Melissa has been doing flash cards with dennis and this story is second hand.
The other day she went through a stack of flash cards and at the end he asked where the orange was. Apparently he has come to enjoy saying "The orange is orange"... So much so that they asked me to come over so he could show me how well he does on it.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
Water park
The kids went to the water park today. Dennis is Progressing on getting used to the water... He road the big kids slide and came home quite pleased with himself.
He also surprised Melissa when she told him we were having chicken tonight. He always says "I'm chicken" but this time he said "I love chicken". There were a few other good communication items around dinner tonight too.
Dennis did get his favorite teacher at school again this year... She moved up with her 2nd grade class. Amanda and Sam got their assignments too... From what I know, the schoo, really does not have any bad teachers... Everyone was pleased.
Only one week u til school starts and two weeks until the boys go to gma and gpa... Three weeks until melissa, Ashley, and I head to Ukraine. Woohoo!!! Prayers please.
He also surprised Melissa when she told him we were having chicken tonight. He always says "I'm chicken" but this time he said "I love chicken". There were a few other good communication items around dinner tonight too.
Dennis did get his favorite teacher at school again this year... She moved up with her 2nd grade class. Amanda and Sam got their assignments too... From what I know, the schoo, really does not have any bad teachers... Everyone was pleased.
Only one week u til school starts and two weeks until the boys go to gma and gpa... Three weeks until melissa, Ashley, and I head to Ukraine. Woohoo!!! Prayers please.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
IEP meeting
The folks are really helpful at school and Dennis' teacher is on his short list of favorite things in his life. That said they clearly want Dennis in a dedicated special Ed class. I know the real reason... If you take all his needs together, he is a unique case for them. If you ignore his age and look at him as a non-English speaker with developmental delays he is normal. But it is hard for them to separate the age and the delays... Concerns over standardized tests and such. The vice principal almost was straight with us about the reason, but not quite.
For us it is easy, basic math and reading/writing is all we care about this year... He doesn't need to know who the President is or what year the first Olympic games was held.
Anyways, I think we are ok here. They understand and are willing to agree to a plan that includes OT/PT but not a dedicated special Ed class. The special Ed teacher was there trying to sell us on it... It is at a separate school with an hour bus ride each way instead if 5minutes. The big selling points were that we could put him in or take him out at anytime and that it is the only environment where he will be educated with peers. So I asked how many kids have ever left the program... None. What are the ages of these peers... 2 in kindergarten, 2 in first, 1 in 3rd, and 1 in 5th. I wasn't really getting warm fuzzies here.
So the agreement was that he will stay in the normal school/class and we will reevaluate at the end of the first qtr after Melissa has gotten to visit the special Ed class. Honestly I just want ELL with some basic math to demonstrate his ability to learn now that he is in a good environment... That is what he needs this year.
For us it is easy, basic math and reading/writing is all we care about this year... He doesn't need to know who the President is or what year the first Olympic games was held.
Anyways, I think we are ok here. They understand and are willing to agree to a plan that includes OT/PT but not a dedicated special Ed class. The special Ed teacher was there trying to sell us on it... It is at a separate school with an hour bus ride each way instead if 5minutes. The big selling points were that we could put him in or take him out at anytime and that it is the only environment where he will be educated with peers. So I asked how many kids have ever left the program... None. What are the ages of these peers... 2 in kindergarten, 2 in first, 1 in 3rd, and 1 in 5th. I wasn't really getting warm fuzzies here.
So the agreement was that he will stay in the normal school/class and we will reevaluate at the end of the first qtr after Melissa has gotten to visit the special Ed class. Honestly I just want ELL with some basic math to demonstrate his ability to learn now that he is in a good environment... That is what he needs this year.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
I want to go to Ukraine?
So as Dennis' sister Snezhana was going through an emotional last week, Dennis decided he wanted to go back to Ukraine too. Much if this was being encouraged by an emotional big sister who had to go back.
One of the days he was sitting on my lap at the computer and he brought it up again. I asked why and he said "Ukraine good". Seizing the opportunity I asked him what it was he really liked... He named mama, papa, his teachers, school, Gus, Troy, Ashley, a neighbor girl, chicken, and Ukraine borscht. When I reminded him all those things are here in America, including the borscht we make that he loves, he quickly decided he'd only like to go to Ukraine for a short visit. So I chuckled and told him when he gets older.
