Re: school vent already!

[Guest guest]

> writes: Hey I thought I was the only one not practicing bedmaking

skills myself!!!

Sharon Scheyd, a mom from Louisiana, tells a wonderful story about a kid in

a school 'life skills room'...

making the bed

unmaking the bed

making the bed

unmaking the bed

Finally, looking up at the teacher, he asks...

" Who _sleeps_ in this bed, anyway? "

Cheers,

[Guest guest]

And I see what you're saying Joy. I guess, my feeling (and this is based on my

perceptions of MH classrooms in Northern OH) is if the kid does not need more

intense instruction in daily living/self-help, communication, skills, etc. and

is able to do academic than the MH is not a good placement for that kid--at

least, not on a full time basis. I'm sure that was the case in Tina's

situation with . Again, everything needs to be individualized to meet

the needs of the kid. Here in OH MANY of our local MR/DD/169 schools (special

needs segregated schools) have been closed and students/families have been

forced to attend public schools. Personally, I am for this...I feel the public

school can provide everything a " special " school can...unfortunately, not

everyone agrees with that. Probably the only downside I see to this is that

parents now do not truly have a choice of where their kid attends school and

many parents were quite satisfied with the segregated setting. My point here is

that in the past MH classrooms in my area have had " higher " functioning kids,

because the kids with more intense needs were being served in the county

MR/DD/169 program...when I started out (14 yrs. ago) we were doing a lot of

academics and less self-help type skills. With the influx of kids with much

more intense needs (I'm talking many total care type kids) the focus has shifted

in many MH units. My guess is that full-time placement in an MH classroom is

probably not the most appropriate or LRE for most of our kids with DS. However,

I do agree with you that many kids with DS are automatically placed in that

setting just based on past history, IQ scores.... That's when we do in deed

need to advocate for the MOST appropriate placement. For some kids it will be

strictly MH, for others the regular classroom and for many a careful combination

of several different environments. Does this make sense?

I definitely agree with you that reading and math are real life skills and also

on the bedmaking thing!! I've never taught any of my kids to make beds. I like

to practice what I preach or preach what I practice and I don't practice

bedmaking very often!!!

Jill

[Guest guest]

And I see what you're saying Joy. I guess, my feeling (and this is based on my

perceptions of MH classrooms in Northern OH) is if the kid does not need more

intense instruction in daily living/self-help, communication, skills, etc. and

is able to do academic than the MH is not a good placement for that kid--at

least, not on a full time basis. I'm sure that was the case in Tina's

situation with . Again, everything needs to be individualized to meet

the needs of the kid. Here in OH MANY of our local MR/DD/169 schools (special

needs segregated schools) have been closed and students/families have been

forced to attend public schools. Personally, I am for this...I feel the public

school can provide everything a " special " school can...unfortunately, not

everyone agrees with that. Probably the only downside I see to this is that

parents now do not truly have a choice of where their kid attends school and

many parents were quite satisfied with the segregated setting. My point here is

that in the past MH classrooms in my area have had " higher " functioning kids,

because the kids with more intense needs were being served in the county

MR/DD/169 program...when I started out (14 yrs. ago) we were doing a lot of

academics and less self-help type skills. With the influx of kids with much

more intense needs (I'm talking many total care type kids) the focus has shifted

in many MH units. My guess is that full-time placement in an MH classroom is

probably not the most appropriate or LRE for most of our kids with DS. However,

I do agree with you that many kids with DS are automatically placed in that

setting just based on past history, IQ scores.... That's when we do in deed

need to advocate for the MOST appropriate placement. For some kids it will be

strictly MH, for others the regular classroom and for many a careful combination

of several different environments. Does this make sense?

I definitely agree with you that reading and math are real life skills and also

on the bedmaking thing!! I've never taught any of my kids to make beds. I like

to practice what I preach or preach what I practice and I don't practice

bedmaking very often!!!

Jill

[Guest guest]

I am sure you are entirely right, . That has happened to lots of

parents and their children. And many have been told by their doctors and

others the child will never be able to learn anything and they believed it.

Many have no idea what their rights are and they only learn from those of us

who have had to learn along the way too. They sure aren't going to learn

about it from the schools or teachers or other minions. Those of us on this

list and others are mostly the ones who have educated ourselves on these

issues. When was born we were told he would probably never walk or

talk or learn anything. Boy, were they wrong. But we could have believed it.

