NEED ADVISE FOR SCHOOL | Autism PDD

Yes she's still at that school her response was he needs to be with the other high functioning children and she got two new kids this year. we had are iep meeting last year at the end of the school year nothing was said about a diffrent teacher.

There's a video about teaching school social skills called Time for School. It is at http://www.modelmekids.com and they use real kids to model social behavior to teach. It is a video for the children to watch.

I'm assuming the old class was a special day class, yes? Is the new class a
mainstream class? It's a good thing that the school feels he needs to be
around higher functioning or NT kids. However, they are not handling
the transition appropriately, and a conference with the Principal is
warranted immediately before things unravel.

Does Matthew have a 1:1 aide? If not, this is an excellent opportunity to
ask for one to help assist him with the new demands of his environment.
The school will surely argue to give the situation time and see how it
goes. My advice is if they are going to move him up to a more
demanding class, then make sure they provide the necessary support so
he can succeed. Ask for an IEP to propose an aide.

Now let's get to the situation at hand. You need to propose a gradual
transition to the new class, over a two to four week period. He should
start in his old class, and for the first week of school go to the new class
for a 1/2 hour a day. If all goes well, increase the time in half hour
increments until he is totally comfortable with the new class. Sometimes
this entire process only takes a few days, sometimes as much as a month.
It all depends on how well your child handles transitions, and how
difficult the new situation is for him. This is why having a one to one aide
is so important, especially for navigating the NT world, both academically
and socially.

Hope these suggestions help, and feel free to PM me or ask me any
questions.

Well school starts monday YAA!!!!! We went to open house yesterday because it's a new school (the building is brand new same school) So i took matthew my 8 yr. old cause he new every inch of the old school and it being a brand new school i didn't want him to feel lost.Well we were going to he's class room i was pointing out alot of new markers for him so he wouldn't feel so lost come monday and another teacher came up to matthew saying hi ect... all the sudden she says matthew is in her classroom this year, of course i said no what u talking about he's in diana's class ect....Mind u he's been with diana for 4 yrs. she's great !!!!

Well i asked who decided this why wasn't i informed or better yet asked my thoughts on this? Imagine if i didn't go to open house matthew would of got off the bus without diana there ?? I know he will be lost without here around but in time will adjust, But a new school and teacher I don't think so thats to much at once.

Any advise on what you would do????

I'd appreciate it !!!!

I'm sorry that I have no advice being that my son is just starting pre-school on Monday but I just wanted to say that I think this is BS. I have some questions though. Is diana still teaching at that school? Did you find out the reason for the change? Did you have an IEP before this school year? I certainly understand your concerns here and I would be going nuts right now if this were my child. Please keep us posted.

karrie

I'm sorry to hear that this stuff happens elsewhere too. My best advice to you, if you absolutely CAN'T change his class assignment, is to meet with your new teacher, privately, so you can talk about specific things she needs to know that may have just come naturally your old teacher.

When Riley started Kinder. (he's going to be in 3rd grade this year) just like you, we had an IEP meeting, his "planned" teacher was there, took notes, talked to us, we went in and met with her several times. She knew to pull the blinds where he was goin to sit...not to make any "sudden moves" etc. etc. etc. The day before school started, they changed his teacher. Needless to say I was livid. She had NO time to review any of his info (it was 3 weeks before she read his IEP, and that's only because I went to the "planned" teacher and told her of probs we were having, and could she PLEASE go talk to her and tell her everything she knew about Riley.) This "new" teacher took pics of all the kids the first day, flashed a camera in his face before I could tackle her...he was "gone" for the rest of the day...and terrified to return. A couple weeks into school, when he still couldn't take his coat off by himself, she thought he was being difficult, and let him stand there for AN HOUR AND A HALF before helping him (It was a 2 1/2 hour class)...

Part of it was my fault, I had written her notes, but SILLY ME didn't make sure she read them. My son is 8 too, and has severe sensory issues, so these little things were a big deal to him (I only mentioned a couple things that happened..it was a hellish first 3 weeks), whereas most people in life (including ourselves) don't consider the "trauma" it causes. So not because you'd think she is a bad teacher, but because your son may have special considerations, you need to help "train" her.

Good luck...(what happened this summer, our school remodeled too! Classes are missing and the library moved....holy cow! We too went and "explored" the new layout!) And again....GOOD LUCK!

~Lesley

I did want to say, his "new" teacher worked out well once she was up to date. She was a very fine teacher, very kind, very caring, and felt HORRIBLE about not understanding his sensory issues....he was her first student with that problem.

horanimals38570.7545949074

I completely agree that you should have been informed of the change in his teacher so you could prepare your son for this. Please don't take offense to what I am gonna say but the school that my ds attends is a school for children on the spectrum he has been going to this school for 6 months and this year he will get a new teacher and a new class room, at first I was concerened because he had really grown fond of his teacher Sue and he was going to have to get to know a new teacher already, the psycologist at his school called me and explained to me that with kids on the spectrum they tend to get attached to certain people (as we all know) and they won't learn for anyone else, so they have the kids change teachers classrooms and aides so they can learn to adapt to new people and new places so when they go to regular ed. they don't have a meltdown everytime there is a change such as a substitute teacher. I thought this made sense and it seems to be working for my son he does not meltdown if he has a sub bus driver any more or if it is a van instead of a bus. Just my opinion and thoughts you do what ever you think is best for your son, but I do agree that you should have been informed so you and him could be prepared. Thanks

Nita

They made a babd move in not preparing everyone for the transition. It is a horrible practice to not plan in a transition period as proposed before. I would also take the former teacher aside and privately , respectfully let her know how you feel. It's good that they feel your child is ready for another group, just plan better.

My son and I went to do a clean-up day at his school. The kids start on the 15th. Today being at his school and meeting new teachers and guidance counselor was a lot to deal with. He peed like a fountain for over an hour before going to bed. It's 8:15pm here:) We tried to rig his bed so that we don't have to change his sheets 3 times before dawn. The anxiety was/is big. Are any of the resst of you dealing with similar responces to the new year? If so, how?

Janet

You guuuuuuuyyyyyyysssssss, Ben's still peein'! The poor kid was doing great until I mentioned that he was almost seven. I did it in a tone that I thought said 'I'm proud of you'. I guess he heard 'you start school soon.' How do I help him. It is entirely possible that we won't know who his teacher until FRIDAY at noon. School starts on Monday. I heart just aches! Janet

Tyler has ALOT of anxiety issues every year about going to school... just the change from being off for the summer... the expectations to have to sit and be focused, the noises and smells around him (he likes to isolate himself at home) finding a new classroom, and having a new teacher who doesnt know him or understand his anxiety and frustrations... its all hard.

We go and meet the teacher PRIOR to school starting every year..... We walk around the building to find his room and pretend to go to art or music or the bathroom and so forth. Our school doesnt do anything consistent. Each grade lines up in a different place and goes out different doors for recess - really difficult for a kid who likes routine and predictability.

This school year we got redistricted to a different building hes NEVER been in to teachers and staff he DOESNT know around kids hes NEVER MET...... he looses his only friend who got left behind at the other school and the school has failed to do ANY transition planning!

Someone told me this is ILLEGAL they gave him a regular ed transistion when he is special needs.... QUESTION IS WHY can the schools continually get away with it???

Kris Let us know how Matthew does.... I'll be thinking about him. Maybe talking to him and telling him his new teacher is so excited to be having him and cant wait to get to know him more and prepare him that way so he thinks hes going to be a help to her.