Hard Work Pays Off

This is the second year Emily and Matt are attending Hackensack Christian School. 

Last year went well for their first year in a new school and we were very pleased with their academic performances. We did know going into this year it would be a whole new ball game.

Matthew is now in 3rd grade (hard to believe) where the work is getting harder and more detailed. This year he has started learning "true" American History. I was somewhat concerned on how he would take to it but let me tell you he LOVES it. Every day he tells me more and more facts he is learning about the characters from history - Squanto, Miles Standish, William Penn, George Washington, etc. He loves imparting his new knowledge on me even when he isn't studying. His easiest subject but not his most favorite is math. Clearly he has his dad's mathematical mind. Matt's report card showed he is doing extremely well earning him a place on the school's "Principal's List" (their highest academic achievement list). The funniest part is that his lowest grade was in PE. What can I say he is not a "gym" kid.

Emily has now started 5th grade. This year the 4th, 5th and 6th grade teachers are teaching their strength subjects for the 3 grades and the kids are changing classes accordingly. Emily surprised us from the onset taking very easily to this system and the teacher's different teaching styles. This year we are having her work more independently. Although we help her with questions she has on homework, we do not correct her work before it is turned in allowing her teachers to see the areas in which she struggles. Dave and I do help her with studying for quizzes and tests and have helped her develop a few systems, especially in history, that help her retain large chunks of material when it comes to the  comprehensive chapter tests. We also recognize the fact that because she does struggle on the larger comprehensive tests that that grade may not be as high as her quizzes and that is okay. Our feeling is that if we see and know that she has worked hard the grade she receives will truly reflects her knowledge.....we also know when she does not put effort or time into her work and for that she does have consequences. As parents of a child with learning issues, we find that each year we are learning more about how to help Emily by being involved in some area, staying out of others but always being firm and keeping her informed on her progress. This year we are really striving to get her to understand her need to study over the course of a few days and not just the day before. We also do not allow her needs to be an excuse for not trying or lack of effort. Being in tune with her abilities allows us to be able to work with her to be successful no matter what letter grade is earned. As parents, we know when a lower grade is hard earned and when it is a lack of effort.  

Now Emily did start school sports this year and because we knew this would help her socially, we decided to be a little more lenient on our overall "grade" expectations. When she started soccer, we told her we were looking for B's. Knowing the work of 5th grade, the time for practice and games and the time left over for school work we didn't think this was unreasonable. We also thought it would help her to not put too much pressure on herself and enjoy both the sports and academics of school.

Emily's work this first marking period was amazing considering the addition of sports. She also earned a place on the Principal's List for her academic achievements. Now, we do realize that this may be only a first period achievement but we will continue to help her strive to achieve her best work. 

I don't want to say we are proud of our kid's for their grades, we are proud of them for all the work they have put in achieving those grades. Hard work does truly pay off!
As always, thanks for stopping by!

Report Card Day

Today was report card day. Every few weeks we receive a folder of all the tests the kids have taken during the term so we knew there were a few tests that were a little low (C's) but not enough to make a huge dent in their overall grades. Emily was still nervous when she handed the envelope to me. We told her not to be concerned that we've seen the work and if she did her best that was all we expected.

Well.........both kids got A's in all subjects except Math which they got B's in. Wonderful grades!!!

The kids worked hard and we are very pleased with all the effort they put into these grades.

Emily has leveled off in all of her work. She is doing well in math and reading (her two toughest subjects) but she excels in Social Studies and Science. Matthew has been doing very well in all his subjects but recently he has been struggling in math....we are not quite sure why. His teacher says he knows the material in class even will help others but when it comes to test time he loses focus and looks like he has no clue on the material. We will be keeping an eye on him. He has made mention that it is getting harder and we have told him that it will but that he needs to focus.

It was a great 2nd term and now on to the 3rd. Great job Emily and Matt, we are so very proud of your accomplishments.