Good morning!
Two big subjects this week...and a few photos, of course...bunnies still coming for nibbles and frolicking.
First the distressful news. I don't want to say bad news because we are hoping it will all work out in the long run...but the boys can't go to Montessori next year. Sounded like bad news. :(
As you know, we knew they both have learning issues. Liam is going to a speech therapist (and also probably needs to be tested for dyslexia). Ian was tested, has severe dyslexia, and is now going twice a week to a dyslexia coach at Haley's Hope here in town. They both have trouble staying focused. This is exactly why we wanted them to go to Montessori...so they could get the extra help they need.
Well, surprise! There is no special help at a Montessori school. The children have to be able to work independently...period. Ian and Liam have trouble with that. What the rest of the kids can do in ten minutes could take them an hour (or more, I bet--remember how I sat for two hours with Ian doing math problems). Not that they can't do the work or understand the work... they can't stay focused.
So, they basically got rejected. Kicked out of Montessori. Let go. :(
The possible silver lining is that we were told that the public school does have some services that may help them. IEP (Individualized education plan) or what back when I was in school was called Special Ed. So, this next fall they will start in public school and we will see how that goes. They are getting some help now--outside of school--the speech therapy and dyslexia coach. (They each like going.) Well, as long as Dagan and Leah won't have to be paying for Montessori it will be easier to pay for the coach and speech therapist--whew! Another silver lining, I guess.
They are bright, inventive, creative boys...but they are hyperactive. It's not that they don't like to learn. When they were here for Mother's Day Ian asked if he could have paper and a pencil and they disappeared into the bedroom. Apparently, Ian has been trying to teach Liam what he's learned of cursive. Ian wrote the alphabet down in printing and drew lines under each letter. Then asked Liam which ones he remembered the cursive version of and Liam would draw the cursive letter underneath. Liam only got a few of them and Ian admitted he didn't remember them all himself, but I love that they love to learn. That they do things like that for fun. I don't want to see them hate school, you know? Leah gave them a great head start.
I remember how cursive was easier for Dagan to read, too. Both Dagan (diagnosed in third grade) and Leah (undiagnosed) have dyslexia. I hope they still teach cursive in public school. But, if not--I have books and even bought beginner video classes a few years ago when my favorite online calligrapher offered them. Plan to watch them with the boys after I move in and we can practice our cursive together. :)
So that was the bad news. But if they CAN get the help they need at public school--wow! That would be the silver lining for sure. I was really afraid if they went to public school they'd be kind of thrown to the wolves, so to speak, you know? It's going to be difficult for them, I'm sure. Quite a transition. But we're really hoping for the best.
The other big news is that Leah finally heard back from the drywallers!! They are all set to start on May 28th! Might be done by June 7th! So that is exciting!! Can't wait for pictures I can share. Once doors go on and walls start going up it will really begin to look like a real apartment!
Then once the walls are up the cabinet makers can install the cabinets, the electrician and plumber can do their finishing work, appliances can be delivered, and carpet can be installed down the basement stairs. I think that is all of the "other people doing stuff" to be done, but I'm not positive.
Anyways, after that then Dagan and Leah will be doing a lot. Accent walls painted and all that IKEA furniture put together. We have to go through my garage--purge and pack. Decide what to sell and take pictures of everything in the garage and my apartment that's to be sold. Leah does the Facebook Marketplace sales. I need to shop for another big comfy chair for my new living room, too. Finally will come the actual move and the cleaning of this apartment. I am hoping I will be out by October 1st. But whenever it is...things are moving again! :)
Meanwhile, I actually made it into the studio this last week! Tried following along with a YouTube artist, Diane Antone, with watercolor and ink.
Even using bulldog clips can't keep it from becoming mountains and valleys--lol! Makes it hard to paint on because the paint pools. But the silver lining--I don't care what I make or how it looks. Helps me be the loose woman I have strived to be--ROFL! ;)
Saturday I did get outside and pull all the dead plants out of the planters and dig in the dirt so they do look much better...but my back hurt too badly by the time I got that done to finish with sweeping and scrubbing down the little tables. Sunday was dark, windy, and cooler...so maybe today? I think I may be coming out of this long fibro flare? (Knock on wood!) I hope so. I have medical stuff for three weeks in a row now again (lab, CTscans, dr). That six months went by soooo fast! Maybe they'll let me go a year this next time? Well, one can dream. ;)
This has been a year of changes and more changes. Mostly positive ones. A long slow shift into a new chapter in my life. Nothing rapid, that's for sure--LOL! But that's a good thing. I absolutely do not move fast anymore--lol! Till next time...thanks for stopping by and for each and every comment. You all mean a lot to me. :)
16 comments:
I wish all the best for those children. They should be provided all the help that is necessary, but it’s hard to believe that the public school system is able to provide it. I hope so. Remember has Betsy Devon’s was bent on systematically destroying public schools?
