Thursday, April 21, 2016

Dear Noah........ACT scores are in...........



Got Noah's ACT test scores and he scored VERY well and is ready for college according to those scores as well - In fact, I always worried a bit about reading, even though he does well (due to his comprehension needing a lot of work over the years) and English (because he had a huge speech language delay starting out) but he always loved books and reading and was very good with grammar and context and vocabulary. I have to say he scored in the top 10% in the NATION on that. We were both a little stunned but also happy and thankful to know he is indeed learning a lot being homeschooled and has retained it! Anyway...he had been afraid to look at his scores so I looked first...and then called him in later to look and he left with a big smile on his face.
Towards the end of each school year, about now, I always start to as myself, "Have we done enough?" or I wonder if he has learned anything ...etc. Then I get his portfolio together of his assignments and work he completed throughout the year, his test scores, etc. and I am always so surprised to see how MUCH he completed in each year. That affirmation is HUGE and keeps us going. I am NOT a big supporter of test taking and placing kids with certain numbers here or there on some graph or scale or chart...as there are so many more important things in the mix to vary those results.......but I do admit that Noah's test scores have built up his confidence level and make him feel good about himself and makes me realize I am teaching him apparently well enough that he is where he needs to be in life at this moment at least. He has come a LONG way for sure! With each step he takes we are getting him closer to his goals. That is a good thing!

Saturday, April 09, 2016

Dear Noah........driving.......and college admission testing......


I cannot believe how well you are doing and how fast you are becoming a young adult man. Does not seem possible to me. Since you decided you wanted to go to college we began that process. Next year for your senior year you will actually be doing college courses for college credit that you can one day transfer towards a degree you have tentatively picked out. Since a photo ID is required...and  you decided to start driving now after all instead of waiting till later...we decided you may as well go take your written test and get your temps so you can have a photo ID and start driving.

You did very well on the test...and now have your temps.

Next up was the Compass test for our local/state community college admissions requirement. You took that on Thursday afternoon and finished in like half the time it normally takes and you passed it very well.

Even though you would not have to take the ACT test..or at least not now...we had scheduled you for it anyway so you took that today. You feel you did very well on it...but we don't have those scores yet. Time will tell.

However, with each success your confidence is building. You become more comfortable with yourself and growing up...with driving...with realizing you are learning and retaining things here with homeschool......and it is wonderful to see all this come to pass right before my eyes.

Looking back I often wondered what things might be like when you got older. I am becoming much more confident too that you will accomplish anything you set your mind to.....and you will be just fine.

You certainly have lots of plans.....and while our lives are changing and maybe even our roles to some degree....I am so thankful I have you in my life and have been able to share it with you and be able to teach you here at home. I really have loved that. We don't spend nearly the time together now as we did in the past...and I do miss that...and yet I know it is inevitable and something I need to just accept and go with that flow...as it prepares to take you down the waters of your life one day.

SO my little man........I wish you only the very best life has to offer.

I love you more than ever.

Mom
XOXOXO