Could the funk be the Holiday Season? I can sure feel the mood changing. After all how can one feel happy when there is so much dysfunction around us - right?
Are we going to talk about it or will we take action? I think that’s what most of us are longing for when we feel the funk. Action.
My action plan is to continue to volunteer
- in the classrooms once a week
- with the PTO
- get to know each teacher on a first name basis
- discuss shortcomings with the principle & strategize for short term improvement and long term change where I can.

What are each of you going to do?

I've been getting into one of my funks lately, wondering what's happened to common sense, common manners, common descency - mostly because I was at Walmart Supercenter - the very center of the uncivilized universe. Then, I was in line behind a lady who couldn't even pay for bread and a man who paid for it for her. It's just the thing to renew faith in mankind.

[ 11-15-2006, 07:28 PM: Message edited by: CrewChief ]

Thats my daughter!!!! _the bored out of her gourd student cuz of testing scores for gifted not being delivered form one district to another in time

I'll stay of my Title I rant and how the ESL/ELL/ILLegals get all the extra money for edyucation and needs

If they were all sent home the stae of CA alone would have class sizes of less than 20 pupils- more $$$ for libraries- more teachers per student AND 38 billion $$$'s in health and education money FOR OUR NATURAL BORN citizens kids- but I wont go there 'cuz I'll just start ranting and raving...... See.....

[ 11-15-2006, 07:18 PM: Message edited by: Shawn ]

Scottsmom - Same here!

I swear if I wasn't so "in their face" about my girls, they'd just be sat in a chair with whatever book they wanted because they don't cause problems(I have a 5th who reads at a 8/9th grade level, and a 1st graders doing upper 2nd/3rd grade reading). We have the same problems - LOTS of discipline issues, Title 1 school, 75% FARMS - yadda yadda yadda. I keep hearing what needs to be done for those who can't/won't, how can those test scores be raised and so on. I've yet to hear - we are going to improve (anything - insert your choice here).......for the gifted or high achievers.
So, Mom is constantly on her toes, cause if I don't push for my girls - no one will!

T

[ 11-15-2006, 03:35 PM: Message edited by: crazy4my2 ]

Shawn, I'm pretty sure my mom owns that book! [img]smile.gif[/img]

My son is in 2nd grade. He ecxels in reading, math, and science, though they don't really teach the later. He reads at a high 5th grade level and comprehends at a low 5th grade level. They won't put him in a different reading group because the higher grades have reading in the middle of his grade's math. We are a Title 1 school where reading and math are taught in 90 minute blocks. He does math on at least a 4th grade level. He loves math and science and I think he only excels in reading because he needs it for science. They had him doing peer teaching since the first week of 1st grade but as he has excelled and his classmates haven't so quickly, he's gotten really bored with that too.
His class seems to be 1/4 discipline issues and his teacher really struggles to deal with them and I think my son isn't bugging her so his needs get put off until he acts out.
As I've mentioned, this is a low income school, and what I've figured is that smart kids only get more help if they qualify for gifted otherwise, they are patted on the back for getting their work done and sent aobut their way.
My husband and I have just started looking for additional things to benefit him at home until we can figure out what to do at school. Needless to say, I feeling that the new system is designed to leave my child behind.

Interesting Article and check out the rest of the site too