I met a man a couple years ago whose brother was 46 at that time.

When he was born they were told the same thing and they believed it. Of

course at that time they were told the only answer was an institution (we

were told that too) but they didn't want to do that so they kept him home.

He does not have DS, I'm not sure his problem has ever really been diagnosed.

Anyway, he was never even taught proper behavior, never toilet trained,

never taught to sit at a table and eat, anything like that. It was believed

poor ______ could not learn those things. Finally his mother got Alzeimers,

and his dad and a heart attack and _____ was placed in a " school " of some

kind where he is learning all those things. If he can learn it now he could

have learned as a child, and probably much more easily. Imagine 46 years of

cleaning up after him, of him ruling the house, etc. Such a waste of his

life and his mother's. And his brother's too, his childhood was stolen. But

it was done out of love. And ignorance on the part of many people.

That's an extreme case but a lot parents of children with DS are not

much more informed than that. Jessie

[Guest guest]

I am sure you are entirely right, . That has happened to lots of

parents and their children. And many have been told by their doctors and

others the child will never be able to learn anything and they believed it.

Many have no idea what their rights are and they only learn from those of us

who have had to learn along the way too. They sure aren't going to learn

about it from the schools or teachers or other minions. Those of us on this

list and others are mostly the ones who have educated ourselves on these

issues. When was born we were told he would probably never walk or

talk or learn anything. Boy, were they wrong. But we could have believed it.

I met a man a couple years ago whose brother was 46 at that time.

When he was born they were told the same thing and they believed it. Of

course at that time they were told the only answer was an institution (we

were told that too) but they didn't want to do that so they kept him home.

He does not have DS, I'm not sure his problem has ever really been diagnosed.

Anyway, he was never even taught proper behavior, never toilet trained,

never taught to sit at a table and eat, anything like that. It was believed

poor ______ could not learn those things. Finally his mother got Alzeimers,

and his dad and a heart attack and _____ was placed in a " school " of some

kind where he is learning all those things. If he can learn it now he could

have learned as a child, and probably much more easily. Imagine 46 years of

cleaning up after him, of him ruling the house, etc. Such a waste of his

life and his mother's. And his brother's too, his childhood was stolen. But

it was done out of love. And ignorance on the part of many people.

That's an extreme case but a lot parents of children with DS are not

much more informed than that. Jessie

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

As some of you know, Alec is in a small second/third grade EMH class in a

neighborhood school. I wish that he could tolerate a class of 34 children.

At this point it wouldn't benefit him. His class only does academics-- no

life skills. The classroom follows the general curriculum from the gen ed

classes- including the work books...He has to do presentations and has

spelling tests. There are high expectations of the students. Luckily for Alec

most of the children in his class are great role models both socially and

from a language point of view.

My ultimate goal is for Alec to be included . I love to read the stories on

the list from those of you whose children are included in school.

Lori

mom to Alec (8DS) and le (12)

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

As some of you know, Alec is in a small second/third grade EMH class in a

neighborhood school. I wish that he could tolerate a class of 34 children.

At this point it wouldn't benefit him. His class only does academics-- no

life skills. The classroom follows the general curriculum from the gen ed

classes- including the work books...He has to do presentations and has

spelling tests. There are high expectations of the students. Luckily for Alec

most of the children in his class are great role models both socially and

from a language point of view.

My ultimate goal is for Alec to be included . I love to read the stories on

the list from those of you whose children are included in school.

Lori

mom to Alec (8DS) and le (12)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/11/01 8:36:54 PM Central Daylight Time, JB66111@...

writes:

> And probably many parents still today blindly accept IEP's that

> are handed to them to sign, and don't know it can be any different. It's

> probably easier for the parent ane while they are well-meaning and love

> their

> children just as much they are short-changing them. Jessie

Oooh so sad too, I see many parents here with kids labeled LD who just

blindly sign and their child is not academically succeeding .... needs not

being met

Kathy mom to Sara 9

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/11/01 8:36:54 PM Central Daylight Time, JB66111@...

writes:

> And probably many parents still today blindly accept IEP's that

> are handed to them to sign, and don't know it can be any different. It's

> probably easier for the parent ane while they are well-meaning and love

> their

> children just as much they are short-changing them. Jessie

Oooh so sad too, I see many parents here with kids labeled LD who just

blindly sign and their child is not academically succeeding .... needs not

being met

Kathy mom to Sara 9

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/11/01 10:09:28 PM Central Daylight Time,

Michdock@... writes:

> It

> seems to me that there are lots of parents on this list that would like,

get,

>

> fight for more than lifeskills.

