The first thing I would say is try to talk to the teacher in person.
Hi Jen,
I think that things go in waves like this. Sorry to hear that you are on the hard part of things. I think a face to face meeting with the teacher is a good idea. Worrying about where this is leading isn't a good idea - even if it's bad, it's too early to tell, so what's to gain?
My guess is that the teacher is responding to a change from baseline. Humans are good at getting used to baseline, and then getting excited when things get worse unexpectedly.
Do you have some kind of communication note or email set up between home and school? It's key to getting a good picture. The teacher herself may be overestimating the size of the problem because of the human tendency to ignore the good and highlight the bad. If you get a brief note passing back and forth with attention on the little victories, it will change everyone's perception of the situation.
We get what I call 'the marias' about once a semester. It's when the teachers start to sound like this
From: The Sound of Music
(one nun at a time)
She climbs a tree
And scrapes her knee
Her dress has got a tear
She waltzs on her way to mass
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her wimple
She has curlers in her hair!
I've even heard her singing in the abbey
She's always late for chappe,
But her penitence is real
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
I hate to have to say it but I very firmly feel
(all together)
Maria's not an asset to the abbey
(one nun)
I'd like to say a word in her behalf:
Maria makes me laugh
(all nuns laugh)
(all nuns)
How do you solve a problem like maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
(one nun at a time)
A flibbertajibbit?
A will of a whisp
a clown
Many a thing you know you'd like tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay?
And listen to all you say
how do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moon beam in your hand?
When I'm with her
I'm confused
Out of focus
And bemused
And I never know exactly where I am
(one nun at a time)
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling
She's a demon
She's a lamb
She'd out pester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She can throw a twirling dervish out of whirl
She is gentle
She is wild
She's a riddle
She's a child
She's a headache
She's an angel
She's a girl!!
(all at once)
How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertajjibet
A will of a wisp
A clown
Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay?
And listen to all you say
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?
Oh how do you solve a problem like maria?
How do you hold a moon beam in your hand?
[/quote=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_distortion]
Then I know it's my turn to show my face in person,(with DH if possible) listen well, look concerned, express appreciation for how much the teacher cares and suggest that we start a daily note.
there is this phrase, idea, Catastrophizing[quote]Magnification and minimization � Distorting aspects of a memory or situation through magnifying or minimizing them such that they no longer correspond to objective reality. This is common enough in the normal population to popularize idioms such as "make a mountain out of a molehill." ... There is one subtype of magnification:
Catastrophizing � Focusing on the worst possible outcome, however unlikely, or thinking that a situation is unbearable or impossible when it is really just uncomfortable.
and the truth is, that not only do our kids do it, and we do, but our teachers do it to. So the first thing to do is to try to get a realistic picture of the situation, and then try to help everyone else see the same realistic picture. Since there is no crystal ball, we can only do our best.
Hugs,
Grinity
