It's been sort of a weird day--it's been the sort of day where most of my students have given me a reason to want to be here. Except my 6th period, of course, but then, I'll have to content myself with the sad fact that I'll probably outlive most of the kids that are giving me most of the grief. And since I'm pretty sure I'm having a better time than they are, even as old and decrepit as I am, I think that's a decent trade off, don't you?
I actually told one of the young sweet things in the English department that I wished I was nineteen again--I mean sure, I was bulimic and I didn't know jack shit about Jack's shit, but, damn, my body wasn't falling apart in measurable increments, now was it? But other than the whole foot fiasco, today hasn't been bad at all, really.
One of the things I've been musing about, though, has been Ladybug and Cave Troll. Cave Troll went in for his Kindergarten diagnostic a couple of weeks ago, and the conclusion was that he didn't recognize numbers or letters, and that this is a skill he needs for Kindergarten. His babysitter says that she's been working with him on this, but that it just doesn't seem to register with him, which worries me. We joke about him being hyperactive, but I'm starting to wonder if maybe there isn't something at work there--I've been telling Mate that his attention span/concentration ratio just seems to be off, and last night I was reading an alphabet book and a counting book to him and his sister, instead of the Boynton books which are my usual favorites.
Ladybug's skills are higher than his.
No, seriously--she not only counted to ten, she knew what the number looked like. She identified as many if not more letters than he did. Her coloring skills are equal to his, and she understands colors enough to know that her favorite is pink and NOT yellow (even though the yarn that I bought on sale was yellow because it was prettier than the pink!) The Cave Troll just picked a favorite color a couple of months ago--bright red.
Now I've been telling my students for years that my kids were not super-geniuses--they seem to assume that because I'm a teacher and my husband's an engineer, some sort of dormant uber-gifted gene will breed true and square itself. No, I've told them, my kids are just like my husband and I--they are smart, yes, but mostly, they just work their asses off for their good grades.
The Cave Troll is going to have to work his baby ass off even more than Chicken, and maybe even as much as Big T.
Ladybug is going to rule the freakin world. If she doesn't burn it down first.
The future is looking VERY interesting--I'd better take care of myself and make sure I'm here to see it!
9 comments:
OOOh yes - Som at 3 - numbers, letters, started reading - builds towers he has to stand on chairs and tables to finish (scarily smart) - let's make sure he never meets Ladybird - because the next thing you know they'll divide the world in 2 and rule it as their personal fiefdom!!
Daughter - OKI - 5 and reading now but wasn't sure there for a while - smart - but no concentration span! They develop at their own pace - and into their own people!
Ilike what tingingbell about children growing at their own pace and in to their own people. Our very bright son just didn't really care about the alphabet - it was too much work when one could be playing the swords. I wasn't sure he'd ever learn to read!
Fortunately, Cave Troll has parents who will help him grow in to his abilities and talents.
The Eldest was a slow starter. She's getting better, it just takes time.
The ladies are right, kids get there at their own pace. Just to be sure, have to spoken to his pediatrician about your concnerns or the results of the kinder assessment? I'd start there if you have an inkling that something is amiss. Mr. Mature has his tomorrow. I just hope he stops talking long enough to ge the instructions!
When my 25 yr old daughter, Elanor, was tested for kdg, she 'failed' the testing. She couldn't hop on one foot, draw a circle or color in the lines. They told me she had ADD and we put her through a battery of tests to make sure she had no neurological problems (she didn't). She spent 2 years in special ed with the best teachers ever and thrived. As she grew, she really was bored at school. Teachers actually said to me "I can't teach your child". Her IQ is way above normal and she graduated with honors. She has never liked school and is not interested in college so she is making her way in her own way. I am proud of her and get insulted when someone suggests that she is an underachiever because she isn't a college grad and is working in a drug store as a supervisor. She's happy and that's what counts. Cave Troll will find his way and maybe, like Elanor, he is just what I like to call a Late Bloomer. We love them all the more for their accomplishments, no matter when they occur.
I have twin nephews. One of them is exceptionally bright, to the point that at 3 1/2 he can hold a well thought out conversation with an adult and make sense and add valuable insight, it's slightly frightening. He plays computer games that have reasoning skills and he's good at them, he's really a marvel. The other one is way to busy being a rough and tough boy to give a flying freak. He's an outstanding athlete, he rides, bikes, scoots, runs, jumps and generally just out physicals his twin to a crazy degree. They have been exposed to the exact same things and are still completely different. I wouldn't worry too much about CT, he'll get there eventually, wherever there is for him.
I don't know what to say, dear heart, How do you feel about this diagnosos? You sound so calm and together about it all.
If they had diagnosed ADHD back in the 1900s, my dad would have had it. He went on to build a lumber mill right before WWII and became a wealthy man and a piller of the community.
Can you put the Troll on an exercise bicycle hooked up to an electric generator? Harness that energy!
Dude, they test the kids before they get to kindergarten?! I thought kindergarten was where you learned some of the stuff that you were describing... shows what I know. In terms of variety of brain power at least they have parents that know how to help them all.
The one thing to look out for is potentially in highschool. My husband's youngest brother, Z, is very quick to learn things and doesn't need to study at all. The next youngest, L, needs to work hard to learn things. The problem that arose with them is that Z ended up in L's math class in grade 12 and did better than L. It took a toll on L's self esteem though I don't think he'll admit it.
One of the things I hate about the present educational theories (and aren't theories all guesses?) is that the earlier we can have our students "succeed" the better off they will be. I recently said (in the teachers' lounge, no less) that if I had to send my kids to school today, I would seriously consider home schooling. You wouldn't ask a one year old to run a marathon would you? Why are we asking 5 year olds to measure up to what used to be second grade work? So long as CT's Dr doesn't see any developmental lag, can you manage to keep him home? I read a lot of home schooling blogs and notice that boys, especially, often don't pick up on the whole reading/writing/math thing until they are about 7 or 8 (I see the same thing in school, too). If you can give boys the room, most of them seem to blossom into schooling. If not, the school will teach them they are failures.
Sorry, you hit my soap-box nerve.
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