Yesterday in the mail came this year's classroom assignments. As most of you 
know, I'd LIKE to homeschool but we're not currently in the financial 
position to allow me to quit my morning job. So we're aiming for pulling them 
out sometime between conference time (mid-Nov) and Christmas vacation.
I was not overly pleased with the classroom assignments. I had made requests 
for particular teachers and only one out of two was honored. My 4th grader 
will get the same teacher that my last year 4th grader had. It's a male 
teacher and I know how he operates, agree with his homework policy (only what 
they don't finish in class, and special projects), and generally think 
Kristin would do well for him. This was the one request that they honored.
For the 5th grader, tho, I did not get the teacher I requested. I Know that 
particular teacher, had observed her in action and felt that my daughter 
would do well under her. They did give me my 2nd choice tho (that I had not 
voiced to them, so it was accidental). It's a teacher moving up from 4th 
grade to 5th grade this year, a firm disciplinarian, and the GATE 
(gifted/talented) teacher. Jennifer is not labeled GATE, but as her 3rd grade 
teacher told me, she should have been. (Jennifer came within 2 points of 
making GATE, but Poway district puts everything on test scores, and nothing 
on teacher recommendation.) Being with the GATE kids will give her the 
opportunity for challenge, anyway, so I've decided that I'm not going to 
raise cain (especially since I hope to be yanking them out mid-year anyway).
                                 -donna
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