Re: Re: ammonia levels

[Guest guest]

Dear Christy,Last year, my son was finally put in inclusion.  The district had still made no real attempt to teach academics.  In a few months, he made gains in reading fluency but his comprehension was still below kindergarten level (no surprise as the district had never even tried to teach him comprehension as evidenced by the diagnostician's office saying that he can't learn to read BECAUSE he has autism!)  Anyway, there is nothing that makes me madder than saying my son can't learn something because of his autism!

So this year they are supposed to be addressing comprehension and they still refused to use any program that has been researched for autism.  They chose to use the same program they are using for every other kid in resource, " Study Island. "

Temple told me she learned to read phonetically, but my son is different.  He is very visual and has a photographic memory.  He has always made hundreds in spelling, but what is hard for him is to attach meaning to the words, so Temple told me to start labeling everything --every object around the house.  Then you make up written stories containing those objects.  Once he can attach the picture in his mind to that word then he will be able to process meaning.  I conveyed this idea to the school, but as usual, they aren't going to use anything but worksheets.  He told me this morning that he didn't want to go to school because it is boring.

The only class besides PE that is tactile or kinesthetic is science class, which he does enjoy.I don't want my son just to learn to read --I want him to develop a LOVE of reading.  I LOVE to read!  I had a great reading teacher and a fantastic reading program when I went to school.  It was not boring in the least.  Everyday we did something different and worked on a different facet of reading. 

You could use these suggestions from Temple and then get the Primary Journals from Wal-Mart (they have a drawing space at the top and lines to write on below.  You can draw, have your child draw a picture, or paste photographs and create stories with your child.

Once a story is done, create, " Who, What, when, why, and how " questions to teach comprehension.Keep in mind that every child is different.  As I said, Temple told me that she was able to learn to read phonetically and learned to comprehend differently than my son will learn it.  You have to figure out how your child learns.  Is it visually?  Auditory? Tactile?  My son is a master imitator, too; he learns by watching.

I am learning a lot from reading Soma's book on RPM.  You might want to look into this methodology, as well.  I have great hopes for it to teach my son academics.We all have to stay on top of things regarding the teaching of academics to our children.  Districts are notorious for equating the use of verbal ability to degree of intellect.  DO NOT let them do this to your child.  Helen Keller would have had no chance in a Texas public school!

Temple's mom was quite lucky in a way --Temple was able to go to private school.  I can't even imagine what would have happened to her in a Texas public school.  How many of us would keep our children in public school if we had a voucher system?  Can I see a show of hands???  I think it is going to come down to many of us getting together to start Charter Schools for children with ASD disorders.  These are still public schools and are entitled to the funds that would normally go to the public schools they would have attended.  I hate to say it, but I don't think they are going to try to abide by the law until they start losing these kids and the money that comes with them.

I know before I started advocating that the PPCD at our school was no more than an over-glorified day care center.  The services my son got in those early years were appalling!He should have been getting a foundation for reading, writing, math, and social and functional skills.  Speech was okay but never enough so we had to supplement.  I will say the OT at that time was awesome.  The one we have now is pathetic.  She actually tried to talk me into allowing my son to remain in self-contained (learning nothing) forever!

Let me know how the reading work goes.Haven