Dear Henny,
It has become apparent that one of your most treasuered times at school is when they host a publishing party for short books the students in your K/1 class have been authoring. It is 20 minutes and perfect! A wonderful idea I need to incorporate into my own classes one day. So, we showed up and your beaming eyes were looking for us in the mass of other kids trying not to crowd the door while finding their other half. You led us to a table flipping your book around in your hands and Hazel just is really excited to see a table of popcorn. You were so proud to show us your recent non-fiction efforts about fish.
Looking back to your last Publishing Party your book development is light years away. You have lots of wonderful pictures and interesting descriptions! Your organization is pretty awesome too. I can't wait to see what comes next. I love sharing the moments like this with you and Daddy. Hazel was happy to go ask for some popcorn all on her own.
As we were leaving and people were shuffling about a boy knocked over the pencils. It wasn't your fault, it wasn't your doing and yet, you immediately stopped your trajectory, bent down and helped him pick them all up...a few seconds later another boy did the same. I heard one of your teachers take notice and say, "Thanks Henry!" It was one of our goals that you would become helpful to your class and others.
I could only think, "Yep! He is at the right place with the right people." Our babies, growing up.
Love, Mama
 |
| Your selfie |
Dear Bust,
You're lovin' school. You are at an awesome charter school that is the right place for you. You really love the routines and rituals of the classroom, the chime to switch activities, partners passions, individual passions, station rotations, and so on. You've had some awesome opportunities in the school already aside from classroom days; a field day at a teacher's farm where you slipped and slidded around, pet horses and went on an intense hike in the woods which left you hot, muddy and wet...perfect!
A couple of days later you had a great time at the school carnival fundraiser where you and Grandma P won the cupcakes I made in the cake walk. From what I hear you wanted to win so badly Grandma P, Bahboo, Kristen, and Grandma LaJean all participated in the effort. We had your first goal setting meeting a week or so ago.
The teachers said you've done a great job of making lots of friends, volunteering and being inquisitive but could you leave the fart noises at home...I guess teaching you arm pit farts this summer wasn't the best idea but your new little friends I was speaking about helped you take it to a new level with lots of other ways. You have already made a lot of leaps in your maturity (excuse the farts). You are counting, predicting and writing your numbers...AND you've started to read! You've added 40 new sight words in the mix and are starting to decode. We are working on writing letters and words every night and even came up with some awesome words to pictures.
I love seeing you grow up. The little things like giving you the responsibility of running into the gas station to get Daddy M&M's while I stand outside the door...you're bursting with the excitement of the trust and freedom it gives you. When I pick you up from school and you've missed me but would love an other couple of hours to play with the other kids, I feel so happy for you. When you sit down with Hazel and read your book of the night with her, I feel so proud of you. You are amazing and you've now lost three teeth. There is still so much more to come, after the gas station freedom is routine and you're insisting and bucking for more freedom and trust along the way I will still be here, you will just need me less. I still like being that person that has to do squeezin' means lovin' at night...though someday that will be finished too, just as the free kisses you once gave and insisted you always would became gross about a month ago. I will always be here. Love, Mama
