Every so often I think Wow, I should mention that on my blog. Then I forget about it. then I try and remember it.
After worrying me half to death because she was out of contact, Alesia came home yesterday afternoon with - a friend I REALLY like! Yay! She's not ideal [she smokes] but this is a nice kid, a very smart kid, and she sets a good example for Alesia, I think. Fingers crossed, prayers said. So now Alesia has a great boyfriend and a nice friend who is in her summer school class with her.
Alesia did some extra chores for me without complaint. Yay!
Prayers ARE answered!
Michael had to take the CRCT, which for those not in the know, is a test they give kids at the end of every school year now, at least here in Georgia. He scored at "meets standard" or "exceeds standard" in EVERY area. Most exciting to me was in Literary Comprehension, he scored 16 out of 16!! A PERFECT score! This from a kid that had awful comprehension a couple of years ago. Of course, to be fair, English was his second language. BUT the takeaway here is:
READ to your kids. Every day.
Michael is now reading on his own, happily, and without me prompting him. I also still read to him every night for 20-30 minutes and he watches the words as I read. You might think since he's almost 15 I shouldn't do it, but I think it's important and he likes hearing me read.
Exactly 4 years ago, Michael didn't speak English. Now he is scoring well on all his academic tests. He Exceeds Standard in English, and is almost there in Science. His lowest grade was social studies and he still scored way above Meets Standards. His grades for the second semester are all A's and B's.
Here's why I started reading to Michael when he was 13.
My mother's friend Caroline was married to an attorney, Keith. Every single day as long as there was a child at home, Keith read to them, at night, after dinner. He was still reading to them when they went off to college. ALL three kids were honors students in high school and college. One now has a master's degree, and I think is getting a Ph.D. Their son is in the diplomatic corps in Washington and just a couple of steps below the Secretary of State.
So let me repeat this in case you didn't get it: READ TO YOUR KIDS.
Every day.
Here endeth the lesson.
