Tiffany and I went to Alex's Parent-Teacher conference on Tuesday evening with his teacher, Mrs. Gallo. We were pleasantly surprised. Alex's behavior is steadily improving, and he is participating very well in class. He received 94/100 on his end-of-chapter math test; the average score in the class was about 90. The questions Alex DID miss were ones that he had either skipped or rushed through. The teacher gave him a beginning-of-third-grade reading test, and he passed it very well. Although his penmanship is atrocious, the writing is very good when he has a story that he wants to tell and he applies himself. When he is given a topic, however, he seems to have trouble deciding what to write. Mrs. Gallo suggested that we have him draw pictures before beginning the writing – this seems like a very good idea to me.
Although our primary reason for testing him for Excel has been as a gateway out of Sifton, we decided with Mrs. Gallo that, because he has been sooooo close for two years, and because he says he enjoys the test, we will have him tested again this year.
In the past, we have taken the school district at their word that the Excel test is one that cannot be studied for. However, we have since spoken with psychologists who have told us that the standard test Evergreen uses for Excel is not very well accepted professionally specifically because it CAN be studied for. Because our boundary exception to Fisher's Landing is only guaranteed for one year, and because we are TERRIFIED about sending Alex back to Sifton, we WILL be studying for the Excel test this year.
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