Jack, defensive lowlight = Jamie, offensive highlight. Jamie cracked a hit over the head of the center fielder (playing mid-depth), which would be Jack. Way to go, Jamie!
Jamie pitched an entire inning and didn't have the 5-run "mercy" rule apply! It's a miracle. 2 strike-outs and at least 2 walks. Not so speedy at covering home plate with runners stealing on passed balls/wild-ish pitches. He had a smile on his face the whole time, which (in spite of the agony of the Mom in the bleachers) is what counts.
Jack, defensive highlight = Jamie, base-running lowlight. Jack tagged Jamie trying to get to third in a beautiful play.
Jack's hitting bonanza, including one hit off that lanky #6. Jack had a solid hitting performance, responsible for at least 2 (maybe 3) RBI.
Nonetheless: Cubs win, Cubs win! (Jamie's team).
Jack's IEP- Mostly a thing of beauty...
Attending was a reduced-size IEP team, including:
Surprisingly Less Defensive Case Manager
Surprisingly Cheerful Site-Based Diagnostic Resource Teacher
Pleasant, Cookie-eating Vice Principal
The Beloved Seminar English Teacher (40-minutes)
Dependably Decent Program Diagnostic Resource Teacher
On-Task Occupational Therapist
Delightful Speech Therapist
Retired Navy Officer, Now Special Ed Ombudsperson
Amazingly Tractable Mom
English teacher concurred with PhD's reading/writing assessment. He spoke in eloquent, lofty terms of Jack's thinking and efforts. Major breakthrough was his verbalization that Jack saying "I don't like this author/book/genre." had been previously assumed to mean that Jack was unmotivated or bored or uninterested or critical or otherwise obstinate. He now thinks that Jack was trying to convey "This is difficult for me. It's not a just-right book." Insomuch as the PhD found Jack's independent (silent) reading to be grade 3.5 even while he was being expected to read 6th grade (and in many cases, much more advanced materials), it was a bit of an epiphany for those who work with him.
Math teacher came through with recommendation that math be considered an area of need in terms of metacognitive skills (fancy word for having an internal ability to plan, sequence, and attack a problem -- it's the self-talk we all use to get through any multi-step process). There is finally consensus needs to be specifically taught to Jack). Again, this is a huge (and entirely unforeseen by me) buy-in for the IEP team. Jack is very upset to hear that she is recommending Adv'd Pre-Algebra for next year (instead of the Adv'd Algebra that some of his classmates will be taking). However, I am trying to impart that it is important to have a solid foundation and that it's not a sprint. (Not to mention were he to take Adv'd Algebra in 7th, I'd be compelled to drive him to a H.S. daily for Geometry as an 8th grade middle-school student!)
But then...cue the Darth Vader theme music:
- The Dark Side of General Education - REVEALED!
Seminar social studies teacher gave written input that Jack should be culled from the Seminar social studies program for 7th grade. WHOA! Otherwise charming mom thrusts upward the flag of the Noble Nation of B.S. But history is Jack's raison d'etre. His grades have been perfectly acceptable. Each/every time this teacher was consulted, Jack was fine -- just fine. Right up until the Alexander the Great CD Project where Jack did the work -- all on his own -- and got a 52/120. Right up until Jack's mom raised a bit of uproar about whether the IEP was being implemented.
To the IEP team's credit, they sent a messenger to summon this teacher to the room. He entered a small Tigger, an oh-boy-I-need-to-explain-myself-now Tigger. To my HUGE credit, I kept my lips sealed except to say kind platitudes. It turns out this recommendation to effectively demote Jack was due to some combination of the following:
1. Teacher's desire (as the presumed 7th grade seminar SS teacher) to not have Jack in his class next year. Perhaps, more accurately, teacher's disinclination to have interactions w/ Jack's mother?
2. Teacher's concern about Jack's "SELF ESTEEM" since he's "the lowest writer in the Seminar class" and wouldn't it be better for Jack to take an easier class? (To which, the Ombudsperson asked, "What kind of impact would kicking Jack out of the Seminar SS program have on his self-esteem?")
3. Teacher's determination that Jack shouldn't have a -- this is a quote -- "team of people doing his work for him". HUH?! This is from the gentleman who graded him harshly for drawing his own pictures upon and having an "unprofessional"-looking CD project.
4. Teacher's assertion that eventually Jack won't have the benefit of an IEP with accommodations built in...eventually, he has to face real life. (The ombudsperson went a bit APE on him at this point, remarking that accommodations under the Vocational Rehab Act continue into post-secondary education as well as many employment situations).
5. Teacher's belief that if we just made it easier for Jack, then he could be independent and not need special education. At this point, I had to cover my told-you-so smirk as I'd reported to the team that this teacher had a very real sense that special education service providers were effectively "the enemy" and that the only reason kids should get spec ed is if they were "stupid". (The ombudsperson had a FIELD DAY with this issue, too.)
Some goals were agreed to; a lot of present levels were crafted. All this without the "assistance" of the Legal Dept's so-called "Facilitator".
CR-V clean-out with Jamie
Points for Effort= 100.
Negative Points for Condition of Said Vehicle = negative 50.
Quote: "Mom, THIS (extending an unidentifiable artifact excavated from a crevice) is why Dad's CR-V already smells like moldy french fries!"
Negative Points awarded to Jamie for being able to identify said fast foodstuff by scent = negative 50.
In short, the effort only broke-even.
NEW HOUSE (well, really FRONT YARD) RULE:
By decree of She Who Must Be Obeyed (or at least Avoided), any and all persons under the age of emancipation may be evicted from premises of the Sand Castle if they are witnessed by any adult (but particularly by Mrs. Crab) to be delivering an ass-whupping of a member of the Family Crab. This By-Law applies whether or not said altercation was instigated by a third party (including but not limited to the aggressor's elder brother), whether or not there is inclement weather, whether or not the aggressor was provoked by a crablet, whether or not there was a football or other sporting equipment implicated, and whether or not Mrs. Sand Crab is of sound mind or expanding girth. There are no procedural safeguards afforded the accused. Disciplinary action may be expedited to exclude defensive explanation or witness testimony.
(Motion passed unanimously by the sole voting adult present).
Darrin's installation: Now THAT'S Home Improvement.
2 Air-Conditioning Units have been installed in my bedroom and the middle boys' room. Solidly. Involving multiple trips between the cul-de-sac and Darrin's Blom St. residence. With locks on the windows. And the units even work. And they filter dust, allergens, etc. The next 90-degree+ day will be declared the "Day of Darrin".
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