Nohe 5

War of the Notes

So I sent in a couple of notes with Rachel's work on Friday.  A note asking why a big star was put on a paper that had multiple wrong or answered questions and a note on test that we were asked to correct that had all answers and no questions.

Finally, after three (3!) back and forths, we got the questions and instructions to fix the tests.  Of course by this point, the class has moved on so going back over this work will not tie in to anything that is going on in the classroom.  I mean these are papers from the last grading period.  Way to stay on top of things!

For the math paper, the teacher explained that she was in a "meeting."  I only add the quotation marks because the teacher put meeting in quotation marks.  I don't know what it means.  Was she in the ladies room?  She said she was gone for a half an hour.  Maybe I should send in a Get Well Soon card if that is the case.

Anyway, since she wasn't in the classroom, she stated that Rachel probably wasn't paying attention or didn't know how to write the numbers.  What?!?  Rachel knows how to write numbers up to 100.  I know, I teach her math at home (at the teachers suggestion).  As far as not paying attention, perhaps she wasn't.  Lord knows Rachel sort of goes through life like a squirrel in a tin foil factory (too many shiny things to look at), but I dare say that whoever was teaching the class (the teacher said it was an experienced teacher) was also not paying attention because they didn't take the time to notice that Rachel was not doing the work correctly.  Besides that, how would the teacher know?  She stated that she wasn't in the room.  ARGHGHG!!!!!

So the run down is this, after three attempts we will finally be able to fix a test that is from the last grading period and Rachel didn't do well on a Math sheet because the teacher was in a "meeting" and an experienced teacher who is faultless was forced to deal with my innumerate, unlearned daughter.  Oh yeah, we are getting our money's worth at this school!

What Do You Do When Your Kid Has A Bad Teacher?

Rachel has a bad teacher this year.  They say that it is one of the worst things that a family can suffer through and they (who ever they are) are right.  I am about to tear out my hair.

The teacher shows little concern if Rachel's grades take a dip and when we have a conference to discuss said grades, she tells us to buy a book and teach the subject ourselves.  She sends home worksheets that are marked correct when there are multiple answers wrong.  She sends home tests with questions marked wrong that are correct (I don't care what she says, 12-9=3).  We have been asked to correct tests that have no questions only a list of multiple choice answers, thus making it impossible to correct because how can you know what the right answer should be without any questions.  Spelling tests are allowed to be retaken if the student doesn't get a 100%, but Math test are not.  Rachel rocks in Spelling, but not in Math.  Why the do-over only for Spelling?

I have had three parent-teacher conferences with no results.  I send in notes that aren't answered until second notes are sent in expressing disappointment that the first note was not answered.  I leave phone messages that are never returned.  I assist Rachel with all the work that is sent home.  So much work is sent home, I sometimes wonder what they do in school for 7 hours a day. 

I am so frustrated that I just want to shake the teacher.  She has given me a laundry list of reasons why Rachel is struggling in certain subjects (mostly Math): it is a new curriculum (she says this one so often to me and the class that Rachel tried it on me tonight when we were doing Math), the book last year was so much better, everyone else did well except Rachel,  she tried to give Rachel the answer during the test but Rachel wasn't listening (how does giving the answers out during the test supposed to help show what my child has learned?), she'll get it in the 2nd grade, we're doing an easy chapter next and that will pull up her grade, we won't be doing anymore addition or subtraction this year (then she looked in the book and the next chapter contained both as it should, what with it being Math and all), and Rachel cries in class (she never cried in Kindergarten).  Once during a conversation when things weren't going well the teacher changed the subject by saying, "I caught Rachel looking at another student's paper, but I wasn't going to bring it up because I didn't want to worry you."  Good Gravy Lady!  If my kid is cheating, I want to know so that we can nip.it.in.the.bud.  What else are you not telling me?  Or should I say, what are you not telling me now so that you can spring it on me during our next Parent Teacher conference when the conversation gets a little heated?

I am not one of those parents who thinks that their child walks on water and just blames everything on the teacher.  In fact, I am somewhat of the opposite.  I know my kid's strengths and weaknesses.  I know that Rachel is easily distracted.  I know that she is not detail oriented (ergo the problems with Math).  She likes to rush through things and will jump in to a project before getting all of the instructions.  These are her weaknesses and I acknowledge them.  However, I also know that she is no dummy.  In fact, she is a rather bright little girl.  In the 6 weeks that I have been teaching her Math at home after dinner (a whole new curriculum in addition to what they are doing in school), she has made huge strides.  She has a 100% in Spelling and is a strong reader.  So, I am not going to say that all of these problems must be my kid's fault and she has a perfect teacher.  Especially when I talk to other parents that are experiencing the same problems.

I have tried to be an educational partner with Rachel's teacher.  I ask for ways that I can help at home and I follow through on the suggestions.  I help with homework.  I don't let Rachel get away with giving excuses when she doesn't get her work done to the best of her ability, and I am not going to let her teacher get away with it either.  I can't help Rachel correct tests without questions and I won't accept papers marked correct when they have wrong answers.  I must be an advocate for my child's education.  Her teachers will change, but I will be with her through every grade.

Nonetheless, I am at a loss as to what to do next.  Another parent teacher conference?  Meet with the principal?  Ask to have her moved to the other 1st grade class?  Pull her out of the school completely?  Write off the 1st grade?  We still have 4+ months of school left.  I can not wait to get out of this class.

See, the IRS Agrees that Motherhood Is Dangerous Work

Yesterday we received a notice from the IRS asking us to confirm their records that we had a member of our family currently serving in a combat zone.  Apparently, the IRS knows what it is like to live with Hurricane Jack.

The Results Are In And You ARE the Father

Lest anyone ever wonder who Jack's father is, here are some side by sides of Marty and Jack at the same age.  I know, it is freaky. 

Thank you Pam for these great pictures.

Since I Don't Get Any Sick Days, I Will Have to Call In Dead

My throat is raw.  My lungs are on fire.  Because I can not breath through my nose, I have become a slack jawed mouth breather.  Every muscle in my body aches.  My head is pounding. Coughing is so painful that I try to put it off until there are tears in my eyes and I start to lose conciousness.  I didn't get to bed until 1 AM, because the baby slept so well while he was visiting Grandma.  And, since I am still breastfeeding, I must live as drug free as a 17th century convent nun.

So of course today would be the day that the children forget how to nap and what an inside voice is.  Mama needs a sick day.

Why is it that Jack literally (and I do mean literally) licks the toys in the pediatricians office and I am the one who gets sick?

His Brother's Keeper