Help wanted!

Alright...I need help.

Poor Samantha is getting so bored at school lately that she doesn't even want to go to school. When I try to get her to do her homework, she just rolls her eyes and sighs as me as if to say, "Why? I've already done this and know how to do it. You're beating a dead horse here.".

Last night on the way to dance class she came right out and said, "Mom...when I go to school, it's boring. I already know what the teacher is teaching. She only calls on the first person to raise their hand and I always have my hand up first so she calls on me, and I'm BORED!". How does a mother answer this without getting mad at the teacher? How does a mother, who also happens to be a teacher, answer this without getting REALLY mad at the teacher?

I started to talk to her (I've actually been worried this is what was happening for about 2 or so weeks - maybe longer). When I ask her to tell me what she learned in school that day, she can't tell me anything. For example, today I told her "Tell me one thing you learned in school today." I'm thinking she'll give me something profound, right? Nope. She comes out with, "I went to pe and learned to dribble a ball." Wow. Earth shattering!

So, at school today I spoke with one of the first grade teachers and asked her if she had some formal assessments I could copy to give to Sam. She's going to get me a copy of the last block test we just took. Tonight I gave her the primary spelling inventory (QSI from Words Their Way). She scored about 52/84 (that's higher than some of my third graders scored at the beginning of last year people!). After speaking with our instructional coach, I'm going to have Trav check her out of school early next Wednesday and bring her down to take the STAR and 4-Sight tests (reading tests) to see how she scores there. I'm going to update her DIBELS test (last one was first of Sept. and she scored 72 cwpm). I've emailed her teacher and asked if Trav and I can come and meet with her next Friday. I'm hoping she'll agree. I'm going to take all my data (teacher dna coming out). I will ask her to explain their reading program to me (it sounds like it's a basal but not being taught in a very interactive way). I'll then present the concern I have and my data. If she can't figure out a way to differentiate, I will move her to my school. The teachers at my school all worked on differentiation last year so they're pretty good at it. I just don't want her to hate school & right now, she really doesn't like it much!

My sister about died last night when I told her that I'm very seriously considering pulling my daughter out of a Cache County school & putting her in an inner city Ogden school. But, Ogden City has really high standards and expectations, so they have some really amazing teachers. At least I'd know her teacher & could have easier access to how she was doing, right?

What suggestions do you have? The instructional coach at my school told me, "You need to go in there as a parent, not a teacher." But, I think that if I go in as a parent I have a lot more emotional ties to it and the likelyhood of me getting upset is much higher. If I go in with a teacher mindset, I can pull the emotion out of it a bit more and just look at the data and lessen the liklyhood of me wanting to smack her teacher!

Help!

Update

Well, he's been sick for a week & so far no stays in the hospital - so, that's good news, right?
Here's a review/update for you!

Last Wednesday night...went to Urgent Care at Specialty Hospital & told he had croup. By some miracle the doctore actually gave him Dexamethazone!

Thursday I stayed home with Caleb...guilty mother syndrome kicked in.

Friday...Caleb went to daycare & did so-so.

Saturday (Halloween)...he still didn't feel too hot. Since the weather was nice I took him & the other 2 into Logan to trick or treat in downtown. Caleb just sat in his stroller & played the part of Yoda quite well (pix later!). I left Caleb with my mom Saturday night and took the other two monsters trick or treating in Nibley with the Snyders. We had lots of fun & got a good share of candy.

Sunday...Duleb still didn't feel too hot so I left Nash & Sam with my mom & went back to Urgent Care at the Specialty Hospital. Randomly enough we saw the same dr. that we had seen Wednesday night. Now we get told it sounds more like Bronchitis than croup. We finally got antibiotics.

Monday...I only went to work for 1/2 a day & my mom kept Caleb that morning until I got back. He seemed to be feeling better but still didn't act like himself. When I changed his diaper he had these weird spots on his inner thighs. Yes, I was now freaked out because my mind thought "allergic reaction to Zythromax." All three kids are allergic to Penicillan & the boys are allergic to Omnicef too. So, here I am thinking he's having an allergic reaction to Zythromax & if that's the case we're in BIG trouble when the kid gets sick! I put my mom on daycare standby with all the dr. names, numbers & a list of drugs he's been taking.

Today...I sent Caleb to daycare for the whole day. He did ok. Laura never could see the weird spots I was talking about on his inner thighs. When I changed his diaper tonight I could see them still, but only just faintly. I'm thinking it's just some weird coincidence...ok, HOPING it's just a weird coincidence!

So, we are surviving. Some days I think "Just barely!" & other days go well. Tomorrow we endure dance class & a short day at school for me! When I flipped the calendar the other day I realized there's only about 3 weeks until Thanksgiving....HOLY COW! I'm sure you'll never guess what my first thought was at that realization -- yep, YAY long weekend! ;)

We are anxiously awaiting this weekend when we get to make a trip south to Manti. Sam is so excited she can barely contain herself! And who can blame her? We get to visit Grandma & Grandpa Butter!

Caleb

I am the not so happy mother of a: fever running, non-stop croup coughing, throwing up, ear draining, take me to the urgent care at 10 pm & stay until after 11 before we go home, rash on the bum 1 year old!
Good times...

Toothless Ninnie

Well, my daugher is getting to be more of a toothless wonder every day! She pulled (much to my amazement) another one of her own teeth last night. Of course there was the usual drama surrounding and leading up to the actual tooth pulling, but she stayed the course & got it out herself! She's now missing 2 teeth on top & 1 on the bottom!
She wrote a very cute letter to the Tooth Fairy to leave with her tooth as well. The Tooth Fairy was kind enough to take time out of her busy schedule & reply to her cute letter. Sam asked her what her real name was and the Tooth Fairy told her that she's been called The Tooth Fairy for so long she can't remember her own name! Sam thinks that's pretty dang funny!
Unfortunately, she's home with a cough and a fever today. I seriously hope it doesn't turn into something major...

What you been doin?

Make a Smilebox slideshow