I know what you’re thinking.. this post is going to be about Obama. (well not today , one of those will be coming soon)
At the beginning of the year, I said that 2009 was going to be a year of Change for our family with the deployment, etc. I just never realized how much change would happen.
On Wednesday, we had a transition meeting for Kiersten heading off to Middle School next year. I was a little apprehensive about the meeting, partly because I had to accept that she was old enough to go to middle school.
She’s not a baby anymore , thats for sure. Kiersten was very excited about this meeting and the electives she wanted to take next year.
SGT Daddy was able to get some time off from work and off we went to the meeting. This was different from the previous IEP meetings as Kiersten was there. The transition team shared with us what special needs classes she needed in order to be successful and meet the needs of Kiersten’s IEP. She would need extra Math and Reading classes.
Then, they hit us with a BOMB!
They told us that because of Kiersten’s extra classes , she would have NO electives at all. I was a little confused because it didn’t make sense to me at all. The team confirmed that she would have no electives, not even PE/Gym. The Middle School Case Manager assured me that other special needs kids did just fine and had no problems with a full academic day. I didn’t buy that load of BS she was trying to sell.
I don’t know.. I just felt like they were punishing Kiersten for having special needs. I mean after all it is not her fault that she needs the extra classes. I believe that kids (especially Kiersten) need some FUN in their day. The schedule that they were proposing had ZERO fun, except maybe her recess time. SHe is such a creative child and loves to perform. I would hate for her to lose that!
I spoke with her regular ed. teacher Wednesday afternoon and she agreed with me. Kiersten needed to have some electives (fun) in her daily schedule to give her some time for “release”. She didn’t think that the schedule was fair to Kiersten or any kid.
I spoke with the current school Asst Principal as well as Kiersten’s special ed. teacher today about our concerns about her middle school schedule. Both understood the concern but also wanted to make sure that Kiersten had what she needed academically.
Basically they told me that the only way she could participate in any electives was to drop one/both of her extra classes. Ultimately, any decision will be left up to SGT Daddy and I. I know this is far from over , so stay tuned for updates.
On a more positive note, I have BIG news! I’m going to be writing a book!
Can you believe it? I’m pretty excited about the whole thing yet a bit overwhelmed at the same time. The book is going to share my story/experiences as an Army Wife and how its not everything you see on TV! I’ll be sharing more about the book as the I go through the writing process….
So like I said, there are lots of changes happening around here. I wonder what else is in store for this year?
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
well, jeez, you don’t think that’s enough??? congrats for the book, of course.. and congrats for letting that case manager survive to mess up someone else’s day. I know that was hard!
LAW
LAWs last blog post..MSRRA – time to get loud, Y’all!
Can’t wait to hear more about the book!
I’m glad you both were able to go to the meeting & that you questioned the IEP they were trying to put together for your daughter. I can’t imagine that anyone would want to be grinding away all day in academic courses. Did they offer any ideas on what they might do or have you do to keep her on track with the academic part? I find it hard to believe that some parents just signed on for all that without thinking “Geez. I wonder if my son/daughter might like to go to music?” That’s too much seat time.
Good luck fighting that battle!
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Law – Thanks so much! I was thinking of causing her physical pain but decided that wouldn’t be a good idea! It will be interesting to see how things turn out !
Guard Wife – Once the “deal” is finalized with the Publisher I’ll share more information about it. I’m pretty excited about the whole thing!
The IEP team recommended that if Kiersten didn’t take the extra math class that they would give her extra assignments she could complete at home and maybe a tutor after school. I don’t have a problem doing that at all. It’s about her and what she needs after all. Hopefully we can come to a happy compromise on this before SGT Daddy has to leave for Afghanistan.
Fight the good fight for your child. My prayer is that a good solution will be reached. Extra prayers for this. JG
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