Tuesday, April 30, 2013

JATP... Keep Your Friends Close.. and Your Preschool Director on Speed Dial

If you are confused by this title, then you should continue reading. (That is unless, you do not have kids.)

Dear Parent:

I know that you are very concerned about this test and the process that it entails. Although the title may be deceiving, there is one thing that you should know... More often than not - it is the little things that matter here in Atlanta. Not only should you be preparing for this process, but you should also be making friends with those who you will need to assist you in the process.

It is important that you know what you do not know. There are aspects of the process that is daunting for you - there are aspects of this process that is even more challenging for the student. Sometimes when you forget or place little value on the details of Admissions Preparation - it may backfire and could result in undesirable consequences later on. My best advice to you is to seek the help of a professional who has helped navigate through this (time and time again). Not only will it assist you and your child, it will definitely help you feel better with each and every step that you take towards the final letter.

I want you to know that I am here to help you - in any and as many ways as I can. Thank you so much and I look forward to helping you soon!

~ Christine

Sunday, April 14, 2013

504 versus IEP?

If you have questions about the difference between a 504 and an IEP, here is what an article found on www.about.com says:

504 Versus IEP

504 Plans Are Written to:

- Remove Barriers that prohibit student from achieving based on current conditions
- Levels playing field
- Follows guidelines set by Americans with Disabilities Act
- Some students who do not meet classifications for an Individualized Education Plan will be able to have services under a 504

IEP Plans Are Written to:
- Serve as a legal document that describes the services that your child will be receiving as part of the exceptionality that has been identified
- Tailored to meet the needs of your child
- Describes placement, services, and goals that are appropriate for your child.

For more information about 504 Plans and IEP's, you can contact christine@learningridge.com or call 404-964-8533


Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Letters are In - and It Looks Really Good!

Savoring in the moment - my clients who actually completed the Admissions Preparation program had the best success to date!

When I say the Admissions Preparation Program - I mean the entire program from Start to Finish - not the "fly by night" work with my child the weekend before  the test. To be honest for you, I cannot prepare anything at that point - I can only pray that the child does not have a nervous breakdown when they go down that hallway and will have a complete stranger ask them questions that they believe are "tricky" or "silly". I had one mom tell me that after her daughter worked with me, she thought that everything else was "easy" from the assessment - to the observation - to the interviews.

Why do I believe in helping parents come up with a program that works with timelines - objectives and goals? The answer is: because I know what success looks like. The reason being is that I had observed families fail in this process before they were successful the next time around. It happens to the best of parents. They listen to people who have been in the industry for a long time but at the end of the day - that person says one thing: "Your child has a good chance getting into XYZ school.". They cannot offer one iota of advice to support that. For me, it's highway robbery. For them - it keeps their business in the black - and some Atlanta families in the dark.

The next time you need help with Admissions in the Atlanta area - know that I am here to help you with a realistic plan and with a realistic solution. However, do not wait until it is too late. There are only so many months in the year and starting early will always be in your favor! 

Friday, April 5, 2013

The Best Parents Are Those Who Respond - Not React To Situations

As a member in the Atlanta community - I have noticed a group of parents that always climb to the top - with their children, as a way to handle the trials and tribulations of family life. These parents are the ones that normally have the same set of problems as their neighbors or coworkers or subordinates - and despite the challenges of raising a family, can manage problems as it was a daily commuter flight from Atlanta to New York.

These parents I would like to call my "Responders". When presented with information that may be troubling - such as "Your child is not keeping up in reading", "Your child was caught mouthing off to the After School Program Director", "Your child misbehaved during recess" - these parents reflect upon the situation and quickly, without losing integrity, (or "face" as it would be called in Asian culture)  apologize for the act of transgression and immediately find a way to remedy the situation.

I am always proud of the way that these "Responsive Parents" are able to get what they want in the various "Academic and Social" lines that their child has to stand in. One example was of a parent that tried, for about three weeks, to prepare her young child to enter into the premier private schools in Atlanta. If anyone knows the educational climate of the private schools here in Atlanta - it is not something for the feint of heart. It takes months - sometimes even years to set all the pieces in place for successful admission. In this particular case, both her and her daughter took the crash course.  They were  "seen" by a leading so-called "Educational Consultant" who after ten minutes said, "Sure your child will get in." Unfortunately, she did not get in that year.

This "Responsive" Mother did what most mothers did. She went through the "Five Stages of Grief":
1. Denial - It must have been a mistake, my daughter is extremely bright
2. Anger - How could they not admit my child! There is something wrong with the school
3. Bargaining - If I give the school money - they are sure to accept my child next year
4. Depression - Let's give up on this idea. We will just move closer to where my in-laws live
5. Acceptance - It's okay. We will have to come up with a different plan for next year.**

** This is where I came in. We looked at everything that the family did to prepare for the process - and came up with a different game plan. This included conversations/language/activities that would increase the likelihood of success - no matter what the situation was. The mother spoke to the different directors at the school and did nothing but listen to what their feedback was - and not what they needed to do to change admissions policies. It was no longer a case of "Oh woe is me - my child was rejected" but rather, "What are the necessary steps to ensure that this never happens again?" It is great to say that this young child was accepted to the top four tiered schools in Atlanta - and as a family - has reached monumental success in the community because of they way that they "respond" to situations - and not react.


Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Success Does Not Happen Overnight..

I recently just spoke to a mother that was asking me to help her child with one of the high stakes standardized tests in Georgia. The parent (as many of them have done in the last few days) called me first thing in the morning and wanted to inquire about the manner in which we do things. After apprising her of the steps involved, she quickly thanked me for her time and brushed off the notion that her last minute planning would result in a poor score for her child.

What surprises me is that she is not the only parent that has waited until it is almost too late to work on  intervention or remediation plans. Instead of finding out can be done to prevent their child from learning these concepts in a normal fashion, some parents wait until the very last minute (sometimes two or three days before a test, or when an entire school year needs to be repeated) to seek any type of assistance. For me, it is devastating to think that something could have been done - for the parent, it seems like it was inevitable.  

As a professional,  I believe that learning challenges can be prevented before they happen. Whether it is early intervention or intermittent support throughout the year, it is important now - more than ever, that you invest in your child's education because it ultimately results in their bright and prosperous future.

I think about it this way - if you spend just a little time now helping your child learn what they need to know, they can acquire and have specialized skills that will help them move forward later on in life. Just something to think about!