generalparenting

Individualized Education Plan. If you are not positive and I mean %100 positive that your child will need this for the long haul consider this option carefully!

My son has been homeschooled for three years and returned to public school not to long ago. When he was in public school before he was tested for special education services and received an IEP ( Individual Education Plan). He received assistance in reading and writing. He was reading less than 1/3 of his grade level and needed a lot of help.

Now that my son is exiting homeschooling things have changed. My son started out as a child who struggled over Dick and Jane books and is now reading full chapter books like Maximum Ride, Vampire Kisses, Charlie Bone, and several.. I do mean SEVERAL other ones. He zips right through them. When he gets a book that catches his interest he can finish it in a matter of days. Homeschooling greatly improved his reading skills.

He is almost at grade level for his writing and his math. I admit his spelling could use a little work but it’s no worse than my daughters and she isn’t in special education. I went to the school about his IEP hoping she would tell me that he no longer needed services. That was NOT what I got.

I walked into the tiny classroom and the Special Ed teacher greeted me. She started right away saying that my son needed Special Education for his reading. I strongly disagreed, pointing out when he was tested at the other school he was only a few words a minute behind grade average. She insisted. I would not let up. I know my son doesn’t need these services and do NOT want him taking a step back just to appease a teachers ego.

Finally it took his regular teacher to interupt the battle saying she has seen no problem with my son reading books of grade level and above. She also noted that he is easily comprehending the books he is reading. I knew that! I tried to explain that to this ridiculous Special Ed teacher. And she wouldn’t listen.

The teacher was standing behind me. Not nearly as boldly as I was but she agreed with me all the same. Even with that this teacher, who was infuriating me, stood there trying to convince me that he needs these services. I’m coming to find it isn’t easy to get out of the system once he is in.

I finally told her that he would NOT be in Special Education this year for reading. If she wants to test him for Math or Writing that would be fine with me but he is NOT to be in Special Ed for reading. I don’t think she expected me to stand strong. My guess is that not many people challange her suggestion. She seemed shocked that I would not give into her. I have been teaching my child for three years, THREE YEARS, I think I know his capabilities! This school has no idea what they are dealing with when it comes to what kind of education my child is going to get. I’m afraid for them, this is going to be a rude awakening the remainder of the time he is there.

The day before the first day of school my son and I met with his teacher. She went over what my son would be learning over the year and filled us in on things the kids have done up to date. She got to one particular thing that she was happy with that the kids have spent the last four weeks on. They were split into groups and made to decide on a place that they wanted to do a presentation on. Some did things on places in the United States, while others did different countries. My son wanted in on this immediately. He started in on the teacher immediately asking if she had ever heard of the Benin people and wanted to know if they would be learning about them this year. The teacher seemed to be happy that he was so excited and offered to let my son join in this presentation if he wanted by coming up with his own place that he wanted to share about. He got to work that day and had a good chunk of it done by the first day of school. He went to school with his assignment that he gave himself and got to work while he was there. On day three of school he had to give a presentation to members of the community who come to see them and explain to them about Zimbabwe and the Benin people. He was thrilled. We went and saw the other presentations while he did his presentations. ( Having to explain to each group that came to his table.) He did an excellent job! He was a little quiet but after he got over that he had his facts memorized and had a very informative speech that he prepared himself. I am so proud of him. He did so good.

Because of the holiday my posts have actually been written a few days before the actual day and have obviously skipped things because I had already written ahead but, this I had to share with you. My son started school a few days ago and on his first day home he told me that he had made friends. My mom asked him if they were kids in his class he said “with the whole school”. I thought that was funny because he just won everyone over in a single day. It’s kind of cool. So the second day of school he came home and when I asked him how his day was he turned bright red and said these girls keep asking him out. I asked who and he said all of the girls in his class. I thought that was funny too. He is my little stud muffin I guess. He has a girlfriend, which I wrote about around Halloween, that he adores and is as serious as he can handle at his age. The hand holding is more than enough for the two of them which is FINE by me. So day one and two he is already full of friends and girls that want to be his girlfriend. I don’t know what he is thinking about all of this. I am excited for him because he has never had this kind of popularity, he has always been the kid that’s been teased and left out. He is older now, bigger now, and I think more secure in his own skin now. I really think homeschooling did him good.  

Ok so today is the big day for most of us. The day we have been waiting for all month, preparing for and looking forward to. The day where family and friends come together to enjoy food and laughter at one big happy table sharing everything they are thankful for. What are your favorite Thanksgiving memories. I have always had a house full for Thanksgiving. My mom and I were just talking about this yesterday. Since my very first boyfriend I have always had someone at my house and I have always done the cooking. At least most of the cooking. Some years we have a turkey as well as a ham. On those years I only cook one of them while my mother cooks the other. I have always had friends and family around for this holiday and have always had a houseful. This year there won’t be as many people because I live in a different state from some of my family and most of my friends. It’s a small gathering of my mom, my three kids, and my best friend. It is still a wonderful time. One thing I’ve noticed with less people is you have more time to really talk, I don’t mean the day to day how is work going, anything new kinds of things, but the real talking where you are sharing with the ones you love. I love that. It’s hard to do that when you have a house full of guests that you have to entertain. There are of course people who pop in to say hi but didn’t stay because they had places to go and other people to see but it’s nice seeing them any way. Any way the celebrations are over for now and I can’t wait until Christmas to do it all over again.

