Avitable Hates My Kids, or So He Thinks :)

Last night, I was unable to connect to Avitable and Miss Britt‘s show Clearly, You’re Retarded. I really wanted to because the main focus of the discussion was where should kids be allowed to go and where they should not.

A topic right up my alley, because I have two boys. Two, if given the opportunity (and no medication), very RAMBUNCTIOUS boys. So I was sad to have missed it.

How The Internet Can Give You Goosebumps

So I was all set to write something completely snarky and funny today, as in a letter to parents of preschoolers mixed in with a little of What Not to Wear, the playground edition.

Trust me, it’s funny. I’ve laughed in my head about it ALL DAY.

You’ll just have to wait until tomorrow for that little gem though.

Because today, TODAY I opened up my feed reader and found the following in my reader:

• Miss Britt talking about the changes in her life and how obstacles you think are standing in your way are, in fact, not.

• Deborah at 5 Minutes for Special Needs posting the exact things I say and feel about being a parent of a special needs child.
• Manda at Mandajuice who is reading the Twilight series and so am I. Plus, she said many of the same things I was. (Don’t read if you don’t like spoilers)
• Sarah at Sarah and the Goon Squad saying THE EXACT SAME THING (right down to the name!) that I said to a student today at school. Spoooooooooky…

  and finally….

• Heather at Dooce letting the world know something very special. I’ll let her tell it, but congratulations Armstrong family. Mazel Tov!

Goosebumps, indeed!

Reason #666 Why I Shouldn’t Be A Co-Chair On A Committee

This year, at work, I got tagged to be a co-chair on a committee. It’s the same committee I was railroaded into a co-chair position last year. Let’s just for the sake of argument and anonymity call it the “Don’t Care and No Respect Committee”.

There. I feel better already.

So here I am, co-chair of a committee that is supposed to collect dues called donations from the staff. These dues, per year, are $15. Some of the things that $15 covers are:

• Cards for yourself and family memebers when they become ill.
• In the event of a death in your family, a donation of $50 to the charity of your choice.
• Providing the main course of two staff functions; one at Christmas and another at the end of the school year.
• Paper products (utensils, cups, and plates) at staff get-togethers and functions.
• Corsage or boutonniere for the Teacher of the Year.

Just to name a few.

So, needless to say, that $15 (especially if you don’t actually PAY it) doesn’t go very far. And when you have to beg for people to please, for the love of all that is good and holy, just PAY the darn dues… you get a little frustrated.

Hi, I’m Shash, the Co-Chair, and I am frustrated.

So I came up with a plan. And if I do say so myself, I thought it was a mighty good plan.

The plan was that all who paid their dues would not have to pay for the staff functions. (They already have in their dues) Those who did not pay would have to pay per function and that cost would be higher (by one dollar) than the people who paid their dues in full. This way, the people who paid their dues wouldn’t get upset that people who hadn’t paid still got to partake in the festivities. I can’t tell you the number of people who have expressed anger over that. It boggles the mind.

Sounds good, right?

Well, I thought so too, and then I remembered that it is a staff function and that all should be able to attend. But I want it to be fair and equitable for everyone. But I want everyone to attend.

HALP!!!

So, I’m asking, what do you do for your staff gatherings? How do you make it fair for everyone? Is there a way to reconcile this issue so that pleases almost everyone? Am I on the right track?

Inquiring mind (s) want to know…

Ready? Set? Clue time for the Share the Blog Love Scavenger Hunt!

Hi! You’ve found me, the second stop on the Scavenger Hunt.

What? You don’t know what I’m talking about? Do you want to play a game? Do you want to win prizes? Do you want to find blogs that may be new to you and Share the Love?

Then come play the Share the Blog Love Scavenger hunt.

Ready?

Here is how we play:

1. There are 7 bloggers participating in the Hunt and the goal of the game is to find those 7 bloggers through clues on each of those seven blogs.

2. After you find a blog leave a comment for the blogger, give them a compliment or just say, “Found you!”

3. At the last blog there will be a final clue as to what the mom site is.

4. Once you find that final mom website you need to join that site (it’s not a trap, or an e-mail harvesting thing, it’s a fun site) and then email Jenn at needs.coffee@gmail.com with a list of all seven blogs, plus the name of the mom site.

5. The first player to complete all of the above wins a great gift bag, including a beautiful Love/Joy freshwater pearl necklace and earrings.

