[tri-med] parent teacher conf

I know I just did a household update on the family list (not here on med)
but this is just in......................

We had parent teacher conferences for Alex last night (Molly's are next
month). At the high school the teachers ring the gym walls sitting behind
alphabetically ordered tables. The parents then stand in lines for the
teachers they need to see. It took us just a hair under 2 hrs to visit with
7 individuals.  :0)

On the negative side of the night:
Yes, the Intro to Algebra is an issue. At the moment it's looking like Alex
will repeat the class next year. Due to his IEP (we do have this written in)
Alex may re-take classes FOR CREDIT. This means he'll get math credit AGAIN
for the class. If we didn't have this "clause" then he wouldn't get credit
and that affects graduation requirements. That's a positive in this negative
portion of the program.
The teacher has the students work in groups (a theme we heard last night,
must be common practice these days) and the group Alex WAS with most often
(based on his seating) was a crutch for him. He wasn't participating nearly
as well as he should have. So he's been moved and his teacher said it's been
a good thing.  :0)  He's doing more work himself which is what he
desperately needs to do for understanding in this class.

Alex takes most of his tests to his TC (teacher consultant) for her to read
to him or takes the test in class but when he doesn't finish it (very slow
processing/working) he takes it to her to finish so that the class can move
on without him. I was looking at his work for Health last night and was
amazed at his tests..........esp given I've not worked with him on studying
for them. So I was casually asking him questions (his naiveté works for me
in this area because he doesn't suspect why I'm asking the questions I am).
Come to find out, the TC is HELPING HIM GET THE CORRECT ANSWERS part of the
time....not just reading them. Apparently she'll "talk" to Alex about
answers and help him "rethink" them. I'm kinda ticked off. Guess this is
part of making sure that his IEP goals of "passing all classes" comes
true?????????

Two teachers (choir and health) admitted they don't know Alex's
accommodations due to his IEP. sigh. The health teacher also called it
"Alex's IEP thingy". I looked at Jim and he looked at me on that one. Both
said that Alex lets them know what he needs. Well, that's nice BUT there are
things in there that Alex doesn't know about/how to ask for. I was imagining
myself hitting my head against the concrete block gym wall.

For Lit and Comp I they're working on Romeo and Juliet. This is where the
Reading I support class for Lit and Comp has been a HUGE blessing. Tests on
it for Alex has been upper B's in LC because of all the work they're doing
on it in Reading. The LC teacher said all her students with the Reading
class are doing better in LC than the mid-range/average students. The
pre-take the LC tests but like the teacher said, she doesn't care because
they're learning the important info.
Downside of this LC class, working in groups again, Alex's group was accused
of cheating (3 boys) by getting answers from other groups. The LC teacher
said she's positive Alex didn't participate in that and that she knows who
the student in the group was who did. She also said that if not for Alex
being part of the group that she'd have taken their papers and given them
all O%.

Grades at this point:
Intro to Alg remains an issue at a D-
LitComp is a C
rest are in the B+ to the B- range.

The gooood news:

Without fail, EVERY teacher said that Alex comes to class prepared to work,
works diligently, asks questions/for help, is quiet and courteous, kind to
his peers, socially interacts and is an all-round great/nice kid.

After the kids were in bed Jim and I were talking about conferences. And I
felt at peace last night about school in a way I haven't for months. Even if
school doesn't go well academically for Alex I know that he'll find a job.
And given the kind of person Alex is, they'll like/appreciate him and hopefu
lly support him in being a good employee. If it's a job that has set
routines and doesn't need much in the way of "thinking outside the box"
he'll do fine. Because he's a good and consciences person.

Some of you are probably laughing because this is what you've been telling
me.....he'll find his niche.......but my heart was having trouble with it.
:0)  At this moment in time (and it will prob change! lol) I'm not panicked
about post school life.  It's actually a relief!!!!!!!!!!

Michelle mom to Alex (15,partial trisomy 14 mosaic) and Molly (12)
MichiganUSA


                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

Other related posts: