Gifted Issues Discussion homepage Forums Learning Environments Solution for MrWiggly!!

We had our meeting today with the principal. It went amazingly well and we seem to have a workable solution and much support from the principal and staff!!

We were very surprised to find out that there is a jr. high math and science teacher on staff who taught at a nearby gifted academy for five years before starting at our school two years ago. TWO YEARS ago!!! The principal said "please don't shoot me, I hadn't thought of involving her before." She is a Godsend to us!!! She knows what MrWiggly is like even without meeting him. Here's the plan we came up with:

MrWiggly was to be in 4th grade math. His class would be meeting first thing in the morning which is when Mrs. Math teacher teaches her 8th grade math class. Mrs. Math is willing to let MrWiggly sit in her class and supervise him in independent study work while she teaches the 8th graders. She is also willing to work with us as a private tutor to structure his math curriculum and work with him after school. She doesn't have the time during the school day, so this was the best we could work out. The principal is able to accommodate MrWiggly to have him physically in school (which helps us tremendously being working parents) and Mrs. Math is able to be his tutor/mentor and help us as parents guide his math curriculum for this year. Sounds win/win to me, given what resources we have to work with.

We still have to work out the details but I know there will be flexibility in the schedule. We might be able to send him late to school on the days he stays late with Mrs. Math. I imagine she won't need to work with him 5 days a week and we can do some at home in terms of homework and such. Mrs. Math said there will probably be opportunities to involve him in the 8th grade class now and then but he would primarily be doing his own thing. She is very used to structuring independent studies due to her GT teaching experience. The plan is to let him work at his own pace and level. It is just such a relief to know that the principal supports us and there is a teacher to help. <whew>

So, that's our plan for now. In about 4-6 weeks we'll meet again to check on the 3rd grade curriculum and differentiate as needed there (all other subjects). Mr. Principal was really honest and said while he would love to see MrWiggly through his schooling he knows that our school just doesn't have the resources or "true peers" to meet his needs. We realize that too. But for now, I think this will work. The best part was seeing MrWiggly's face light up when he found out that his new math teacher teaches 6th, 7th and 8th grade math. She told him that math is her favorite subject and MrWiggly looked up at me grinning and said "mine, too!" Perhaps he'll find a soulmate in Mrs. Math.

Hey, "for now" is all you need! That's EXCELLENT!!!

What good news! Congratulations, and best wishes for a fantastic school fit this year. Happy, happy, joy, joy!

Wow Debbie - that is absolutely fantastic. I look forward to hearing how it goes and how the Wiggly Man likes it!

Wow, a great start to the year. Look forward to hearing how the year goes. Great news.

Nice plan! I hope it all works out and you get even more differentiation later on.

So good to hear! Yay yay and more yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You rock Doodlebug!

Woo-hoo! Great news. I really hope Mr Wiggly and Ms. Math hit it off.

Awww... you guys are all awesome! Thanks for all the shared joy!

We told MrWiggly about the plan before bed tonight. He is so excited. I cried when he told my husband "This is just like when I first started school. Remember when I was so excited to go? But then I had that math that I hated and I never wanted to go to school. But tonight I feel like I'm starting all over. I don't think I can go to sleep tonight! I can't wait to go to school tomorrow!!"

You guys, he's SEVEN years old!!!! How can a seven year old say that?? And how could we not have realized how bad it was and why??? I am so glad we did that testing. Tonight DH said how he recalls his boredom at school and how he hated going and was called lazy and daydreamer and so on. He cried thinking about how much worse it has been for MrWiggly.

Well, enough beating myself up. We seem to be on the right track again. Look to the future, right? All those good wishes from your mouths (or keyboards!) to God's ears. Thanks, you guys!!

Awww, now I'm going to cry!

It's all worth it when it works out right?

As the guy from A-team used to say: I love it when a plan comes together!

Nah, don't beat yourself up. Life does enough of that!

Hey, you're on top of things. The kid's 7! He'll be fine. He'll be GREAT! And he knows he has parents who love him and are in there advocating for him, and that's half the battle.

I'm glad he's so happy! I hope it's better than he's imagining, even!

Awww!!!

Fabulous news about the school's willingness to help, and finding Mrs. Math! I'm so happy for Mr. Wiggly, just to have that happy, excited feeling.

