It’s crazy to think that in the beginning of the year our kids were brand new three year olds just coming off of two, and now after eight months they’re three years olds turning four! Their growth has been dramatic and quick, and it has been an honor watching it. Even just one month can make a difference! When my team got back from winter break we couldn’t believe how different some of them were after just four weeks. Every single kid in our class has grown since the beginning of the year, but there are some that have had especially drastic changes. I’m blown away every session at how smart all of them are.

            There are two boys in particular who were the quietest ones in the class at the beginning of the school year. They barely talked, and they froze up whenever they were asked a question. They couldn’t even tell me what the first letters of their names were. I remember asking one of them what the first letter of his name was way back in September, and after long and careful thought, and looked up with an endearing smile and said enthusiastically, “Q!” (His name does not start with a Q). He can now spell his entire name, as well as recognize and name other letters. Both of the boys are now also some of the most social ones in the class, and they’re always willing to volunteer for games and songs during circle time.

            Another boy in the class is constantly blowing us away with his intelligence and superior observational skills. The other week, my team was a little late walking in the classroom, and when we finally did, we found him standing at the front of the classroom pointing at the clock. His teachers told us that he was just informing the class the big hand was on the six and the little had is on the three, which means that “Jumpstart isn’t coming!” We apologized to him for being late and promised that we wouldn’t do it again, and he wouldn’t let us forget it for the rest of the day.

            It’s bittersweet coming to the end of the year, because even though we have seen so much progress in every single child, it’s going to be hard to leave them and not be able to follow their progress in the next coming years and see how much more they grow. I am so excited for all of their futures because they are all such bright kids and have every capability in the world to achieve anything that they want to.

-Laura Zartarian