Special Education Hoops

Monday afternoon I received a phone call from the principal at "A's" school. It's been a year and a half since the principal called- and that phone call was in regards to extreme behavior. Dr. Principal (yes, she has her doctorate) tells me right away that I'm on speaker phone and A's teacher is also in the room. Double whammy.

The principal tells me about the standardized testing they are doing this week and that the children in A's fourth grade class take their tests in the morning and he does his in the afternoon, in a separate room. (This set-up is part of his I.E.P. to allow him the best environment for testing, which usually translates to less distractions and more time.) She also says that the aide that usually works with him is assigned to a different child this week. THEN she tells me A will be sent to a “holding room” during the mornings and asks if I would be willing to just keep him home during the mornings and only send him in the afternoons this week.

I say “I suppose I could arrange to bring him later. Before lunchtime or after?”

She seems to be stumbling around her words, hearing the uncertainty in my voice, because she then tells me the room is a first grade classroom with a competent teacher... and two adults will be in the room with him. “How do you think he'd do?” in the other classroom she wants to know. I said if he was allowed to do activities he enjoys he should be fine. And then she remembers that he rides the bus and me having to bring him to school might be a hardship.

I have the idea and agree to keep him home in the mornings IF he becomes a distraction to the first grade classroom.

I sent him to school Tuesday morning with a new box of crayons and notebook, knowing he can happily draw for hours to keep himself occupied. There was no phone call or note so I assume he did fine. So, I sent another new notebook with him today.

But the longer I think about it, the term “holding room” conjures images of animals locked away. As if my child is livestock to be moved around when convenient, or inconvenient as it may turn out to be. That Ammon's structure/routine is not important to them since they are willing to toss him into an unfamiliar room, with no adults (or children for that matter) who understand his quirks.

Hear mommy growl under her passive facade.

It appears he won't be getting any schooling this week, just babysitting and standardized testing. Maybe I should just keep him home and do workbooks with him here.

25 Random Things

25 Random Things


I have a phone phobia. If you've ever gotten a call from me, consider yourself lucky.

I had both nails on my big toes removed when I was 18 due to nail-bed damage.

I want to get the rest of my toenails removed. I use to work at a retirement village and thought it was sad the seniors had to wait all month for a podiatrist to come by to clip their toe nails because they could reach them to do it themselves. I don't want to have to worry about my toenails as I age.

I like the transitional seasons-Spring and Fall- better than the extremes of Summer and Winter.

“Care Bear” is my most widely used nickname. It's been used at home, school, and work through out the years.

Before I was married I wanted 5-6 kids. After having one I changed my mind to 2-3 so I think I'm maxed out.

I think it's easier to answer quiz questions than come up with 25 random things...

I've never used a tanning bed, and I don't plan on doing so.

I had a “Tiny Toons” lunch box during high school.

I have no middle name.

The only graduation ceremony I participated in was for Middle School.

I've got no class. High school graduation class, that is. But I usually put class of '94 because that's what I would have been...

I have an Associate Degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences, earned December 1995.

Keep thinking about dying my hair but I'm too chicken.

I've worn a fake “suicide chain” (chain connecting a nose ring to an earring) on several occasions- though I don't think there is photographic evidence. And yes, it was in public. Teenagers!

Never had my ears, or anything, else pierced. And don't plan to.

Fearful of needles.

I'm a weak swimmer.

Scared of most fires/flames.

Small candles are okay in moderation.

I think I'm running out of steam...

I use a Franklin Covey day planner to keep myself on task.

I'm a habitual list maker.

There are currently 5 aquariums/tanks housing fish/reptiles/etc in my house right now.

I wish there were only two aquariums...

Ice

This morning frost covered the grass and the bird baths were iced over- up to 1/8 of an inch around the rim. All the other cold nights this month only produced some frost on the rooftops. There was even a glittering layer of ice crystals on the canvas of the folding chair on the front porch.
I enjoy the winter while I can... it goes so quickly here, if it decides to visit.

"Wouldn't it Be Nice"

I put the title in quotes because I'm mentally signing that song. Mentally, so as not to create noise pollution.

Wouldn't it be nice to get a whole new wardrobe every month? To pass on the discarded clothes to others and refill the drawers and hanging spaces in your room with a complete new assortment of adorable, and sometimes even trendy, outfits.

Such is the life of Princess S. She turns four months this week and each month I have to bump her wardrobe up to the next size. At birth she wore (filled out in most cases) 0-3 and 3 month clothing. At one month she was wearing 3-6 months. At two months it was 6 months. At three months she wore 6-9 months. Now, she's on to 9 and even some 12 months (depending on the cut- she has a long torso).

Both new and used clothes keep coming our way; thanks to generous family members and friends and even my son's bus driver (not to mention my impulse buying of things so sweet and cheap I couldn't pass up over the years) we more or less have her first year of clothes taken care of. I always thought I'd use gender neutral clothes with a girl, like I did with my boys, but it's just too much fun playing dress-up. I'm loving purple tones more than ever. So whenever I do need to buy something to fill-in the gaps I gravitate toward purple and lavender and wisteria...

.....

On a side note, the goldfinches are arriving! My favorite time of the year to bird watch in the yard. The goldfinches usually stop here mid-late January through March. Long enough for them to start looking gorgeous in their summer plumage before they head back north. But it's a good thing they don't stay around all year- I couldn't afford to feed them. Thistle seed is pricey. “Gold” seed for the goldfinches. And when you get 60-100 goldies eating from your feeders for a month (it takes a few weeks for the numbers to max out and some start leave earlier) the seed bill adds up quickly!
But it's worth the (short term) expense to watch them change and have them here for the Great Backyard Bird Count. I can always count on them for some impressive numbers (to my standards) on my daily counts. http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/

Week After Christmas

Writing Exercise, edited for privacy:


The Week after Christmas
Adapted from the classic poem written by Clement Moore


'Twas the week after Christmas and all through the room
the natives were restless, awaiting the moon.

Stockings, once hung on the fish tank with care,
caused the oscar to wonder why they're still there.
Toys and messes were strewn across the floor,
trains, markers, and papers galore.

A and N were hustled to bed,
while visions of presents danced in their heads.
On the sofa was J, sprawled out like a pet,
flipping through channels and surfing the net.


With a sigh of relief I settled into my seat
got comfy and cozy and propped up my feet.
And S in her jammies, looking so sweet,
had just settled in for a long bite to eat.

The hustle and bustle was starting to slow
and the birth of a new year will soon be a glow.
From our family to yours we wish a good night
and the light of the gospel to light up your life.