Roll Tide (little AL humor)

Finally an exception to the law, sort of an exception. I got THE phone call today. Alex is officially going to third grade next year. I guess the proper term is double promotion or grade acceleration. Whatever they want to call it I am pleased. It took a long time. She will not only go into a grade where she no longer stands out physically but she will also get to start the gifted program. So many changes in the coming year. She blushed when I told her she was going to third grade.  So cute!

Tomorrow is my birthday and I will be going into my 36th year with a smile on my face knowing that we had a major victory for us within the public school system. I do feel like this is a victory for us. For three years we have known that she was not a typical 4, 5 or 6 year old. It took a couple years of school and lots of testing to get to today. It took persistence and lots of patience. The road has been long and we have had a victory for our kid to get what she needs within the public school system.

I wrote this blog in August of 2009 almost 3 years ago. A year before she could even start public school. (I was also told I can never Roll Tide but I could go to WAR and in War Eagle)  More AL humor.  To live in Alabama is to love her.  Anyway, it is fun to look back via words.

8.12.2009

Roll Tide (little AL humor)

WARNING ~ I am going to be that kind of parent for a moment. My four year old, almost 5 is reading. Yes, it is wonderful! Here is the problem for me, the state law doesn't require K and that they have to be 6 on or before Sept 2th to start 1st grade. THAT IS THE LAW! Just doesn't seem right that it is so black and white. Not 5, so NO!?!?!?! Doesn't matter if you are 5 on September 3rd and ready. We can't go to private K and then transfer because she will still only be 5 on Sept 2nd in first grade. K is not mandatory so the law is age 6 in first grade, doesn't matter that she turns six on October 6th or that she would have already completed K.

What does this mean for my Alexandra. Well she will be reading at a first or second grade level in K or we BAN books. We are looking into an alternative. I understand laws are needed, but there are some laws that hinder the greater good! My 4 year old (almost 5) that can read can't start school because of THE LAW and there are no exceptions. If my child was lacking necessary skills I could get her into pre-k no problem. It isn't okay to be behind the standard, but it is okay to hinder the one that is ready for school. I'm not saying she is Albert Einstein, but she is ready for kindergarten and just doesn't seem right that there is no exception.

Now that I have ranted let me just say this on my part. I am NOT that kind of parent that has pushed her child to read and write. Mark and I are firm in the fact that you let kids be kids and if they have the ablity it will in time do what is needed to succeed. I was always so excited that I could have Alexandra home for an "extra year", until today. Never for a minute would I have thought that my child would learn to read on her own and want to read at 4. Now my concern it that that extra year at home could be a hindrance and not a blessing.

Here is how this all came about. Two days ago we went to Toys R Us and Books- A-Million is next door. Nathan wanted a book with his birthday money. Madison got a book this summer about dogs and he wanted one too. The books were buy two get one free. Nathan got one, I let Alexandra get one with her money too and got one for Madison (my excuse was it was the first day of school gift). Alexandra picked out a Biscuit book. PK-K level book. Once we got home she read the book aloud to me with little help. I didn't say anything much to Mark, but that she read to me that day.

Last night she read the book to Mark. I think he had the "oh no!" moment too. This morning he started to ask me questions and then said to me "Alexandra read me a book last night." I said "I know what are we going to do?" being funny he wants to ban books. He is so sweet. He wants her to have the Kindergarten experience, but knows she is beyond that for next year. He doesn't want her to miss out on Kindergarten, but knows that by next year she could be bored and then we have the potential behavior issues. She might be fine, but if you know my Alexandra she is a very hard kid to please. She is not going to like school if she already knows a major part of what is being taught.