Re: from ST

October 25, 2006

from a behavior analysis it looks like an " escape " & " frustration " behavior.

So what is she trying to escape? (causing her to go limp, generally not

cooperated) What is making her frustrated? (causing her to throw pumpkin guts at

the teacher).

For one thing, I think I detect that she needs help with transitions. She

probably resents being dragged from activity-to-activity with no warning and no

say-so on her part.

Have you tried a picture schedule with prompts so she knows what to expect

throughout the day? If you only have 10 minutes for an activity, can you

provide a time for her to watch so she can anticipate when the activity will

end?

As for communication, sometimes it's hard for a child under stress to

communicate exactly what is stressing her. Does Sydnie have other ways of

communicating? Signing or a card she can hand over with concepts like " I need a

break " " I

don't want to " " that's not fair " " I need 5 more minutes " " I want to do

something else " or anything else she might want to communicate?

With my daughter, these kinds of behaviors cropped up in 3rd grade when she

was treated with disrespect (by peers & teachers), talked down to (by

teachers), made demands of (by teachers). Treating her as an equal, requesting

rather

than demanding, and being given an opportunity to shine went a long way to

turning things around. So did carefully monitoring of the other children, and

coaching by the teachers so that the other students were supportive of her. Her

functional analysis proved that visual modelling (rather than just auditory

instruction) and tone of voice where important when teaching her new tasks.

This happened in third grade, everything was pretty good for years, now the

behaviors are starting to crop up in High School (where her Life Skills class

is doing a lot of useless, unconnected things).

- Becky

October 25, 2006

In a message dated 10/25/2006 12:54:17 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

huie@... writes:

Sounds like the ST was right on the money when she said what she would do if

she had to do it all over again. Her ST should be scheduled so that Sydnie

is leaving the classroom at the end of an activity, before the next activity

starts. It can be done, the schedules can mesh like that.

Nick's ST has often viewed the situation before making a decision to remove

him from what he is doing to go to her office for a session. I think that is

one of the benefits of him having her for the last 7 years; she understands

him and can recognize when to stand her ground and when to compromise. If he

is actively participating in a class, she will often either try to work with

him in that class or reschedule him for a later time. One example, recently

Nick has worked hard to finish something so he could have 10 minutes of

computer time (he loves the computer); unfortunately, by the time he finished it

was time for speech. His ST realized that she would have an uncooperative

kid on her hands if she insisted so she told him she'd be back in 10 minutes and

then they'd have speech.

Cari

October 25, 2006

<<< I'd have sat with her in the classroom and talked with her during that

activity, rather than bringing her out for her usual session. >>>>

DUH!! What do they expect! They need to plan more carefully if they need

to remove her.

BUT GEEEEEZ, what a novel idea, doing speech in her inclusive setting??????

" Regardless of how good of a swim instructor you are, you can't teach a

person to swim in the parking lot of a swimming pool. "

Norman Kunc

October 25, 2006

So Syndie was doing well, cooperating, taking her turns, listening to the

teacher, doing as she was asked, and was pulled out for something else? Made to

stop a fun activity, one that she was doing well in, to leave for ST? I

wouldn't have liked it either. When I look at this description, I see a child

who was relaxed, doing well, cooperating, just like everyone was telling her

too. She was made to leave an activity before she was done, and didn't know how

to express her anger or frustration, so she acted out. Sounds like the ST was

right on the money when she said what she would do if she had to do it all over

again. Her ST should be scheduled so that Sydnie is leaving the classroom at

the end of an activity, before the next activity starts. It can be done, the

schedules can mesh like that.

I don't know how verbal Sydnie is, and in any case, even if she is verbal, she

may not understand or know how to verbally express herself in this situation, so

she is doing what she knows. My advice, don't get horribly upset about this one

incident, just make sure the teacher and ST understand that they are not acting

in Sydnie's best interests by pulling her out in the middle of an activity.

Make sure they understand why, and ask that her ST be scheduled more

appropriately. After they comply, let it go.

Heck, the ST could have turned that into a great group session, and kept Sydnie

in the classroom. Although as I say that, I am not an ST, and I don't know what

Sydnie's ST schedule, goals, etc., are. Although, if this was a special event

in the classroom, would it kill her to miss one session of individual therapy?

And another thought. Can you or the teacher do a picture board that has

Sydnie's daily schedule on it? One that can be kept in the classroom, and that

the teacher, or assistant can use frequently to show Sydnie so she knows what is

going on, when, and what is coming next? Ever since she has been able to,

has always asked what is next, what are we doing after dinner, tomorrow, after

school. Drives me batty, but that is a need has.

Sharon H.

Mom to , (15, DS) and , (11)

South Carolina

" Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of

battle. "

from ST

See guys what Im saying....where is this coming from????? Could it be her

molar?????? That is the only thing we've discovered is going on....so much for

sleep ppl cause she slept...didnt get up and come to our room or anything! I

know I know theres still the deep deep sleep....but what is happening?!!!

I'm not sure where to start. Today was different, Angie - I'm not sure why. I

went to get Sydnie. She didn't want to come today - she was doing a pumpkin

activity with Mrs. Ledford, and that very well may be why she didn't want to

come - she was involved in that activity, and seemed to be enjoying it. If I had

it to do over today, I'd have sat with her in the classroom and talked with her

during that activity, rather than bringing her out for her usual session. Mrs.

Ledford let her go ahead and have her turn to dig out of the pumpkin, and she

threw her pumpkin filling on Mrs. Ledford's shirt. I just picked Sydnie up and

carried her over to the sink (she wouldn't come when told to wash her hands). I

couldn't get her down the hallway today - first time since the beginning of the

school year. She would just lie down and make herself impossible to stand on her

feet. I ended up having no other choice than to carry her if I wanted to ever

get her to my room. Once we got in my roo

~Angie

Research Associate of Child Development and Human Relations to Sydnie

(5/26/00) and Saylor (4/30/04)

www.babiesonline.com/babies/s/sydniebrooke

*updated 10/01/06*

www.babiesonline.com/babies/b/babytate

*updated 10/01/06*

" May God Bless You As He Has Us "

An extra little chromosome,

that's all it is, you see.

Where all of you were born with two,

I was blessed with three

" My Children are God's gift to me.

How I raise them, is my gift to God. "

October 25, 2006

SHARON SHARON SHARON....you are so right!!! Yes Jama fully knows she shouldnt

have pulled her away and certainly wishes she would have done things right then

and there...incorporated it in what she was doing.

She is great....communicates with me very well...that email was not to be mean

or telling on Sydnie.....trust me I get these after each session its great...I

shoudl have been more clear about that!!!

and yes....CENTERS ???? centers are after lunch is the question of the

day....all day!!!!!!

Should I get her resource teacher to do that for her class or her teacher

herself?

from ST

See guys what Im saying....where is this coming from????? Could it be her

molar?????? That is the only thing we've discovered is going on....so much for

sleep ppl cause she slept...didnt get up and come to our room or anything! I

know I know theres still the deep deep sleep....but what is happening?!!!

I'm not sure where to start. Today was different, Angie - I'm not sure why.

I went to get Sydnie. She didn't want to come today - she was doing a pumpkin