Goodbye Grade School
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Posted on June 11, 2015 by

Tomorrow is Katie’s last day of 5th grade. Technically it’s not because she has five weeks of summer school with the same teacher and the same classmates. But tomorrow is the last day of regular classes. The general ed fifth … Continue reading →

It’s IEP Season, Part 6
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Posted on June 4, 2015 by

For several days I pondered how I could observe in the un-offered classroom placement. I checked the district website and learned Mitchell was now a K-8 school. Back in 2009, Mitchell was still an elementary school. It’s where Katie had … Continue reading →

Third Draft of My Memoir is Done!!
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Posted on May 28, 2015 by

It’s been a long, strange spring. First I developed a bizarre thumb infection that rendered my right hand virtually useless. I was forced to take more antibiotics than I care to think about and soaked my bloated digit six times … Continue reading →

Another Story Selected for Performance By Petaluma Readers Theatre
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Posted on May 21, 2015 by

Many of you will remember that the Petaluma Readers Theatre (PRT) performed my award-winning story, “Elliott Comes to Play” on stage back in the summer of 2012. As I told PRT after the performance, “seeing my story performed on stage … Continue reading →

It’s IEP Season, Part 5
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Posted on May 14, 2015 by

When I was observing potential classroom placements in my home school district, both teachers mentioned a moderate special day class at another school. I had no idea where this class was or who taught it, but I wanted to know … Continue reading →

It’s IEP Season, Part 4
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Posted on May 7, 2015 by

A week later, my friend Barb (Katie’s reading tutor) and I met Mary, the Program Specialist, in front of a middle school in our home district. I liked the feel of the place. This classroom had fewer students and the … Continue reading →

It’s IEP Season, Part 3
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Posted on April 30, 2015 by

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I met Mary, the Program Specialist, outside the Pleasanton middle school. We signed in and headed to the classroom, making small talk as we wandered the unfamiliar corridors. Eventually we found the classroom … Continue reading →

It’s IEP Season, Part 2
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Posted on April 23, 2015 by

After our first IEP meeting in January 2015, Ms Nav never sent the consolidated goals. Two days before our next meeting, she sent an updated draft IEP but it only contained her proposed goals. When I questioned this, she said … Continue reading →