Parent-teacher conferences

So, today was the long-awaited (by me, anyway) parent-teacher conference with Rachel's first-grade teacher, Mrs. McAdam. Drew asked Rachel if there was anything SHE wanted to tell her teacher.

She replied: "I need more challenging math homework!"

Okay, then.

In a word, the conference was stunning.

"Rachel is super-smart," Mrs. McAdam said flatly. "Everybody loves Rachel. She's solid. They trust her. Everyone wants to help her" with her crutches, the teacher said, so she has chosen the kids who can help Rachel with various tasks instead of making Rachel choose, which -- considering Rachel's desire not to hurt anyone's feelings -- was a smart idea.

So, on to the progress report. In math, she was tested in the first weeks of school and scored 80 percent. That means she knows 80 percent of the ENTIRE FIRST-GRADE MATH CURRICULUM.

In reading, she is completely accurately reading at a third-grade level and her comprehension extends to fifth-grade reading. For oral reading in context (at the 5th-grade level) she scored a 99 percent for accuracy, a 3 out of 3 for fluency, and a 4 out of 6 for comprehension. Mrs. McAdam said she won't even bother testing Rachel in the middle of the year and instead will wait until the end of 1st grade to do another reading test.

The school has a gifted and talented resource teacher, Mr. Trainor, and Mrs. McAdam says he will be working with some of the students who, like Rachel scored 80 percent in math. She won't be eligible for full gifted and talented services until next year, but I'm hoping that she'll be able to at least do some things this year. Mrs. McAdam promised to send home a "challenge" math packet soon, so Rachel can do extra work. And Drew has been very good about getting her BrainQuest cards and math workbooks (she's already using a 2nd-grade math workbook), so we'll just continue that.

Bottom line: Our little girl is very, very bright, and it's not just we who think so. My one concern is that I want to make sure the school system is equipped to challenge her; at least Mrs. McAdam recognizes this is important, so hopefully Rachel will still continue to enjoy school. We told Mrs. McAdam that Rachel loves to learn -- she has a rage for it, actually -- and we're hoping Mrs. McAdam is so charmed by that that she'll make sure she continues to advance exponentially.

Needless to say, I am very proud of her. But perhaps the best comment today came from Mom, who said, "Give Rachel a hug and kiss and tell her we're very proud of her. But not because she's smart. Because she's RACHEL."

Thanks, Mom.