check in/update

[Guest guest]

Hello friends,

I hope that tomorrow will bring better news, but so far school is still tough for . Actually, I think it's tough on the school, not on . She seems to really like it, and has made some good friends, but behavior problems continue. Sometimes they are mild (like whacking someone on the head with a paper name tag) and sometimes not (hitting a kid in PE who wouldn't give her the bean bag she wanted).

Last week was the first meeting and tomorrow AM in the second. By this meeting, they were going to re-test her reading (she can read level 2, they want level 6) and have the behavior specialist report. Unfortunately, they scheduled the meeting when the behaviorist can't be there, which seems silly to me, but maybe that means I can meet with her privately instead of in this big group. I should at least have her report, and we can begin to think about classroom accommodations.

I think what bothers me most is that I haven't heard any teacher/therapist say anything kind or nice about her. Most people really take to , and in spite of her difficulties, I wish I had heard a comment about her trying hard, or seeming enthusiastic, or loving music, or making friends, or SOMETHING. The best comment I've had is "she kept her hands to herself today!" I think I'll bring that up in the meeting tomorrow. I know that several of the issues we discussed last week have improved, and if they start the meeting with the new problems, I’m going to insist they address the progress first, comment on the lack of positive things they've managed to find, and go from there. Maybe it will help them frame their comments in a better light. Their lack of (ever) teaching a child with DS is showing, and I’m not loving it.

Maybe I'll have a more positive outlook tomorrow. I hope so.

Casey