IEP

We're in the midst of IEP season here. It's actually Cayla's second one this year. And, Collin has now joined the club:) We had his last Monday, and I just finished prepping for Cayla's tomorrow.

Needless to say, Flannery and I have not been impressed with the education our children have received and have been less impressed with the IEP process, and even less impressed with how the IEP has been implemented. That's not to say that our kids don't love school and that they haven't had wonderful teachers and that they aren't part of a nurturing school community. I just think that so much energy and time goes into creating (somewhat) meaningless goals and endless piles of paperwork. And, I really, really think that many below-average students are getting left behind in the modern 'quest for excellence' full of problem solving and testing and graduation requirements. Ironic, isn't it.

Flannery and I combed over the draft of Cayla's IEP that her teacher gave me on Friday. Under her "reading goal", she has 3 objectives. Although there is not mention of improving her reading level or working on phonics, this was listed as her 3rd objective:

With assistance as needed, choose books, book activities, word play, and writing on their own during free time in school and at home.

So, as you can see from the below photo I snapped today, I think we got that one covered.
Flannery was feeling a bit overwhelmed tonight and as I wrapped up at 2am, I remembered this moment. I think that if my daughter squeals with glee while discovering a book she got at our neighbor's garage sale yesterday (with the words 'dumb bunny' in the title) and starts reading it to her brother, then all is alright with the world.

Wish us luck!

Goodnight:)