Go Team Grass!

As I sit outside on my front porch, enjoying my Saturday with my kids, I feel compelled to document the gratitude, joy, and relief that I feel.

As a learner, as an educator, and as a daughter of an amazing teacher, I know what an incredible impact a teacher can have on a student.  I know that good teachers DO make a difference.  I know that the right learning environment can be transformative for a learner.  I know the qualities that distinguish a good school year from a great school year.

Sophie's 1st grade teacher and the entire team of 1st grade educators have completely blown us away.  Sophie has gained new confidence, joy, enthusiasm, independence, insight, and community.  She belongs.  She is seen and heard and noticed in class.  Her strengths are validated and welcomed in the classroom.  And her weaknesses and needs are met with support, with kindness, and with empathy.  This girl comes home from school with a major bounce to her step; she tells stories for hours and hours about the day.  There is a love for learning, for education, and for all of the integral and dynamic pieces of school. Sophie now exudes a love and joy that she didn't even know she was missing last year.

3:30 PM: my new favorite time of day when we are all reunited, snacks are eaten, stories are shared

The perfect anecdote of her growth is Team Grass.  On her first "real" soccer team this year, Sophie boldly and confidently suggested the team's name should be "grass".... other suggestions by friends had dealt with superheroes, unicorns, or fast animals.  But Sophie, who has always had her own imaginative and original ideas contributed her idea.  And the team voted.  Team Grass won (much to the dismay of her coach and skepticism from the parent peanut gallery!). It's the perfect anecdote because she is speaking up.  She feels comfortable.  She has been validated in school, and she knows in her core that she has wonderful gifts to offer her friends, her teammates, and her community.

Half soccer player, half Native American

The development we have seen in her blows us away.  She deserved the right environment to thrive, to showcase her gifts, and to be supported in her growth.

Go Team Grass! {As a side note, the innuendos and jokes have been escalating among the parents about getting Team Grass sweatshirts; our competitors will think we are a group of stoner parents.}

Other highlights as of late: Cameron is doing great with preschool. He is playing soccer too and in case anybody had concerns, he is as funny and clever as ever.

Cousins walking Soph to school

Sophie and I joined some favorite mommas and daughters for a 24 hour trip to Salt Lake City to see the Dixie Chicks in concert! The weekend included hotel room service, a trip to Ikea, and an outdoor concert with 20,000 other people!

love her new smile :)