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Hope Floats!

This morning, I drove Nolan to school.  Before we jumped into the car, Nolan shared how beautiful the flowers at school looked.  He said they are red and yellow.  He said they looked like a trumpet.  I explained they are called Trumpet Vines.  Then he began to share another tidbit about his friends in PE class.  He said, “We like to suck the nectar out of the flower. The other kids think it is gross but my friends and I think is sweet like ambrosia.”  I asked him the names of his friends.  He has about five new friends. 
Why is this such a big deal?  Well for one Nolan is new at this school and all year long he said he has no friends.  Then just last week he said he had acquaintances but no friends.  NOW HE HAS FRIENDS.   This is so exciting.  I try now to seem over excited.  But, I plant the seed to obtain phone numbers so he could hang out over the summer.  Another plus, these kids my be going to the same high school next year.  If Nolan maintains a friendship, he will not feel alone when he starts his new high school. 

This made my day! 

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So Tired of Bureaucratic BS and Lack of Response!!!!

Nolan is starting 9th grade next year. The placement test for his high school is June 2nd. I have tried to connect with the RSP teacher at the new school since March to arrange the placement test accommodations. It is now the end of April. I sent several emails and a few phone calls. The one time she did get back to me was to ask for the IEP, which I sent her the following Monday. I asked the RSP teacher to confirm she received it. Do you think she has confirmed ? It has been 3 weeks since that email. How hard is it to say,”Hey, I received your email. I am swamped. Let me get back to you by…”. What kind of customer service is this?
None!!!!
If I treated parents in my school district, like the some teachers I have come across in my son’s school experience, I would be written up in a heartbeat. I am shocked at the lack of respect some of these educators have when they speak with parents, whether special needs or not, is  unacceptable. Communicating in a positive and encouraging way with both parents as well as students should be part of their professional responsibility. The age and/or grade should not matter. If that child is under 18 and living under the parents roof then that educator should be communicating with that parent. Without the excuse they don’t have time. I know they don’t have time. I don’t have enough hours in the day either, but I make the time. Why? These kids and their feature success is important to me!!!!!  So, why isn’t it important to the other educators?  Did these educators forget why they signed up for this job?