Advice from the Stirrup Queens

Admit it -- you want to read this just to find out more about the Stirrup Queens.

Without giving away too much, Stirrup Queens wrote a wonderful post called Should You Separate Twins in School. Perhaps as interesting as her article are the comments readers left.

Check it out http://www.stirrup-queens.com/2012/06/should-you-separate-twins-in-school/

Twins in School–On-Line Resources

This is a great blog post by Lit for Kids. The blog's mission is "making reading fun for parents, teachers and kids!" With this blog post, they took a detour and provided interesting resources for parents of multiples.

Twins in School–On-Line Resources

Twins Face Unique Challenges When Applying for College

If you've ever wondered what a twin thinks about being together or separate in school, here's a unique perspective from a twin contemplating high education.

Journalism Next: Twins face unique challenge when heading off to college


Read more:
http://www.bradenton.com/2011/12/12/3717631/journalism-next-out-of-door-academy.html

Advocating Success

Sometimes you can change a system without a law. Congratulations to Liz Bixby as her persistance really made a difference.

Hi there! I talked to you a long time ago...and figured I better get back to you! I have twin boys that are 8 years old now. They go to Farmingdale Elementary which is Pleasant Plains, IL just outside of Springfield.

My boys had gone to pre-k there at ages 3 and 4 and I was told to put them on to K but wanted to hold them back. Was told there wasn't a way to do pre-k for another year, but could do K 2 years-said no way. So we did private pre-k for a year before returning. Was the best thing ever. Funny thing was those 3 years I had been talking off and on to Mr. Yates about K and how I wanted the boys in the same class. He would always beat around the bush, finally got it out that their policy was seperation. I said well that may work for some but not for my boys, they will be starting next year so be ready for them in the same class. I then got ahold of the NOMOTC and some things from you guys there at twins law and took a huge packet in. Had another sit down 6 months before they would start-with a note from the ped's doc, preschool teacher, etc stating how they should be together and went to work on them. I told both sides of the story. How for some children they shouldn't be in the same classroom. But for my children they do not fit that typing, actually it would be harmful if they were not in the same class.

After my informative meeting and him having time to read things over he called me back in and he had a change of heart. He just had to convince all the higher ups. So he made up a board of twin moms, teachers (one being a twin mom) and officials to monitor twins and we made up a schedule of by 3rd (I think) grade they would be in separate classes but have the same lunch, recess, gym, etc to get ready for middle school when they would be having a couple different classes. The boys were in the same class for K and 1. At the end of 1st I started to wonder how much longer it would last with them in the same class. Blake had wanted to separate but Cullen hadn't. I told them they had to agree. So this year (2nd) they are in separate and seem to be really enjoying it. They come home and enjoy each other's company alot more. When they were in the same class they just had to know that each other were there and ok. Now they see each other at lunch, recess, bus, etc. and that seems to be ok.

I have a few friends that have entered the school after me and have thanked me lots for changing it. I also have friends who come to me all the time for advice on how to deal with their schools. In fact I have one friend who is writing about all this on her thesis. How parents should have a say, which is all I said, we know our kids best, why can't we say what is best?!

Anyway, I just want to say thank you! And let you know Pleasant Plains and New Berlin (where I work at the moment) both small towns by Springfield, allow the parents to have the say.

Liz Bixby

Pros and cons to keeping multiples together in school

An interesting read validating the different options for multiples in school.

Pros and cons to keeping multiples together in school

What Does the Research Tell Us

This is a well-written article with lots of interesting links to research about twins in the classroom.

Twins and Classroom Placement:
What Can Parents Learn From the Research?

Keep them together or separate them?

An interesting article from the Sioux City Journal about how parents make the decision whether or not to separate twins in school.

Poor Teachers May Hamper Good Students

An interesting new study published in the journal Science looked at the effectiveness of teachers on identical twins. The study showed that bad teachers can do damage to children, even gifted children. It's an interesting look at how teacher quality affects a child's ability to learn. This article on the study comes from Reuters.

To Separate or Not?

I am so far behind with my posts here. There is a lot going on behind the scenes, but nothing to report yet about a new sponsor for our campaign.

There is a new editorial -- To separate or not? -- from the Montgomery News.

It's an interesting read that reinforces our main goal of parents as the best decision makers.

Twins in School

The Examiner.com has an article about "Twins in school in Baltimore: to separate or not?" It offers some pros and cons about separating multiples, as well as information about school policies. While it's not completel applicable to Illinois, it is always interesting to see how other areas frame the debate.

Tennessee Joins the List

With this simple sentence, Tennessee joins the list of states working towards a placement of multiples law.

In determining the classroom assignments of multiple birth siblings, the board of education shall give preference to a request of the parent as to the placement of such children.

The bill passed the Senate, according to an article in the Examiner.

The bill is moving to the House of Representatives next.

Making the Decision About Classroom Placement

About.com has an interesting newsletter about twins and multiples. The last issue I received had a series of articles about placement of multiples in the classroom.

Part one is called Making the Decision about Classroom Placement.