Four runners up also win gift bags and there are also prizes for 10 players through a random drawing. Yes, a total of 15 prize packages!

Prize packages include amazing prizes from: Orville Redenbacher (popcorn and popcorn bowls); Rice Krispies (wonderful treat kits); handcrafted jewelry; handcrafted bags; and more!

6. The contest begins today, Monday, November 17th, 2008 and it ends on Friday, November 21st, 2008 and winners will be announced on Monday, November 24th, 2008.

Hurry, though the first person to complete the Hunt wins the grand prize!

(If you think you know it and you don’t find the next clue, keep checking frequently as the sites are putting up clues as we speak):

Start at the beginning with Jenn’s clue to find mom blog #1! (I’m stop #2.) Now, all you have to do HERE is leave a comment, telling me that, you know…peek-a-boo, I see you…or, something like that, (don’t forget this step!) and head on over to your next destination.

The next stop on the Scavenger Hunt is one AWESOME mama who has four kids. She dreams of being an Olympic ice skater, but mostly does laundry. Lots and lots of laundry. Use your spellchecker when you stop by her blog, and she’ll probably put your stonewashed jeans in her dryer! (Still can’t figure it out? Use Google!)

…and GO!

Shhhhhhh….I’m Reading…

You Might Not Know That I…

(I totally stole this from Hilly. With her permission of course!)

…cry practically week during Criminal Minds. Those storylines get me – everytime.

…am addicted to stupid reality television shows like Million Dollar Listing and The Real Housewives of Whatever Place They Decide to Film. I’ve watched every season. I’m seeking medical attention for it. I think there’s a cream or something…

…wish I could fit in my red bikini from 6 years ago. I really love that bikini.

…I really HATE to exercise. I’ll do it, but trust me, I don’t like it.

…I’m shyer than I let on. In large groups I tend to get flustered.

…I smoke when I drink at clubs or parties. I can’t explain it, but there is something about a drink and a cigarette.

…don’t believe there is such a place as Hell. I think someone made that up to scare people.

…am afraid of heights.

…panic when asked to go on roller coasters. I’m afraid I’ll fall out.

…extremely loyal to my friends.

…would love to learn how to salsa dance.

…always look for rainbows after a rain.

…never went to a sleep-away summer camp, but went to plenty of Vacation Bible Summer Schools with friends. (I was the token Jew.)

…love to people watch. I can do it for hours.

…still listen to 80′s music every chance I can. (Like, say, right now. New Order!)

…kind of want a dog, but I kind of don’t.

…still watch The Backyardigans even though both of my kids have outgrown it.

…wish I had gone to college right after High School instead of getting married.

…have serious abandonment issues. (Thank you, Father for that one.)

…drive rather fast because my Hubby taught me.

…get excited every Halloween because of Candy Corn!!!

…have a serious addiction to shoes and purses. To which there is no cure.

…wish I was taller, blonder, prettier.

…wish I could accept me as I am.

…am thankful for the people I have met because of this blog.

…want a BlackBerry or an iPhone so badly!

…can’t think of anything else to share right now.

Now, what might I not know about you?

Signs of the Apocalypse

Exhibit A:

Yep. That there is snow. In FLORIDA.

Okay, okay, you caught me. It’s not REAL snow.
It’s Mall at Millenia snow.
So it’s expensive.

But there are more signs! Behold!:

Right here is the finickiest eater on the planet Earth.
I’m totally not kidding.
Here he is trying out chopsticks at PF Chang’s.
He also ate the Lo Mein – sort of.
To say his parents were surprised and thrilled is an understatement.
They are currently catatonic.

And here is video evidence of him trying chopsticks and Chinese food
all at the same time.
His mom can’t even walk and chew gum at the same time without biting her cheek,
so this is HUGE.

Advocacy Pays Dividends

From his teacher via email today:

“I just got done grading Spiff’s work. It is outstanding!! The quotes he got were fantastic and animated!! I have him caught up through three interview preps and three interviews. …He was energetic and enthusiastic today and I hope to see that every day!! I will try and catch up with him later today to share the news. …I know we have a future Journalism star on our hands!!!”

This? Is great. But of you read the other posts here and here, the work that it took to get to this point was staggering. And while I am thrilled with today’s results, I am not resting on any laurels.

