The Difference is Astounding - Summer at The Joy School

BY LAURA SPAULDING Staff Writer / Educational Consultant

You would think after all these years, hearing “I’ve got my child back” would get old, but it never does. The smiles and successes of our students and their families are the fuel that keeps us going and one of the reasons Joy School teachers never leave. Life circumstances, including having four children of my own, made it impossible for me to continue working full time, but one of the joys of my life has been finding creative ways to stay connected to my Joy School family over the years through various roles involving administrative support, educational consulting, and most recently as the school’s staff writer and storyteller. I now have the privilege of not only hearing all the wonderful ways The Joy School is changing lives, but I get to share those stories with the world!

For example, here is an email we got last week from one of our summer program parent...

         

 

 

 

 

 

Dear Mrs. Christou,

I know it has only been 1.5 weeks of summer school, but my husband and I are AMAZED by Conor's progress thus far. He had a really hard time in Kindergarten this year, which caused him a lot of emotional stress. He came home upset every day and refused to review letters, sounds, or go over readers with me. Since he has started summer school, he comes home happy, willingly does his homework, and is more steady emotionally. I wanted to let you know how much of a difference you have made in such a small amount of time.

Today he read all the pages of his reader out loud to me, and did AWESOME. He even wanted to read the book again to his dad when he came home from work.  It was the first book he has ever read all the way through! When unsure of a word, he is able to identify the letters and sounds, and works hard to put them together. As you noted, he still has some trouble with blending sounds, but the progress he has already made in less than two weeks is ASTOUNDING. He wouldn't (or rather couldn't) do that before the summer program.  

Oh, and I asked him what filled up his bucket at school today and he said, "When people told me, 'You can do it, Conor!'"  

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Susan

   

 

For more than two decades, I have had the privilege of being on the receiving end of endless emails like this one, and truly it never gets old! But this summer, after my own daughter who has been struggling in middle school math reluctantly attended our summer program, I now find myself on the sending end of just such an email.

         
   

Dear Ms. Erskine,

Two weeks ago Lacey, like many middle school girls, was stubbornly convinced of several things. First, other than seeing her friends, school is boring and summer school is the worst idea in the world. Secondly, the joy of being a teacher includes giving kids a bunch of work to keep them busy, and then testing them and handing out arbitrary grades. Thirdly she was convinced math is meaningless and hopelessly confusing. And lastly, she believed she was destined to always be the slowest worker in the room and the only sure way to avoid looking stupid or getting more confused is by cracking jokes instead of asking questions.

By the end of the first day in your Middle School Mastering Math summer school class Lacey was convinced school can be fun, EVEN math. She expressed that for the first time in her life she did not feel stupid when she asked a question in a classroom.

By the end of the first week, she was sad summer school was already halfway over. After using math to go shopping as a class at the gas station down the street, researching and planning her dream vacation, and even throwing a class party, Lacey now notices numbers everywhere. While I have heard from hundreds of parents over the years with similar stories, still I am truly in awe at the progress Lacey has made in such a short time. And not only academically, but the tangible increase in self-awareness and confidence is truly remarkable.

On the last day of summer school, Lacey was so sad to say goodbye to “the very best teachers” she has ever had. Then on the way home she told me she finally knows what she wants to be when she grows up. While she has no plans to be a mathematician of any sort, she has decided she wants to be a Joy School teacher. She went on to explain that being a Joy School teacher is not the same as her previous goal of being a teacher.

Sincerely,

Laura

   
 

I love getting letters from happy parents after they first notice their child’s transformation as a Joy School student, but what I now know is nothing compares to being the parent writing the letter after watching their child’s transformation firsthand. I have already warned her teacher turnover is so low at the Joy School, she better start hoping that someone is ready to retire by the time she graduates.

If you love what you've just read, be sure to share the JOY by sending to a friend, family member, or your favorite social media channel!

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