Mamma Mia!
Wow! Way to ask for what you need! Aleks has a free trial, I would start that now. What does 3rd grade mean? You can use it as a platform for teaching just as well as for a self-instruction method. You won't create gaps by starting Aleks from their begining. Did you get the Singapore Math books? In some ways a set of books that he can do during Math class and bring home for you to check may be as good as an online Math class, so you can be the pacer. ((Did you start that already?))
The good news is that within 3 months he will be eating that MAP test for lunch - Oh the perils of NOT HOThousing!
I loved it when you said:
"Well," I said, "that's why we're looking at full-grade acceleration. It would be less work for everyone." I think that kind of hit home with them.
and
"Well, this *is* his 5; even though this isn't the 5 that most kids have, it's ds's 5, and we'd like to work with him where he's at."
It sure does worry me that they have been monitoring him behind your back - so glad you demanded that they keep you in the loop.
Here's the hard part -
A) if at all possible, get it in writing that they can't meet his needs -
Anyway, it went well. My favorite part was when I said that while we appreciate all the enrichement, we'd like to see ds learn something this year; all the enrichment, even their "challenge" work, has been -- not a challenge for him. His K teacher responded, "Well, we're just not able to differentiate like that; there are the other children that we also need to be working with."
Was XH there? Better if this comes from a Male (sad to say)
B) (Your Role as good cop:)
Now that you are walking out of the great meeting, I would ask them to read your 'notes' and let you know if they heard the same thing you heard. I have found that many meetings end happily, only to find that nothing gets done as promised, because they didn't percieve that they agreed to do anything!
Top of my list is that they will give you a report of what their psychologist 'finds' ((Not that you should believe what they write down, but you have to know what they are doing/thinking. Other disagree, but I firmly believe that ONE CAN NOT evaluate for pathology in the child when the child is in a pathological school setting. And it is a very rare and special school that can see any 'blame' placed with their own program!))
2nd is this related work in reading.
3rd is that the IAS will be used.
4th - Gifted teacher will meet with him within the month and evaluate if she can help set up a program to help met his needs.
5th - Math alternative.
Brace yourself - even if you rewrite this memo politely and keep it short and sweet, they may say, "Oh, we didn't promise to do that, those were just ideas we were tossing out."
I wouldn't use email - to easy to "loose" - rather drop off copies for the classroom teacher and Principal and GT teacher. It is very intimidating, so be sure to pleasant it up with "writing is such an important part of clear communication, isn't it?"
Anyway, good luck! Great Job! And the reading group sounds good!
Smiles,
Grinity
