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Schools

Jimmy's work over the summer pays off

At 5, he knows enough words on sight to earn a T-shirt and a sense of pride. He also knows that he wants to be a farmer.

By MARYAN PELLAND
Published October 5, 2006

Five-year-old Jimmy Tacy's favorite outfit is any pair of shorts and his brand new "Star Readers Are Out of This World" T-shirt. He wears the flame-orange shirt to school at Challenger, where he goes to kindergarten.

He also wears it around his Spring Hill neighborhood, and loves when people ask about the shirt.

Jimmy's proud of having been the first child in his class to win the shirt in the Star Readers program, something he did by learning to sight read 65 vocabulary words.

Then he had to make an appointment with principal Sue Stoop and read the words to her. No mistakes. Sight reading from flash cards, not sounding out. He had to know those words right off. Mistakes would mean Stoop would come back another time and he could try again.

But Jimmy says, "Holy Kamoly! I knew my words in the summer."

"It's cool," he said. "Because I did it myself."

Jimmy's teacher, Joanna Mullins, said, "He's a bright and outgoing student and a perfect example of what happens when parents and teachers work together."

She also said she sees a huge difference in readiness and skill levels between students who have had preschool and those who haven't.

"Those with preschool know their letters and numbers. They're really ready for school. It's amazing," she said.

Jimmy's mom, Linda Tacy, says that on the first day of school, he was ready and eager to do the reading. After a slight delay because the shirts hadn't arrived yet, Jimmy got his five minutes in the spotlight and nailed it.

"Reading," said Leigh Ann Ledford, reading coach at Challenger, "is critical."

That's why they have the program. The kindergarten kids love it. They work on their words through the summer, as Jimmy did. His family helped out, including his visiting grandmother.

"My Nana said I could have a quarter for every column I read to her. I did all four columns," Jimmy reported.

Now he can help his classmates and that makes him happy.

Was he nervous when he met with the principal? Not a bit.

Tow=headed and bright-eyed, Jimmy has typical 5-year-old enthusiasm. He looks forward to school every day and looks forward to play time after school. Jimmy talks a mile a minute about anything that interests him.

He'll read a new early reader book, A Hot Dog, to anyone who'll listen, though his favorites are Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See and The Very Hungry Caterpillar. He has been read to since birth and has been interested in reading for a couple of years.

His mom attributes some of his success to having four siblings, ages 11 to 16, and to being active in team sports since he was 2.

Add to that the fact that Jimmy's parents firmly believe that school is a family matter.

The four siblings not only read to him when they have time, they are his role models. Anthony, Brittney, Bianca and Brandon Hamrick, Jimmy's brothers and sisters, enjoy reading. So do mom and dad. Jimmy wants to do what they do. He knows if he wants to play computer and video games, he has to read directions and game texts.

Brandon likes the Sunshine Reading program and all the kids participate in Accelerated Reading at their schools. Mom volunteers a lot at more than one school. Dad Jim makes time for the kids because he thinks that family is as important as a good education.

Jimmy has played basketball and T-ball since he was 3 and has trophies to prove it. Experts say regular exercise and healthy activities support good physical coordination, which supports good mental health, which makes for a good reader.

Good readers are good students, and Jimmy is fascinated by learning. He wants, he says, to know everything. Before he began school, he spent lots of time with his mother learning things like measuring, baking, colors and numbers.

When he grows up, he wants to be a farmer. He'll grow fruits and vegetables to feed people. He says he has planted a lot of seeds with his mom. He likes digging the dirt, seeing the seed sprout and watching the plant grow. And, he likes being outside, so what could be a better career?

[Last modified October 5, 2006, 07:42:22]