Meg's IEP Meeting

Well the meeting went well.

There were 9 people in the room.
Sped teachers 2
S&L Specialist
Asst. Principal
Sean and Me
Adjustment Councellor
Psychologist
Reading Teacher

She no longer needs Speech and Language (S&L) services, but the IEP is now for Math and Written Language.

So she'll be seeing 2 different people Math.....60 min a week x 5 days and Written 3 days a week x 3 min.

The math is a step down from the program. I mean well it's the same program but on a repeat learn level. WHICH is what she has problems with. Once she gets it she gets it, but needs concepts repeated over and over until she gets it, which Dr. A stated is true with Megan.

The meeting lasted an hour and 45 min and have NEVER gotten so much support. Being she's in the elementary school now, they actually want to work with us. If i had them last year i wouldnt have needed to waste 800 on an (JOKE) advocate. These people actually WANT to work as a team not against us like the last 2 years.

They do not feel she has EFD. Which now thinking back, reviewing records, reports and evaluations and lengthy conversation w/sean this morning, the Neuropsychologist couldnt really figure out whats wrong. She (actually thinking back to meeting) took a stab at EFD b/c it was nothing else. Gave us information on Aspergers, Tourette's but said she had neither. When i presented the Neuropsychologist the question, "You cant figure out how my daughter's brain works?" she paused flubbed words and said no I can't. (supposedly she was the best on South Shore, but that question right there proves she's not the BEST ("can figure anyone out, i was told), so we never followed up with her) So we feel she put EFD down as something, but here's the kicker (which got me a nice big SNAPPING at from the school psychologist when i said that's right EFD isnt recognized by the state. SNAP. And of course the coward she is didnt look at me when she snapped. She ended up leaving the meeting early.....i thought GOOD BYE!!!!!!!!!! She doesnt see Meg, she doesnt KNOW Meg, she's seen her ONCE, and only read reports.

I am not thrilled with this lady as it is. She didnt like my comments about Meg's former S&L specialist for the last 3 years and I made it PRETTY CLEAR, the unprofessional remarks that were told to me last year at her IEP meeting. Most rolled eyes, nodded and were NOT suprised by my feelings (but obviously cant vocalize). How Meg was pushed through Kindergarten even knowing there were problems. Dr. A even said he noticed significant problems, but then Meg's case was taken over by this other person, and out of Dr. A's hands which was when Meg was pushed through.

I was explained that EF mature in most children by 11 but men dont get their full EF till 35-40 and women by 34. She's come huge strides in most of the areas since 1st grade. That has fixed it self and now we need to work on written language and math areas. So finally goals were met and progress was made YIPEEEEEE!

I hope and pray this helps the stress at home. Her homework will be less and easier. Instead of 2 paragraphs, only 1, and the math will be less and probably easier (with the new teacher). And whatever other homework needs to be modified. Says right in the IEP, reduced homework when necessary.

Basically i lost it when the asstisatnt principal said this child is way too stressed, that must be taking a toll on homelife. THE TEARS FLOWED. I said yah, it's affecting my husband and I's relationship which trickles down to Emily. They all agreed that school should NOT be this stressful especially for an 8 year old. The adjustment councellor agreed Meg internalizes everything.

With regards to the math program when the Assistant Principal said i've used this program for 5 years in regular and sped classrooms, there's always that (I PIPED UP) exception, and Meg is that exception. This spiralling program IS NOT working for her. You cant keep reintroducing new information to a child who never got it. So like Sean and i were concerned about she's BEHIND IN MATH by about 6-8 months. Which they use to gather information on about that to report back. Which for the everyday math's DATA, take it and shove it. I hate the program, i am sure of people knowing this about how i feel.

And oh yah i threw the ?? out there, that if this child was not dealing with MCAS would she be having this much difficulty, they answered with she'd not be getting this help, i said NO if she was learning the way WE DID 31-36 years of age, and they coudlnt say no but did in so many words. So again MCAS YOU CAN SHOVE IT UP YOUR ASS! NCLB (no child left behind) is such a farce on the most high scale. If i wasnt the parent i was advocating, what not she'd be pushed through to 4th grade thus falling further behind, but wait NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, right am i correct, oh wait, they dont care anyway. off the subject, still looking for ideas and ways to partition our lovely Govenor to abolish the MCAS and whoever higher to abolish this "GREAT PLAN" of NCLB. Any suggestions, welcome, wanna start a committee, i am THERE!

But in a nutshell, she's getting the help she needs, though now i am dealing with the emotions and accepting the fact she has not a specific learning disability, but she's in SPED classes now. WOW, that's a blow to a Mom. My kid is in 2 sped classes now. The tears flow as i type this. But i am trying on the flipside to be THANKFUL that she can get the help she needs, and hopefully, like the S&L, she will make progress and be less stressed.

Again my spell check wont work sorry for errors, but i just dont care.