On the Cusp

 We are 100 days into James' first full year of in-classroom high school. He's a junior. Let that sink in.

Life has been out of the ordinary for so long that it comes as a shock to come up for air and realize that I am behind getting legally and strategically prepared for getting James ready for his adult phase. I am working on that. 

Everything I have read and heard indicate in a very few years, this is when he drops off a cliff for services, etc. 

So much to do. Still a little time to get it done.

Wish me luck.

Paging Mrs. Peacock ...

I have a 4th grader and a 6th grader. James is in 4th grade. Not. Possible!

Oh wait, I think it's coming back to me now ....

As per our district's cluster system, James has moved across town this year to a new campus, new team, new staff (new director of special ed, new superintendent ... ) ... and some friends. Not play date or sleepover friends, but friends who call his name and make sure to say "Hi!" when they see him. He got a hug from a sweet former classmate this morning. It helps a lot.

We've had a ton of pushback at home and testing behaviours at school already. Noisy, messy, and completely nerve-wracking for us all. We've had CONSQUENCES. I think the horror of a bath and shampoo in response to the bathroom drama had the desired result and things have quieted down.

When there has been no upchucking for 2 weeks, I will celebrate, probably by going out in the  back yard and dancing under the stars to the waning symphony of summer crickets. I think I still have some Sangria in the fridge from last year ...

I should not be surprised that services and communications in the district are in such disarray, but I am. What is different is the feeling I get when trying to work with this new crew. And that, strangely enough, is "welcome!"

So yeah, good and bad, but we're all in this together. And it's looking possible to make things better, if only for those who come after. Meanwhile, I'll be lounging in the Library with Prof. Plum, my Book, and a Candle Stick (for filling out all that blessed paperwork) ...

Momming Up for Transitional IEP #3

Forget manning up, it's time to Mom-up! Time to channel my anxiety, protectiveness, and love for my Getting Bigger guy in a positive way. Oh I've prepped for IEPs (exhibits A, B, C, D) -- what makes this one different?

Well, it's a transitional IEP from K-1 to grades 2-3. Time for James to be handed off from his current team of teachers, school staff, and services staff to a largely new team, because all the campuses are cluster schools in our district. This means that all the classrooms for a grade level are at ONE particular school/campus. Because of the way our district has grown, all the kids have two years at one campus before moving on to a different campus, usually found across town from the previous campus.

Still love this shirt from Zazzle.com

I have already met with his services coordinator for next year. Luckily I know her from the time she spent in the special day preschool program, and I look forward to working with her again. With her, I toured each of the *eight* second-grade classrooms and made notes, ending up with a list of three teachers/classrooms that look like a good fit for James. I spoke with the principal and felt warmly welcomed.

With the help of the special services coordinator, I hammered out the kids' morning drop-off routine for next year. Still working on that pesky pick-up. I got some answers regarding aides for next year. I am thinking of requesting a particular aide for James.

I met both speech therapists and have already heard many good things about them and how they work together and the families. I confirmed that his O/T and APE people remain the same.

I've planned a day to visit the new campus with James, in advance of his class' "field trip" to visit next year's campus. We will also be visiting the playground throughout the summer, to get him familiar with the idea that he will be coming back to this campus next year as a Second Grader, not a preschooler.

I am still on the fence about summer school. It was pretty much a disaster last year, but I want him to still receive services, especially speech and O/T. I am trying to clarify what to ask for, and get it in writing. As usual, I am worried I will miss something crucial ... but I tell myself I am doing the best I can and that even if everything is perfect, James will change over the next 6 months and we'll be doing the IEP goals dance again.

IEP Goals -- there's a new twist in there. We are starting to tie in some of his grade-level academics to his IEP.  Both his teacher and I are excited by all those shiny possibilities. The services coordinator is coming from a different, but no less meaningful, perspective. I want to keep James moving forward with challenges that will stretch him, rather than be rubber-stamped. I am listening to what his team is saying and trying to process it as best as possible.

I want to be prepared, not led. I am an active partner in his education and developmental growth. See me rub my head, go online for hours, burn through my minutes plan, and drink pots of coffee. Wish me luck.