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| Tue, 10-31-2006 - 11:26am |
My dd is in 7th grade she's always done well with average grades except in Math for which she has help since 4th grade either thro school or thro a tutor. Anyhow this year she was placed in a group with one of her really good friends (she doesnt have a ton of friends that she actually hangs out with mostly friends at school)she also knew some of the other kids in her group really well, we warned her from the get go she better behave, here where we live 7th grade grades & conduct are looked at by high schools if you are trying to get into say the voke school.
We went to meet the teacher night not all of them were there no bad news only the typical - well she gets chatty (what 13 yr old doesnt) but nothing major was brought up, I then get a call 3 wks ago from her literacy teacher about her behavior. This is a new teacher who after a little research I found didnt really have control over the class - however dd was told to "shut-up, listen, learn" OUr motto here is and has been "you go to school, shut your mouth, pay attention, do the work, social life comes 2nd" Anyhow after that she did better and has gotten compliments about her behavior from this teacher.
Next the art teacher calls me because her grade is low well dd is pulled out of every other art class for math help. So after talking to the art teacher and the Math Aide, to clarify things such as she needs a few minutes to speak with the art teacher as too what is expected. Things all cleared up there. The math Aide by the way is great and willing to work with the kids and parents etc.
Next the guidance counselor calls to ask if we would consider moving dd to another group she would have the same teachers just be in a different group of kids (different schedule also)She used class size as a reason (hello 7 wks in you figure this out)and then proceed to tell me the teachers are recommending it because they feel dd isnt working to her potential and she's way to social. Only the literacy even made a note on her interim report - why werent any of these teachers speaking up sooner!!! dh & I discussed it and felt 7 wks into things the kid is already established her routine etc. we said NO - So they moved a couple other kids out one being dd's close friend
Next I get a failure warning from science teacher it had been addressed wrong (there are 2 zip codes in town)and I got it yesterday another kid got the same letter the beginning of last week - her parent called and was told what the child needed to do to bring the grade up etc. I called yesterday and basically he tells me its too late to bring it up and what a shame we didnt move her, he had advocated for it. Now on her interim report her grade was a 75 and she recently got a 100 on a quiz both she and us thought she was OK. He says no the 67 is her grade oh well lets hope she does better. I could scream!!!
Obviously dd needs to shape up and we realize this but we're working with her and she's showing improvement. Now I feel like we should have moved her. And Im furious that because this guy addressed the envelope wrong dd is penalized. The stupid phones are out at the school but Im gonna demand answers now that I now had the envelope been addressed right and we got it in time she could have brought the grade up. Thats not fair bottom line. Yes its 7th grade and she needs to be on top of all this but its first term here and there needs to be room for adjustment.
What do you think?
because of the science grade her punishment is no friday night school dances until we know the grade is up and shes doing better - this hurt!

Know what I think? Leave her alone. She seems to have done quite a bit of moving etc. and adjusting so now she should just stay put and see everything through. She's been told to bring her grade up and recent quizzes prove she CAN get the grades in her current classes so let her know she has to do it.
Our high school system offers a choice between "academic" and "applied" courses. The "Applied" are a little easier and more practical for kids who have issues keeping up with the regular demands of the material. I had a friend whose son struggled with math and science and her school recommended her son move to "applied" classes. She insisted that, no, she wanted him to stick with academic because it would keep his options open for the future. Instead she got him tutors and he ultimately improved his grades in the academic courses.
It was the right thing because unless your child has a learning disability, most curriculums are designed that the vast majority of students should be able to get a better than passing grade. Not every kid has to get 80+ percentile -- as long as she is at or close to class average I wouldn't worry about it. At least she is pushing herself to achieve vs skating through an easier road.
As for her being social -- if she is a very social person it doesn't matter WHO is in her group, she will socialize (trust me -- I was one of those chatty girls too).
Just got off the phone with the school spoke to the guidance counselor first who told me she's the one who mailed the letter not the teacher. Then proceeds to tell me she cant get involved in how the teacher grades etc. refers me to the assistant principal. Bottom line after going back and forth for a while is he will speak with the teacher however he cannot tell the teacher what to do because teachers have what is called "academic freedom" he mentioned this more than once (is this the veil they can hide behind hmmmm?) And she has the rest of the year to improve and thank you for calling. Im so flustered right now Im probably not making any sense. I think principals and politicians have a lot in common because he's very adept at talking circles around an issue - which my bottom line was - its not fair that my dd cant do anything to help herself because we got the letter too late!!!! HELLO this is a pretty basic thing - but not to them.
So we have an ELA teacher who is stressed, a reputation as a "B", all the kids hate her and she really needs to retire. A literacy teacher who is new and overwhelmed. A science teacher who is old school and has the personality of a stump. A Math teacher who used to teach high school - our saving grace here is she has Title I help and the aide is wonderful. Geography teacher is a peach and she loved ds so we have that on our side LOL.
This is gonna be one long year. Im considering options for my youngest who has 2 yrs b4 he goes to middle school, like school choice etc. This school is not the same school it was 4 years ago when my oldest began his journey there. YIKES
Thanks for your thoughts and support on our choice to not move her.
Terry
I don't usually post on here. But if it were me, and I had absolute proof - envelope addressed wrong. I'd be-bop my behind to the school and speak to the principal. I'd demand something be done to fix the problem THEY caused in not allowing her to pull her grade up. All it would mean is letting her do what everyone else had the opportunity to do. It can't be that hard for them to do. No different if she'd missed and did make-up work.
I'm probably mud around here at my school district b/c I wrote a letter to the editor of the local paper here several weeks ago and both published it informing all parents that the school puts the ss numbers out on the grade reports in middle and sometimes in high school. When it comes to your kids, I'd demand the school fix their error. I've had a couple issues with the schools over the last couple of years and have no problem with letting them have it when they've made an error. If we make an error we're supposed to admit up to it and fix it. Remind them of what they're actually telling your daughter.... it's not ok if she makes a mistake, but it's ok if they do.
And, I wouldn't have moved her either.
Hope things work out good for her.
Sallie
Well, consider yourself lucky that you have these type of options in your school district. I live in the wonderful state of California where no matter how much money we throw at our schools we don't get much to show for it. I would be in hog heaven if they were to pull out my kids for help with math! Also, just to have the option of moving to a lower class size group if struggling - again, impressive. Of course, I'm coming from the position of having an LD ds17 who "fell through the cracks" in the system, no one ever identified him despite struggling every year. He may not quality for special ed, but the type of help you are describing would have been a godsend. It's a shame our state won't model some of these other public school programs. I'm sure they will say it all comes down to money. Still, the Teacher's Union has millions. But I guess that's another story...
Over in our district, the first notice you get that your child is failing is the interim progress report (I think 3 are sent out before final semester grade). Not a good time to find out, agreed. My kids also have Section 504 plans and I have been keeping in touch via email - still, no notice that ds was failing until progress report! What state are you in?
Again, look on the bright side. Things could be alot worse, believe me.