He's only 3y/o

August 25, 2004

my 3yr old just started special pre-k in public school DISD 2 Weeks

ago his teacher has been bringing him homework. what the heck he is

getting homework for is beyond me.i feel its a bit early especially

for what she wants him to do.the 1st things she sent home was to

trace his name " Elijah " then she wants him to spell his name,he has

mild autism i can rarely get him to concentrate on writing.im

guessing this couldve been included in his IEP?is it to late to

reschedule?its way to early for him to be doing this.he doesnt even

have the concept of this down yet.id like them to work more on his

speech and then move on to writing next yr.but obviously they are

doing the opposite.how would i go about getting another IEP

meeting..something has to be done about this.

August 26, 2004

Hi Nicki--

The problem with Texas PPCD classes is that they aren't developmentally

appropriate. It sounds like the teacher's missing a lot of in between

steps,

like can he even hold a pencil appropriately or have the finger

strength to hold a pencil. Does he even know his letters? Can

he match letters? Does he know his shapes? Can he draw shapes?

Usually the progression is to teach the child

shapes, teach him how to draw shapes, and then move on to identifying

letters.

As a parent you have the right to help develop his IEPs, but from

your post, it sounds like you're not familiar with them. Personally

I feel a teacher that has unrealistically high expectations is as

bad as one that has unrealistically low ones. That is a teacher that

has not looked at the child's evaluation and has no idea what the child can

successfully do in order to build upon the child's skills.

gave you lots of good advice

about IEPS and ARDs in her post, and if you do a google search on

" developing

ieps " you'll find lots of good resources out there. If you still need help,

contact Partners Resource Network, because they have wonderful training

materials.

I would recommend that you get a hold of the ABLLS (Assessment of

Basic Lanaguage and Learning Skills by Sundberg and Partington) skills list

(but this is also not completely developmentally appropriate either, so you

still

have to use your judgement).

http://www.behavioranalysts.com/index.html?content=http%3A//www.behavioranal

ysts.com/products/assessment-language-ABLLS.html

On the site you can purchase an IEP development guide.

It's a great list

for showing the progression of skills that should be taught to a child.

Or, buy a copy of " Behavioral Interventions for Young Children with Autism "

Chapter Five has a great curriculum list too and gives you an idea of

what are those beginning skills and the progression in which they should

be taught.

Also, don't sweat the homework. That actually addresses the lack of

generalization that children with autism experience. A child may learn

blue at school and not be able to identify blue at home or anywhere else.

A typical child will generalize a concept after it has been taught in one

setting, but a child with autism will not. I knew of a child who could

do a 100 piece puzzle at home sitting at the table, but could not do that

puzzle on the floor and could not even do a 10 piece puzzle at school. The

homework will help you help your child generalize the skills he is learning

at school, or " Natural Environment Teaching " a very important part of

every child's program.

Good luck, and if you need some more help, e-mail me.