Watching students BLOOM

"Mama.  I'm going to grow in my own sweet way."  

These are the words from my 4 year old son, coming home from school. Song lyrics from Tom Chapin.  His class listens to this song regularly.  This is IMBEDDED in who is he, already at the age of 4.  He understands that not all children learn the same thing at the same time in the same way.  And he's 4.  

When the younger brother doesn't understand a new work that I'm showing him during our school time at home, the 4 year old reminds me.  "Mama.  He will grow in his own sweet way."  

It's so lovely.  

But this is SOOOO difficult to achieve in our classes of 30+ kids with SO many diverse needs. With test scores looming over our heads.  With ALL of the hats that teachers wear.   Letting our kids grow in their own sweet way.  But they will.  They do.  

In what ways to you observe your students growing in their own sweet way?