special class

[Guest guest]

Does anyone have their child in a " special " class only and not the regular

school classes? what were your reasons for doing it this way, and at what age?

Shar

[Guest guest]

We tried inclusion for about half the day during several of Danny's

elementary years. We pretty much always got the same reaction from Danny--he

would hang back or refuse to participate when asked to do what NDA kids were

doing. It has always been passive resistance-rarely any acting out. What is

being asked of him doesn't seem to matter. For example, he loves to sing,

but won't participate in a regular music class. He likes to draw, but won't

do it in a mainstream art class. When the expectations were modified for

him, as in a math class, he would shut down completely, sometimes covering

his face or putting his head down on the desk.

We have come to the conclusion that he is embarassed because he knows he

cannot do things to the extent the other kids can. His neurologist has

prescribed a mild antidepressant, although I don't see it making a huge

difference.

Danny will be starting middle school next year. If anything, I may try to

have him removed from some of his remaining " inclusionary " settings--music,

art, pe, etc.--the places they send the SpEd kids so the teachers can have

some planning time. After all, if he's not getting anything out of being

there, he might as well be sent to a place where he can be more productive.

Besides, middle school behavior is not always the best model of what adult

mainstream behavior should be. It is quite possible that he could learn some

behaviors that would have to be untaught later.

Bev

special class

Does anyone have their child in a " special " class only and not the regular

school classes? what were your reasons for doing it this way, and at what

age?

Shar

[Guest guest]

It's almost like I am going through the exact same thing with (7). He's

repeated Kindergarten twice now, and he just isn't showing his true potential. I

don't find him to be like the " typical " downsyndrome, he is not cuddly, he

doesn't really enjoy being around people.. and he's better one on one..in a

classroom situation, it seems to be annoying to him more than anything. I have

checked out a classroom that is special needs, and only 6 kids, or something

like that, and they go through the same process as a classroom, but he would get

individual attention, moreso than in a regular classroom of over 30 or whatever

students.. and he is always behind, so lacks motivation in that part.. I got

some slack when I was considering this.. because I know parents around me have

worked so hard for their kids to be included in the regular schools.. but

is also in a speech class with 3 other downs kids, some a year younger, and he

is just far behind.. so I believe he's just not as high of level as others.. or

he's hiding his potential. he gets easily irritated if I praise him, almost like

he doesn't want to do good. We are having a behaviouralist check him out.. maybe

for ADD on top of the downs.. not sure.. but I was curious to know how many

others had their child in a special class outside of inclusion.

Shar

We tried inclusion for about half the day during several of Danny's elementary

years. We pretty much always got the same reaction from Danny--he would hang

back or refuse to participate when asked to do what NDA kids were doing. It has

always been passive resistance-rarely any acting out. What is being asked of him

doesn't seem to matter. For example, he loves to sing, but won't participate in

a regular music class. He likes to draw, but won't do it in a mainstream art

class. When the expectations were modified for him, as in a math class, he would

shut down completely, sometimes covering his face or putting his head down on

the desk.

We have come to the conclusion that he is embarassed because he knows he

cannot do things to the extent the other kids can. His neurologist has

prescribed a mild antidepressant, although I don't see it making a huge

difference.

Danny will be starting middle school next year. If anything, I may try to

have him removed from some of his remaining " inclusionary " settings--music, art,

pe, etc.--the places they send the SpEd kids so the teachers can have some

planning time. After all, if he's not getting anything out of being there, he

might as well be sent to a place where he can be more productive. Besides,

middle school behavior is not always the best model of what adult mainstream

behavior should be. It is quite possible that he could learn some behaviors that

would have to be untaught later.

Bev

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/2/03 8:20:57 AM Central Daylight Time, shars3@...

writes:

> Does anyone have their child in a " special " class only and not the regular

> school classes? what were your reasons for doing it this way, and at what

> age?

> Shar

>

is in a 'special' school. LOL Acutally it's the state school for the

deaf, and inside that school she's in the sped class. (and even tho this

school draws state wide she's still the only girl in the 'special' class, lol)

is 13 this year and in 7th grade. the decision to place her in MSAD was

based on unintelliglable speech and her resisting continuuing to use sign.

Now she really has no choice but to use and learn it. She has progressed alot

this year. :-) Slowly, yes but much better then the past few years. She

tends to be very easily bored out of her skull when subject content discussed in

classrooms was over her head so she only participated in non academic classes

in her old school.