Yes we are doing it a day early. I am actually writing this early so that I have time with the family. I said in my other blog I am cheating this year and I bought a pre made meal. Well the only thing I have to do is make a relish tray. For those of you who don’t know what that is it is things like deviled eggs, celery and cream cheese, radish roses, black and green olives, pickles, cheese and crackers, quiche’, etc. Now this stuff is easy to get ready. The only real time consumer here is waiting for the eggs to boil and carving the radishes into roses. Everything else is a breeze and I’m making the kids get involved. They complain at first but end up acting like little kids helping in the kitchen and end up having fun any way. It’s easy enough to get them to help because they like having all of the little things to snack on so I simply tell them that if they don’t do it they won’t get it.. Lol. That always motivates them.

I am sooooo anxious right now. I dropped my son off at the bus stop at 7:14 this morning. We waited until the bus was actually there before I left him. He looked so scared as he drove away on the bus with his face at the window waving good bye. I really hope he does ok today. I want to call the school so bad to check on him but I know I am being to over protective. Ugh. I hope he is ok. I hope he like this school and is making friends. I hope the kids on the bus were nice to him. The kid that was homeschooled until this year rides his bus. I hope they get together. He was so nervous last night he kept asking what time it was because he wanted to go to bed. He said he was sick to his stomache this morning. I hope he is feeling ok now. He will just be in his first class right now. He doesn’t change rooms when he changes classes so that should be good. At least he doesn’t have to worry about getting lost from class to class and if he does have to go to different class for anything he is going with his whole class. That should ease some of his worries. I can’t wait until 2:05 when it’s time to pick him up at the bus stop.

We went to the school to check it out and it definitely seems like a good fit for my son. They are better equiped to handle a child with a mental illness than a public school is. He will be in a class that is mixed with both fifth and sixth grade students. He will be starting as a sixth grade student. We met the teacher who seems extremely nice and willing to be helpful. She also seems to be willing to meet with me whenever I feel there is a need.

The class room consists of 9 sixth graders and 10 fifth graders. He will be sitting at a table with three other boys, one of which was homeschooled until this year. Excellent placement if you ask me. The term ends on December 1 so my son is not expected to do any real work in class until the next term begins but my son is anxious to jump right in. The class is having a parents show room that they are displaying things they have learned about ancient civilizations that they have previously learned about. My son is at least a year ahead of them in this aspect but the teacher invited him to share what he knows about a civilization of his choice.

He has chosen the area of Zimbabwe and the ruins there. He is extremely excited about this project. He has been studying this at home with much enthusiasm. The class that he is going to be joining is far behind where he is in history but he will not mind going over the stuff because he LOVES history. Ancient civilizations and Archeological sites are a facination of his. I think he will have a lot to offer his classmates with his knowledge.

He will be starting tomorrow. It seems awfully soon for me but of course I am going to miss him terribly and am partial to him staying home. He is excited to start as soon as possible. When it was suggested that it was even a possiblity that he could start that soon he was thrilled and practically begged to be able to. I’m glad this is making him so happy though I am sad that I will no longer have creative control over his schooling.

I hope the strict schedule doesn’t throw him because being homeschooled if he wants to take some extra time on something he finds interesting he has that luxury. Ahhh I hope this turns out ok. 

This time the anxiety strikes me and not my son. I had to go to the post office yesterday to send off some packages and as I stood in line I was calm thinking about the people who would receive their packages and whether or not they would like them when I was called to the counter. I told the man what I wanted to send and asked how much, as he rang me up he began talking to me. I was so wrapped up in my own thoughts in line that it hadn’t occured to me that he may try talking to me.

 I was totally unprepared and I could feel myself starting to shake. I tried to answer his polite questions the best I could without passing out and I swiped my card to pay for the transaction. I could feel my ears turning red and the redness was creeping over my face. I could feel it as I began to choke for air. As soon as the little machine said the card was approved I practically ran out of there not even getting a receipt. I was so embarrassed at my sudden emotional outburst even though I know it is nothing under my control.

I have to go to the post office again today and I am terrified to go. I have more packages to send off and that means I will have to stand there a few minutes while everything is weighed and set up to go and then of course I have to pay for everything. I will have to hold at least a simple conversation with the person checking me out. This time I hope I am better prepared but still I hope it’s not the same man that checked me out last time. I’m sure he knows how out of control I was last time. I was acting so strange to someone watching the whole thing. People just don’t understand unless they have or are experiencing it. It’s not something easy to explain and I am to embarrassed to try with a complete stranger.

You all know I have been trying to get my child back into public school at his request for the last couple of weeks or so and I’m still trying to do that. The counselor at the middle school finally called me and told me that the school had an IEP meeting ( Individualized Education Plan) about my son and had to wonder if maybe my son would be better suited for a different school. They want to send him to a much smaller school where he can have more one on one attention. The school runs from grades K-8 and there are 185 students total. I love this idea but.. does that mean when it’s time for high school he will still need the smaller size school? If so that is doable it just means he has to go to the alternative high school that has something like 50 students total for the entire high school. I like that idea but it worries me that he will be with a lot of kids who have been in a lot of trouble and that high school is their last chance at graduation. I know I have taught him well and I know this is still a few years away but I have to worry any way.

When do you start putting up your Christmas decorations? On December 1st? Maybe on December 20th? Or are you like me and decorate in November? My family usually pulls out the Christmas decorations immediately after Thanksgiving Dinner. This year I didn’t wait that long, no not me, we had to get them up now. My decorations started going up a week ago and are being finished up today. Yes they will be up before Thanksgiving dinner. I know for all of those Scrooge enthusiasts you will be going crazy knowing I have my decorations up already but what can I say? I gotta do what I gotta do and I gotta do my Christmas decorating now, in Novemeber… before Thanksgiving.