When you are in grade school there are three years you live for, first fifth grade, then eighth grade, and finally Senior in high school. Each of these grades give you the feeling of “arriving.” You strive for many years to be “the big man on campus.” You suffer being in the lower grades so you can “arrive,” and lovingly look down to the younger classmates and give them the look that says “don’t you wish you were where I am now.”
For all my boys this has been an accomplishment, but for my youngest he it has been pure determination and hard work. My youngest has a small case of dyslexia. Each year we were faced with the possibility that he may not be promoted.
In third grade we began tutoring which only helped so much. Then we saw a psychologist wondering why things were not improving as they should have. That is when we were told he was dyslexic and he was going to struggle with this all his life; no worries though, he will still grow up to be successful. The psychologist also suggested a “reading specialist” as opposed to just a regular tutor.
All last year he met with a wonderful Christian woman who was a registered reading specialist. This woman was a Godsend, she instilled confidence and his reading did improve. But when the report card was about to come out my son would not say he was going into 5th grade until he saw the writing “on the wall” so to speak. We told him, “honey you are going into 5th grade, don’t worry.” But he would not believe me. Finally the report card arrived, and on it was printed:
So honey, this year enjoy the status of being “BIG MAN ON CAMPUS.” You earned it!!
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Oh, good for him for working so hard. Congratulations on the promotion!
My brother-in-law has dyslexia and had to work extra-hard as well. Today, he has a fantastic job that he loves, and enjoys reading for pleasure. He worked with a reading specialist for years and with hard work and determination, he faced that obstacle…and won.
Aw, Laurel - what a sweet tribute. And, I remember that “arriving” feeling and had a particiularly disappointing expereience with mine…
When I was a eighth grader, our school district decided to change from a 7-9 middle school and 10-12 high school to a 7-8 middle school and 9-12 4-year high school high school.
So I went from being a squished betw newbie 7th graders and the rule-the-school 9th graders to the lowest rung high school freshman! LOL I still haven’t recovered from the experience! *wink*
Congratulations to your youngest! May this be his best year ever!
Congratulations to your son. My husband is slightly dyslexic and my son is just a little more than he is. My son did finish high school, he is a paramedic and a lieutenant in the city fire dept. He still struggles with spelling. We have found that dysleixcs are very smart, they just learn differntly than others. We did everything that there was to be done, even took some meds for awhile. God will use it in his life and in yours. Your heart will be more tender towards those who struggle in school. It made my son a stronger man and he has more understanding for one of his step children because of what he went through. God does not waste anything in our lives…he gives us everything for a reason….even dyslexia. Hang in there and keep looking up and He will direct you to the next step or whatever is needed to benefit your son. Blessings.
Oh! Good for him. In my too older children I can honestly say that it’s the one who struggled more in the younger grades that was more prepared for school in the long run. She was forced to develop good study habits that have served her well. My son, whom elementary school came so easy to, struggled when he got older because he had not developed those habits.
In each child, and their unique attributes, there are strengths and weaknesses. This was lovely.
He should be doubly proud of his new status - he had to work twice as hard to get there. I hope he’s as proud of himself as his mom obviously is. Good job, both of you!
Congratulations to your son, Laurel! He should be so proud, especially since he had to work hard to get there and that he was willing to do that and not give up.
Congrats to him! My hubs has dyslexia and always had to struggle to make it to the next grade level! His constant struggle to do as well as everyone else has created an incredibly stong, determined man who has thrived in every aspect of his life. Bless your little guy’s heart! I can’t imagine how nervous he was until he saw that report card! I hope he has his best year yet!