Back to School

I had meant to post this Wednesday but I was waiting for Xavier to report how school was going. He asked me to wait until his second day so he would actually have something to share. The picture is from his first day but it took a lot of begging to get him to hold still for it. He didn't want his picture all over facebook and what not. We may still get it up on facebook but for now family can enjoy his smiling face here.
For all his anxiety about high school, Xavier really likes it. He has six classes - Freshman English, Math Essentials, Agricultural Science, Resource, Information Technology and Food and Nutrition. He hasn't decided which is his favorite yet.
Xavier shared that his math teacher is trying to help him get through Algebra 1 so he can catch up with his class. It will be nice for him to actually advance. We'll be talking with the teacher about math testing to catch any issues with him understanding math. He's got a good math brain and has loved it but I get the feeling the real problem is the way he processes math problems. He's got a good problem solving ability but I fear it doesn't match the way his teachers want him to process it. At this point in time no one cares that he can tell them the right answer - they want him to be able to demonstrate their process for solving the problem. The teachers focus so much on this because the state tests focus on this. I never realized what a disservice this is to the children. It doesn't play to their strengths nor does it support using different methods for solving a problem. I wonder what effect it has later in life when the children are confronted with a problem - will they get stuck because they have been taught there is only one way to solve a problem? Who knows but so far his current math teacher seems great. She told Rob that they will have little homework because she prefers to work with the kids. That's a blessing for us and Xavier since he's so resistant to doing the work at home.
I didn't get a lot of information about English or Science. Xavier knows that his science class is agriculture based but couldn't tell me more than that. I think it's a physical science which Xavier is really good at. He's excited to see how the class goes.
Information Technology sounds like a real technical class but from Xavier's description - it's keyboarding with a fancy title. Xavier's not a bad typist so he should do rather well.
Xavier loves his Resource Room teacher who is this huge guy (who looks like a kid himself). They're getting things ready for Xavier's IEP which comes do in November.
Food and Nutrition is the class I am most excited about for Xavier. He just loves being in the kitchen and loved his "home ec" class last year. Right now the students are getting to know each other and Xavier likes that. He says it's almost half boys and half girls (with just a few more girls than boys) and it's a small class with less than twenty students. I'm so excited for him.
I haven't gotten any reports about clubs or whatnot but that will come in time. He joined the chess club which meets during lunch but I don't know if they have met this week.
Last thing I want to share is that Xavier has started writing. He shared his work with Rob who encouraged me to ask to read it. I got to read it yesterday. It's amazing. Xavier has a great imagination (for a child who absolutely hates imaginative play) and a good voice for writing but he never has really pursued it. This piece has lines that are better than many writer's who have professional careers. I have permission to share a line with you so you can see how great he is.
"Here I'm bound in the chains of destiny, trapt in a living hell wondering how I'd free myself and break away from the fear and hurt that's been put on me." (No editing was done on my part).