[clouise]

I entered Beth into the lottery for the gifted school today. I really hope she gets in. She has seriously learned nothing at school this year, so it is time for a change!

All year long her current school has been telling me they were going to pull her out with other top first graders. Today was the first time...yes it took them five months. Her "class" lasted ten minutes and was only a little above the material she gets in her regular classroom. I think that finally made me accept that she is not ever going to get what she needs at that school. I wish she would, but all signs point to no.

We also got her Otis-Lennon school ability test back today, which is what they give as a screening test for their TAG program. She tested in the 86% nationally. So, she is bright, but not like a child prodigy or anything. I really don't see any reason why she couldn't be educated in a regular classroom, but they are just unwilling to meet her where she is.

[Hugo&Sergiosmom]

Good luck!!!
Hoping for the best!!

[shari626]

Good luck! When will you hear?

[Butter]

Good luck!

With scores like that it really does seem odd that she can't be educated in the regular classroom. It makes me wonder where the other kids are. Or maybe I shouldn't wonder. My mom's friend is a teacher. She now lives and teaches in Hartford County. They used to live in PG years ago when their oldest (who is a couple years younger than I am) was in elementary school. She taught first grade. One year she struggled and struggled to teach her kids to read. But she did it. She's an amazing teacher and really loves the kids and cares about her job. Well, after the school year was over she was informed that the kids in her class were the very bottom of the kids tested in kindergarten! They didn't think some of them even *could* be taught to read! She was both proud and mad at the same time. No one told her what she was dealing with. There were things she could have done to help them rather than getting frustrated by them not learning as fast as previous years' kids. That year actually solidified her plan to move. Her husband was making a long commute up to Hartford County for work anyway. She didn't want her kids to go to middle or high school in PG County (if you think the elementary schools are bad...). So they moved the next year. Anyway, a good, caring, not worn out or jaded teacher no doubt would be challenging Beth. Unfortunately, those types are not totally common. I've always wondered what happened to those little first graders my mom's friend taught. Reading skills can be lost if they fall through the cracks of later classrooms or don't get a teacher who is motivated and really cares. That's sad. It's really hardest to be at the top and at the bottom.

[clouise]

We won't hear back until April.

After talking to other parents and some staff members it seems like the main issue may have been her teacher. She is just not willing to differentiate for the kids. Little Matt's teacher on the other hand is just fantastic. If we had only had him in the school I would be pretty happy.

I know there is at least one other child in B's class who reads as well as her, so those two could at least be working together. The thing about Beth is that she is reading so well. She can read anything you put in front of her...as well as me really. However, her writing is just average, her math skills are just average, and so on. There is so much she needs to learn still, and some of it is still at the first grade level. I feel like 90% of their day is reading though, and since she doesn't need any phonics instruction she is just left without much to do.

Anyway, we're working on plans for next year...I will do a better job for her then.

Originally Posted by Butter

Good luck!

With scores like that it really does seem odd that she can't be educated in the regular classroom. It makes me wonder where the other kids are.

The only thing I can think of is the 86% is a national average. That seems about right...in Mississippi she was in the top reading group, but she very much fit in with the other kids. Here in PG County though she is more like in the top 1%...at least at her current school. It's sad to see the things the schools can no longer afford. You would think the neediest kids in the state would get the most resources, not the least. Even if we no longer use the county schools I will still feel that way...not everyone has the options my family does.

[BensMom]

I thought I replied to this???

I can't remember what I thought I said, but anyway, I hope everything works out for the best.

[nvr.4.gtn]

Teachers job is to teach at the child's level. I mean that is why these young grades are hard to teach. Kids are at all different levels!!!
And your B is very much like Nichole. She is reading at a first grade almost second grade level now (she is in kindergarten) but her math/science/ social ect are all average indergarten kid! I can't wait to get her results back from her tests to know if I should "stick around" here or disappear lol