Kelsey School Report 1
Kelsey is reading everything in sight. She curled up the other night on the couch with The Cat in the Hat, and read the entire book by herself.
Today, a snow day, she has gone through all her school reading skill level books (level 6, for those familiar with such things), and is looking to delve into some higher level books. She read Puff the Magic Dragon today along with the CD, her eyes following the words as she heard the song. Once she learns to recognize a word, it is almost instantly added to her sight words. Her recall of words on sight is really quite amazing.
On her school evaluation, Kelsey received all IMs (Independent Mastery)and DMs (Developing Mastery), mostly the former. Her Spanish, art, and music teachers also gave her IMs. Considering that she just began this new school in mid-November, after 3 months in public school, she is doing phenomenally. She’s ahead of her class in some areas, catching up in others where she doesn’t have as much experience. We’re going to work on getting her up to speed on the Wilson Reading exercises that the other kids have been mastering since August — although Kelsey knows her phonics pretty well, knowing the method the other kids use will help her confidence when doing phonics exercises as a class.
The choice to put her into this school was easy. Paying for it isn’t, but we’re managing. Seeing the results — a child ecstatic about learning, voraciously reading and questioning and experimenting, HAPPILY going to school and fitting in with kids whose parents also give a damn about their children’s education — has been one of the most satisfying, validating experiences of being parents thus far.
This photo is freaking me out, big time. BIG time.
I mean, that’s you! Kelsey always looks like you, of course, but never as much as this. This is you EXACTLY.
Awesome news about her reading, too–the only thing that surpassed THAT milestone for me was when Kyra starting reading to her sister….then I had 10 minutes IN A ROW to think my own thoughts, lol. Heaven.
You really think she looks that much like me? Huh! Thanks!
Kelsey’s reading to her sister, too. It’s freakin’ adorable. And then Laurel pretends to read. Methinks my girls are going to be readers.
I suppose, genetically, it is inevitable. Just as it is inevitable that Laurel will make ALL my hair turn gray before I turn 40.
Jackson has been reading everything, too. Although he isn’t as far along as Kelsey, he has made HUGE strides and has been surprising everyone, including his teacher. He is so proud of himself. Its more exciting than when he took his first step. I mist up when he reads road signs (or attempts to), but I just said, “Oh. Hey, lookit that.” when he darted across the living room for the first time.
Go Kelsey!