Mrs Navarro & Vincent

The 2009/2010 School year is coming to a close this Friday. This school year has been particularly hard for Vincent. Starting in 3rd Grade with the new California Standards the teachers can teach them the material, but then the students are on their own to test on it. Teachers cannot even read them the instructions. All though Vincent is a great reader, Vincent is a perfectionist. Unfortunately it caused a lot of worry and stress to him for fear of making a mistake. Sometimes he would just not try, and if he did and made a mistake he wanted to start over as that paper was not perfect. Mrs. Navarro was wonderful with him, and kept John and I informed of all things pertaining to Vincent in her classroom, sometimes on a daily basis. She cheered him on while taking test and gave him encouraging words while he was testing. She told us in a letter just recently about Vincent that I would like to share.

Mrs. Wilder,
After the first few months of school and after our first conference, I learned to understand Vincent and know him better. After I told you about my observations with his tendencies during our conference and in our emails you told me you were aware and knowing you knew made me feel more at ease. I want to tell you that as a teacher, I am very aware that all children are special and different. Yes, I agree with you, he is a precious boy!!
I want Vincent to like school and I want him to smile; therefore, very early on in the year I knew Vincent was extremely intelligent (He's also very adorable!) Many times I just I want to hug him because he's very precious and because he'll come follow me around in class to share with me a new fact he discovered from one of his books at home or he'll say, "Mrs. Navarro do you know about a game on the Internet?" I also learned that he would need extra help with keeping him focused, and him knowing that he is smart and successful that he just needs to try, and let me tell you that it has been my pleasure to work with Vincent. I'm not just saying this, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. I understand you and your husband and I know what it's like to be working extra hard to help our children because I lived it with my daughter and I've learned that all children have their own needs and that we as teachers need to differentiate instruction and help them in ways that will accommodate their needs. I communicate my directions to Vincent and when I see he doesn't follow through I'll help him and I won't push it to his point of frustration because every time I look in his eyes, I know that he's not trying to give me a hard time, it's just his attention, his focus and his mind that wander, so I'll just re-direct him and help him get through with his work.
We'll continue to be in touch even as the year comes to an end (I can't believe it is almost here). I begin to feel sadness because I become attached to my students for one year and then I have to see them go. I will miss Vincent very much because he always shares fascinating information on any topic of study we do in class and because he is very sweet!
Thank you Mrs. Wilder for all your help this year inside and outside the classroom.
Mrs. Navarro


What an awesome teacher she is! She has been wonderful for Vincent. We are sad as she is moving back into the dual immersion program and my kids are not in that program so we probably won't have the privilege of having her for a teacher again, but I am thankful for the year we did get her for Vincent.