No Leg To Stand On, Part II

Thank you so much for the comments and suggestions! Really very good!

I thought what J. said (as a teacher) was interesting in that Miss’ scores reflect that she may be distracted during testing since she is doing well on her benchmark test which are one on one. I think that is a good point and we are considering that too. Or perhaps she is receiving extra help on the testing by her teacher when it is one on one. She is not supposed to receive help but from what we see from her during homework if I sit with her and guide her step by step her work looks as if she understands it quite well. The reality is that she cannot do it independently.

As others have commented we definitely have a teacher that is determined to view Miss through rose colored glasses. We do believe that she feels sorry for Miss because of her past and because of her struggles and is also probably totally snowballed by the charm factor.

This is a summery of her report card with my notes in ( ):

Comment from teacher – M continues to work very hard with the first grade skills. With harder reading skills, her weekly reading test scores have dropped a little (the last one was a 31%, a little? Really?), but she still continues to do her best and seems motivated about the reading lessons. Her individual reading and comprehension running record scored an 18 which is above grade level. I am so proud of her and I thank you for helping to reinforce the skills we learned in school by making sure that she completes her weekly homework. Mrs. Teacher

Grades:

Reads grade level materials independently – Not Demonstrated Consistently

Understands what is read - Not Demonstrated Consistently

Self corrects when reading – Satisfactory (We don’t see this at home at all, she has no clue that she misread the word.)

Uses letters and sounds – Outstanding

Thinks of words that make sense – Outstanding

Uses pictures for clues – Outstanding

Communicates effectively when speaking - Satisfactory

Communicates effectively through writing – Satisfactory (Daily Oral Language assignments are coming home unfinished and or to be redone because they are done so badly, that’s satisfactory?)

Uses correct capitalization and punctuation – Satisfactory (Not according to the DOL work.)

Applies Standard Spelling to written work – Satisfactory (Let’s look at those spelling grades again.)

Writes legibly – Satisfactory (If you happen to be fluent in chicken scratch!)

Social Studies and Science she received – Satisfactory (she failed the only test they took but apparently knowing stuff like if it is sunny or cloudy is all they have to know for the grade)

Understands number concepts - Satisfactory

Solves addition problems – Satisfactory

Solves subtraction problems- Not Demonstrated Consistently

Applies problem solving strategies in math – Not Demonstrated Consistently

Accepts Responsibility for own actions – Outstanding

Listens and follows directions – Satisfactory

Works Independently – Satisfactory (but she can’t do the work? Reads grade level materials independently – Not Demonstrated Consistently, How can she do work independently if she doesn’t understand the directions most of the time, either written or spoken? The diagnostic education evaluation/testing we had done in Dec. 09 confirmed that she does not understand spoken directions and the teacher confirmed that Miss has to be given direction several times.)

Completes activities in a timely manner – Satisfactory (she brings unfinished work home weekly)

Organizes and cares for materials – Outstanding (not according to her desk at school)

Demonstrates Personal Best – Outstanding

Respects rights and property of others – Outstanding (let’s ask the drop off kid at aftercare)

Works and plays cooperatively – Outstanding (let’s ask the drop off kid at aftercare)

Respects and accepts authority – Outstanding

Participates in class activities – Satisfactory

Uses courtesy in speech and actions – Outstanding (let’s ask the drop off kid at aftercare)

In harmony with the Mary Poppins grades of practically perfect in every way, which may mean that she is really good at not getting caught if we look at what happens at home and at aftercare, I dunno?

Here are her comments and weekly behavior scores from last week – “Miss had to miss some recess (twice) this week for talking, uh oh!”

Listens Carefully – Outstanding

Stays on Task – Outstanding

Follows Directions – Outstanding

Treats Others with Respect – Outstanding

Follows Class Rules – Satisfactory

Does His/Her best work – Outstanding

How can a kid be Outstanding and be talking and disrupting class to the point of needing to miss recess time? I will tell you, because she is precious and sweet and misunderstood and Mrs. Teacher loves her so that makes her Outstanding.  Ya think?
I kind of feel like what Heather and Brad expressed in their comment on the previous post applies here too, this kid has the adults totally under her thumb at school.

We did check the box indicating that we want to meet with Mrs. Teacher. I feel like this is the first step. We are going to ask 1.) is Miss going to be moving on to second grade in the fall 2.) if so what interventions and assistance will be in place for her right from the start 3.) is extended school year/summer school something that is going to be available to Miss?

Second grade will be a huge jump in skills and if Miss is struggling now in first grade she is likely to really struggle right from the start in second grade. Or maybe pigs will fly and she will miraculously and suddenly understand everything.


ON THE AWARD FRONT:

Big Sis received an award for A honor roll! Hooray she worked and earned straight A’s! As a reward she wants a day of pampering with Mom, I think we are going to get nails done and lunch and shopping!