.proud.

I know I seem to give that title to a lot of pictures, but I really am one proud Mommy. :) Sometimes I want to talk about them but don't want to sound like I am bragging either...but when it comes to your kids and their accomplishments...we as parents SHOULD be proud of our kids accomplishments and we should tell them how proud we are all of the time!

We had CJ's second 1st grade parent teacher conference of the year last night and I almost found myself tearing up in the middle of the conference because I am just so proud of CJ and where he is academically.

In the November conference he had just been moved up to the highest reading group in his class, but he was dealing with some self control issues with other kids in his class. So, as proud of him as we were about the awesome reading, etc, it was hard to over look the behavioral issues, even as minor as they were.

So we talked to CJ about being a "leader" and setting an example for his peers instead of joining them when they are not making good choices. Talk and talk of wondering if he was listening.

The first thing out of his teachers mouth last night was "CJ had really grown into such a leader in the classroom."

Auhhhhh. I teared up. He really DOES listen.

Anyway, that was only the beginning of her praise for CJ. We waited for the "but.....", and it never came.

She pulled out the reading progress chart where it shows what level they are reading at and CJ is reading at the average level of a 3rd grader. I am telling you want, they selected him for this enrichment reading program in his school called "Book Worms", and he just took off. He can seriously pick up an adult book and read it and sound out all of the words (this can be good or bad! LOL!). She said by far he has the highest reading skills in the class. :)

****blushing*****

She went on to say that she is not sure what he isn't good at and actually used the "scholar athlete" word. She went on to say that usually boys this age are good at one or the other, he is amazing at both. WOW. WOW. WOW.

With "S" being the highest you can get, he had 8 out of 32 areas were an "S" (Area of Strength). He had 3 "S"'s in November. The other 24 areas he got "G"'s in or Grade/Age Appropriate.

Then there were a bunch of "effort" scores. 4 (High Effort) is the highest. They grade them in 22 different areas. He had 4's in 18 out of the 22 areas. :) The rest were all 3's (Consistent Effort).

His one and only 2 (Fair, skill needs correction at times, but is close to standard) came in....well....self control in Physical Education class. Which is SO funny because Chris and I are both Physical Education majors and we went to college with CJ's PE teacher! In her comments it DID say this, "CJ's effort and participation have been terrific up to this point. Many of the skills presented come very easy for him. We continue to work on controlling our excitement and lot letting it get the best of him." He just loves PE so much, he can't contain himself! LOL!

Anyway....I am enjoying every minute of the days when it is still "cool" to be smart. I hope that he continues on the same path...I hope I continue to hear "I don't know what there is left for him to improve on." at more conferences in his lifetime.

Our biggest concern with him is the same we have for Connor, that they get put in a classroom next year that challenges him. CJ does GREAT when he feels like he is a leader. She said she has been putting him in a leadership roll and he has just made so many good things happen. I hope he gets a teacher that continues him right on the same path that he is on now.

He is an amazing little boy....and I am so proud to call him mine. :)