Sunday, September 18, 2005
It has been a long and exhausting weekend.
I spent almost an hour on the phone yesterday morning with Alesia’s teacher, Miss Kerivan. It was a very constructive conversation, but also made me somewhat angry.
She said she had told Alesia to tell me about the 8th grade Open House last week, and Alesia promised she would. Alesia never mentioned it to me. She also said she found Alesia letting another student copy her math homework – she pulled Alesia aside and told her that was cheating and never to do it again, that this isn’t Russia. She said in Russia that cheating is common, and the kids lie all the time, too. I have always felt Alesia was basically a good kid, but those reports made me furious.
I confronted Alesia about it later and lost my temper, yelling at her for a few minutes until I could regain control. Yelling seems to be the only thing that works. I hate losing my temper and yelling at her, but I just can’t help it. My frustration level just gets overwhelming. Finding out she had lied and cheated in school was really upsetting. However, I also told her she couldn’t watch any TV all weekend, which upset her because that’s the only time I let her watch TV.
Miss Kerivan said the other teachers are supposed to make allowances for the ESOL students, since they don’t know English and don’t get any special instruction but are put into regular classes – except math. I told her Alesia has a low C in math right now, but I am starting her in an in-school tutoring program on Tuesday mornings at 8, so hopefully that will help.
Miss Kerivan said that Alesia tested in the 1 percentile for English speaking and comprehension a few weeks ago, and she has to pass a test at the end of the year to be able to go to high school. Miss Kerivan has doubts that she will be able to pass it. She likes Alesia and agrees with me that she’s a bright kid, but it’s going to be an uphill battle. I asked her if she thought we should put Alesia back a grade or two and she said no, that would really upset her.
I told her I am willing to help Alesia, but she doesn’t even bring home her work or her books half the time. She said she would have a talk with Alesia, and talk to her other teachers. I pray this will work.
I spent a lot of time yesterday and today helping Alesia do her science project. Some of the stuff was really difficult because she hasn’t given the kids books yet, and Alesia didn’t have all her handouts. I just found things on the internet and tried to use them but not really plagiarize – tough to do.
I spent quite a bit of time also working with her on Georgia Studies, her social studies course. I read the entire lesson, which takes time because I have to stop and ask her things like “Do you know what the word settler means? No? Well, look it up in the dictionary.” We make a flashcard and keep going. Later we review all the vocabulary.
Today we went to Sunday School and church, then out to lunch. Alesia is enjoying Sunday School. They have a good class, and she is a mini celebrity because she is Russian. She was disappointed that they didn’t serve juice and cookies again – that was just a kickoff celebration, clearly.
Mother and I are taking a Sunday School class on St. Paul, and the teacher is a theology professor from Berry College, and just an excellent lecturer. Sunday School for grownups is really a lecture series and there are several to choose from.
I was amused after church today that when we were leaving we turned around, and this older couple who were standing behind us were so funny. The woman, who was very well dressed and coiffed, quite a society looking person, just stared at Alesia and said “You are just beautiful! Just a gorgeous girl!” I have trained Alesia to just say “Thank You,” when this happens, which it does from time to time.
Alesia has grown half an inch in the past two months. She will soon be taller than me – hallelujah. Maybe if the academic thing doesn’t work out she can be a model…
