College class update

Well, the college said that they didn't think it was appropriate for an 8 year old to be in a college class. Then told me good luck on finding other ways of challenging him. Well that's just one of the reason I was talking to them.

But, I did find out through reading their policies that there is entrance requirements when going through the continuing education when taking a non-credit course and that the College is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution that does not discriminate in either admissions or employment with regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, national origin, disability, or veteran status.

So, per these statements it doesn't matter that Zachary is 8 years of age or 80 years of age they can not discriminate him from admissions to class based on his age.

Now, not that we are trying to enroll him now but either in Aug. 2010 or Jan. 2011 we may enroll him into a class.

Mathematically gifted boy finally gets what he needs

http://oilf.blogspot.com/2010/01/mathematically-gifted-boy-finally-gets.html

Follow the link above to a story about a gifted boy who finally got math at his level and how it changed the way he acted and his medication.

I wished all schools would see that educating a child at the child's academic level and not by the child's age is best for everyone not only gifted children.

On a side note we are talking with the local community college about a math course for Zachary starting next August. The continuing education department has agreed to allowing him to take the course through their department now we only have to get the college's approval for him to take it either through them or through continuing education department.

Health Update

Well, no food has been able to stay down for 1 month now. I have only lost 12 lbs. which to me is surprising I thought it would be more but that's o.k. Today I am going for Pre-op for the endoscopy on Friday. I will have a tube with a small camera put down into my stomach to see if anything else is going on down there. Right now the doctor thinks I have gastropynesis (sp?) this is where my stomach doesn't digest my food fast enough.

Quote of the Day!

As a society we must be able to admire ability, to support ability, to celebrate ability and to nurture ability. It must be as socially acceptable to support genius that is intellectual as it is to support genius that is athletic. – Michael Clay Thompson

SENG Group Facilitator Training

This past week I went to Dallas, Texas for training. The training was through SENG (Supporting the Emotional Needs of the Gifted) so that I can facilitate parents groups. Dr. Webb has a written a book called "The Parents Guide to Gifted Children". I am now certified to facilitate parent groups using this book.

The training was a wonderful experience. I met parents who understood the difficulties in raising a gifted child and school employees who understood the academic needs of gifted children. The support not only has me as a parent but also for me to bring training and a local support group for parents of gifted children was overwhelming. I thank all the ladies who attend this training in Dallas.

I am hoping that in the next few months I can arrange a meeting for the parents of gifted children in my area to see if there is a need or what do we as parents in this area want our group to be.

For more information about SENG please go to www.Sengifted.org

If you would like to purchase this book go to http://www.amazon.com/Parents-Guide-Gifted-Children/dp/0910707790

Christmas 09 Blog Header

Here is the blog header that I designed for Christmas 2009

Happy New Years!!!!

We'll we are 9 days into the year 2010. The first 9 days hasn't been a good one for me. I have been sick. I have been sick to my stomach, no appetite, pains in my right side, and very bad headaches (Migraines). I have gotten shots in the back of my head for the headaches but that didn't work. On Jan. 6 I went to the ER but the diagnoses was laughable. I have started going to a different doctor and she seems more interested in finding out why I am sick rather than just treating the symptoms. She says that my x-ray shows an enlarged liver. I go next week to get an ultrasound.

Zachary has started the 2nd semester at TXVA. On the first day back he completed his Health subject. So, that is one less subject we have to deal with. He is about 50% finished with 4th grade math and should finish it and at least 3 other subject my the beginning of March if not sooner. I have emailed his teacher telling her that everything is coming really easy for him and nothing challenges him. I am worried that if this continues he will not know how to deal with a challenging situation when one comes about. I may have to talk about having him skip 4Th grade next year and go into 5th just to get material that is challenging at times and easy at times. However, not that all of it will be skipped b/c he will have completed 4th grade math. We'll see!

Brooke seems like she has grown up over night. She has a big girl room and big girl toys and loves them. She is no longer a baby but a toddler/preschooler. She knows her letters and their sounds completely and we are now working on putting letter together to read. She is also learning her colors and shapes. She can count to 10 easily and she use to count to 20 but we stopped doing that and either she has forgotten or is playing like she doesn't know.

In a week I will start a Biggest Loser contest at the local gym. However, with me being sick I have already lost 8 pounds. Not the way I wanted to start losing weight but I have to look on the positive side of things. I would love to lose 50 pounds and if I lose only 4 pounds a month that's 1 pound a week I can lose 50 pounds by the beginning of next year.