in Ma :o) Re: Thoughts on A Day as a Senior at High School

[Guest guest]

Dear -

Well, was definitely pleased ) And as for partying, we discovered at a

Bar Mitzvah when was five that he LOVES to dance - dance until he needs

analgesics! lol!

I agree wholeheartedly with your observations about a less structured setting

with too much off-topic non-literal banter being more challenging - what I long

for now is that he had that challenge when the consequences were less noticeable

and disheartening. Most third graders aren't quite understanding each other -

but that's how they learn. And they are given repeated opportunity each year.

was always placed into mainstream classes that best suited his learning

style (and also being translated by a single interpreter) - which automatically

contraindicated any free-form chaos and creativity. For to enter the

fray, which he is, and so longs to be at ease in with High School Seniors as

peers puts him at a distinct disadvantage. The choice of mainstream classes has

also put odd limits on his practice of higher thinking, which prevented him from

participating in AP English or AP Social Studies at the high school level. It

is not that he isn't capable - but he is unpracticed in how to structure his

thoughts into that higher level thinking, which has been systematically nurtured

in our other two sons throughout their primary schooling - and it was too much

to catch up all in one year for these classes.

We are by nature a highly verbal, random, humour filled, sportingly sarcastic

family - so gets alot of it this way - yet I do still wish in a do-over

world I had the foresight to exchange a little comfort in the early years of

school for an opportunity to learn in baby-steps what longs for so much

all at once now.

with love and appreciation-

yuka

Re: Thoughts on A Day as a Senior at High School

Dear Yuka,

I hope is gratified to know he is noticed and respected for his

talents. He should be. And knowing this may allow him to spread his focus more

onto his peers. I've seen Di (sometimes grudginly, sometimes wistfully,) come

to

an acceptance that this is 'how it is' for her. And yet, when given the

opportunity, I've heard (and overheard) she can party with the best of them.

(well, she is her mother's daughter-some of that stuff had to cross over) Yet,

her need to achieve is paramount in school, and with homework; and like ,

I believe, it takes and she gives all her focus to that.

My point is that I don't know that your other boys' school experiences would

have worked well for . would not have fared well in those other

situations. Too much banter, thinking quickly and off the top of the head,

too much non-literal conversation to process, not enough structure. Our kids

seem by nature to be goal-oriented in school. So maybe when push comes to

shove, that's what they're most comfortable with, because that's where they

can

perform the best.

>> had a very academic focusing DHH teacher for 3-5th grade, and his

mainstream teacher in 6th was much the same. Now I can see that my other sons

had teachers that fostered group work/time - exchange of a variety of ideas

(which 's teachers would have seen as unproductive) and how that would

have

helped. <<< (- I learned to insert these little dweebies from you ;-)

<<<<<< those thingies. ;-)>>>>

Love,

in Ma. ( 21 yrs)