First grade is hard

First grade for Madalyn has taught me a lot.

Best news first.  Madalyn loves school.  Her teachers and peers love her, and no one would know she is struggling with reading and math based on playing with her, or having conversations with her.  She interacts great!

I never knew the path that led parents to say "children don't come with an instruction manual".  They weren't being funny, or even creative when they said it, they were feeling a little lost as they researched, asked, thought, and fought for the best ways to help their kids ultimately be healthy, happy, succesful, educated people of the world.

Also, I have a new appreciation for my friends that have walked this path before me.  I didn't realize what the months or years of struggles, of not keeping up with their classmates,  never making it to treasure box, and even being sent to the principal's office felt like for the child or the parents.

And then there is this new math stuff.  I never thought I would enjoy sitting at a child's table with an abacus and a million worksheets, trying to explain that 5 groups of 10 make up 50.  Or that 31 is 3 groups of 10 and 1 left over.  Only to discover that counting to 100 is still the issue, and that her class is now to numbers to 120 counting by 2's.  But she is my favorite student to work with because she will sit and try and try and try.  All the while with a proud grin on her face, even when she doesn't understand.  She's just proud to be sitting still and trying!  I'm hopeful for her future because she is learning and making huge progress.  However, her progress isn't  fast enough which leaves me with a lot of work to do to determine what's best for her.

Her teacher is also working hard to determine what is best during the school day.  She failed the new required dyslexia screening test, which may allow her to join the 2-3 year 3-5 day per week Dyslexia program that is offered at her school.  My theory is that making connections through this program, could help make connections that could help her in all areas, including math.  The book, "The Brain that Changes Itself", is very uplifting, by explaining how  our kids can overcome learning issues with the proper brain exercises! Basically when you intensely tackle one learning difference, such as Dyslexia, it can "fix" other areas as well.  I am so hopeful about this for Madalyn.

Her neurologist recommended we try ADHD medicine since her seizures are under control.  It's common for kids with strokes and kids with epilepsy to have problems with memory and concentration; Madalyn has both a stroke and seizures so ADHD medicine may help her.  She started Focalin 14 days ago.  So far her teacher feels it is helping her.  She has received a smiley face all 9 school days since beginning it.  This is her personal record!  She made her first passing grade on her  comprehension test on Friday.  Unfortunately, her Friday math score remained the same, around 50%.  But, reading at this point is most important, so I'm thrilled with this tremendous progress.

Next month she has an appointment with an educational psychologist that specializes in strokes and seizures.  He will do testing to see if she has any learning disabilties.  Last year's testing showed some rather large discrepencies between Verbal and nonverbal and math, which could point to learning disabilities.  I suppose most lucky would be if it is Dyslexia only, but regardless, knowing the testing results will help her get what she needs to be successful.  Until then, as Dory says, will "just keep swimming"  Or dog paddling, as it feels like right now!