>

>

HI

You know its not just Life skills but also social skills ugggg I spoke with

Sara's new 3rd grade teacher yesterday. She was a sped teachers many years

ago, so I don't know if this will help or hurt Sara. Some seasoned teachers

tend to be set in " their " way and not the child's way anyway we discussed

what we want for Sara this year and I could tell she really thought Sara was

in her class for social reasons ONLY. Fifteen minutes it took me to explain

what I wanted as far as academics from her and examples of how to do it. I

will say one thing, I sense she really wants this to work and she really has

a respect for Sara

She did say she wants a lot of conferences with me this year, to work as a

team YIPPEE lets hope she's not blowing smoke

Kathy mom to Sara 9...........who is soooooo nervous this year, my senses are

telling me to keep my eyes WIDE open

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/11/01 10:09:28 PM Central Daylight Time,

Michdock@... writes:

> It

> seems to me that there are lots of parents on this list that would like,

get,

>

> fight for more than lifeskills.

>

>

HI

You know its not just Life skills but also social skills ugggg I spoke with

Sara's new 3rd grade teacher yesterday. She was a sped teachers many years

ago, so I don't know if this will help or hurt Sara. Some seasoned teachers

tend to be set in " their " way and not the child's way anyway we discussed

what we want for Sara this year and I could tell she really thought Sara was

in her class for social reasons ONLY. Fifteen minutes it took me to explain

what I wanted as far as academics from her and examples of how to do it. I

will say one thing, I sense she really wants this to work and she really has

a respect for Sara

She did say she wants a lot of conferences with me this year, to work as a

team YIPPEE lets hope she's not blowing smoke

Kathy mom to Sara 9...........who is soooooo nervous this year, my senses are

telling me to keep my eyes WIDE open

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 08/12/2001 8:16:08 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

B4alltoday writes:

<< she wants a lot of conferences with me this year, to work as a team YIPPEE

>>

Well, maybe this is a time to slip in an addemdum for those monthly

inclusion meetings??

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 08/12/2001 8:16:08 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

B4alltoday writes:

<< she wants a lot of conferences with me this year, to work as a team YIPPEE

>>

Well, maybe this is a time to slip in an addemdum for those monthly

inclusion meetings??

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/12/01 7:43:57 AM Central Daylight Time,

speechgate@... writes:

> I wish that he could tolerate a class of 34 children.

HI Lori

I am curious, is there any talk to lower the pupil classroom sz? I know here

the buzz is to reduce classroom size ASAP or lose funding. This order came

from the President and the dead line is the 2001-2002 school year Heehee

Kathy...........tough here to hire more teachers when your cutting 20 million

out of the education budget uggggggg

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/12/01 7:43:57 AM Central Daylight Time,

speechgate@... writes:

> I wish that he could tolerate a class of 34 children.

HI Lori

I am curious, is there any talk to lower the pupil classroom sz? I know here

the buzz is to reduce classroom size ASAP or lose funding. This order came

from the President and the dead line is the 2001-2002 school year Heehee

Kathy...........tough here to hire more teachers when your cutting 20 million

out of the education budget uggggggg

[Guest guest]

That may be true in some places, but it wasn't true for . She got all

the academics plus, taught by teachers who specialized in teaching the

mentally retarded. Most of her classmates now have jobs, too.

granny

---

" Setting a good example for your children

takes all the fun out of middle age. "

-- Feather

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: school vent already!

>

>

> << Yes, Granny education has changed that >>

> And thank goodness it HAS. For many of the sp needs population, there WAS

no

> education, just " babysitting services " . Some of the more fortunate ones

got

> some " life skills. " VERY FEW got academics from school.

> My expectations for the school is for them to meet the academic needs of

my

> children. ALL my children. I will teach them what I need to teach them

as a

> mother. I will make PBJ sandwiches, beds, and brush teeth with them. NOT

> the school.

> Gail, send the stuff back with a packet of happy face stickers. Tell them

> THAT is YOUR survival kit for them, happy faces for a successful year.

