One of the tests (the Reading achievement test), he gets to take a second time. (They do it in both the Fall, to make sure they're prepared for 3rd grade, and then again in the Spring). If they don't pass the Spring test, this means additional instruction in the summer. In the Fall, he performed at the accelerated level. He was "Above Proficient" in all areas accept for "Literary Text", which means he is "learning" to recognize what is similar and different in stories. So this is something I really need to work on with him. Can I do this in 4 weeks? Heaven help me, I hope so! Math, well, I can definitely see where Jack gets frustrated. I'm just wondering how to get all of the super important stuff in NOW, and then work on the rest in the last month of school.
I keep getting asked "What are you doing to make sure Jack is getting what he needs to know?" "Are you using a set curriculum or computer program, or are you just teaching him what you think he needs?" I suppose very good questions, from those who have probably never homeschooled in their life. Really, I'm sure I'd wonder the same thing. However, it kind of seems like there is little faith in what I'm setting out to accomplish here, either. There have been some very supportive comments, however. From those who know about Jack's "issues", they think I've done a very hard, but very wise thing. Not that it matters what anyone else thinks about it, though. What matters is that Jack is able to do the work, learn without being distracted by others (or in some ways, by himself).. unlike every single time he has had to be removed from class because of his behavior (or reaction to the behavior of others).
He does still get upset now and then about not being with his friends, and about the idea of not ever going back to that school. On the other hand, he is starting to ask more questions about his new school.. wanting to see pictures of it, find out the names of the 4th grade teachers, will he be taking the bus or not, and "are there any bullies there"? I do think he's coming to some kind of acceptance. He was doing a video chat with a friend from school the other day, and asked the boy if he was going to a new school next year. I think he looks forward to having different teachers, if not different friends. He told the psychiatrist the other day that his old teachers were "poo". He didn't explain why, but I think that's explanation enough. LOL
So in keeping with the idea of getting some social interaction, he is now enrolled in Soccer, we have a membership to a local science museum, and we were lucky enough to win a membership to the local pool. I've also bought some cheap passes (via Groupon) to a "Bounce House" center down the road. We're taking one of his friends there with us tonight, and Jack is SUPER excited!! I still want to get Jack involved in a social skills group, but that is going to take some more research.
Speaking of research, I really need to find a new psychiatrist. The current one wants to up Jack's medication, although I've said that it's not working and I'd like to just wean him off of it altogether. With the Rx he wrote, I may be able to use that (along with the different mg's from previous doses of the same med, that were not used) to wean him myself. We'd like to keep him on his current dose until the state assessments, and then wean him off this medication. What we'll do after that, we're not sure. Find a new psychiatrist, for starters. They're not easy to come by, however. We started seeing this guy in November, and we STILL have not seen a bill. I cringe to think of what it will finally be when it does come. Not cool. Not cool at all.
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