June 12th, 2011
On My Own
Happy Sunday, friends! Today I am seeing Les Miserables with my family. Three of my cousins and my aunt are going. I absoutely love Les Mis. I think I’ve seen it 2 times, maybe 3! On My Own is just one of my favorite songs, I have so many.
Do you go to musicals? Which one is your favorite?
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Hi! I found your blog through Kelly’s Korner and have read your story. I am a sped teacher in another state and I just wanted to say “keep fighting”. No one will advocate for you precious angel more than you. You are so right to say that God gave her to you and your husband b/c he knew ya’ll could handle it. She needs someone to be the bulldog in the public education system. Will you win it every time? Probably not. But will she be better for off for the fight you put up? I’d say yes!
You are right, the IEP/sped process is such a monster. There is a website, which even I find overwhelming at times, called Wright’s Law. On that website you can order a book, you could probably actually get it from amazon too, called “From Emotions to Advocacy”. It’s a great tool for parents to read to sort of get past the “oh my goodness, you mean I have to fight for my child’s education?” to the “i’m ready to fight it” stage.
As a teacher, I will tell you that I have probably cost myself a job or 2 b/c I’ve sided with the parent a little too much. When we go to those IEP meetings and we rattle off eval results and talk about what your child mostly cannot do, and we put some random goals in place, I KNOW it is overwhelming and I try to take the time to explain every single thing we are talking about. Not always looked highly upon by the powers that be. They want you to be confused. IF you are confused, then you don’t know what quetions to ask.
AHHH! I could go on and on. Just wanted to say don’t give up. Sorry about your job. I find it odd that you were told you would not be coming back by a simple check mark on a evaluation. Whatever happened to common courtesy of at least telling you. I mean, what if you didn’t read that paper, or someone took it by mistake, or the secretary lost it before it made it’s way to your box. I’ve just never heard of THAT policy before.
Please keep us updated.!
Hope you enjoyed Les Mis! Hang in there girly, you’re fighting the good fight!
OM….was wonderful! One of my favs, for sure! Thanks for the kind words!
Barbie, thank you so much for your comment! I do appreciate it! I’ve heard of Wright’s Law, but I haven’t looked at it. Mostly because that’s what my advocate does (although I should know this stuff!). As a former teacher myself, I always respect and appreciate another teacher who works for the kids and not always for the district. THANK YOU!!!