Wednesday, December 16, 2009

P+PDNM

No... it's not another diagnosis. It's Jaysen's report card.
Whatever happened to letters that actually meant something, or that crazy alpha-numeric system where A+1J was followed by the canned comment "a pleasure to have in class"?

The report card itself is bittersweet.
P+ = Proficient in meeting grade level expectations with excellent quality and consistency.
P = Proficient in meeting grade level expectations. Expected grade level performance.
D = Developing toward grade level expectations.
N = Not demonstrating expected progress.
M = Modified curriculum. Student's curriculum is adjusted to meet his needs.

We got a few P's:
Compares and orders numbers.
Comprehends grade level narrative text. - ORLY? Cuz I thought he had receptive language issues, but what do I really know.
Handwriting skills. - apparently my son prefers cursive to print. Who knew?!?
Reads, makes, and interprets graphs.

A lot of D's:
Solves problems using information in graphs.
Applies appropriate problem solving strategies.
Works cooperatively and contributes to group activities.
Uses strategies to comprehend narrative and informational text.
Conventions/Grammar

A good number of N's:
Reads aloud with grade level accuracy and fluency.
Demonstrates stamina as a writer. - How do you measure someone's stamina???
Ideas and concepts.
Mental calculations in math. - Sorry... can't help ya there, kiddo.

And some M's:
All of Science
All of Social Studies

The Behaviors and Attitudes section was all "S's", which means he has a positive attitude and work ethic Some of the time, with one area of Concern- accepting responsibility for actions. Yep. I concur.

As a whole, I'm pretty pleased with the results- mainly because I do feel it's accurate for the most part. But you know the part that freaks me out. Yes you do. It's the M's.

Modified Curriculum.

As a parent, you need to know what that means.
And if education is as important to you, as it is to me, it kinda crushes you.
Just a little.
And by little, I mean little like Godzilla.

But honestly, I am okay with it. If my kid needs a modified curriculum, then that's what he should have. I know this. It's not the end of the world.
It's not the end of anything really, it was just a blow to see it in writing, all big and black in boldface, looming on the stark white paper. Looming I tell ya.
It may have jumped out at me and smacked me in the face, but I can't be sure because I was momentarily stunned.

It's not that I feel grief either, which was my first thought- why am I reacting like this?
I think I figured it out that in my crazy little mind... I don't want the school to give up on him.
That's not to say that I think they are, but for a moment, I had flashbacks of the crappy school that did give up on him, and maybe saw this as potentially the beginning of the end.

But I do trust this school. And I do trust his teachers. I really do think they have his best interest at heart, and they genuinely do not only like, but appreciate him. I can see how their eyes light up when they tell me about his antics, and that is huge.

So. About the M's.
I'm okay with them.
I think.

7 comments:

DJ Carrera said...

So glad to hear thar Jaysen did well! And just think, it may be modified curriculum right now.... but wait till he whizzes by everyone and starts calling out the teachers for getting something wrong! You know it is bound to happen! =)

mommy~dearest said...

Haha- maybe I didn't post clearly, as you weren't the first person to think he did well.

He did do well in some areas, but is basically performing below grade level as a whole.

It's not that he isn't smart, because he is, it's his frustration level, and that he wants to learn things on his terms.

mama edge said...

Embrace the M for now. Until high school, it doesn't matter, and modifications now can make all the difference.

I don't expect either of my sons to receive a regular ed diploma, and I'm okay with that. (Like I'd be okay with Godzilla living in my backyard. It would sorta suck, but I'd get used to it eventually).

mommy~dearest said...

Exactly, mama edge. That is precisely the stance I'm taking. I have accepted Godzilla, and will maybe even one day learn to love him. Still sucks though.

Ashley's Mom said...

I have never learned to accept Godzilla. I lie to my friends and say I have, but really I haven't.

I love my daughter for everything she is and everything she isn't. What I don't love is that my school district doesn't know how to educate her and so they devise a 'modified curriculum'.

Accidental Expert said...

Modifications can make all the difference. They do for my son.

I'm told that even colleges now are modifying and offering services for kids on the spectrum. Its about time. Most are brilliant. Just need to approach things differently.

Sorry to just jump in. Just found your blog and love it.

Corrie Howe said...

I don't know how I'd feel either. Actually, I don't think I'd like it. Jonathan is making all kinds of spelling, punctuation and capitalization errors...or "C" level work. However, all his IQ and performance testing says he should be "high average or better."

The school is willing to keep passing him on, until he's trying to get a job and the employer is not impressed by the job application or resume full of errors.

IDEA is about specially designed instruction to remediate and not to continue accepting low expectations that our kids were getting for years.

Sorry, I'll get down from my soap box now.

If you feel that's the best he can do, then you are correct in accepting. If not, then go ahead and fight.