Change is in the Air

I was feeling pretty good about school...in the beginning.  Things have changed.  Rebecca brought home a story she had written a couple weeks ago.  It was a FANTASTIC story.  Rebecca's creativity oozed from the page.  She was so proud; jumping all around the room in anticipation of me reading it.  Her first question was "What is my grade?"  I looked at the page and saw 1.5 out of 4.  I couldn't squash her excitement, so I told her she had received a good mark.  Before we started reading the 2 page story, I glanced at the grading rubric in which the teacher had highlighted areas that needed improvement.  Neatness and spelling/punctuation errors were noted.  Yes, we struggle with that.  Then I saw that the grading teacher couldn't find a clear beginning, middle, and end of the story.  It also apparently lacked creative details. This is what caused the 1.5 mark.  I then had Rebecca read me the story.  She had some difficulty recognizing some of her writing, but the smile on her face never faded.  It was by far the most creative, unique story she had ever written and was filled with amazing details.  It did indeed have a very clear beginning, middle and end.  The only thing I can think of is that the teacher couldn't read Rebecca's handwriting.  How else could she have gotten such a low mark on this very good story?  At that moment, I realized Rebecca couldn't be in this school any longer.  


Timber Point Elementary is no longer  the correct placement for my special child, not that it ever was.  They do not have the funding nor the training to meet Rebecca's needs.  I came to the realization that she will never be successful in this setting.  She is floundering and I can not... WILL NOT sit back and watch her fail.  Therefore, change is in the air.  The only way Rebecca will be successful in school is if she is taught the appropriate learning strategies to her special learning style.  I've spent the last week searching for a better placement, but there is none.  Our only option is Independent Study, otherwise known as Homeschool.  I found a charter school in Newark that is opening a site in Brentwood that will support our new adventure.  They send a teacher liaison to our home each month to check our progress.  They also pay for our curriculum and offer some extra curricular classes on site such as art, writing, and science.  


Rebecca and I have talked at great length about homeschool.  She was a on the fence in the beginning, but has sense become excited about the idea.  A few days ago, I knew I was on the right track.  We were driving to tutoring when Rebecca said to me "Mommy, I want to be homeschooled because I want to learn.  I am not learning in school.  I want to learn more."  There is something wrong with the public school system if a 9 year old doesn't feel as if she is learning in school.  There is no doubt in my mind that Rebecca will be incredibly successful in homeschool and in life.  Let the adventure begin!