for a big decision like that but that is another post for another day. At that point, I found him an awesome tutor that happens to be a 1st Grade Reading Recovery Specialist in another local school district. All I have to say is that Miss K is awesome! Now, my baby is rocking and rolling with the best of readers and his confidence has soared off the charts!
I. Really. Don't. Like. Toys! But baby, this Mommy loves books! So for all holidays I fill the kids baskets/stockings/gift bags with a few new hardback books. Now my babies love their books too! We read to them almost every night. Did I mention that now Fuller says that he wants to be an author when he grows up? :-)
Today, I discovered a brand new blog on reading called Readers Are Made On The Lap Of A Parent at http://www.onthelap.blogspot.com/. I can't wait to jump in and dig deep on there. This week they are also doing a giveaway with some books and a hand made book bag! So be sure to check them out!
Anyway, I am so proud of Fuller. He really has really "wowed" all of us with his success in reading. I on the other hand have learned that when it comes to school, a parent must really advocate for their kid. There is much more to this story than what I have stated here, however, if I had not advocated for him then he may have very well been doing 1st grade over again. What is more scary is that might have been have been his last straw. You know, another loss for him to grieve. I however, knew my baby had it in him so on we fought!
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