He's been talking a lot about his sister coming here forever... The other girl we hosted too. He says staying in Ukraine would be bad with a big thumbs down and coming to America is good with a large smile. That's his main topic every night for prayer time. He's a sweet [stubborn] boy and he has it figured out.
One of the days he was sitting on my lap at the computer and he brought it up again. I asked why and he said "Ukraine good". Seizing the opportunity I asked him what it was he really liked... He named mama, papa, his teachers, school, Gus, Troy, Ashley, a neighbor girl, chicken, and Ukraine borscht. When I reminded him all those things are here in America, including the borscht we make that he loves, he quickly decided he'd only like to go to Ukraine for a short visit. So I chuckled and told him when he gets older.
He's been talking a lot about his sister coming here forever... The other girl we hosted too. He says staying in Ukraine would be bad with a big thumbs down and coming to America is good with a large smile. That's his main topic every night for prayer time. He's a sweet [stubborn] boy and he has it figured out.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
IEP
IEP eligibility meeting went fine today. We rejected the first one based on recommendations including the development specialist we saw. Unfortunately the obvious "developmental delay" label is not allowed in Virginia as a determination for kids over 6.
The school administrator still wants to push him into a traditional special Ed class at another school and I have my own theories as to why but won't discuss them here. To a large extent the way the system works in Dennis case really allows us as parents to choose. Basically we can reject the entire IEP thing if we want in which case he still just gets ELL which would be good for this year. We could be making the wrong choice, I don't think so... But that is what being a parent is about.
Dennis really wants to go see grandma macy. At least he's replaced his asking if there is school tomorrow every day with whether he is going to see grandma tomorrow.
Amanda and Sam are fine with school starting in a few weeks. Not really all that excited. Amanda is excited about being able to stay with a friend.
Ashley doesn't want to start school though I think a lot of that is a fear of being new to middle school. She is really excited about traveling with us to Ukraine though. She will be the keeper of the iPad while there... I'm not sure which she is more excited about... The iPad or the trip.
I (dad) am not at all excited about school starting. I've been enjoying being able to have a more relaxed morning schedule. I maybe be working until 10p all the time but in the summer I tend to be able to schedule things so I don't have to set an alarm. And homework... I hate homework... Mine or the kids. I was the guy in college who would figure out what grade I'd get when I don't do any of the homework and cheered when the teachers lost TA funding as homework suddenly was no longer part of your grade at all. I am excited about another trip to Ukraine and what that means for the family when it is complete.
We still only have one chicken laying eggs and they are pretty small. Considering the eggs started coming 3 months earlier than I expected I'm not going to complain.
The school administrator still wants to push him into a traditional special Ed class at another school and I have my own theories as to why but won't discuss them here. To a large extent the way the system works in Dennis case really allows us as parents to choose. Basically we can reject the entire IEP thing if we want in which case he still just gets ELL which would be good for this year. We could be making the wrong choice, I don't think so... But that is what being a parent is about.
Dennis really wants to go see grandma macy. At least he's replaced his asking if there is school tomorrow every day with whether he is going to see grandma tomorrow.
Amanda and Sam are fine with school starting in a few weeks. Not really all that excited. Amanda is excited about being able to stay with a friend.
Ashley doesn't want to start school though I think a lot of that is a fear of being new to middle school. She is really excited about traveling with us to Ukraine though. She will be the keeper of the iPad while there... I'm not sure which she is more excited about... The iPad or the trip.
I (dad) am not at all excited about school starting. I've been enjoying being able to have a more relaxed morning schedule. I maybe be working until 10p all the time but in the summer I tend to be able to schedule things so I don't have to set an alarm. And homework... I hate homework... Mine or the kids. I was the guy in college who would figure out what grade I'd get when I don't do any of the homework and cheered when the teachers lost TA funding as homework suddenly was no longer part of your grade at all. I am excited about another trip to Ukraine and what that means for the family when it is complete.
We still only have one chicken laying eggs and they are pretty small. Considering the eggs started coming 3 months earlier than I expected I'm not going to complain.
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