She even stays in the dorms during the week, the past month she stayed all

week and she's really beginning to communicate much better. :-) Every child

is different and what works for one might not work for yours. In the end it's

all a trial and error type of thing finding the right fit for your child. But

I do think that every child should at least try the inclusive enviroment with

supports to see if it is a good fit. If not then check out the options and

decide which one you think will work best for your child. then you need to

convince them to try it.

Joy

[Guest guest]

I for one am sure that you are doing the best thing for . You

know his needs better than anyone else. Hey isn't that what being a parent is

all about?? We do what we think is best for our child.

Love

Allyson

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/2/03 7:34:49 PM Central Daylight Time, Draquelle@...

writes:

> ?? We do what we think is best for our child.

>

> Love

>

> Allyson

>

Oh ally, you forgot to add 'and hope we don't screw up to much' LOL

Nice seein ya. :-)

Joy

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I have had my son included as much as possible thru the years. He is now in

9th grade.This year he getting bored in his regular Ed classes so we let him do

some cooking in the SPED room. He is soooooo happy. He sees the other kids he

has special Olympics with and the peer class they have afterschool. He is

cooking (SPED) learning to do laundry and earning money while he is at it. He is

in Speech 3 days a week, OT 1 day. and has resource room math and English

(typical kids with learning probs)He is in regular Ed art and science [this

class

is boring him and he is acting up during lectures, yes he has adaptations and

an aide).

next year we are broadening his world. Speech OT, 3 periods of prevoc in

Class or at job site including banking skills and time card info. He will also

have resource room math and English. then last period of the day will be

ceramics

(for socializing and inclusion). I am happy and I think he will be. He is so

much more happy since we started letting him do prevoc with the other kids in

the SPED class.

Will this work for everyone........no!!!!! But we are happy with our

choice.

Jean

www.enchantedcelticharp.com

Celtic Harp Music

[Guest guest]

Shar,

is going into an MR program next year. He will continue to be included

in a regular 4th grade homeroom. His behaviors are not typical for the average

child with DS. He gets overstimulated easily. I don't care what the " inclusion

is the only way to go " folks think of this decision. I've struggled and

struggled trying to make things work.

I think you'll find many supportive parents on this list who know that a parent

does do what is best for their child - and only that parent knows their child

best.

From time to time, you will notice a child who was self contained and

transitioned to an inclusive setting. It is a wonderful thing to see (and those

parents feel so guilty for not pushing it sooner) and their children bloom! But

I have seen more children go from being in an inclusive environment to a more

restrictive setting (and we can feel guilty at times, too!) to have their needs

met.

special class

Does anyone have their child in a " special " class only and not the regular

school classes? what were your reasons for doing it this way, and at what age?

Shar

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/3/03 5:31:40 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

writes:

> I think you'll find many supportive parents on this list who know that a

> parent does do what is best for their child - and only that parent knows their

> child best.

This is one special quality about this list.

Sheila (now 16 years old!) still remains in her home district, although she

is not included 100% of the day. She attends some life skill classes, but they

have to be modified for her. She has some jobs around the school. One morning

a week she goes across the street to a church that runs a senior meals program

and " works " there. Plus, she daily attends regular gym and art, and every

other day she has music with her typical peers. The district normally ships

children with Sheila's level of needs out, but they are working hard with us to

keep her indistrict. In fact, last week after Sheila's IEP meeting the principal

asked Forrest and I to stay (to discuss something about our oldest). But she

first started off with remarking about the tremendous growth she has seen in

Sheila over the past 3 years and as long as she remains Sheila will be kept in

district.

