Jewel read her first book today!

8/16/11  Tuesday

Wow, Jewel read her first book/s today.

I feel like it is still a dream, but regardless of how dreamy this reality is, the fact remains to be announced and celebrated that Jewel read her first book today!
The book/s are those of the Bob books by scholastic.

Raven and I had Jewel on all fours, with feet tucked under and on a wedge.
I shoved a rolled up towel in between her chest to help prop her up.
Raven was in charge of giving Jewel's head some help for stability since Jewel tends to sway her head back and forth.
We lay the book on the floor and I waited for her to read; Mat, this is the title for book 1 in collection 1.
My finger pointed to the word and we waited.
Jewel read and spoke, "Mat", I had to pinch myself!
The stick pictures were a  distraction, so I covered them up until Jewel read the words, then uncovered the top of the page and we laughed, as we looked and spoke about the picture.
Then we moved on to the next page.
Book one repeats the word Mat on three consecutive pages, then we have Mat sat.
Sam.
Sam sat.
Mat sat.  Sam sat.
Mat sat on Sam.
Sam sat on Mat.
Mat sat.  Sam sat.
The End
and this was Jewel's very first book read all by herself in entirety at age 10 1/2.

Then Jewel wanted to read book 2 called Sam.
and this she read by herself, with us patiently waiting and helping her body and  reminding her to breath deeply through her nose and to remember to say the last letter of the word.

She was on a roll and insisted on reading book 3 called Dot.
I gave her a few helps as she pushed through, lighting up when she read; "The End"

This left us all exhausted and exhilarated.

There have been days that I wanted to give up, but we continue to show Jewel alphabet flash cards and read to her daily. Our team has tirelessly continued to help teach Jewel, when I am tired or discouraged then Makena or another family member fill in and on many days she has all of us teaching her.  Well done Gary, Makena, Raven and Jewel.  Jewel listens to audio books and enjoys getting lost in a good book.  She told me that she  "really, really want to read" and she told Makena that she would like to, "hide under bed and read".  Recently I wondered if it was fair to her to keep teaching her and encouraging her to read, and the answer is yes, keep dreaming and keep reaching for the stars and moon.  As you walk daily in your tasks one day the fruit of your labour will blossom and bare fruit.  Ask the questions and live the answers.