Hopefully everything works out for the boys. Sounds like they will get more individualized care at the new school. Good news on the drywalling! Cannot wait to see the pictures!
Even though they were rejected by the Montessori school, it sounds from what you posted, Rita, that Liam and Ian could be better off in the public school which the services offered there and outside help too. From all that you have shared about them, both boys seem eager and capable of learning and the great thing is that they get along so well, as some siblings do not. I just finished reading Henry Winkler's memoir and he was also dyslexic and talks quite frankly about his issues as well. Great news on the apt updates!
Loose woman!!! I'd like to join you.😄
So many brilliant and creative people have had problems with traditional learning methods. I hope this school has a good program and the boys flourish.
Hi Rita. You are so talented and creative! My Josh had learning challenges when he was little. We investigated Montessori schools for him, but we found like Leah and Dagan that there are no "special education" services in private schools. We put Josh in the BEST public school we could find (our district had open enrollment) which turned out to be our neighborhood school. He had an IEP and special services which helped him a lot with focus and other challenges. Now he is in college and doing fine, with no "specialized help or services." I have no doubt that Liam and Ian will both be fine! It's very exciting that the dry wall will be going in the basement apartment soon. It won't be long now. I hope you have a great week. See you again soon!
Seeing so many animals around one's home can bring such joy into a person's life, I know I love seeing the birds outside my front door each day. Allie may be goofy but she is adorable as well.
That isn't good news about the boys schooling, so many children with learning difficulties slip through the cracks, they are lucky to have parents that realise they have issues and are trying to do what is best for them. Some parents of children with learning issues are clueless. Thankfully learning problems are more recoginsed now days
Public school IEP programs are good, and this sounds like a good placement since their problems have been identified. I'm happy for them, even though it wasn't their first choice.
I like your watercolor. Nice!
I know nothing about dyslexia, but I am truly hoping the boys will get what they need, somehow, somewhere. And I am also very happy to hear that things can go forward now towards getting your apartment finished. Allie is definitely a strange girl, and she's lucky to have you.
Identifying learning problems is the start to getting them the help they need. They may have ADD also and will get tested...Grand Adam had it, Hey Mikey was tested but I have not asked for the results yet. Adam went on a med that helped him focus on School Days. Jen our English Instructor had trouble with reading...back then it was called Title One I think, she got one on one help with reading. I do hope the boys get the special help they need, and having you in residence could be a real plus...for some time zeroing in on problem areas.
Your water color is well done, i think all the cheap papers do that.
Hope you have good luck with all the medical tests!
Not being able to attend he Montessori school may have been a blessing in disguise. And public school is cheaper, too! I think they will get the help they need because their parents are aware of the problem and are definitely working hard to get those boys the help they need.
I absolutely LOVE your watercolor painting. Fabulous, in fact.
It's great that you feel like playing with your paint brush. My version of playing with paint would be spilling it all over the place and ruining some furniture and my clothes. I guess I complete misunderstood the point of Montessori. Do the boys get to finish the school year? I imagine it's over at the end of this week. It's wonderful that they boys want to learn.
Love,
Janie
I love the way birds walk around confidently in your yard. Also, love your narrative!
https://www.volatilespirits.com/
Good to know the boys are getting the help needed and they have parents that care which is so important and of course you do too which will be a big help to them. Your watercolour painting is lovely too. I do some watercolour painting and find that if the paper buckles, I turn it face down onto a teatowel and then place heavy books on top and leave overnight or a couple of hours and when dry it isn't buckled and the painting can be finished. Hope you have a good week.
Great blog
I'm so late reading this -- you probably already have another ready to go. I'm sorry to hear about the boys' school. I hope the public works out. They are so lucky to have good support with you and their parents. I'm thrilled about the status of your apartment. Ths is just so exciting!
I think that the move to a public school could be an example of a problem transforming itself into an opportunity. They're two sides of the same coin. I don't know how much Montessori cost (and, yeah, like you I thought it was all about the individual child.... ???) but having that extra cash for more tailored help could be really useful if Leah and Dagan don't have to pay the fees. Your beautiful grandsonsm as you know, always seem just wonderful to me, they are so creative, so friendly and good, and I think their home and background are helping them express those qualities, so that won't easily be taken away. So long as the public school does not push those aspects of them into the background, they are bound to get through okay with the extra coaching. It's great that they WANT to do this stuff. What great kids they are.
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