Current Mood: Happy

DD and I made the easiest cookies (short of the ones that come in the refridgerated section of the store) ever tonight and they were really good. 

Ingredients:

• 1 Box Spice Cake Mix
• 1- 15 oz. can pumpkin (not pie filling)
• chocolate frosting

Directions:

• Mix the Spice Cake Mix and the pumpkin together in mixing bowl. 
• Scoop dough by rounded teaspoon onto a greased cookie sheet. 
• Bake at 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. 
• Allow time to cool and draw jack-o-lantern face with chocolate frosting on each cookie.

YUM!

Current Mood: Sad

I have taken a break from writing.  I’ve actually got plenty to write about but it’s all complaining and I’ve decided I’m tired of complaining it’s not helping me.  If I can’t say something nice then I won’t say anything at all.  I am taking some steps to remedy my issues with school and then can hopefully say something nice again.

We had a conference with DS’s teacher this morning.  I was expecting to go in and have it with just her, but she had it in the dean of “studies” office.  I’m sort of aggrivated with this man as well, in the position he’s in, because he is not a teacher.  He is a police officer by education.  I’m just plain AGGRIVATED, can you tell?  Anyway…it was a total waste of time.  She still does not get that DS is bored stiff and developing a real attitude about school.  He is doing the work and doing well.  They kept tellling him if he does what he’s supposed to do then they will give him more challenging work.  HE DOES!  The only issue was ONE time he forgot to turn in an assignement, which he had completed in class, but somehow missed the time to turn it in.  We kept telling her and him that he needs more challenge.  He’s bored with what he’s doing and it’s basically a waste of his time.  The dean (who came in 10 minutes after the conference began and missed her sharing with us his scores on standardized testing of how far above grade level he is) kept saying well if he shows us how well he’s doing then we’ll give him more challenging work.  I’m sorry?  What did I miss here?  If he shows?  Has he not got all A’s except the one class in which he missed the one turned in assignment and which that one assignment brought his grade down to a D (now after some other work a C-).  He’s HATING homework (okay what kid doesn’t, but…) because he’s doing menial tasks and nothing in which he’s gaining anything.  I spoke with DH briefly after the meeting as he needed to go to work.  I will speak to DS tonight to be sure we’re all okay with this.  But at this point, I’ll be going into the office on Monday and setting up an appointment with the principal to attempt to have DS moved into a classroom with a teacher who has a little more experience with gifted students.  I was so disappointed at the meeting today and that we basically got nowhere.  It was a total waste of our time as she is still clueless as to what we are asking for.  I even gave examples of homework that would be more productive to him.  Homework in which he has to find and write about a current event or a book report on what he’s reading.  That would not be a review of what he’s learing in class?  Their homework is to support what they are doing in class.  ARGH!

I am so aggrivated.  I asked for a conference with DS’s teacher over two weeks ago.  I went in on Friday to say (mind you this was not the first time I went in to say it.  I’ve sent in three notes and mentioned something personally two other times) that I needed to speak with her.  DS is so frustrated with his classroom life.  (I have to say I am too!)  She said she was setting up conferences with all parents the following week.  I said that it can’t wait.  I needed this conference yesterday which is why I asked for it two weeks ago.  She set one up for today.  Guess who called to cancel this morning?  ARGH!  I understand her son is sick and she has to take him to the doctor.  But I’m so aggrivated about being put off one more time.  Then she said she could meet Thursday at the same time.  I have three people coming over to my house on Thursday at that time.  I could cancel, but I’m so mad about it that I said I could not come at the time she scheduled.  She says, “That puts us into next week then!”  I said, no it doesn’t.  You need to get me in tomorrow.  She says shes not going to be at school tomorrow.  She has a workshop.  So I say then before school on Thursday.  She finally says okay.  So now we’re scheduled for Thursday morning.  Think she’ll follow thru this time?  I am so frustrated we’re going to the P’s office if things don’t change after this meeting or if this meeting does not occur.  I’m going to ask for him to be changed to another class and if that doesn’t work then we may be homeschooling the rest of the year.  I really hate to do that as he’ll miss out on so many things.  There is the fifth grade camp out and the end of the year fifth grade party.  He’s gone all the way through in this school and I really want him to have those special times.  But if his life is going to be miserable and his attitude for school so affected…then I don’t see any other options.  I’m really hoping that we make some positive changes here.  I have some ideas to take with me for stuff for him to do that is more productive for him and not such a waste of his time. 

One of the other parents at school has substituted in his class and told me how bored he was and what a waste of his time it was.  It’s bad when someone outside of the whole ordeal sees it and comes to you to say something.  There are three children in this class that need more stimulation and she needs to be providing something for them.  Writing spelling words he already knows how to spell, 5 X each is not teaching him anything.  It’s only making him hate it!  I think doing current event reports, creating projects and such would be much more productive with his time.  Of course that means she’d have to read something or provide some time for him in class to present.  Last year his teacher used to let him teach the math class once in awhile.  He loved it, proved he knew the content and felt good about the experience.  Pray for us.  Hope this moves in a more positive direction. I’m so aggrivated.