Box of Chocolates

Ready of not here comes school year 2012/13. I am not sure why but my kids do not what to go back to school. I asked if they want me to homeschool and they all yell, "NO!"  They all have good teachers so I am not sure why they don't want to go back.  Maybe we have too much fun in the summer. As we prepare for another year of school I am thinking about the what is in store for me this year too. Today I found my mind wondering all over the map of my life. I think that this year will be my last year of stay at home mom. I really enjoy my time home without the kids but on the flip side I really miss them and dislike being a stay at home mom without anyone here.  I know I could do a better job of managing and cleaning house but in reality 100% of my time is not needed here at home.  I am ready to contribute monetarily.  I might only say these things because my chosen profession is teaching so I will have all the same days off as they have give or take a few. ...

Finally an exception to the law, sort of an exception. I got THE phone call today. Alex is officially going to third grade next year. I guess the proper term is double promotion or grade acceleration. Whatever they want to call it I am pleased. It took a long time. She will not only go into a grade where she no longer stands out physically but she will also get to start the gifted program. So many changes in the coming year. She blushed when I told her she was going to third grade.  So cute! Tomorrow is my birthday and I will be going into my 36th year with a smile on my face knowing that we had a major victory for us within the public school system. I do feel like this is a victory for us. For three years we have known that she was not a typical 4, 5 or 6 year old. It took a couple years of school and lots of testing to get to today. It took persistence and lots of patience. The road has been long and we have had a victory for our kid to get what she needs within the public scho...

As I read this resource this quote explains so much of my past nine years as a mom, " The Gifted Child.  No individual can be more exhilarating, or more frustrating. The parents and teachers who deal with these wonderful children can often be described in a single word: Exhausted. The gifted child can speak as an adult one minute, comparing the emotional relationships in Les Mis with relationships in her own life, or discussing potential conflicts between evolution and the bible, and in the next minute throw an impressive tantrum because she didn't get what she wanted... right now! She can have you in awe of her theories on accelerated space travel, or pulling your hair out in frustration over her argumentative refusal to do her part in everyday chores."    ~hoagiesgifted.org Now I will say we don't have discussions on Les Mis or accelerated space travel.  Although we have had some crazy discussions in this house from time to time.  One that stands out is ho...

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 ...

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 possibil...

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 d...

I am happy to report that my first grader is going to second grade for reading and math.  I feel like I should have taken a picture of her first day of second grade. EEKS!  Oh well, life will go on. Although this is my middle child and this might be the flub that ruins her life. She has more homework but is adjusting.  We have had one incident since she started leaving her class.  The nosey little boy next to her would not let it go and figured out where she was going everyday.  Alex didn't want her class to know that she was going up a grade.  Well this little guy is like a cat, curious. He apparently went through her desk while she was gone one day and connected the dots. Confronted her on the playground (sounds all made up but this is real). Some nasty words were exchanged something along the lines of, "so you think you are smarter than everyone here." Then started to tell the whole class where she was going.  Since she was not feeling well her re...