major problems with sped teacher (long)

December 1, 2006

As a parent of a child with Down syndrome, I am fuming!!! How dare they or

anyone spray a child with a water bottle. As a sped teacher, this teacher

needs to look at the environment the child is in and the anticedents(causes)

that

precede the unwanted behavior. Could her desk or where she sits for circle or

reading time be moved away from distracting equipment. Maybe an FBA would be

in order. Positive discipline should always be used!! " Boy I like the way

Jimmy is sitting with his hands in his lap, not touching anything " and give

Jimmy a treat (small goldfish cracker for example if food is a motivator). My

first thought when reading your email is the teacher is short on stratagies

needed in behavior management.

Dawn

December 1, 2006

I am ususally a lurker and not so much a poster, but I am in need of

the wisdom of this group. My daughter Hannah is 6 and in

kindergarten this year. I have had one confrontation after another

with her sped teacher. The latest issue has to do with Hannahs

behavior. Hannah has always been quiet and gentle...never

disruptive or aggressive. Teacher says she is touching the

equipment and doesn't stop when told no. She likes to push the

wheelchairs and walkers (she likes to push her baby stroller at

home). The teacher called to ask me about using a spray bottle to

spray her in the face when she did this to get her to stop. She

stated it was a common practice and very successful in stopping

unwanted behaviors. She said she had already tried it on Hannah and

could tell it would work well for her. I was mortified. I did some

research and found it was used on animals, then found it was called

aversive therapy and was not common. I sent her an email requesting

she not do this and also informed the staff. She sent me a flaming

email chastising me for not allowing it and for talking to her staff

(aides) about it. From there I have complained to the principal who

says she spoke to her about it and there would be no more of this

type of therapy done...that it was not allowed in public schools

here. I was afraid of retaliation to my daughter and still have no

reassurances on that. I have repeatedly requested she be in the

regular classroom for the bulk of the day and get no where. I am

looking for any advice or experience in this. The teacher has

called an IEP for dec 7 to address her inability to follow

directions and I feel like I need to come up with a way to achieve

this...I don't have a clue. Please...if anyone has ideas...let me

know.

Thanks

Tammy, mom to Hannah 6yo ds

December 1, 2006

Oh my God! Hannah is not a dog! I can't believe she would even

consider doing this! If I were you I would also notify the director of

pupil services and the school superintendent. When we had issues with

Dani when she was younger, she is now 16, the punishments were taking

away things that were important to her - she loved computer time, if she

did something wrong she lost computer time. It only took a few times of

losing something important to her to stop the behavior.

Jackie Boyd

mom to Dani, 16 ds

tjm64 wrote:

>

> I am ususally a lurker and not so much a poster, but I am in need of

> the wisdom of this group. My daughter Hannah is 6 and in

> kindergarten this year. I have had one confrontation after another

> with her sped teacher. The latest issue has to do with Hannahs

> behavior. Hannah has always been quiet and gentle...never

> disruptive or aggressive. Teacher says she is touching the

> equipment and doesn't stop when told no. She likes to push the

> wheelchairs and walkers (she likes to push her baby stroller at

> home). The teacher called to ask me about using a spray bottle to

> spray her in the face when she did this to get her to stop. She

> stated it was a common practice and very successful in stopping

> unwanted behaviors. She said she had already tried it on Hannah and

> could tell it would work well for her. I was mortified. I did some

> research and found it was used on animals, then found it was called

> aversive therapy and was not common. I sent her an email requesting

> she not do this and also informed the staff. She sent me a flaming

> email chastising me for not allowing it and for talking to her staff

> (aides) about it. From there I have complained to the principal who

> says she spoke to her about it and there would be no more of this

> type of therapy done...that it was not allowed in public schools

> here. I was afraid of retaliation to my daughter and still have no

> reassurances on that. I have repeatedly requested she be in the

> regular classroom for the bulk of the day and get no where. I am

> looking for any advice or experience in this. The teacher has

> called an IEP for dec 7 to address her inability to follow

> directions and I feel like I need to come up with a way to achieve

> this...I don't have a clue. Please...if anyone has ideas...let me

> know.

>

> Thanks

> Tammy, mom to Hannah 6yo ds

>

December 1, 2006

Spraying water in children's faces is an old behavioral technique called

aversion therapy. It's more considered near child abuse today and isn't

usually appropriate, although it may still be used in closely supervised

situations. You were fully within your rights and had a responsibility to

call the teacher on this one.

Getting Hannah to follow directions involves making sure she understands

what is wanted (communication needs, visual/pictorial reminders, social

stories, etc.) and giving her a reason to follow the directions

(understanding the situation to tangible rewards, depending on child and

variables). It would be an appropriate area to address with a goal.

Being in a regular ed classroom would certainly provide her with more role

models of following directions, btw. ; )

Judi

_____

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf

Of tjm64

Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 9:42 AM

Subject: major problems with sped teacher (long)