School update on AJ

AJ is loving kindergarten. And we've gotten a few bits of praise that I want to post here so I don't forget them.

First was at the grocery store a couple weeks ago, it was raining and the carts were all wet. There were paper towels near the cart bay to use to dry them off, so I handed each boy one and showed them which sections to dry. The cart attendant was an older woman, and she told me she'd never seen anyone get the kids involved in helping, and she was so impressed. It's all that wonderful co-op parent ed I've been getting over the years, it's really showed me the importance of involving the kids in everything.

Then a couple days ago, I was dropping AJ off at school and his teacher told me that AJ had been brilliant the day before. I guess the teacher was introducing math, and telling the kids they could count up, and he said AJ was doing problems way above grade level. The kicker was that the teacher was being observed that day, so he was especially impressed because AJ's ability made him look good too!

AJ can add things like 4+4+4+4, or 57+6. I usually give him a big number with a small number, and he gets them right away.

The teacher's aide asked Corey the next day if she could give AJ some advanced math problems, and we think that will be great for him.

His writing is coming along nicely, he seems to follow directions well. Corey has volunteered in his classroom twice now, and today he said AJ's teacher complimented AJ's writing too. I get to go the next 2 weeks, so I'm looking forward to that.

AJ has grown up so quickly, and he's just the greatest kid. I'm so proud of him.

We have his conferences at the end of the month, I'm interested in hearing his teacher's perspective on how he's doing.

The last brag I'll add is about last night at pumpkin carving night. Corey and I cut the tops off the pumpkins and then gave the boys some spoons to dig out the seeds. Then AJ drew the face he wanted on his pumpkin and started to carve, very carefully. His teacher walked by and noticed and told the boys he was so pleased to see them helping out, that most of the other kids were just telling their parents what to do instead of being actively involved.

I love hearing that we're doing a great job with the boys. We really try hard to do right by them, and help them grow into well rounded, happy, successful kids.