Re: a transition to middle school

[Guest guest]

Hi a,

First the school was so wrong in separating from his typical and age

appropriate peers. I would have insisted he move yearly with his peers. The

transition to middle school is very complex with this age group. All the kids at

this age are finding ways to fit in somewhere. The difference being is that

our kids feel it but not to the degree yet that their typical peers do. I would

suggest a very detailed transition plan. Having visit the school

numerous times this year, the school staff coming to his school to observe, you

going to observe in the middle school etc. I would also ask for a comprehensive

reading evaluation to determine an appropriate reading program that will meet

's needs. does not need to spend his entire day without being

involved with his typical peers. Teachers can modify anything today with

assitive

tech and all the materials and info available. The middle school has so much

more extracurricular activities that could participate in. You will have

to find out what they have to offer, talk to the teachers and coaches. I have

been preparing for Zeb's transition for the past year already. He will be

going into the 7th grade in an inclusive placement. The school staff will be

bringing Zeb to the middle school on a monthly basis to familiarize him with the

school, staff and routines. The vocational piece is not something that I

advocate for Zeb so I am not very good in that area. should be learning

the

computer, copy machine etc. What does he like to do? I do know that the schools

in this area have used the cafeteria for vocational work. My attitude is that

we pay kitchen and janitorial help for these jobs so if they want to pay Zeb

and a few of his typical peers for these jobs I may entertain the idea. I am

trying to focus on the ed piece moreso than the vocab piece. Just a few ideas

that may help.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 11 DS/OCD/ASD?

[Guest guest]

nathan does have a comprehensive reading program, wehave tired a good few

different kinds over the years and has shown the best and most progress with his

current program, im just checking into some tweeking. as for the middle school

issue, DH and I both agreed b4 he wasnt ready to go to midle school, nathan

is not as functiononing as zeb, were still working on groups with 5th graders,

he is starting to interact more, not refusing as much anynmore, and they dont

have a program at our middle school for him, granted he could go back and

forth, as they do for band, as the middle school is right next to the elementry

school, but they didnt have any classes really for him, and we didnt really push

as things were going good, nathan makeing great strides, but now he is a

teenager, and will be 14 in august, we arent sure if we want him to entirely

pass

the middle school and go right to highschool. As for vocational, he has been

dooing heavy work as part of his SI for around 4or 5 years, and he loves it, he

vacmes, and does mail, runds errends to post office and library all just a

few blocks from school, he gets SI plus education, works on his counting and

money skills and road safety etc, he also picks up the recycling every week and

loads the pop machines, he knose when they are to be done, and doesnt even have

to look at his schedule anymore, I think we all just were please on how happy

and how great he has been doing to make any huge changes. There was no

arguing or anything, we were all in agreement, if its not broke dont fix it, my

motto, but with time comes the need for changes and he is gorwing up so i have

to

throw a wrench in there, and his teacher is very suportive of this, and were

both working hard trying to figure out what to do. shawna

[Guest guest]

Hi a,

Every child is unique. I am not comparing to Zeb. It is the

responsibility of the the school district to create a program for not

to

fit in to what is available. The school didn't complain because you didn't

complain when they failed to understand the I in IEP. should not be with

5th grade students regardless how well or not he interacts with them. Students

are not left behind because they can or cannot interact socially. You initially

voiced your concern regarding 's reading program. Ask yourself if he

has made measurable progress? If he has then the program is meeting his needs,

if not, regardless if he is doing somewhat better, the program is not meeting

his needs. If is 14 how many years behind grade level is reading?

That should answer your question as to how well the program is meeting his

needs.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb 11 DS/OCD/ASD?