Our Reading Specialist

I took our kindergartener for an assessment with his teacher this week. He and all of his classmates met one-on-one with Mrs. W. during the first week of school so she could have a little look-see at their basic skills—counting, literacy, and the like.

I paced outside the classroom while I waited for them to finish. I'd been planning to go for a midday walk (I don't often escape from my office during the day) until Mrs. W. said she'd only need a few minutes to check things out. After I'd read the school board minutes posted outside the office and made a lap around the island of coathooks to browse the names of our boy's classroom companions, I resorted to flipping through a copy of Nick Jr. Magazine.

I was reading with interest a "clippable prank," an "official" school postcard kids could send to their moms and dads inviting them to participate in the Parents' Gymnastics Expo and Flugelhorn Concert—one I found funny since my beloved actually plays the flugelhorn—when teacher and pupil emerged into the hallway.

Bringing our boy to me, Mrs. W. said, "He reads!"

"Yes, he does," I said. "I couldn't remember if I'd told you at the Back-to-School Picnic."

"Well, it's probably better that you didn't," she said. "Lots of parents tell me that their kids can read, and they can't."

We went on to discuss what she thought would be the best course of action. He'd meet with a reading specialist to determine the level at which he'd need to work to keep learning, and then during class time focused on reading, he'd probably meet with the specialist instead.

While hearing that your child is advanced beyond his peers is a boost to the ego, I didn't take this plan in without some trepidation. "I worked independently on reading in first grade, too," I said, remembering that while the other kids clustered at tables stacked with books intended for the Brown Group or the Green Group, I sat alone, the sole member of the Pink Group. "I do want to make sure he's learning as much as he can, but I'll want us to keep a close eye on how he's doing with being separated from the other kids."

For the child that told me he didn't get lonely when he played by himself, he "got happy" instead, I'll start by assuming that trudging onward and upward at his own pace will be a good thing. But you can be assured that Mama will be watching.