Today Elliott had a parent teacher conference at school. Brian has the day off for Colombus Day and so it was perfect timing. I asked Elliott if he wanted me or daddy or both of us to come. He said he would feel more supported if we both came. We arranged to meet him after school by the door where he gets on the bus and he gave us the biggest grin when he saw us! We had Trevor with us and all went to the gym to meet with his teachers, Mrs. Hilton (English) and Maestra Eskelsen (Spanish.)
The first thing Mrs. Hilton said as we sat down was that she could tell we read to Elliott. (YES!!) He loves to listen to books on CD in the van and we have read countless chapter books, childrens books, picture books and more to him and he loves to read on his own too. It has helped him and he is doing very well in school. By the end of the year, the kids need to know 107 words and Elliott already knows 96 of them. In one minute, the first graders read a passage and need to be reading 47 words by the end of the year, but Elliott read 87. I will try not to brag too much about his skills reading. His best qualities are not his intelligence, but his kindness and happiness and joy for life.
Elliott was telling Mrs. Hilton about the spelling words for the week and said he almost misspelled one in practice. Mrs. Hilton explained to him that he didn't need to get 100% every time. I also had to tell him it was ok as long as he tried his best. I am trying not to put too much pressure on him, it is only first grade and he doesn't have to be perfect.
He is also doing better at paying attention and not distracting the other kids. (He was a bit rowdy in Kindergarten but has settled down more now in 1st grade.)
Elliott is a rule follower and even reminds me to drive the speed limit all the time in the car. That quality is helping him out in school. We are so proud of him and how hard he works. We are all loving first grade and the things Elliott is learning and doing!
In class, the kids had to write a page and draw a picture about a happy memory. Here is what Elliott wrote:
"My mom had a baby. His name is Trevr. Trevr is a boy. Trevr is my bruthr."
The picture shows Brian on the left, then Elliott holding his baby brother Trevor, then me lying on the hospital bed wearing a polka-dot gown.
On the way home from the school, we asked Elliott about his paper and why he wrote about Trevor. He told us that was the happiest day of his whole life! That day was even better than Christmases or birthdays because he finally got a brother. I teared up at that. I am so grateful Elliott loves his brother and that his family is so important to him. Elliott knows what is most important in life and he is so innocent and trusting and full of faith. And I am glad too that he finally got a brother.
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