On Friday, this was my personal FB status update:

We had Emma’s parent/teacher conference today. To see and hear all that she is learning made us SO happy! It’s so nice to get confirmation that you’re doing the best thing for your child! And it shows with Emma. She’s such a happy little girl again. We are so blessed!

It got 32 likes and 7 comments. (read: we are loved!)  Here are some more important numbers from that Parent Teacher Conference:

• Emma knows 22 letters (names and sounds).  At the end of first grade in May, she knew 6 letters (names and sounds).
• She knows all of the lowercase letters except for “j”.  She didn’t practice lower-case letters last year (mostly due to our insistence that she not).
• Emma can count to 29 (missing 16 and 23).  At the end of first grade she could count to 16 on a good day.
• She can remain on task for 30 MINUTES.  It is in her IEP that she can only maintain concentration for 3-5 SECONDS. (that fact, right there, almost brings tears to my eyes)
• She is on the “chip system” at school.  She earns chips for performing positive behavior.  When the jar is full she gets to pick out a treat.  She didn’t have a system like that at her old school.
• She has 2 best friends in class.  She doesn’t get jealous of them.  She doesn’t act rude toward them or lash out when they perform a task better than her.  She hugs them daily and has wonderful relationships with them.  Last year she had 3 best friends but would occasionally act out when she saw them progressing in school.

We couldn’t be happier or more ecstatic about Emma’s progress.  She is proving to EVERYONE that she has the ability and the capability to learn and to love to learn again.  And to the director of special education at the district, I ask, “what do you have to say now?”

Be Sociable, Share!

•