Class Placement

It's that time of year again...

Time for all my fears again...

{sing it with me}

Class PLACEMENT time... {swaying with the tunes}


I'm sitting here just after 6 am, cleaning out my inbox and I see the class placement form.  This year they've changed it, no names on it at  ALL.  Last year we could say who we DIDN'T want.  No names this year, or they'll shred it in FRONT of your student.  Ok, maybe not.  But no names.

So, here's what I'd write if I had no self-editing skills and I didn't care what the Principal thought of me:

1.  My child's academic goals for the next year are:  He really needs to learn stuff.  He's rarely challenged at school, to the point that when he is challenged, in almost any way he is unable to deal with it.  I wish he had  more challenges so that he could learn how to meet them more appropriately.  I need a teacher that will challenge him, in all subjects.

2.  The classroom behavior management style that works best for my child is:  A combination of Mr Rogers and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.  Do you have anyone that fits that bill?  Perfect, thanks so much.  I need them to show him praise and adore him, and then not let him get away with his sneaky shenanigans.  He will try.  He's also a talker.  I have no idea where he gets that from.  I apologize.

3.  I would have a concern placing my child in the same class as: (please list no more then 2 students):  Bad children.  Children that swear or hit or bite.  I don't like biters. {honestly, I will leave this one blank -- I understand people who have concerns with this but it's not mine}

4.  If there is a classroom environment that you believe would NOT meet your child's needs, please describe the environment and explain why it would not be the best environment for your child.  {this may be my real answer here, I need practice on this one}  An environment in which my child isn't challenged and the teacher is so busy helping children attain grade level that she is unable to help him grow beyond the work that she has been given for him.  A teacher who thinks within the box and finds my child to be outside that box and thinks he'll do fine on his own, because he will -- but I'm not hoping for "fine" next year.

So, does your school have these forms?  Do you fill them out?  I must admit that I didn't fill them out in CA.  I'd just bring the current year's teacher chocolates and tell them how pretty they were and in between my sweet words I'd say "Dodson" kind of like in those SNL videos.  Either way, it worked.  But here I'm doing the form.  I will do a combination attack and I am currently looking for deals on delicious chocolate. :)

P.S.  How did Mr Middle get to 4th grade?  It is truly not cool.  I started this blog when he was born.  As my grandparents used to say -- when he's a general authority they sure will have a lot to research about him. :)  BTW, I think 4th grade was my funnest year in school by FAR, I hope it's amazing for him as well.