Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Hi, I'm 13, I'm in 7th Grade and I have an Attitude!

So we've hit middle school big time. It's only day 4 but I have some thoughts already that I need to share, and not sure if I want to be that parent or just wait it out to see if anything gets better. Soooo a little background. Perry has been in a resource room since 2nd grade when he was officially diagnosed by Cincinnati Childrens Hospital with a language based learning disability. His 3rd and 4th grade years have been by far his best 2 years of school so far. Both years he had great teachers who worked with his abilities and gave him the room and the help to learn at his own pace. It was 2 years of passionate teachers who were excited about milestones Perry would reach. Then the dreaded intermediate school. His teachers were fine, but it was then I started to be uncomfortable with the whole "resource room" concept. Now the kids are majorly segragated from the rest of their peers. They are not integrated really at all that I can see, his curriculum seemed almost too easy, but if it was to be made any harder he'd become frustrated and not succeed really. So we suffered through. I will say his reading got way better, he seems to like Math a little more, and he made it through the prison type school building really unscathed.
Now we are in a new building. His main class is not after all in the trailer out back. He does have 2 class's out there but he doesn't spend the majority of his day in a trailer out back. So I pick up his schedule, and see he's part of the Heroes team. See others who pick up their schedules and they too are on the heroes team and I think oh cool, maybe now they will be a little more integrated. Then I go to Open House, and they direct us to a room where all the Heroes team is meeting to meet teachers and hear about curriculum. So we go in there not a single teacher is Perry's teachers, and they go over curriculum that I know won't be anything he'll be learning, and if he was required to meet the expectations they are speaking of he'd be doomed. Although the Science Fair sounds like a good time, and some of the other projects they discussed sounded like a fun way to learn. Oh but wait he don't get to do that. We make our way to his homeroom after the lengthy schpeal that did not pertain to us AT ALL (great idea). Meet his 2 teachers, get a breakdown of his curriculum, that doesn't involve any text books or projects see his locker and leave.
So on day 4 of year 3 of school that is no longer the elementary school, I find myself questioning Fairfields resource rooms after elementary school. Or really after 3rd grade since Perry's 4th grade year was not typical, but turned out way better than it would have been. So even though they are special needs does that mean they don't get the excitement of covering a new textbook with a grocery bag, or get to have their parents help them with a science project? Understandably most of the kids in his class would lose the textbook on day 2 or would have to have 2 of them one for home and one for school. But why on earth are they part of team of other students they will never see, with teachers they will never be instructed by. Not only that but the teachers he has are on different teams??? Whaaaa? I'll give it a week or 2 more and then maybe if I still feel they could do better maybe I'll make them? Discuss.....your comments are welcome. And just like the trailer education Perry could care less about any of it, he doesn't know any different.

Monday, August 16, 2010

Wicked

*******POSSIBLE SPOILERS IF YOU'VE NOT SEEN WICKED STOP READING************
I had quite the Whirlwind of a weekend. Friday I worked and boy was it busy! When I got off Kristi and I visited The 86 Club open house, and man that is a super cool building where great things are going to happen! We also went to the Thai Cafe beforehand so that made for a fun evening. Then I got up super early on Saturday morning had Oatmeal at First Watch, and then headed over to Stampaway, and shopped for new rubber and all things fun and creative. Hung out with Kathryn most of the day and got to hang with Connie for about an hour. Then I headed to Columbus. Abby and I had dinner at Bon Vie, where sorry mom but I had the best Beef Stroganoff I've ever eaten in my whole life. So much so, hello I'm blogging about it. After a fantastic dinner, Abby and I headed to The Ohio Theater to see Wicked. I have to say it was one of those life changing performances. If you known me for a long time you know that I am a huge fan of The Wizard of Oz. So much so for years I decorated my home in Wiz of Oz movie posters. I own a copy of the script, I just love the movie period! Hasn't there been a time where you love a movie so, and you connect with the characters so much, you wish they were your friend and you knew more about their lives. Wicked did that. Suddenly all the questions you've asked for most of your life are finally answered, and the characters are so much more real. Ever since seeing it I keep thinking about it and keep thinking "Wow, how did the writers know I needed that information to feel complete." Seriously I know I'm completely geeking out on this one, I feel complete. Ha...wierd. Not because of just the completeness of the story now but the story it told as well. Basically so many awesome messages....girl power, ugly girl wins, wicked may not just be wicked, good may not be all that good, everyone has their issues, people matter, stuff matters, and Friendship matters ALOT! So this song has been meaningful to me all weekend, and if you have stuck around long enough to read this crazy blog then this song is for you no matter who you are or how you know me.


Tuesday, August 03, 2010

Creating Keepsake is coming to the Nati!!!!!

HERES THE 411..........
Join us for a weekend of scrapbooking and more where you can enjoy shopping, classes, and chances to win at our newest location—CKC-Cincinnati!
Register online now through Monday, August 30 at 9:00 pm at our website: www.ckscrapbookevents.com/cincinnati.
Plus, receive a FREE gift and FREE magazine subscription when you register online (free items available only through online registration).
Schedule:Thursday, September 9Vendor Faire: not open; classes: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm;
CK Sketches Workshop 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm
Friday, September 10Vendor Faire: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm; classes 8:30 am to 8:30 pm;
Friday Celebration Crop 7 pm to 11:30 pm
Saturday, September 11Vendor Faire: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm; classes 8:30 am to 5:30 pm;
Super Saturday Crop 7 pm to 11:30 pm
Vendor Faire daily pass pricing: Adults and children ages 10 and up: $10 at door (see web site the week before the event for discount coupons); seniors ages 65 and up: $7; children ages 9 and under: no charge

Sunday, August 01, 2010

The World Sucks!


mail art project 1, originally uploaded by Yoda0419.

First off Perry and I are involved in a mail art project this summer that we are hopelessly behind on. We've mailed our first project. This one is mine if you click on it'll take you to Perry's. At this rate we'll still be working on mail art well after school starts but that's ok.

I thought it was just me until other people were having the same sort of rant. People are just generally self absorbed. I am sure I have my moments, but some folks are just flat out SELFISH......it's as though they are completely unaware that there other people in this world besides themself.

Working in customer service you encounter all sorts of people and it ain't just work it's observing everyday life and my surroundings. PEOPLE ARE FREAKIN SELFISH AS HELL! That was last week tomorrow starts a new week and after coming off of 3 days of Cincykids, where I watched small kids learn to be selfless....and serve others.....I've decided to give the world another chance.