How Far We've Come

This may seem silly to some... I'll try to put it in context, but have to admit up-front that I got noticeably teary in Jake's school conference today :).
This year has seen such a change in Jake. He is reading for pleasure - of his own accord! Less than three years ago, Jake was tested and qualified for special education, largely based on his inability to recognize all of the letters in the alphabet, sound out simple words, etc. - in spite of being obviously 'smart' in other ways. His main diagnosis was severe dyslexia. When I asked people at that time (like the diagnostician and the director of the dyslexia school here in Austin who helped interpret his test results for me) if he would ever read, no one would give me a solid answer or really even much reassurance.
OK, so here's what made me cry today, and granted my hormones and emotions are a little off-kelter, but still it was huge to me. Jake takes the TAKS test this spring and has to pass it in order to pass 3rd grade. They gave the kids a pre-test, using the actual TAKS test from June that was given to 3rd graders who didn't pass the spring test -- and JAKE MADE A 100 IN READING!!! They don't expect 100's; they are testing to get a baseline to know what to teach and focus on for the next few months until the tests are given to the 3rd graders. I am so proud of him and so happy that he is going to be a reader and enjoy the many doors that will open for him. I have to add that, once again, we have been blessed with an amazing teacher for him this year. She turned his face towards hers today and told him she wanted to be sure that he heard her say that he is a strong reader. She said to him, 'you have dyslexia and I have freckles... Working with Mrs. Sternad (who is doing his special ed time with him this year) is a blessing to help you with the dyslexia, but nothing about being pulled out of class to work with her means that you are not a strong student and a strong reader.' I love our school - thank you Mrs. Neuman!