I'm glad that you guys like homeschooling! I really, really hope that you find a school that works with your DS.

Jamie B - How distressing for you and your son about the play. Is DS very upset? GD has her Thanksgiving play tomorrow am and I have been holding my breath all week waiting for something to happen to keep her from being in it. She takes missing anything very hard. But she actually had a great day today (1 out of 4 so far this week).

Good for you for calling and finding out you could request an IEP meeting. I had never heard of that until joining this forum. I really hope it will produce solutions.

I hope that her play goes well today!

DS really doesn't get upset about too much. He said that he was upset about not being in the play but he said it with a smile so I know that he just thought that's what I wanted to hear

JamieB,
Is your DS just SO over this school thing? It kind of sounds like he knows what he's doing -- smart little thing that he is -- and is getting the only attention they'll give him at school. I think from what you've said he doesn't seem like he has anything emotionally invested in school. To me, and it's just MHO, but it sounds like he's figured out that the school isn't planning to help him. And they SHOULD help him -- should help him learn, should help him get into an appropriate environment where he isn't compelled to act out. We here all know that he's acting out because he isn't challenged, but the school so frustratingly doesn't seem as if they have any intent to help. I so hope this is not the case. You are absolutely right that they should be doing something to help, but sadly, you being right might not matter to them. I so hope that they get the testing results and the principal realizes that they've been wrong all along and then they jump into immediate action.
((HUGS))

Thanks mnmom. The school and the gifted teacher have the results (I think) and don't seem to care. I'm hoping to get a call from the principal today to see what they think should be done with him. I'm afraid it's going to be that he should stay where he's at. Did I mention that yesterday he got in trouble for playing with the math materials?? I know that he did it because he was looking for something to do but I feel like no matter what I say they'll think I'm just making excuses!

And yes...I'm pretty sure DS isn't emotionally invested at all in school. It's almost like it's a huge joke to him.

Jamie B,
Just curious, do you work full-time at home or full-time outside the home? Do you think that HSing is even a possibility or is it just not workable?

I work full time from home but I do go into the office one day a week. I'm a computer programmer so while I do have to be available 8-5 or whatever I can do my programming at night if I want. My schedule can be flexible and my boss is really awesome so I think if I tell him what's going on he'll be ok with it. My parents work jobs where they're home a lot during the day too so if I needed them they could come over and help.

I really think that it's workable but scary!

Jamie B - Well she made it through the play OK. After it was over, her teacher told the whole class that they did a good job and GD asked her, "Me too? Did I do a good job?" DD thought it was sad that she wasn't sure she was included in the praise.

Interestingly, we were invited to go to the kids rooms after the play and take pictures. DD noticed that teacher was getting stressed = wanting the parents to leave and repeatedly telling the kids to go sit at their tables. DD said teacher's body language was so tense and GD (like DD) picks up quickly on that type of thing and it stresses her out. We'll see what the rest of the day brings. DD thought it too bad that the teacher couldn't just "chill out" on a day like today for a few minutes and not be so worried about her schedule.

Jamie B - I'm not sure if it's better or worse that your DS doesn't get upset about much like missing the play. GD gets invested in everything and can't stand missing out on anything & her intensity gets her into some trouble. The other day we got a note that she cried loudly while her teacher was trying to read a story. Didn't make any sense until I asked her and found out that the story was almost over when she got back to the room (probably from office or restroom) and she "wanted to hear the whole story". I asked her if she thought the other kids wanted to hear the rest of the story and how did they feel at her crying loudly so they couldn't hear. She said - sad. I'm trying to get her to see how her actions affect others because she can be very empathetic.

What kind of testing did your DS have? Have you been told the results? I probably should go back through your posts and refresh my memory. Are they still doing some differentiating for him?

Poor thing thinking that she didn't do a good job I hope that the teacher can get less stressed so that everybody has a good day!

DS has had the SB-IV, Woodcock-Johnson and the Kaufmann (I think it's called). They aren't really doing anything as far as I can tell. He said in math he sits at his desk and does a workbook while the rest of the class works with the teacher but I haven't been told about that so I have no clue what it is.

Jamie:

Keep in mind that especially at young ages, most kids do not need more than a couple/three hours per day for homeschooling. And you don't actually have to do all of it/any if it during the week. It is pretty flexible. The time commitment increases as the child gets older, but so should the independence.

No pressure to homeschool here though. Your kid, your call, and a good-fit school is a good thing. But if you don't have a good fit, don't let homeschooling scare you. It sounds like something that might work with your situation IF (big if!) you want to try it. Having your parents around to help here and there could be a big help to you.

I'll drop it unless you want to pursue further. But feel free to ask if you want to chat about it. I'm happy to talk pros and cons without pushing.