Santa Claus is coming to couch 68!!!!!

Wow...another night like the other night. All my energy is gone. Just gone. Yuk.

The problem I had with the teacher not being accommodating is the girl's IEP has several accommodations on it, including reduced work load. The IEP is binding and teachers have to follow it in my state. As Lola said there are also 504's (but those are more for minor disabilites like dyslexia or physical impairments like crippled hands (in which case they get a transcriber). IEPs are more for moderate to severe disabilities. The kids I worked with last year were severe disabilities (i.e. IQs of 60 or below), so they were all on a "special diploma" track. The kids I am reading for this week are moderate learning disabilites. They are smart enough to do the work for a regular diploma, they just need assistance in learning. Every school in my county is different as far as class rosters go, but in my school FCAT (state assessment) subjects there are classes with all ESE students, so they can start out being taught at their level and slowly increasing the difficulty of the work to try to "push" them up a level or two. That only applies to language arts and math though. Science and social studies they are "mainstreamed" and given accommodations to help them succeed. They do the same difficulty of work as the other students in the class, but they just get shortened assignments or extended time since it takes them longer to complete things due to their disability. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) allows for such accommodations and requires teachers to provide them if the school tests and observes the student and they score within a certain range showing that they need such accommodations. Sometimes kids are 504'd or given an IEP for things such as ADHD too. These students usually get to take breaks during the test, so that they can move around and refocus themselves. Their break is usually something like walking to get a drink of water or running an errand for the teacher. Just something to allow them to move. Or some ADHD students get shortened assignments, since they tend not to be able to focus as long as their peers. Being someone who is certified by my state to teach exceptional education students (ESE), I fully agree with providing accommodations to those students who need them. You're not "babying" them, you are just giving them the ability to succeed.

The girl I was reading the test verbatim to this morning can do 8th grade level work, she can understand 8th grade science and social studies concepts. She can even do 8th grade level math. She just struggles with reading. She reads at the 4th grade level. Due to this, she gets no electives. Instead of two electives, she in placed in a double-period reading block to give her strategies to improve her reading. So, the school is trying to help her get better so that maybe she will no longer need the verbatim reading of tests, but until she is there the accommodation helps her succeed in other classes.

I've finished work for the year, and it looks like that's the case for much of the city.
I shall still be visiting the couch.

Merry Christmas to all, and to all a Good Night!

Well, I have to get up early to get C ready for school in the morning. My last day with him until school gets back in session, unless his dad (he's staying with dad over break) needs to have someone watch him, then I may get a call...but I am not counting on it.

One more day of school, then I get to have nothing to do for 2 and a half weeks. I hope I don't die of boredom. I do have T over break though. When I was at my last appointment and we were scheduling my next appointment, I told her that 2 weeks (I only see her every 2-3 weeks) put us at Christmas eve, so that wouldn't work. Then I added, 3 weeks puts us at new year's eve, so I guess we'll have to do 4 weeks. T said that that was too long. I said that's what we'd have to do, since I assumed she wasn't working around the holidays. She said she was taking the week of Christmas off, but was working the week of New Year's. She asked if I had any plans for that week. I told her I didn't because I had no life. She laughs and says she doesn't either, that's why she isn't taking that week off. So, I will get one more session in before January.

Was supposed to see pdoc this past Monday, but got a call on Friday (15 minutes before his office closed) saying they needed to reschedule because pdoc had a medical emergency to attend to. It happens. Just because of the holidays, I am not being seen until the 2nd week of January. Pdoc wanted me to come back in a month after my last appointment, but now that it was rescheduled...it will be almost 2 months. Oh well...he can't get "upset". He's the one that had to cancel, not me. He did have his office call in prescriptions for me though, so I would have enough to get me until my January appointment, since he didn't give me any refills last time expecting to see me a in a month. I am not psychotic or manic right now, so I am "okay" with having to wait...I just hope I stay this way until January and that the holidays and being around family don't trigger me into a relapse.

Well, I am off to bed. I hope everyone as a good night/day/whatever.

LC- did he say why he did not think he could help you?

I am back from a tiring day moving or rather not moving house for the ex. I got there and he had even organised anything then he had to run off and take who assume is his new love interest into town to the solicitors. He was gone for half the day but luckily his mate turned up and organised things so we moved all the packing boxes and some of the furniture. I'm going back tomorrow but won't be doing as much as my feet have swollen up and I can barely walk. I don't know why I am doing this I think its for the girls its certainly not for him.

((( Lola ))) - Ugh. I'd imagine that even if T shared some hard truths and recommendations, it showed that he was concerned for you and wants you to feel better.

((( Wiki ))) - Glad you're feeling better. Although I wish you wouldn't minimize what you're feeling and going through, I do understand. Your issues are valid, and it's ok to feel whatever it is that you're feeling.

((( Jersey ))) - Hope you were able to get a good night's rest and feel more energized today.

Had a really intense T session yesterday. I've been feeling really yucky about myself because the new dynamic in group T is much of a reminder of my younger years....especially with my best friend when I was around 14 who said things that really stirred up feelings of shame (saying things about me being fat and how she liked being friends with me because she knew people who talked to us were more interested in her than me - mainly guys)....and how it led to some CSA memories...and then other yucky stuff....

