Meep Meep

Week 8, Meeting 8

So we met with the Math Differentiation Teacher, whom we can call Ms. Math, today to discuss Joey. She had given him the third grade test and the fourth grade test. Funny enough, he flunked the third grade test, and passed the fourth grade test. How's them apples?

First, I'd like to say that my first impression of Ms. Math is that she rocks, and she's just the kind of person Joey responds well to- very huggy, happy, and enthusiastic. Her idea was that Joey needs to have the material presented, but clearly picks things up so fast that he needs a lot of "enrichment"- activities to use the skills and expand upon them. She's going to go check him out in person and for herself next week. She seems very excited. I'd say Joey is about to rock her world in a totally fabulous way.

We'll see what happens.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOEYANDYDAD!

We love you. Hope you have a fantabulous birthday!

Added: Joey's birthday card for his Dad:

Week 8, Meeting 7

This week's meeting: the Functional Behavior Assessment. This is the meeting you have when your child's behavior is challenging and disruptive, so the school decides they better figure it out quick. Let's not get into a discussion of the meaning of "quick." Personally, from the time I agreed to the FBA to the time of meeting, in school terms, I think they did really well.

This was one of the better meetings I've been to. After, how cool is a meeting that is specifically for sitting around brainstorming about what is possibly causing behavior, and how to help him learn to cope with those antecedents? I took my mom with me, which always helps, because she tends to cut right to what we are seeing from home without beating around the bush, and she has no fear of our school psych. Fortunately, the school psych was actually helpful this time. Oh, and the OT? Nowhere to be found. We'll count that as a positive, too.

So we had a room full of Joey's teachers, all of whom are interested in helping him. This last couple of weeks I think has really helped Joey- not only have we gotten his anxiety levels into his normal range, but his teachers have gotten a chance to see what Joey is really like. This has given people a chance to fall in love with him. Or at least in like. Or at the very least, see what he is really capable of if he is supported properly. Any of these three things can make a huge difference, because it gives these teachers a chance to realize they can make a huge difference. That's why most of these people went into teaching in the first place. Hey, I teach, too. I know how much more fun and awesome it is to teach a student who rocks, even when they need support and lots of attention. When you see the potential and the determination is there, you are more ready to go for it. Joey has potential and determination. And he's squishy into the bargain.

So everybody came out with some new ideas, new strategies, and new things to try. I think we can call this one a "win."

Up next: Meeting 8: What To Do About Joey the Math Genius.

How do we spell "awesome"?

T-R-I-C-Y-C-L-E.



It's a Schwinn Meridian. You know you want one.