This

> teacher IS insensitive and needs to be informed of that. Just like that

> school that had been giving out those horrid awards all those years and it

> was acceptable.

> Ask for a list of academic supplies that are grade/Ted appropriate to be

sent

> to you. We are in a low income area, and parents ARE asked to provide a

box

> of tissues a piece. I send on every month for Maverick and whenever my

kids

> have colds I send one. We had to provide 2 dry erase markers and a sock

for

> an eraser. None of the kids are expected to bring in juice drinks or

tooth

> brushes.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That may be true in some places, but it wasn't true for . She got all

the academics plus, taught by teachers who specialized in teaching the

mentally retarded. Most of her classmates now have jobs, too.

granny

---

" Setting a good example for your children

takes all the fun out of middle age. "

-- Feather

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: school vent already!

>

>

> << Yes, Granny education has changed that >>

> And thank goodness it HAS. For many of the sp needs population, there WAS

no

> education, just " babysitting services " . Some of the more fortunate ones

got

> some " life skills. " VERY FEW got academics from school.

> My expectations for the school is for them to meet the academic needs of

my

> children. ALL my children. I will teach them what I need to teach them

as a

> mother. I will make PBJ sandwiches, beds, and brush teeth with them. NOT

> the school.

> Gail, send the stuff back with a packet of happy face stickers. Tell them

> THAT is YOUR survival kit for them, happy faces for a successful year.

This

> teacher IS insensitive and needs to be informed of that. Just like that

> school that had been giving out those horrid awards all those years and it

> was acceptable.

> Ask for a list of academic supplies that are grade/Ted appropriate to be

sent

> to you. We are in a low income area, and parents ARE asked to provide a

box

> of tissues a piece. I send on every month for Maverick and whenever my

kids

> have colds I send one. We had to provide 2 dry erase markers and a sock

for

> an eraser. None of the kids are expected to bring in juice drinks or

tooth

> brushes.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I can see it now. The teacher lines up the kids after lunch and inspects

each mouth. " You need to brush, you don't, you do, you do, you don't ... "

granny

---

" Setting a good example for your children

takes all the fun out of middle age. "

-- Feather

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: school vent already!

>

>

>

> <<My guess is that the school furnishes the crayons, paper, etc., Gail.

> Why don't you ask them?

>

> And I would be thrilled to know my kid was going to be brushing his

> teeth after lunch at school!

>

> granny>>

>

> Hi Granny,

> I usually love your practical and down to earth advice. My guess is

> that all the other kids get a supply list with typical school materials

> on it. I have parented 2 other children that went to school and this is

> how it was.

> Brushing after lunch just isn't anything that thrills me. Ted doesn't

>

> have a cavity in his head and when I take him to the dentist, he has

> little or no plaque. I'd be WAAAY more thrilled it they wouldn't call

> me 3 times a day with ridiculous things to say! I am rather fussy about

>

> our toothbrushes and just knowing them and their inadequacies I'd just

> rather not have Ted working on hygiene DAILY as part of the curriculum

> That is just so lame. They are just so lame and it make me furious that

>

> just because Ted has Down syndrome that he is subjected to what THEY

> want to do with him. I am his mother and I am only sending him to

> school for some social situations that I cannot provide and academics.

> If the majority

> of other kids at school are not doing this, why does Ted have to do

> it??? I don't

> want that for him. It may be fine for someone that wants that or needs

> that but I just don't! Gail

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

> messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I can see it now. The teacher lines up the kids after lunch and inspects

each mouth. " You need to brush, you don't, you do, you do, you don't ... "

granny

---

" Setting a good example for your children

takes all the fun out of middle age. "

-- Feather

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: school vent already!

>

>

>

> <<My guess is that the school furnishes the crayons, paper, etc., Gail.

> Why don't you ask them?

>

> And I would be thrilled to know my kid was going to be brushing his

> teeth after lunch at school!

>

> granny>>

>

> Hi Granny,

> I usually love your practical and down to earth advice. My guess is

> that all the other kids get a supply list with typical school materials

> on it. I have parented 2 other children that went to school and this is

> how it was.