T and I talked....and he said some really affirming things which were hard to hear and I had trouble accepting it. In a nutshell, he said that avoiding pain is more important to me than seeking pleasure. Very true statement. Definitely gives me something to contemplate.

Today is the day I have the interview with the residential facility. Wish me luck! If I don't get in I shall be homeless. So a bit of pressure.

Good luck! I'll cross my fingers for you

Thanks! I feel anxious alreayd there is SO much riding on this. I mean if I'm homeless I can't mention it, because if my college finds out they'll find me housing but will take my T away from me for a while at least until my basic needs are met. So if I am homeless I can't tell anyone, even my T. Even though I have confidentiality, I wouldn't want to make her feel bad. Cause to be honest I rather be with her and homeless then without her.

Is it possible that you won't get it? What are the rules there? I would guess that if you are studying/learning you are n the top of the list, right? Oh gash, it has to be a terrible feeling to not know the nearest future and if such a basic needs like accommodation can be met...

Yes it's possibility. There's 3 beds and 14 people trying to get in. They go based on greatest need, and who's to say that someone else's needs aren't more than mine? Plus alot of it is based on the interview, and I have NEVER been good at interviews, I realized my T knows this, and was grooming me, helping me by playing out the interview in session. Asking me questions.

She use to work at this place and ALL the staff know her so I hope she can pull some strings.

I really hope, you'll get the bed... I wish I could go to the interview with/for you - that's the only thing at which I know I'm not bad... Try to relax during the interview and be honest - it's really easy to get when someone is lying when is nervous... Let us know how it went... Will you know already today if you got it?

No, I won't. They will call me I think. I don't know when, hopefully I'll know soon. I am also nervous about letting T down, since she knows everyone I don't want it to get back to her that I was rude or something (Not that I am but when I'm anxious I get aggressive). Ah!

Accommodations don't "lower standards". That is not what they are about. Accommodations are more about creating an even playing field for students.

If you have a vision problem, it would not be okay to expect you to do all of your learning without your glasses. If you have a hearing loss, it would not be okay to expect you to learn without your hearing aid.

Accommodations for learning disabilities also work to allow students to learn the same material and concepts without their handicapping condition, their learning disability getting in the way of their learning.

My son is one of those students you believe the standards are being lowered for. He has fine motor deficits that make it very difficult for him to write in any way legibly, and he has ADHD at a level severe enough that it qualifies him for services through special education. I suppose you believe he should not be allowed to use a computer on assignments where other students do things by hand. I suppose you believe he must be made to stay in a room with 30 students to take a test when by simply allowing him to be in a room with fewer students creates an environment with fewer distractions so that he can focus on the same work other students are doing and demonstrate that he is equally capable of that work so long as those distractions are minimized.

Just let him fail because people with handicapping conditions must do everything the same way everyone else does and screw the fact that they can be equally successful on equal concepts and work if simple accommodations are made. Does it really matter if a students does 50 or 75 math problems to demonstrate they understand the same concepts as students required to do 100? Do those extra 25 math problems repeating the same concepts somehow prove students know the concepts better, or does it just mean the have greater speed or endurance? What is important there? The speed and endurance, or the concepts?

I suppose you don't believe that ADHD or learning disabilities are truly handicapping conditions. How else can you believe it is okay to just let them fail, despite the fact that they are equally intelligent as students without handicapping conditions.

You are wrong here Stopdog.

I acknowledged my opinion was not the majority or popular. I don't think I am wrong, but I am not actively interfering with anyone and their accommodations or attempts to obtain accommodations. I do understand the concepts behind them. I have family members and friends who have obtained them as well as those who are in the education field who champion them.
I simply don't agree with it. Others do and the accommodations are allowed.

I let my d take my vehicle to school today, which leaves me home alone without a vehicle. WOOT. If mom calls I can just say "sorry, no car, can't help you", makes it easier. Now that I have the house to myself, I think I'm going to go roll around nude on the living room carpet.

Waaa Hooo!

What I read before in your posts it looks like you and your T have a great relationship and I think she knows already when you are anxious and that if you are aggressive it's not toward her... You won't disappoint her, I''m sure she's very proud of you - not everyone would be so strong to study at your situation and for sure not many still would like to help others...

if only you could just say sorry im busy go ask your other daughter to help you that would go over well wouldn't it

If I did that in my house, I would get up and be all hairy from the pets.
I have hard wood floors which are not as fun to roll around on, but the fur is easier to remove.

I need to get off of FB before I get myself in trouble.
500 people died in Sudan yesterday, but what are the Christians up in arms over?
Duck Dynasty dude who said offensive things and suffered the consequences.

What is the world coming to?

grrrrr I have to get to designing some valentines day cards to show this lady who is thinking about selling my cards in her store but panic and self doubt and depression are getting in the way I have sat here for 1 1/2 days and have done nothing .I have to have something if even just one card for sunday. maybe I cant do this. the minute I think about doing this the energy just slips away .I think it is because im scared and so am avoiding it

I completely agree

ok going in my craft room to atleast do something .sorry for complaining I do know I am fortunate to have someone willing to do this for me