Communication

As I noted in an earlier post, my youngest son Liam needs to go and see a speech therapist. I received a call yesterday from a woman that wanted to set up his screening. The problem is....I could barely understand her message because she had a very heavy accent and was speaking less than perfect English. I am not certain if this woman will be doing Liam's screening assessment or not. IF she is, I think I am going to have a problem with it. If I can't understand this woman, how is Liam going to understand her and how is she going to teach him to speak correct English when she can't even speak properly????? I just got off the phone with the same woman and it definitely sounds like she WILL be doing the assessment. I don't know what to do. I don't want to be seen as being racist, but I don't think that this will be a fair assessment of what Liam knows. ( The assessment covers language, pre K skills, balance, coordination, fine and gross motor skills, etc...). Having never met this woman I have no opinion of her as a person and am not trying to form one. But seriously....how can a person with such speech herself help and critically assess my child?????

All about Liam

Last Wednesday was Liam's first day at preschool. He did really well that first day and seemed really happy. On Friday when I dropped him off he was very clingy and said that he didn't want me to leave because he was scared. I got him involved in playing and then told him I would be back later. He kept playing, but had the saddest look on his face. It just about broke my heart. I love him so much and I cried all the way to the car!!!! When I picked him up his teacher said he had a good day and seemed to be having fun playing. That made me feel a lot better. I know that he will get used to preschool and being left, but it is still hard for me. I try to be brave for him and not let him see me sad, but sometimes it is hard.
When I was leaving his classroom on Friday his teacher asked me if he had a speech IEP in place. I told her he doesn't and she gave me a referral sheet to call to have him evaluated for speech therapy. Both Ben and I have been thinking that he would probably need speech therapy. I am glad that the teacher asked me about it, as I was hesitant to mention it. I hope that they can get the speech started soon. I can understand almost everything Liam says, but people who aren't around him a lot have trouble understanding him. I will be interested to see how they will help him and what we can do here at home to help him speak clearer. He's a smart little kid and I can't wait til I can hear him express all his ideas clearly.

Teachers

Well it is official as of yesterday...Peter is going to have the same teacher as last year, which is the best thing that could have happened. ( His teacher is now teaching 3rd grade, last year she taught at 2nd/3rd combo class.) Ms. Ruth is an incredible teacher. She is able to teach to all levels of students and she makes all kids feel important. She is very creative and energetic. Peter did very well last year and he is very happy that he will have the same teacher.
As if getting the teacher wasn't enough...we also do not have to be in a class with "the evil twins". (Let me explain a little...the twins have harassed and bullied Peter since kindergarten, even in activities outside of school. They used to taunt Peter to the point that he would knock them down in kindergarten. In first grade, they were thankfully not in Peter's class, but found him on the playground and told him that he had to pay him $20 or they were going to tell the playground supervisor that Peter had choked a kid. I went to the principal and the parents had to go to school to have a meeting. We have been unlucky enough to be on many sports teams with them and they always taunt Peter. During the last baseball season, they hit Peter in the head with a baseball helmet on purpose and then laughed about it.) We had emailed the principal and teacher at the end of school last year and asked that the twins not be in the same class as Peter because of the problems and we got our wish!!!!
I feel like we really are having some good luck. I hope it continues.

end of summer

Well here it is the last week of summer vacation. I have one last week to really have fun with my kids. I think that there will be trips to the park at least a couple of days. Maybe one last trip to Legoland if we can fit it in, and one last summer movie. As I consider all the "lasts" I also start thinking of all the "firsts" that are about to come. Peter's first day in 3rd grade, and Liam's first day in preschool. Both happen next Wednesday, August 22.
Peter is really excited about going to third grade because this year he will get to be in the GATE program and will have more challenges. He also is very familiar with the school and knows lots of kids, so he will adjust well I'm sure.
Liam is also very excited about getting to go to preschool. Ever since we toured the classroom back in April he has been asking when he can go there. I will be helping out in the classroom part time...once a week or so. Hopefully, he will adjust well on the days that I am not with him. He has never been to preschool, and other than going to another daycare room while I work for a couple of hours, he has never been away from me. I have never had to leave him with "strangers" and be farther away than down the hall. I think that I will probably have more trouble being away than he will have with me being gone. He will get to make new friends, which seems to come pretty easily for him. He'll also get to learn to sit still and learn all of his letters and numbers. I am excited to see how much he will learn.