> Brushing after lunch just isn't anything that thrills me. Ted doesn't

>

> have a cavity in his head and when I take him to the dentist, he has

> little or no plaque. I'd be WAAAY more thrilled it they wouldn't call

> me 3 times a day with ridiculous things to say! I am rather fussy about

>

> our toothbrushes and just knowing them and their inadequacies I'd just

> rather not have Ted working on hygiene DAILY as part of the curriculum

> That is just so lame. They are just so lame and it make me furious that

>

> just because Ted has Down syndrome that he is subjected to what THEY

> want to do with him. I am his mother and I am only sending him to

> school for some social situations that I cannot provide and academics.

> If the majority

> of other kids at school are not doing this, why does Ted have to do

> it??? I don't

> want that for him. It may be fine for someone that wants that or needs

> that but I just don't! Gail

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

> messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

>

[Guest guest]

I observed this same thing, Jill. About half of 's classmates had

parents who needed all the help they could get. They simply did not have the

background and training or they were just too tired after work to deal with

it. One classmate, a young lady with DS, was dealing with a single mother

who had a drug problem. , the classmate, did all the housework and

cooking at home ... skills she learned at school. Amazing to watch her and

her mother together because it was obvious that , not her mother, was in

charge. She even answered for her mother when the mother was questioned

about something!

granny

---

" Setting a good example for your children

takes all the fun out of middle age. "

-- Feather

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: school vent already!

> I have to jump in here as an MH teacher. I must say in my 14 years of

> teaching MH most parents are NOT like the parents on this list--most are

> very unsure of what to do with their children, how to teach them anything

> (including self-help/daily living skills)...so the schools/MH classrooms

> have provided the service of teaching, or at least supplementing, those

> " home " skills that are critical to daily life and being accepted in our

> community. Many (not all, but probably most) of the parents I've worked

> with don't differentiate between what are skills to be learned at home and

> what are school/academic skills. They struggle, like all of you, with

just

> daily day in and day out life of raising a child with a disability. Most

of

> them haven't given serious thought to can my child independently and

> effectively brush his teeth on a daily basis, can my child work a

microwave

> oven, can my child plan an appropriate meal for him/herself. Perhaps they

> haven't been actively involved in support groups, haven't researched

things

> about DS (and other various disabilities), haven't learned about inclusion

> and the possibilities there. These are not bad parents, they're wonderful

> parents.

> Most of my kids have been self-contained except for going out for a

> class here or there...I've had seven kids with DS. I've always had my

kids

> bring in toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb..because those have

been

> areas these kids needed the extra practice in and I KNOW that many of my

> kids come to school without brushing their teeth and I often wondered

about

> their hair. But, as a parent, I realize mornings are hectic and when

you're

> trying to get your child with a disability out the door, often along with

> 2-3 other kids, sometimes those things don't take priority. We always

did

> grooming skills as part of our arrival routine. Most of the kids did it

> also after lunch. Of course, at those times, my kids were in my MH class,

> self-contained and everyone followed that routine after lunch. I would

> never take one of my kids out of a mainstream class to come brush their

> teeth, but in my class that was fine and just as important/relevant as

> learning about Roman Emperors or something.

> I agree that the IEP is the key in Ted's case. If you specifically

> don't want him brushing his teeth at school, let the teacher know...I,

> personally, wouldn't have minded that and would have supported you 100% in

> your efforts to make that something that you would be responsible for at

> home. Ideally, that's the way it should be, but for many families it

isn't

> and someone needs to step in and work on those type of skills. I'm

guessing

> the supply list the teacher sent to you was the list she sent to all the

> kids, it wasn't individualized for each student. I'm not sure of Ted's

> placement...is he strictly MH, does he spend time in the DH class, how

many

> classes is he included in the " regular " classroom?? From the vast

majority

> of MH classes that I know of in OH the curriculum is very much not

> academically based--it is focused a lot on communication, self-help/daily

> living and vocational skills. I had years where I never asked my students

> to bring in pencils or crayons or paper. We rarely used those things and

if

> we did the school provided those things. If my students were

mainstreamed

> a lot into the DH classroom or into a regular education classroom they

would

> have an additional supply list which might have included pencils, pens,

> colored pencils, notebook paper, calculator...

