Dore Talk

 Hi All

Just thought I'd post this copy of a message I posted on another site. I know it's important to read about the sort of results people are still getting to encourage everone still on the programme.

 

Matthew seems to be soaring since he started High school. In the parents evening in eraly Nov the Cognitive Ability Test results were given out which were taken in July. Matthew is above average in Quantative (maths)-116 and Non verbal -114, just average in verbal -94. he has a large gap in verbal, non verbal reasoning of 20 points indicating a SpLD. The school also stated that children coming from the Welsh biligual school do tend to get lower marks in the verbal, so the gap may not really be that large. The Cats show potential and allows the school to set targets for the child. The head of year says Matthew is a quandry to them, looking at the amount of support he has had in the past and his high potential. Our chins hit the floor on seeing the results as I had just assumed he had done badly in them.
We have been into the school for a meeting with the SENCo to discuss is class placing, he's in the C stream. They are monitoring him closely the only worry they have is his speed of writing, but the streams are very mobile the class he's in is a buffer class of 14 pupils doing the same work as the B stream, and the same work as the A/B streams for the 3 key stage subjects (English Maths and Science), The outcome of the meeting was that they are monitoring him closely, he is very happy, coping extemley well and she would get a brief progress summary form some of his teachers to send home for us.
We have the report, which I am just about to blog and we are over the moon, phrases such as "Brilliant ideas" "remains focused when sat in front of the class",very good in class", "helpful and attentive", "able to organise himself and others", "high mathamatical ability", "participates well in all aspects of class", "pleasure to teach", "works to the best of his ability", confident", "very good standard", "completes classwork and homework to a high standard", "working well", "coping extremely well" "Orallly hos work is excellent and he is quick to grasp new concepts". Only recurring negative is the "slow to write things down". His memory seems to be brilliant these days, perhaps it's the way their teaching these kids, they use mind maps and bingo games at the end of lessons to recap, just seems to suite his learning style.

Sorry to go on, but we're soooooooo happy, he still has to work harder than many but Dore seems to have prepared him with a sheer determination that he doesn't give in.

 Following this post Matthew was chosen as 1 of 3 in his year to speak about his Design/Food lessons to a group assessing lessons.His teacher says he is very good and has been chosen to "represent the year" because of his knowledge and enthusiasm.

Link to full blog on Dore talk home page.

Hi Lelly,

What a fab post. It has been very informative and helpful as some parents are not aware of the senior schools way of doing things yet.

Gives them a good insight ( assuming all schools sing from the same sheet!!!) Thanks

Wow, what fantastic results -definitely worth all the effort you have all put in. Congratulations. 

Tracey  

Just an update - Harry was one of the few children in Year 8 to be awarded a trophy for "the most amazing changes". This award was from the teachers nominating a child they felt warranted this. Harry had to collect his award in an assembly for Year 8 pupils. Very embarrassing for him, but justifiably, he's also very proud - as are we!

 Thats lovely to hear, you must be so proud! Well done Harry!

Morgan won star of the week and all the children in his class had to write a little bit about him, the comments were amazing , what a kind person he is , how he helps people, what a wonderful friend and what a HARD WORKER he is!!!!!!

He also began singing with the school choir and went to the local music festival where they performed beautifully and came 2nd.We still have down days and then something comes along like that and you realise just how far they have come!!

 

Aahhh, well done Morgan and well done Harry.

I work in a secondary school and my Luke is in Year 8 so I know how embarassing it can be for the kids but also how inside the feel incredibly proud of themselves though they don't always show it on the outside.  This is a fantastic achievement so a big well done from me especially considering the reasons in which it was awarded.

What lovely comments to hear and read about your child,  I'm sure it will help to get you through a few more months.  We must continue to look for the little things, often things that are so easily missed.  Things that come automatic to some people don't always come naturally to others and require that little bit extra work and so therefore require that little bit extra acknowledgment.  For example; we need to return a TV that we bought last year, Nov I think and were discussing it at the dinner table.  My husband said 'where did we get it from' and before I could reply Luke said 'Makro's'.  Both my husband and I looked at him, he looked at us and we all winked and said 'ahhh thats that old Dore kicking in'.  Even things like he'd come in from outside, take his trainers off, get a drink or something to eat and then he'd turn around and say 'where's my trainers gone?', Thats not the case now.  All the little things, make for big things. 

Luke has been awarded an 'Honours Certificate' for French of all subjects.  I thought he didn't like it but either way he's got it.  He doesn't know this yet as honours assembly isn't til next week (we have different school hols) but like I said working there I couldn't resist having a sneaky peek.  Don't tell anyone!!!

So a big well done to them all and us of course.