been awhile.....again :)

ok, i admit it....i get busy, very busy, too busy sometimes to even get on the computer.  in the last month we have dealt with the kiddo being sick, basketball ending, signing up for softball, a personal project, winter never happening, spring arriving early, yard work, tearing out the old garden beds, tearing out the tub surround (start tile tomorrow)....life is good!

Kaliko is doing well in school.  she's so worried about the MAP testing coming up....we've explained to her that they really have nothing to do with her.  they practice them so the kids score better to make the school look good.  i asked her what they'd be doing if they weren't practicing for the tests....she thought about it and decided that they'd be reading more or doing more science (her new favorite subject).  we told her that was exactly our point!  the testing is pointless for her but grades the school.  yet another reason to consider homeschooling.....bother!

right now, we are working on more stuff to get ready for the kids to move back here.after the bathroom re-do and the garden is rebuilt, will come the emptying of the garage and basement....maybe more painting there.  i like the busy work like this, working with my hubs....we're a good team, when we're not butting heads over ideas ;)

today, i need to run to the craft store (doing another exchange, kinda)....finish that and then start digging and moving dirt.  I love SPRING!! after winter's cold, being out in the yard, playing in the dirt, smelling the freshness, i feel like i can do anything!  maybe, perhaps, conquer what has been holding me back for so long and heal from a blow that has left me in a hole......i'm tired of living like this.....

Frustration and Confusion

So, here I am again....frustrated after talking to the second in command (as she called herself) for our school district.....I was interested in finding out if we could use assistive technology for K at school, even tho it's not covered by her existing IEP.  #1 point she wanted to make clear is that we don't use label to define our students.  Even tho her own child is dyslexic, they don't describe his LD using a label.  Really???  

There is no cure for this!  It is something that has  to be lived with and dealt with daily for the rest of their lives.  Use the word, teach them how to adapt to a system that that thinks all students should fit into a box!  According to her all LDs are specific so how can we teach all students if they have to learn differently?  She only contradicted herself a few times.....

So, what it boils down to is that our district doesn't recognize dyslexia as a 'specific learning disability'. My opinion is that by not having to label specific disabilities, they don't have to train anyone to actually teach them in a real way that benefits the student......No. I'm not happy. I mentioned that TX has specifically trained teachers for dyslexia on every campus.  She said that violates fedeal law and someday it will come back on them.  How is helping LD students have the same educational advantages as non-LD students breaking the law??  To me that's what IDEA is supposed to be about!  No, i'm not a student of the law and legalese is a foreign language to me, but come on!!!

I like the definition of dyslexia that says it's not a learning disability, it's a teaching liability.  It is more fitting of what our education system is about.  They will label 'gifted' students and have specific programs for them. Why not have them for those others who are outside of that box and are struggling with the way our teachers are taught to teach?  The system is broken and I truely believe that someday we will be pulling Kaliko out of, what is turning out to be, an almost a toxic enviroment.  

Our district is in the middle of, at least, one federal lawsuit for violating the IDEA law.  Will it take more for them to realize that they are not meeting the needs of every student as they claim in their mission statement?  How long are we willing to put K thru it?

What Kaliko Wants To Learn

Here it is Jan 10 and I'm still reading"The Dyslexic Advantage" by Brock and Fernette Eide, and amazing book.  I don't make time to read, like I should, so this is taking awhile.  Part of what i read during K's basketball practice last night, was that dyslexics learn better when they are interested in something.  That is something public schools don't care about, they care about the basics.....so I asked K what she would like to learn about if she could pick any subject in the world to learn about. Her answer was not what I expected.  She said, "I want to know why the kids in my class laugh at me when I mess up a word reading." Wow!  That hit me like a rock!  I told her it's because they don't understand about her dyslexia.  She asked, "How can I make them understand?" So I asked her if she wanted to learn more about dyslexia and she said YES!  Alrighty then.  Now to make this happen for her.

First thing this morning I got on Amazon, my favorite place to buy books, and found books for children to understand dyslexia, 3 of them and another one for me. I'm very proud of her for wanting to understand about how her brain works but also find it heartbreaking.  She tries so very hard to do as well as her classmates and just can't keep up with them.  We do all we can to point out her strengths and victories, but i wonder if we do enough.  Pushing the testing thru was huge for her. Getting her IEP is a giant step in the right direction, even though it doesn't cover reading......if the school district would acknowledge dyslexia it would be extremely helpful.  If they had special clubs for kids with this gift so she wouldn't feel so alone.....they have clubs for the 'gifted' students and they get special field trips, etc.  Why not children like K that need special help too?  The usual "LD" kids get extra help and programs and kids like my Kaliko get left behind.  Is this something I can do?  I know there are other kids there that are dyslexic and they probably feel the same way......time to do more research.

I know there are a few private programs that cost more than most families in the area can afford, I know it's more than we can afford.  Private tutors that are trained in the Orrlingham technique or the Davis technique, but what about us with fewer resources??? Hmmmmmmm.......

K gets to be "Star of the Week" at the end of the month.  We've already started working on her board.  The first thing she asked to put on the board was a picture I showed her, a MRI showing the difference in activity in a dyslexic brain vs. a non-dyslexic brain.  She also wants a picture of Albert Einstein-lol!  I wish she didn't feel so defined by this, but her accepting it and wanting to be educated about it is something to be proud of.  Once she learns more she'll gain more confidence and that, in itself, is a huge victory!  I am so proud of my girl!!!

my time management skills suck....

i never get on here...i just post pix from my phone.  i've started making Christmas gifts.  a few anyway.  most of the people we gift don't really appreciate a handmade gift.  but i'm doing some for those that prefer them.  i'm making ornaments right now.  i still hafta finish monkey's blanket.....arrrghhh....

we have an appointment at school tuesday morning to get the results of kaliko's testing.  it will be attended by the LD coordinator, the LD teacher, her class teacher, guidance counselor and the principle.  geez!!  i'm thinking we are finally going to get what we've been wanting for her-extra help and time.  if not, homeschooling here we come.....i need to get more organized anyway.

i'm trying to work more on me also.....someday i'll talk about the past and the hurt but for now, i focus on the future.  making it brighter for myself and my family.....even the people i love don't know the truth, save one......

the kid leaves for NE tuesday with her nana nae, giving us a VERY quiet holiday.  kind of a nice change.  maybe i'll get some things done, like the living room re-arranged-lol!!  been wnating to do that for months but with hubs' giant tv, i have to have muscle power to do it, a lot of it : )

i'll be back when i know the results and the direction we will be going......