> Being on this list has really opened my eyes to many things and I'm

> grateful for that because I think it will help me more appropriately plan,

> prepare and advocate for Mac's future education. I, too, hope that most

> daily living/self-help skills will be taught by me in our home or picked

up

> naturally like most children learn them. My hope for Mac, currently, is

> that he will be able to function in the typical educational setting as

long

> as possible and/or as frequently as possible and receive more direct,

> specific instruction in a DH classroom as needed. I want his education to

> be relevant and meaningful to his future as a productive, happy and

> independent adult based on his true abilities. That may mean he won't

> participate in the study of Roman Emperors or other stuff that will not

have

> a direct impact on him as an adult and that may only frustrate him.

> I do not currently feel that he MH classroom would be appropriate for him

> based on my professional experience working with the MH system in our

> county. I see the MH classroom for those students with VERY limited

> academic skills and a great need for more intense instruction in the areas

I

> mentioned before. I do want and expect more than that for/from him, but

for

> some kids the MH classroom is a the perfect setting!

> Obviously whoever sent you the " first aid " kit knew you were not

going

> to like what they proposed. It was a nice thought to try and soften the

> blow, but it was also a major cop-out to not call and set up a mtg. to

> discuss this in person or, at least, over the phone. Good luck!!

>

> Jill

>

>

[Guest guest]

I observed this same thing, Jill. About half of 's classmates had

parents who needed all the help they could get. They simply did not have the

background and training or they were just too tired after work to deal with

it. One classmate, a young lady with DS, was dealing with a single mother

who had a drug problem. , the classmate, did all the housework and

cooking at home ... skills she learned at school. Amazing to watch her and

her mother together because it was obvious that , not her mother, was in

charge. She even answered for her mother when the mother was questioned

about something!

granny

---

" Setting a good example for your children

takes all the fun out of middle age. "

-- Feather

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: school vent already!

> I have to jump in here as an MH teacher. I must say in my 14 years of

> teaching MH most parents are NOT like the parents on this list--most are

> very unsure of what to do with their children, how to teach them anything

> (including self-help/daily living skills)...so the schools/MH classrooms

> have provided the service of teaching, or at least supplementing, those

> " home " skills that are critical to daily life and being accepted in our

> community. Many (not all, but probably most) of the parents I've worked

> with don't differentiate between what are skills to be learned at home and

> what are school/academic skills. They struggle, like all of you, with

just

> daily day in and day out life of raising a child with a disability. Most

of

> them haven't given serious thought to can my child independently and

> effectively brush his teeth on a daily basis, can my child work a

microwave

> oven, can my child plan an appropriate meal for him/herself. Perhaps they

> haven't been actively involved in support groups, haven't researched

things

> about DS (and other various disabilities), haven't learned about inclusion

> and the possibilities there. These are not bad parents, they're wonderful

> parents.

> Most of my kids have been self-contained except for going out for a

> class here or there...I've had seven kids with DS. I've always had my

kids

> bring in toothbrushes, toothpaste, hairbrush, comb..because those have

been

> areas these kids needed the extra practice in and I KNOW that many of my

> kids come to school without brushing their teeth and I often wondered

about

> their hair. But, as a parent, I realize mornings are hectic and when

you're

> trying to get your child with a disability out the door, often along with

> 2-3 other kids, sometimes those things don't take priority. We always

did

> grooming skills as part of our arrival routine. Most of the kids did it

> also after lunch. Of course, at those times, my kids were in my MH class,

> self-contained and everyone followed that routine after lunch. I would

> never take one of my kids out of a mainstream class to come brush their

> teeth, but in my class that was fine and just as important/relevant as

> learning about Roman Emperors or something.

> I agree that the IEP is the key in Ted's case. If you specifically

> don't want him brushing his teeth at school, let the teacher know...I,

> personally, wouldn't have minded that and would have supported you 100% in

> your efforts to make that something that you would be responsible for at

> home. Ideally, that's the way it should be, but for many families it

isn't

> and someone needs to step in and work on those type of skills. I'm

guessing

> the supply list the teacher sent to you was the list she sent to all the

> kids, it wasn't individualized for each student. I'm not sure of Ted's

> placement...is he strictly MH, does he spend time in the DH class, how

many

> classes is he included in the " regular " classroom?? From the vast

majority

> of MH classes that I know of in OH the curriculum is very much not

> academically based--it is focused a lot on communication, self-help/daily

> living and vocational skills. I had years where I never asked my students

> to bring in pencils or crayons or paper. We rarely used those things and

if

> we did the school provided those things. If my students were

mainstreamed

> a lot into the DH classroom or into a regular education classroom they

would

> have an additional supply list which might have included pencils, pens,

> colored pencils, notebook paper, calculator...

