January 2010 Newsletter
What a busy holiday season I’ve just had. The very day after Christmas – December 26, 2009 – was Day #1 for new student, Kendyl. Then we had daily lessons in town until public school re-opened on January 6, 2010. Each lesson, as usual, included a bit of playtime for Kendyl and an opportunity for her to trade the stickers she’d won (for “trying”) for actual prizes.
Kendyl’s mom, April, has undertaken the task of writing brief notes about the the 10 to 15 minutes of homework that I’ve been assigning each day. To my great delight, almost all of April’s notes included something regarding Kendyl’s attitude. I’ll quote the one I think is my favorite:
Day 4 – Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Book Title: Go Away, Dog
Favorite Pages: 30-32
“We didn’t bring home a new book so we called Piper. She said for Kendyl to pick four pages and see how Kendyl did. Kendyl knew every word and asked to read more; so we started at the cover and, before I knew it, she had read the whole book! She took her time and read every word right! I am so proud of her. I enjoy sitting down with her so much now – when I used to dread it!!!”
We did take a day of “vacation” on New Year’s Day.
But, just before New Year’s Day, I squeezed in my first email solicitation asking for donations to our 501(c)(3) Reading Window School. The Donate button definitely does work – five readers used it. Combined with an old-fashioned check via regular mail, $200 was added to our needy bank account. Although we still need $400 more to cover one full scholarship, the debut of our Donate button was a definite boost to my morale. I’ll end this first of 2010 Newsletter with a request to you:
If you can, please add to our Scholarship Fund. If you want to use the Postal Service (instead of the Donate button) please send your check to:
Reading Window School
c/o Piper Martin
138 Twin Oaks Road
Louisa, VA 23093
Have a Happy New Year!