Finished with Sylvan classes....starting half day at school.

[Misspoker]

 Sierra finished up her 36 hours of Sylvan Learning Center tutoring in Reading last Wednesday.  She was so glad.  It made for a long day on Monday's & Wednesday's when she went for two hours a night.  She is in fifth grade and her beginning and ending evaluations were as follows:

Vocabulary - beginning grade level 2.2 - ending grade level 4.9 - increase 2.7

Comprehension - beginning grade level 1.3 - ending grade level 2.5 - increase 1.2

Total - beginning grade level 1.7 - ending grade level 3.5 - overall increase 3.5

I am so proud of her.  She made great progress!  This was definitely worth it and I hope she will be able to qualify for additional tutoring next year.

This week started out with Sierra only going to school until lunchtime.  At the last IEP meeting a couple of weeks ago, I inquired about this option because her days are so inconsistent and some days she gets nothing out of going all day because she can't stay focused.  These days, the teachers get so frustrated with her and by the time she gets home she is so frazzled that she can't get anything done.  The team suggested against it at that time because they were worried about the social aspects of her only going for a half day.  After the horrible week she had after we returned from Easter vacation, they seemed to rethink their decision and called to ask my opinion.  Of course I thought it was a good idea or I would have never called a meeting to discuss it with them.  So now she is going to four classes and they send home assignments for the other two so she can still get a grade in those classes. 

I sent Sierra to school yesterday with a good start to the day....she got up fine, got her shower and eat her breakfast with no problems so I was sure it was going to be a good day....until 8:30 and the phone rang.  It was her homeroom teacher saying she couldn't get Sierra to cooperate at all.  She wouldn't even go to her other class or acknowledge the teachers speaking to her.  All she wanted to do was sit at her desk and play with the rocks she had found on the way to school (she walks because we live in a small town and only live 2 houses away from the school).  I ended up having to go pick her up and bring her home.  She hates it when that happens because she has to come home and do school work ALL day long.  I have tried to explain to her that she gets herself into these situation by thinking she is in charge and can do whatever she wants.  I cut her a lot of slack when it comes to some things but she knows I will not tolerate others.  I try to explain to her that I love her and want the best for her so I am going to push her to do her best.  I refuse to give my child the "woe is me" complex.  Not happening with my child.  Call it what you will but the way I see it, it's tough love and I am the only one to teach her accordingly.  She knows she is different but she also know what I expect from her.  Hopefully today will be better but her mood changes so frequently that you just never know what is going to happen next.

Stay tuned for more of "AS MY ANGEL FACE GROWS"