Box of Chocolates

We had a conference yesterday even though school is out.  I didn't get an official word on moving Alex up a grade but I got a ton of data.  A TON!  I am having a hard time processing all this new information and what it may or may not mean. What I learned is there is a Iowa Acceleration Scale Form that is used in our state.  What this form does is looks at your student in 5 different areas and depending on the score helps determine if your student is an excellent, good, marginal or not recommended for acceleration.  The five areas are AAAA (academic ability, ability, aptitude and achievement), school and academic factors, developmental, interpersonal skills, and attitude and support. Each of the areas has a point system.  For the achievement part it is hard to argue with the points based on  scores to two different tests.  Some of the other areas are subjective and well I just don't like some of the questions.  You get more points if you have no siblings,  You get less poin

The last day of school has come and gone.  Still no official word on moving up a grade.  What I do find very exciting is the last nine weeks my daughter made straight A's.  Not surprising but she spent one nine weeks in second grade, the last of four and still made straight A's.  Just more data to prove the move will be a good one for her. Also, I had a parent from that class yesterday tell me that her daughter really enjoyed having Alex in class.    This might not sound like a huge deal but being accepted by new peers and getting along with those kids is something they look at in moving a student up a grade. The gifted teacher is working so hard for a few students even though the final bell has rung.  I am so appreciative of their efforts.  For now we joke with Alex about what grade she is in.....because we don't know.  She said that makes her feel stupid (that is a first).  It is all in good fun.  She knows their is a possibility of not moving and she said if she goes

Four more years!  I couldn't help myself.  Only four more school days and the 2011-2012 year is over.  I still have not heard what is go to happen for next school year in regards to moving my kid up a grade.  I do know they are feverishly going to get a test done with the hopes of knowing for sure with quantitative data that Alex can skip a grade.  After her moving up one grade (short term) and being with her newest peers I am convinced that this will be the best thing for her long term. Short update but it is an update.  I'm sure you will hear me all over the world when I get the official word. Moving on. I had a parent call me this week and we talked for a long time mostly about education.  She also has a student that is high performing but this parent also feels like all her students needs are no being met or that the process for getting these needs met is long, tooooooooooo long.  One of the first things out of this parents mouth was, "I don't talk about it bec