Wednesday, 15 September 2010

• New School Year: Bboy’s IEP Meeting

  http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"> name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"> name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 12"> name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 12">

  I went to the school this morning for Bboy’s IEP meeting. I had met, informally, with the individual responsible for heading these meetings earlier in the year (when school had first started, in August). And so, I knew what to expect.

   

  Well, I knew what the plan for placement was going to be and what additional services there were going to be. Such as, he will be in a substantially separate classroom. Although, they don’t refer to it as that. They call it a “resource room.” I don’t care what they call it as long as he can get his academics done there! He will spend the mornings in this room with his paraprofessional.

  After lunch, he goes to either keyboarding or R & P (rhythm and play). Then, he returns to academics in the regular education room. He will get another dose of math along with social studies and science. Social Studies and Science are his two favorite subjects.

  On previous tests, Brandon has scored well in Reading (above grade level; superior level). He has scored low in Writing and Math (below grade level; low scores). That wasn’t any different this year, either.

  But what *was* surprising is the work that he is doing in the resource room. Miss A has been working with him as his special education teacher, along with the help of a paraprofessional. I’m SO ecstatic at his progress!

  She was absent today but provided a letter for the IEP discussion.

  I was floored when reading the letter. But more on that later.

  His reader is grade level 4 (level 9). His first week of school, (August 12^th, 2010), he passed 29/35 of his books for level 8 (third grade). He only needs to pass 25 to move to the next level. So, here it is about a month later (9/15/2010), and he has passed 18/39 books for level 9. He will soon be moving up. Possibly at the end of this week.

  The math book Miss A uses is for grade 4/5. She states that when he gives effort, his scores are high (100, 80, 72, and 75) and yet when he’s determined not to do the math, his score is low (46).

  Mind you, Bboy is officially in the third grade. *THIS* is exactly what I had been saying for the past two years. He needed the right academic setting to succeed. He needed the right amount of support. I’m so glad that his school now recognizes that and it has been evidenced by Miss Anne’s letter. Yes, his scores are low. That is because in the testing environment, he is not given the “support’ he needs. They can’t. So, without proper support, he cannot succeed. But, given proper support, he not only does grade level work, but ABOVE grade level work.

  What is the proper support? More attention from the teacher. Attention that doesn’t coddle him but expects him to achieve. Attention that doesn’t make excuses for him but rather provides encouragement. And more challenging work. He’s been bored. However, regular education teachers cannot go above grade level; regular education teachers cannot provide the one-on-one attention he requires.

  Also attending the meeting was Scott Farmer. I was so glad to get to meet him face-to-face today. We’d corresponded before over the summer. Mr. Farmer is the Federal Programs Director of the school district in which my children attend. He decides (well, with others) where the federal money goes to within the school district. We had corresponded about the need for a math program for the earlier grades (Pre-k-2) because currently the school only offers reading during the summer. I appreciate his attending the meeting and offering his valuable input.

  Even though my son has moved on from those grades, I had corresponded with Mr. Farmer about the needs the children have because I know my son is not the only one who would benefit from a math program at that age. There are many kids who progress just fine with reading but need math help. Those children deserve the help just as much as the children who need and receive help with reading. Mr. Farmer was very concerned about this need as well and perhaps some future decisions will be made to cover that.

  I have to say that while I may not have always agreed with school staff in prior years, at any of the schools, with regards to how they do things in general and in specific with my children, for the most part, they are courteous, respectful, and do care about children. I know any time a parent has to “battle” for services, this attitude sometimes gets lost. The child and his or her needs is no longer the focus but personal attacks are (from either side) against each other and/or the district as an entity. I want to remind parents that you can disagree with the school but follow the protocols in place to rectify that.

  Stay with a positive and respectful attitude. Your child will receive the proper supports in the end and no amount of shouting, rudeness, or personal attacks will get that any faster and in fact may (in some cases in some states in some districts) result in delaying the services as the school staff begins to “fight back” just as a response to the parent’s (sometimes justifiable) outrage. But it would do your child far more to remain calm and professional as possible.

  If you find that you have a need to scream, yell, curse, and otherwise vent, ask for a break. Step outside and yell at the top of your lungs in your car. Or mutter under your breath to yourself, pacing back and forth. Whatever it is you need to do so that you can return to the meeting with a clear head and a calm manner. And remember: it’s always about the child’s needs and not about “winning.”
  

  Now, what had me floored from reading the letter his Miss A sent? She had Bboy walk from her room to the office, retrieve a phone book, and bring it back to her. Alone. Unescorted. And He Did It.  Without getting lost or distracted!

  Bboy has always had a "shadow' at school. It could be a school staff member or fellow student. From the time he steps off his bus until the time he gets on his bus to go home, Bboy has not gone anywhere in the school alone. This is a good policy.
  

  However, the time has come to teach him to be independent. And this was step one. And he did it. All by himself.
  

  Okay, so to some parents it may be a small deal but to parents like me, I know you understand why I'm buying him a chocolate bar to celebrate later :)
  

   

  • 1:19 PM
  • 361 Views
  • 6 eProps
  • 7 Comments