You did say your DH was an INTP? Mine too. He also waited until after we went through testing to enlighten me about his school experience (while I thought he was just going along with the whole testing to humor me.) I remember saying after several school horror stories, "why didn't you tell me this before?!" hmph. (although, from the short descriptions here, i could be all wrong about your DH!)

I �m glad your son�s school is doing all it can to provide an appropriate (and free) education. He is lucky to receive accommodations beginning at his young age and should progress extremely fast given his ability and the talent of the new math teacher!

WOW I am soooo impressed with your school! Way to go!!!! I'm so happy for Mr. Wiggly!

You are actually right on about my DH - are you perhaps married to his brother??! LOL! DH is just like yours, doesn't share stuff until it's hit a certain point. I know now that he's been observing, taking in information, recalling things about his own childhood and school years and relating to MrWiggly very differently than I have. But has he shared it with me? No way! Just his style. He needs to and prefers to process it all internally. His son (19 years old, lives with us) is the same way. I NEVER know what's on his mind.

Of course maybe some of it is just a guy thing. You know, Mars and Venus?!

Well, not completely "free" since we will be paying Mrs. Math for her time after school. But I figure that is doable and reasonable at this point. I'll take whatever I can get and at least now I don't have the worry of interviewing and hiring someone I don't know.

BTW, this morning was 180 degrees of change for us. MrWiggly bounded out of bed, eagerly dressed and packed up his bookbag, directed me as to what stuff he needed today for school and then ran down the driveway to get on the bus yelling "see ya' later!" as he went. I hope his day went well!

It's amazing to me to think that these two years of problem behaviors might be all or mostly attributed to the wrong academic setting or program. Just amazing.

Let us know how he is upon his return. I'm hoping he's equally sunny when he gets home!

Oh my - my husband must be INTP too. He sounds just like these descriptions! Funny.

Another wow from me! What a great set-up for MrWiggly. I hope it's all you guys are dreaming about and more!

Thought I'd drop in an update on our situation. MrWiggly tested out of 4th grade math with 28/30 correct on the curriculum based pretest they gave all students. So yesterday he was given the 5th grade test and scored a 66%. Respectabble score, I think, since he should be in 2nd grade!

So, today Mrs. Math was going to have him start in her room with his own desk set up near her and a 5th grade textbook ready to start in on. She is prepared to let him move forward as he shows mastery and has no problem taking him through as many years of curriculum as he can handle. Yipee!! MrWiggly was again beside himself and bounded out the door to catch the bus. He said he hopes he is NEVER bored in math again. I do, too!

Now, the 3rd grade isn't showing much promise (his placement for all other subjects) but that would be the start of another thread. I'll give it a couple of weeks for review, warm-up, getting to know the students or whatever the teacher is doing before I raise a ruckus about that stuff! Thankfully the principal has already said that we will be meeting in 4-6 weeks to go over all the other subjects. Can hardly wait for that meeting!

Sounds promising. Thanks for the update.

Any idea what you'll ask for at that meeting?

Ugh, I'm not sure. I know he needs differentiation on almost all subjects. Perhaps we'll just ask for a skip to 4th. He's already been exposed to the kids in that class from last year's 3rd grade math class. He'd probably do fine socially.

After testing with Dr. Ruf I'm not so shy about asking for what he needs, YKWIM? I am, remember, the one who kept saying "my son isn't *that* smart...." LOL! I know better now!

Good for you! It is a learning process, isn't it?

Do you think the school will go for a second skip? It does sound like that might be your best bet. Certainly the easiest thing for the school to do! Differentiation in all subjects isn't going to be easy on the teacher!

DH and I both agree that the skip to 4th would be the easiest for the school and probably what MrWiggly needs. The principal has NOT been keen on the idea at all, so we'll have to see what happens at our meeting.

DH is pretty sure we need to plan on moving son to a different school in a year, maybe two. I agree but am now a little worried as DH says "if I'm moving for a school I want to move to another state." :0 I've always known he's not too happy here in IL but now he has a reason to make the move a big one!! I pointed out that we can't just up and move across the country without some pretty good research and plan for MrWiggly's education. I'm certainly not moving 1,000 miles for a grade school then move again for a high school, etc.

Anyone in a state that they just absolutely love and believe to be great in terms of gifted education? I'll take suggestions of where I should start researching any time now. Thanks!