TEACHERS don't "get it"!

[rosyred45]

Zotz, don't worry, I admire your will. I give credit to any single parent or parent that has a spouse that works most of the time (my husband works swing shifts, so he doesn't see the kids every other week for squat)

Any how, my hat is off to your boy to ead at such a level. Keep up the good work. Can I ask, what is the biggest peeve that you have? I am rereading it, but is it just having to make adjustments or is it the unflexibility of the specific teacher?

One thing that pops into mind with the reading log, (as I just remembered Mikey had one due ) Is there anyway that he can have a separate one for school and one for home? I have post it notes and note pads all over to jot things in. If I forget where I put one, I'll look for the other. Because If I don't have the other, it's out the window and I won't do a thing or write a thing down.

Welcome to the family. It has been a God send to me, so anything else we can do, just hollar. There are great people here!!

Kaiti

[Zotz]

You know, I think my biggest peeve is that they hold the gifted students to a higher standard. As if they're perfect. That's rarely the case.

But, that peeve is worse in this scenario because of the teacher's inflexibility. My son is spoiled, I think. In second grade, and in third, his teachers let him read whatever he wanted and discuss it with them through a journal with them. So, he was given free-run in that area. Last quarter in 3rd grade, they let him have these 'independent contracts' in math, reading, science, social studies, and spelling. This allowed him to pre-test on whatever they were studying in those subjects, and if he passed that test, then he didnt' need to review with the class. Instead, he could work on projects the teacher picked and was provided a clear 'outline' of what to do. Personally, I think this would be a great way to do almost every student out there! Anyway, he loved doing that, the teachers loved it, everybody was happy. But, it spoiled him when we had to move. This was all in a public school too. Cool huh?

Another big issue I have right now that I can't get anyone to understand. I don't understand why the teacher did this. She asked him 'do you not hear the assignments, or just choose to not do them?' and he todl them he chose not to do them. Which led to the principal saying thats' a sign of passive-aggression, Mom. The Dr asked him about that comment, though, he told the Dr. he hardly ever just refuses to do something. Thing is, and I can say this until I'm blue in the face, but the teacher won't hear it, a child who "refuses" to do something doesn't come home Shocked and in Tears over the resulting bad grade.

Anyway, yes, we just have the one list. He would need to copy from one list into the other, otherwise. Which is a whole other thing to Remember.

I'm just trying to remember it's only 4th grade.

[TexasMom]

Zotz, I could have written the same entry when Steven was in the third grade. All that teacher cared about was whether or not Steven wrote down each days assignments. It turned out Steven has a writting disability and it was like asking a blind child describe what the color blue was like. He could do no right. The best thing you can do is get your son diagnosed and get him an IEP on record to help him out.

[rosyred45]

Thank you Texasmom for saying about the writting problems. Mikey's teacher isn't necessarily bending over backwards for Mikey, but she's just doing what comes natural for him and her. Bump him to the next level because he is ready and to keep him from getting bored and ansy>in trouble.

Zotz, I wish we could make carbon copies of your son's other teachers. Wouldn't it be great to see them progressing at their true levels?

As for the big peeve, I think you might want to have a talk with the principal about the "Passive- Aggressive" attitude. What was the purpose of saying that your child is bucking the system, what, just because he might not have found an assignment appealing. That's not passive aggressive. That's more like: UM, do you have anything a little more interesting for me to do.

I realize that an assignment is an assignment, and we all have to do stuff that we don't want to, but to label like that would tick me off a little too. When your son said that he didn't want to do the assignment, what was the reason? Did they ask? Did they care to revise to his ability? I know this may seem like a lot to take in, so I'll cut this novel short, but don't be a stranger.

There are a lot of knowledgable moms and dads that might have other solutions here.

Have a good day
Kaiti

[lllex]

Hi all,

Just wanted to give you give you an idea for next year. Since my son started having attention difficulties, I've put in requests for specific teachers. So far I've gotten every teacher I've requested. At my son's school you're allowed to sit in on classes, so you can check out next years teachers and see which one's style fit's your child. This year my ds has a wonderful teacher, there's no IEP or 504 in place, but yet she modifies things to accomodate ds's needs. Anyway I asked her advice on which teacher to request for him for next year, and I sent that request to the principal. As you've all experienced, teachers are SOOOOOO different from each other. If you can, try to be pro-active and get a good one. ;D

Laura