Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Spoiler warning, if you don't want to hear me rant - turn away now! This is a "the system sucks!" moment, but your more than welcome to tell me to get over it and deal.
Amberli missed the cut off for kindergarten bu about 8 weeks. So she didn't get to got to kindergarten last year with the rest of the kids her age (so dumb) Utah has a no early registration law, which I understand otherwise the system would be turned into "Wow! Free Babysitting" more than it already is, but they don't make exceptions. Amberli (who will be 6 in 6 weeks) taught herself to read at 3 yrs old (And as a mother I would love to stand up and take some kind of credit for this wonderful achievement - but I can't she did it all by herself, the most I can do is tell everyone she got half her genes from me) Anyway, I started giving her worksheets of math and stuff to do so that her brain wouldn't starve while she waits for the state approved age to begin formalized learning. "Easy Breezy Lemon Squeezy" she is like a sponge anything put in front of her she gets. Matt and I met with the principle (great guy) anyway he had the sad responsibility to tell us that the school district in which we live does not accelerate students. She is on a mid 1st grade reading level in reading, and a beginning/mid 1st grade level in math (she does subtraction in her head - I have seen students in the third grade class that I volunteer in, not be able to do that). I told him to get used to me asking, cause I would keep asking until they move her.
The school sent home a book on Monday. I told her to sit down and read it. She did - way to easy for her. I sat down to write a note to tell them to bump her up a few levels (I have to do it with all my kids at the start of each year) Thats when I saw the note that said - don't worry these books are not for your kids to read to you - but for you to read to your kids so they can get a feel for reading and start to be familiar with the process.
We had told Amberli's teacher that she was trying to read Harry Potter - she did not believe us. Can you bang your head against a wall and spin your wheels at the same time. This is the sensation I'm getting. She can hack 1st grade - she is only a few weeks younger that some of the other kids who are already there, and she can do the work - she is already, I gave her a workbook over the summer like the other kids have - she did it.
I think the principle thinks that I'm pushing her so that I can have a special child. I don't think I'm pushing - I provide any opportunity I can for her to sponge up learning, (I'm teaching her to sign), but wouldn't denying her brain the chance to learn when she's ready and willing be the wrong thing to do.
Yup I need a support group - guess I'll go find one.
Probably not the last rant on here though.
2 comments:
Advocate for you Kid!!!! Don't just get over it. There are tons of programs for special ed, and they make exceptions for them all the time they should have to make a few for the smart ones.
For what it's worth, I think you could Home School. No one loves your child more than you, and you are obviously better for her than anyone in the school district :) Just a thought! Love ya!
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