Hayden's Progress Report

So, this will totally be a brag-fest on my boy, but... deal with it:)

Hayden is absolutely loving Kindergarten, and I am so glad he has such a love of learning. About a month ago his teacher pulled me aside as I was picking him up from school. She told me that he is doing a great job in Kindergarten, and the reading list he's on is the list they hope for kids to pass off by the end of 2nd grade! She wondered if I would be ok with him going into First grade for reading time, about an hour, each day. WOW! I'm so proud of him! And he was so excited to be able to go into first grade, especially since most of his friends from church are in first grade.

He brought home his report card a couple weeks ago, and just so I have it documented, and can come back and read it when I can't find it in my piles of paper in the future, here are the comments from his teacher, Mrs. Ficklin, who is amazing!

"Hayden's 1st and 2nd trimesters of kindergarten have been exemplary. He is proficient at all the skills that have been taught so far in Reading, Writing, and Math. Even though he entered kindergarten already knowing most of the letters and sounds, he shows an eagerness to acquire and apply new skills. Hayden is a quiet leader in our classroom. He is always very willing to participate in class discussions and activities. He is helpful and respectful to me and to his classmates. Hayden is on the EIGHTH sight word list - awesome! I encourage you to continue to read with him every day so his reading fluency, comprehension, and love of reading will continue to develop. Going to the first grade for reading will further enhance his reading skills as well. I have truly enjoyed having Hayden in our class - keep up the good work!"

I am very proud of my boy!

He received the academic achievement award and the citizenship award at the awards ceremony.

His class was participating in the flag ceremony last Friday so we stood in the freezing cold wind and watched them perform!

Hayden is a sweet, obedient boy. When the school year started I wasn't so worried about his academic performance because I already knew he loved to learn. I think the thing I was the most concerned about is that in groups of people he gets very quiet and is a bit of a follower, not that that is bad to follow once in a while. Actually I'm like that in new situations too. I just didn't want him to get lost in his large kindergarten class because he isn't a behavior problem, and he always does what is asked. I'm so happy to hear that he is a "quiet leader" in the classroom, and I've observed this too when I go in to help.

One last brag - I was so proud of him today as we were walking to the car when I picked him up from school. He was talking with a friend of his, and his friend was laughing about how he called a girl a mean name in Spanish, but the girl didn't know it was a mean word. (Hayden is one of the few kids in his class that doesn't speak Spanish, and he laughs at how all he knows is "uno") I didn't say anything, but quietly listened to see what Hayden would say to this boy, and without missing a beat, he stood up for the little girl and told his friend in a nice way that what he said wasn't nice, and she would feel bad if she knew what he said. Then he suggested he apologize to her tomorrow. WOW! I was beaming with pride for my good little boy!
As I checked on him before I went to bed the other night I stopped to watch him sleep for a few minutes. I stroked his head and couldn't help but get overwhelmed with emotion. How has this boy that was my tiny 5 pound 9 ounce baby boy grown to be such a smart, grown up, kindergarten boy with a personality all his own and growing more and more independent each day. Time has flown quickly. We have tried to teach him right and wrong. We've tried to be good examples and good parents. But I'm not silly enough to think that it's all because of me that he is the way he is. This precious boy, (along with my other children as well) brought something special with him when he came to us. He is a child of God, not just mine. And I'm so happy to see the choices he's made so far, and hope he continues to stand up for what is right, and in his own loving way, help others to see the right too.