Bolded. Yes! I hope we can find answers that treat people with dignity. I love the story about your grandparents btw.

Being identified as "gifted" means more than just being (possibly) able to ace tests. It also means that there could be some different social and emotional things going on with the kid. I have some information about what that might look like on my blog, but the best source of information would be the SENG website. Maybe try looking there to see if anything really resonates with you before you spend the big bucks on testing. Good luck!

With 1 in 88 kids in America being diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, I have to wonder what’s going to happen in the future when these kids grow up and outlive their parents. I’m curious about what other people across the county think about this issue. What are other people hoping for the future? My hope would be that we start building multi-level care facilities where there would be a super-attractive independent living option. An adult with ASD could have his/her own apartment, but perhaps get help with driving, laundry, etc. I wrote a column in support of this idea, in our local newspaper. It got retitled, so please don’t think that I’m implying that people with Asperger’s Syndrome are suffering! I wrote every word with good intentions, but I bet there are a thousand ways I could be misinterpreted. :bigear: What are you hoping for?

I have heard from several principals that when there are school safety patrol vehicles parked in front of the school, many parents freak out and call the school office wondering what the matter is. That's not because parents don't like police officers, it's because police officers at school make a lot of people nervous… including me.

Wonderful article! (Although I have no idea who Nathan Buckley is.) :)

Is anyone making snowflakes? http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/445770-snowflakes-for-sandy-hook/

Paper, yes. It also says to "be creative". We put our hometown on our snowflakes.

The National PTA and the Connecticut PTSA need our help. When Sandy Hook Elementary School students return to their new school, it is going to be â€a winter wonderland of snowflakes†from children all over the country. We can help by sending snowflakes to: Connecticut PTSA 60 Connolly Parkway Building 12, Suite 103 Hamden, CT 06514 The due date is January 12, 2013

Start keeping a written record of everything. Every last scrap of paper, every email, every conversation. Write it all down and make a file. The teacher might be doing that about you and your daughter already. You want to have your own version.

I am trying really hard not to swear. WHAT THE FLIPPIN HECK?!?!?! I am so upset for you! I agree with Dmmetler. I bet they might be trying to "counsel your child out". :( Are public schools an option?

Yes! I'm trying very hard to remember that schools are loving places.

Calico Critters are very popular around our house too. They drive me CRAZY!!! I can never vacuum without sucking something up.

:grouphug:

I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who has Barbie-issues. :) My full thoughts are here. I answered "sometimes" on the poll.

Do you let your kids play with Barbie dolls? My DD3 has one Barbie doll and would like more. I'd rather her play with something else, but I don't want to make a big deal about it. What do other people think about Barbie?

Here are two ways to assess reading levels: Guided Reading Level and San Diego Quick Reading Assessment.

Do you already have Story of the World? I have a ton of Afterschooling ideas on my blog btw. Good luck!

Whoa! Yes, our school still teaches cursive.

This is what we did last year. I'm using this same system this year, but haven't made my charts yet.

Of course, "Remodel my kitchen with diaper boxes" would be even better! (hee hee)

Whoa! Has anyone seen this toy kitchen made out of diaper boxes that one of the Hive members made? It almost makes me sad my kids are potty trained. :) I think I might save any big boxes we get at Christmas and try to make our own kitchen. It sounds like a good rainy day/snowy day activity.

:) I wrote that post up for a friend of mine who was trying to do an at home preschool. One of the other mothers turned out to be a bit of a problem. But by the time the group got going, it was too hard for my friend to say anything. So I wrote up everything she wanted to say in the blog post (plus some of my own thinking), and then my friend could just share the link. That way I came off sounding like the bossy one, not my friend. So Winter, if you do decide to go for the at-home-preschool-coop route, and you want me to be "the bad guy", let me know what rules/guidelines you'd like me to add.

:( Hang in there!!! If you did try to pull something together with other mothers, I have some ideas for forming an at home preschool on my blog.

Very cool!

The Younger Mrs. Warde and I have been creating a SOTW Board on Pinterest. Are there any other SOTW Pinterest boards out there that we should know about? Or, do you have a blog post that is okay for us to pin? Thanks!