Braden Starts First Grade

On Wednesday, August 17, Braden started first grade. He is going to a different school this year. Last year he attended private school, because he barely missed the cut-off date for Kindergarten in NM. Private schools test for readiness, rather than adhering to strict cut-off dates, and Braden's tests showed that he was ready. We had prepared him the year before, because he met the cut-off in MD. He had a wonderful year last year and was a little nervous to start a new school. But when I went to pick him up after school, he met me with a huge grin, and said, "I loved it!!"

He is really starting to read, and his handwriting is improving. Handwriting is probably his least favorite part of school, so we have some struggles during homework time. He will have his first spelling test on Friday, so we did a practice quiz tonight. He did really well, and we are going to work on the words he had trouble with tomorrow night. He really enjoys PE and Music also. One of his good friends who lives just around the corner is in Kindergarten this year, so they play together every day at recess.

We live about a block away, so we walk to and from school every day. This is a picture of Braden walking to school on the first day, dragging his new backpack with wheels.

We had to fill out a questionaire for the Self-Esteem board at school. One of the questions was "What is your goal for this year?" Braden's answer was "to learn to read." When he was asked "What do you wish for?" he answered "For my Daddy to come home soon, and to go swimming in a pool." I really think he is going to have a great year.