Each day brings new challenges, new strife, new misunderstandings. This teacher still wants other students to help him, and I still don’t want peer buddies to help him…just yet. We still need to get a system down for Spiff to use before we let him loose again. Today’s victory was achieved by lots of time sitting (figuratively, not literally) on Spiff until he got it done. We took a lot of things away from him; the ability to choose his interview subjects – they were assigned to him. They will continue to be assigned to him. We allowed him to ask the same questions to all three subjects – that will not be allowed in subsequent interviews. He will have to get to a point where he will not need an adult aide to walk him through the process – he will have to do it on his own.

For now though, I will take a moment to bask in the glow of this victory. I will applaud Spiff for his hard work and his great job. I will keep him on track and focused on the rest of the projects due. I will continue to advocate for him when he needs it.

Today, I will take this to the bank. And I will deposit it and hopefully watch it grow, so if I have to withdrawal it for a rainy day, it will be there, reminding me.

Because he can do it. Because he deserves to be there. Because he is awesome.

On Being an Advocate, Part Deux

Dear (Insert Teacher’s Name Here),

Up until the last few days I was thrilled to have my son in your class. He seemed to be thriving, and learning and growing. Then, rather suddenly, I was backhanded with the truth. The truth of him wandering your classroom aimlessly, missed deadlines, and his balking to complete the three (3!) large assignments you gave him.

I spoke with you on the phone. You tried to make me feel better by saying you had worked with him before in a summer camp program – didn’t I remember? That you knew him and wanted to keep him in your class. I told you then to please (pretty please?!) have a look at his accommodations page of his IEP. I told you to imagine my son as the CEO of Spiff, Inc. and that he needed a personal assistant just like any other CEO out in the workforce right now. He needed someone to help him organize things and tasks in regards to your class; and that person might just have to be you for a time until other arraignments could be made.

I suppose that didn’t sit well with you. Or it didn’t gel with your teaching style, I’m not sure.

So I met with you earlier this week with the ESE staff. I carefully explained what I felt would work best for Spiff to succeed in this class. (currently the only class he is struggling in, may I add?) I gave you tips. I gave you tricks. I told you the best course of action, and how important it was for you to break down the tasks into bite-size portions for him to digest. I even reminded you how you would have to “cut it up” for him. I made copies of work. I worked with him at home on the papers, breaking it up into pieces for him. I role played with him. I did alter your requirements; but you left me no choice because he wouldn’t be able to accomplish it the way you had it set up. Know how I know? Because you assigned it to him in early October, and he still hasn’t done it. Now the deadline looms large and he’s freezing up.

Not surprisingly, I’m not shocked. I don’t think the IEP team was either. We know him.

I walked away from our meeting unsure if you really understood what we were asking of you. To say I was nervous is a huge understatement. Couple that with the email exchange we have had today and I would have to say I am down-right frightened because you just don’t get it.

You just don’t get him.

He is unable, not unwilling, to fit into your “student mold”. He will not (can not) produce the result that 16 other students are producing using the same guidelines. It is not an issue of “won’t not can’t”. It is an issue of can’t. He can not handle that volume of work on his own without an adult aide guiding him through the process. And, no, I DO NOT want him to be assigned “peer buddies” for this classroom. This is not the place to do that. I will not sacrifice someone else’s grade for the sake of my son. It is not all about my son, and no one is more aware of that fact than me. However, that being said, he does need assistance in your classroom to complete the tasks you give him. We will need to come up with an alternative other than peer buddies.

I am truly at a loss. To say we are at an impasse is being mild. And to add insult to injury, at the end of each email exchange we had you stated “Please let me know what I can do to help him be a success in my class.”

I think I already have. I just don’t think you are listening to him, or me.

Why I Love Working in Education

Because I get to play a part in making this:

With a group of 4 and 5-year olds. Isn’t it the cutest?

It was for our annual Scarecrow Row. This year’s theme was books, and this is The Shy Scarecrow.

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Happy Veteran’s Day!!! Don’t forget to thank a veteran! Today I’m thinking about Uncle Tony again, who was a Vietnam War veteran, and my niece who is being discharged from the U.S. Army due to a shoulder injury. Once she gets it fixed though, she’ll be back!

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I don’t know how, but I have dislocated my jaw. So if this post doesn’t make a whole lot of sense, it was brought to you by the fine folks at Flexeril. Ask for it by name!

Snorkzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz….