This Boy

Do you see this amazing boy?

He blows my mind and I'm not kidding.

I am not going to go into specifics in regards to the issues Jagger is dealing with in terms of his schooling. It's kindergarten and we are blown away at the expectations compared to when we were children. I will mention his greatest struggle right now though.

What I will first comment on is this...He has floored his teacher when it comes to mathematical ability. Her words actually were "I was shocked and completely blow away at the intellect."  

That grounds us when our minds start going off in all different "what if" directions.

He is struggling deeply in another area. An area that could hold him back. We won't let that happen. I don't care if we have to hire tutors and home school next year.

Our goal? That Jagger enjoys school and learning. No more, no less.

Jagger had a report due this week on hermit crabs. In the beginning of the gathering of the research, it was  a bad situation. The last straw was my boy hiding under the desk screaming,

"my brain is dumb and I can't do the letters." 

"I am stupid."

"My brain hurts me with letters."

That killed me. I can't even explain the pain I felt inside when he was screaming.

So I said "screw it" and we made up his report with pictures along with the words. 

We told his teacher what we were doing and she encouraged us and told us that was the way to go with Jagger.

Here is a e-mail I got from her today after Jagger presented his report....

      "Just wanted you to know what an awesome job your son did on his project.  The class loved the pictures.  He read all of it by himself with minimal help from me.  He didn't seem to be nervous at all. Way to go Herring family!"

I don't know if I can adequately express the happiness I felt reading that. When I read it to Jagger, it seemed his chest puffed out a few inches more than normal.

I am thankful for a teacher that allowed me to tweak a project that would suit my fighters needs and not expect him to fit into a mold.

I know this will not always be the case, but while we are here, we will embrace it.

Comments

[Nichole]

I hope that I can be half the mom that you are. I am so blessed to have you as an example, and your children are blessed to have you as a mom. :) Love you!

[Shannon W]

Thinkin outside the box. Way to go! A. Shannon