Conference week

Kelly hung out with him at school while I attended the parent/teacher conferences yesterday. And those were mostly a bummer. The others from earlier in the week were generally good. Of course, when you have 8 teachers, inevitably some are not going to get how to work with him, or even get much about him. So different than having one teacher who has the time and energy to really get him. And the specialty teachers who worked with him for 6 years. It's tricky and just a bummer. 

Turns out there are three teachers who really dig him and get him. And that's really great! Unfortunately, one of the ones who connects did have him for 2 classes and I messed that up. By moving him into Spanish, which I had requested at the beginning but had to switch him into after a few weeks. Which of course also makes it tricky to start then. He knows a lot of Spanish words but the teacher didn't even realize that. She's one who is not quite sure how to engage him. 

To top it off, he also got a new paraprofessional. Which is also a tricky thing. There was a controversy with this individual earlier in the year with one of my friends children. And now that child is wondering why this person is with Ian. Which I love! A peer is looking out for my baby. When I brought this concern up to the staff, they just gushed about how great she is. And what a good fit she is. 

I'm trying out school lunch to see if he likes any of the meals. Just for a bit. I got a text saying this person had mentioned how he was smiling when he ate the lunch. A few minutes afterward, his afternoon para, whom I don't know well but feel that he's amazing, just the moments I do see him, says that he didn't like to school lunch and ate only a couple bites but ate the lunch I sent with him as a backup. Strange, right? Doesn't give me confidence in her being honest. We shall see. 

I love that he's in school with friends he's known since kinder. But the structure of middle school is a lot for him, and for me. I just never know if him being in this environment is the best fit for him. I wish all the teachers got him and were able to engage him.