Update

A few weeks ago I wrote about a new student in my class from Mexico. She has been with me for about a month now. I have learned a lot about this young lady but I still have more to learn.

Academically, she is low functioning. I am not convinced though that it is due to language or a learning disability. "Cindi" has been in and out of homes and schools all of her life. She has been back and forth between California and Mexico many times. She actually attended school in both places. I think that she has never been in school long enough to grasp the language much less the concepts that are taught at each grade. When I work one on one with Cindi, she catches on very quickly and gives me the impression that she could perform on grade level if given the chance to stay put and really focus on studying.

I still don't have a clear picture on all of the places that Cindi has lived or how long she was at the schools that are mentioned in her cummulative records. Interestingly enough, when we called one school mentioned they had no record of her attending that school. I wonder if this is because she never attended that school or because she was there for just a few days.

What I do know about this girl is that she has lived a hard life. Her mother is dead and she has no clue as to the whereabouts of her father. She has been raised by different family members. She is now currently living with her aunt and uncle. I don't know what her other relatives were like but this couple is amazing. Cindi comes to school well groomed each day and the aunt stops by to talk to me for clarification on homework, classwork or to see how Cindi is behaving. Cindi is pretty well trained too. She behaves pretty well and at the end of each day she comes to find me and shake my hand. She says "Gracias Maestra. !Hasta Mañana!" (so cute - she gets a hug from me each time -I love it!)

I really hope that Cindi gets to stay with her aunt and uncle for a long time. They seem to really love and care about her. I can't help but think that if she had a stable loving environment she would be able to catch up with the rest of her grade level peers.

Oh! One more thing...
Yesterday as I was pulling up to school I witnessed a private moment between Cindi and her aunt. Her aunt was walking her to school. As they were approaching the room, Cindi's aunt kept primping Cindi for school. (pulling lint off of her clothes and fixing her hair) She then stopped a bit away from the classroom where she was going to leve Cindi to walk to the room on her own. Cindi turned around and received her bendición from her aunt and a big hug and a kiss. I felt so happy for Cindi and her aunt. Those two really are lucky to have each other.