It's an interesting read for anyone facing this decision for the first time.

The Educational Effective of Forced Separation on Twins

This is a very interesting research paper by Jamison J. Grimes of the University of Toledo. The qualitative study reviews existing research on twins in school and also interviews three sets of twins.

To no one's surprise, the research and the interviews uncover negative effects of forced separation of twins.

This is another study that questions why schools still routinely separate multiples, rather than taking their individual needs in account on a case by case basis.

The first few pages of the study are available for free. The rest of the study can be purchased at the site.

Expert Interview: Patricia Malmstrom

The interesting blog Multiples and More! has an interesting interview with Patricia Malmstrom. Her new book, The Art of Parenting Twins, includes information about all things parents of multiples need to know/consider.

Her explanation about why parents should consider keeping their multiples together in school is simple, yet enlightening. It's very close to the reasoning I gave our school district, so I'm glad to know I was on the right track -- even if I didn't really know it at the time. It's always good to have an expert's opinion on the matter.

Separating my twins -- What was I Thinking?

I thought this was an interesting post from the Silicon Valley Moms Blog about deciding to separate twins in school.

Separating my twins -- What was I Thinking??

It's a humorous look at what happens after you decide to separate your twins in school. I'm sure anyone with children of different ages can relate too.

Across the Big Pond...

Just as the Twins Law campaigns are gaining steam in various parts of the United States, the issue crossed "the Big Pond." The Guardian today has an online article called Twin Set.

It's interesting to note that the issue parents of multiples face in the U.K. are the same ones we face here. Truly, we are all in this together.

There's Always One...

Okay, I have one funny story from the IOMOTC convention that I need to share. My co-chair, Dan Bailey, was sitting at the table talking to someone about placement of multiples in school. A woman walked by and loudly said, "I want them to be separated." She didn't stop to talk. She just said it as she walked by.

This made me think that perhaps some people still don't get what we're trying to do. We don't want to keep your children together, nor do we want to separate them. We want to make sure it is your choice.

Unfortunately, we didn't get to tell her that. Maybe next time she'll stop to talk and find out what we're really doing.

Wonderful Illinois Organization Of Mother Of Twins Clubs Convention

We had a great time at the Illinois Organization Of Mother Of Twins Clubs. It was wonderful to speak with everyone and hear the stories. Some parents are in great school districts. One Mom told me her school district proactively called her to talk about placement for her multiples. Can you imagine?

Other Moms told us horror stories about their struggles to work with the school district.

Interestingly, we received words of encouragement from both types of Moms. Everyone wants to work together to make sure parents are the key deciders in the placement of multiples in schools.

It was great to sit and chat with so many others who completely understand the joys and challenges of raising multiples.

Thank you for making us part of your event.

About.com Mutiples in School Poll

About.com has an interesting e-newsletter about Twins and Multiples.  One of the polls on the site asks parents the big question:  How will your twins or other multiples be placed in school this year?

Interestingly, 40% of the 1,500+ parents who responded said they chose to keep their multiples together.  Only 17% chose to separate their multiples.

What does this mean for us?  Well, it's not a scientific poll, but it does show that, when given the choice, parents want to keep their multiples together.  Our mission is to make sure parents have the choice. 

Response to the Northwest Herald Article

Shari,

I read the article in today's Northwest Herald. I have 5-year-old twins who will be in kindergarten this fall. When I registered my children at the elementary school, I wrote on the form that I wanted my children in the same classroom. The principal would not meet with me in person. After some weeks with no return phone call, I called again, and the principal spoke to me on the phone. This principal was so out of line in the way she spoke to me on the phone. She doesn't know me and doesn't know my children. She doesn't want to know us, and doesn't care about the reason I was asking my twins be placed in the same classroom. When I asked her why, her response was, 'because I said so'. When I asked if this was a rule for the district, she responded, 'it's my rule'. When I told her I had a recommendation from the pre-school my children attended, she said she doesn't care what anyone else says, she does what she wants and the district stands behind her. I said I thought I was making a simple request, she interrupted me and said, 'I don't take parent requests'.


I then requested a meeting with the superintendent. He wouldn't meet with me, but spoke to me on the phone, ending by saying he'd get back to me. He never got back to me, but had the principal write me a letter. The principal's letter was very toned down compared to the phone conversation I had with her, but in her letter basically said my children were not my responsibility when they were in her school.


This has been a horrible experience for me and my family. I will be writing my Senator about enacting the Twin Law. Until today, I didn't know this existed.


Though my husband and I cannot financially afford to send our children to a private school, there is no way we will send our children to the elementary school near our home (3 doors away!!). Since my conversation with this principal, I have heard so many bad occurrences involving this principal. And, I don't want to make a big stink about this and then have my children singled out or have my children be frightened in any way by anyone in the school, including the office staff. I just find it hard to believe the superintendent refused to meet with me in person, and another principal in the same district also refused to meet with me in person. I've been very polite and I don't understand why this is happening. Every child is an individual. Just like all children are not the same, all twins are not the same.


Thank you very much.


Sincerely,
Maria
(Crystal Lake)