I don't think it's been the whole six years and I think you have gradually gotten so you and he understand one another better. First graders don't know a whole lot of math but sixth graders know fractions, etc.

I can't see how he'd "tell" you any other way? It could have been a "left-handed" compliment but I think it was sincere. My stepmother once said to me, "You sound so sweet when you're talking on the phone!" -- that I took as a left-handed compliment, that I wasn't so sweet when I wasn't on the phone :-) but I've come to understand that I was "especially" sweet when talking on the phone, that my phone voice was just "different," not that my unphone voice was bad or anything.

I think your T was just "surprised" and rushed his comment without being able to think it through :-) My T told me I was "kind but critical" and, of course, I've always focused on that "critical" and even though that goes two ways, I can make very good decisions, my "critical thinking" is excellent, I still often only see my critical/judgmental side :-( Doesn't matter either that she said it over 5 years ago and I've grown/changed since then either.

Don't focus on stuff you feel badly about, it will only become more engrained! Focus on the other half; he understands you better now so you're making progress?