> Being on this list has really opened my eyes to many things and I'm

> grateful for that because I think it will help me more appropriately plan,

> prepare and advocate for Mac's future education. I, too, hope that most

> daily living/self-help skills will be taught by me in our home or picked

up

> naturally like most children learn them. My hope for Mac, currently, is

> that he will be able to function in the typical educational setting as

long

> as possible and/or as frequently as possible and receive more direct,

> specific instruction in a DH classroom as needed. I want his education to

> be relevant and meaningful to his future as a productive, happy and

> independent adult based on his true abilities. That may mean he won't

> participate in the study of Roman Emperors or other stuff that will not

have

> a direct impact on him as an adult and that may only frustrate him.

> I do not currently feel that he MH classroom would be appropriate for him

> based on my professional experience working with the MH system in our

> county. I see the MH classroom for those students with VERY limited

> academic skills and a great need for more intense instruction in the areas

I

> mentioned before. I do want and expect more than that for/from him, but

for

> some kids the MH classroom is a the perfect setting!

> Obviously whoever sent you the " first aid " kit knew you were not

going

> to like what they proposed. It was a nice thought to try and soften the

> blow, but it was also a major cop-out to not call and set up a mtg. to

> discuss this in person or, at least, over the phone. Good luck!!

>

> Jill

>

>

[Guest guest]

My goodness, Sue! How can you guys defend yourselves against Sadaam Hussein

if you're spending all that money on education. Next thing you'll be telling

us is that the UK has national health and a child allowance!

granny

---

" Setting a good example for your children

takes all the fun out of middle age. "

-- Feather

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: school vent already!

> In a message dated 08/11/2001 8:09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> bspyle@... writes:

>

> << My guess is that the school furnishes the crayons, paper, etc., >>

>

> Hahahahahahahahahaha!! None of the schools my kids have attended EVER

> furnished those supplies. They did however give you a list of the

materials

> the kids needed to bring to school. Until high school, the list was sent

out

> with class assignments, so you could have the supplies before school

started.

> And we never had to buy more than one box of tissues per child per year.

> Cheryl in VA

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

>

[Guest guest]

My goodness, Sue! How can you guys defend yourselves against Sadaam Hussein

if you're spending all that money on education. Next thing you'll be telling

us is that the UK has national health and a child allowance!

granny

---

" Setting a good example for your children

takes all the fun out of middle age. "

-- Feather

http://www.bspyle.com/granny.html

Re: school vent already!

> In a message dated 08/11/2001 8:09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

> bspyle@... writes:

>

> << My guess is that the school furnishes the crayons, paper, etc., >>

>

> Hahahahahahahahahaha!! None of the schools my kids have attended EVER

> furnished those supplies. They did however give you a list of the

materials

> the kids needed to bring to school. Until high school, the list was sent

out

> with class assignments, so you could have the supplies before school

started.

> And we never had to buy more than one box of tissues per child per year.

> Cheryl in VA

>

> Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

>

>

[Guest guest]

Just FYI, we have never experienced this here in my neck of the woods...

Sandy in CA

Re: school vent already!

In a message dated 08/11/2001 8:09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

bspyle@... writes:

<< My guess is that the school furnishes the crayons, paper, etc., >>

Hahahahahahahahahaha!! None of the schools my kids have attended EVER

furnished those supplies. They did however give you a list of the materials

the kids needed to bring to school. Until high school, the list was sent out

with class assignments, so you could have the supplies before school started.

And we never had to buy more than one box of tissues per child per year.

Cheryl in VA

Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.

[Guest guest]

Just FYI, we have never experienced this here in my neck of the woods...

Sandy in CA

Re: school vent already!

In a message dated 08/11/2001 8:09:25 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

bspyle@... writes:

<< My guess is that the school furnishes the crayons, paper, etc., >>

Hahahahahahahahahaha!! None of the schools my kids have attended EVER

furnished those supplies. They did however give you a list of the materials

the kids needed to bring to school. Until high school, the list was sent out

with class assignments, so you could have the supplies before school started.

And we never had to buy more than one box of tissues per child per year.

Cheryl in VA

Click reply to all for messages to go to the list. Just hit reply for

messages to go to the sender of the message.