Mothers

WITH ATTITUDE

amazon.com


Boiling Point.
Heated dispatches from the parenting front lines.

Home
WEBLOGS AND COLUMNS
Parenting Isn't Pretty
Boiling Point
Thinking It Over
Therapeutic Laughter
Contributor's Corner
HOT LINKS
General health and development
ADD/ADHD
Adoption
Attachment
Autism
Education
FAS/FAE
Learning Disabilities
Mental Health
Other Special Needs
Sensory Integration
Therapies
RECOMMENDED READING
Adoption
Autism
FAS/FAE
Other Special Needs
Parenting
AT YOUR SERVICE
MWA Store
Handy Headlines
Daily Dispatch
Adoption Watch
Fun and Games
About MWA
Contact Us

OCTOBER 18, 2001

Making progress
The early report is in

by Terri Mauro

Progress reports came out for my kiddos yesterday, and all in all the school year is progressing about as I would have guessed.

My daughter's report indicates budding problems with math, reading and English, no surprises there. Her instructional aide, who was supposed to be in place on Day One, finally showed up this Monday, so maybe she can make the difference in those problem areas. In the comments section, the teacher wrote that my daughter "has been working very hard," which is boilerplate for this child, kind of like the way they always say a person who's not that attractive has a great personality. But the teacher's right: My girl does work hard. And her parents work hard. And now her aide is going to have to work hard, too.

My son's report indicates that he's doing passing work in academic subjects, and needs improvement only in behavior and work habits. Again -- no surprise. If his behavior and work habits were perfect, he wouldn't be in a self-contained special-ed class in the first place. Still, you gotta love the comments: the teacher wrote that my son "is impulsive and compulsive, but they continue to be overshadowed by his charm, wit and hard work. He is a delightful student who is making steady progress in all areas."

I knew I liked that teacher.

copyright © 2001 by Terri Mauro