Sheila is another child that recognized the differences by third grade and

refused to do reading/language arts in the regular classroom, but if the sped

took her down to the resource room she would get right to work. Even though

Forrest and I where (well, are) strong proponents of inclusion, we decided we

needed to honor what our child was telling us.

nancy

[Guest guest]

I beleive your child needs to be where you think he should be, your the mom

and its your job to find him the best education you can. My daughter is 10 and

has been in a spec needs class from day one, she has come along way, SHe knows

her colors, numbers, letters and is now beginning reading . I know to some

may say this is not alot but to me it is she has grown so much emotionally in

these classes , has friends both nds and disabled she is treated well and is

well known at school. My husband and I made this decision early on that we dont

want her in a class to just sit and be lost , we wanted her to learn at her

pace and if we only came out with some skills than at least we have done our

best

as parents. I know others have different views of where they want their

children to be and that is fine also, We do have the right to chose as parents

what

is right for our child. So goodluck to you and all the new parents out there

who have joined our group. Hopefully this group will help you to make more

informed decisions as you face each step along the way. Thanks Nettie619

Mom to 10 years old ,, Jen 12, Mike 15, na 6

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 6/4/03 9:50:18 PM Central Daylight Time,

writes:

>

> I totally respect your decision that Inclusion may not be for your child.

> That being said, take extra special care that the alternative the school

> district offers IS right for him.

>

> We had a disasterous experience with the preschool special class was

> in. Without going thru the laundry list, she still (at age 11) has

> undesirable

> behaviors that she picked up in that class that I can't get rid of.

>

> While Inclusion has not been perfect, the separate special classroom our

> school district wants to send her to next year would be horrible. I went

> and

> observed. Very distracting, very high stimulation (worse than the regular ed

> class

> despite having a lot fewer kids) plus she'ld be ahead of most of the other

> kids academically and definitely ahead of all of them in life skills. I

> mentioned the name of the school to her (outside) psychiatrist and he said

> it would

> be awful and to avoid it at all costs. We're moving (across country) to a

> district that can provide a " continuum " of services between special ed and

> Inclusion and has the resources to be flexible depending on how

> does.

>

> No matter what you do, consider pushing for a Functional Analysis (or

> Functional Behavior Analysis depending on what your state calls it) as soon

> as you

> get in the new setting. The behavior specialist will be able to figure out

> what

> triggers negative behaviors in your son and what needs to be modified in his

>

> environment to that he can perform his best.

>

> - Becky

Becky and Shar,

We did inclusion and really worked at it but gradually started pulling him

out more and more. Now in middle school he is in a mostly self-contained

classroom. When we looked at the middle school classrooms I really looked at the

teacher attitude. The one who bragged that all her students had at least one

detention during the school year got nixxed real fast. (we needed individualized

behavior management). The best class for him wasn't one that I had initially

thought we would like. It was the most unlike a traditional classroom. But the

teachers were energetic, open to learning, eager to meet him at where he was at.

There were kids more advanced academically (multiply physically impaired) so

there were academics going on around him, not just him doing it. That is where

he went and it has been his best year ever. He is still involved in the reg.

programming where appropriate for him and knows lots of kids in the school in

addition to ALL the school staff.

Anyway, Shar- I just wanted to pipe in and say go with your gut and find the

place that works the best for your child.

Karyn

[Guest guest]

I think it's really sad that a lot of parents feel that their child would just

sit and be lost in inclusion. If inclusion is done properly, the child would be

taught the same subject and the same points with modifications and extra support

for the teacher. They also would learn social skills and extra language. You

will get no arguement from me when you discuss the fact that parents know their

child best and should make educational decisions for them based on that

knowledge. I just think it's a shame that school systems are still " dumping "

kids into the regular classroom and therefore making the decision to keep them

in self-contained almost imperative. As an inclusion para, I support students

AND teachers and help keep the kids in the regular classroom. I make sure they

get the concept and I help all the kids in there as well. Teachers are glad to

see me:)) I'm proud to know that. Just my thoughts on the matter.

Elaine

Re: special class

I beleive your child needs to be where you think he should be, your the mom

and its your job to find him the best education you can. My daughter is 10 and

has been in a spec needs class from day one, she has come along way, SHe knows

her colors, numbers, letters and is now beginning reading . I know to some

may say this is not alot but to me it is she has grown so much emotionally in

these classes , has friends both nds and disabled she is treated well and is

well known at school. My husband and I made this decision early on that we

dont

want her in a class to just sit and be lost , we wanted her to learn at her

pace and if we only came out with some skills than at least we have done our

best

as parents. I know others have different views of where they want their

children to be and that is fine also, We do have the right to chose as parents

what

is right for our child. So goodluck to you and all the new parents out there

who have joined our group. Hopefully this group will help you to make more

informed decisions as you face each step along the way. Thanks Nettie619

Mom to 10 years old ,, Jen 12, Mike 15, na 6