Re: New to the board and school issue

October 19, 2007

In a message dated 10/19/2007 11:28:27 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

mokisses@... writes:

I have a conference next week and the teacher is going

to talk to the principal. Now on top of it the choir teacher is

saying he misbehaves in class, and that gives them grounds to remove

him. They never informed me of any behavior problems. The choir

teacher runs several different choral groups and they are

competitive. This class is basic choir and Adam does not go to any

competitions.

I guess my first question would be what are " they " doing to help him in the

class? Are they using visual cues to let him know when he gets too loud? If

the other kids are laughing at Adam why should he be removed, what are they

doing to teach the other kids not to laugh at him? It sounds like they need

to find the proper supports to help him in the class instead of taking the

easy way out and putting all the blame on him. I would also ask them for

documentation on his behaviors and question why you have not been notified

until

now that they want to remove him from a class that he enjoys. I would tell

them you want to see detailed data collected on his behaviors in the class

and then you want to call an IEP meeting to discuss having a FBA done and

then add goals to his IEP to help him in this class. I remember one time the

school was telling me how bad Trisha's behavior was and then when I requested

in writing for a detailed data collection on her behaviors all of a sudden

there weren't any. Amazing! :-) See they don't want to do any more than

they have to so if you ask them to do more work they might just back off. :-)

Carol

Trishasmom

She isn't typical, She's Trisha!

************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com

October 19, 2007

>

> In a message dated 10/19/2007 11:28:27 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> mokisses@... writes:

>

> I have a conference next week and the teacher is going

> to talk to the principal. Now on top of it the choir teacher is

> saying he misbehaves in class, and that gives them grounds to

remove

> him. They never informed me of any behavior problems. The choir

> teacher runs several different choral groups and they are

> competitive. This class is basic choir and Adam does not go to any

> competitions.

>

> I guess my first question would be what are " they " doing to help

him in the

> class? Are they using visual cues to let him know when he gets

too loud? If

> the other kids are laughing at Adam why should he be removed, what

are they

> doing to teach the other kids not to laugh at him? It sounds

like they need

> to find the proper supports to help him in the class instead of

taking the

> easy way out and putting all the blame on him. I would also ask

them for

> documentation on his behaviors and question why you have not been

notified until

> now that they want to remove him from a class that he enjoys. I

would tell

> them you want to see detailed data collected on his behaviors in

the class

> and then you want to call an IEP meeting to discuss having a FBA

done and

> then add goals to his IEP to help him in this class. I remember

one time the

> school was telling me how bad Trisha's behavior was and then when

I requested

> in writing for a detailed data collection on her behaviors all of

a sudden

> there weren't any. Amazing! :-) See they don't want to do any

more than

> they have to so if you ask them to do more work they might just

back off. :-)

>

> Carol

>

> Trishasmom

> She isn't typical, She's Trisha!

>

> ************************************** See what's new at

http://www.aol.com

>

October 19, 2007

Hi Liz,

It seems like it's always something doesn't it? Does the teacher or an aide

go with your child to music? I'm wondering why they can't help with some of the

behavior issues with the music class. When you have your IEP meeting you might

want to consider asking the music teacher to attend the meeting. If your

child's IEP states that he will be included in the music class than perhaps some

accommodations could be made for him in that class.

Liz wrote:

Hi everyone,

I am a 47 yr old mom and my son Adam is 18 and has DS.

He is different in some ways to his peers with DS so i became curious

about ASD. I am working on getting him tested.

When Adam reached high school it got harder to have him included in

regular classes since he is performing at 2nd or 3rd grade level in

reading and math. I am ok with his learning in a seperate class and

they dont give him easy tasks. Most of the time i think its way too

hard but we do our best. So whats left for our kids outside the

contained classroom? We are left with choosing from what our school

calls " specials " .(Funny that they call them that.) Being Gym, Band,

Choir etc. Physically I cant expect him to be in PE, he would be

trampled. So i figure choir is great...Adam loves music, performing,

and singing. He isnt a great singer but he gives it his all. This is

his second year and he just had his first performance wed. night. I

get a call Thurs from his teacher informing me that he has been

pulled from choir due to the fact that the choir teacher said that

Adam ruined the concert because he sang way too loud and was making

the other kids laugh. Of course i was upset with this decision. The

teacher of course takes the neutral position saying she's caught in

the middle. I have a conference next week and the teacher is going

to talk to the principal. Now on top of it the choir teacher is

saying he misbehaves in class, and that gives them grounds to remove

him. They never informed me of any behavior problems. The choir

teacher runs several different choral groups and they are

competitive. This class is basic choir and Adam does not go to any

competitions.

Any ideas on how to deal with this one..? Liz

__________________________________________________

October 19, 2007

> Hi everyone,

> I am a 47 yr old mom and my son Adam is 18 and has DS.

> He is different in some ways to his peers with DS so i became

curious

> about ASD. I am working on getting him tested.

>

> When Adam reached high school it got harder to have him included in

> regular classes since he is performing at 2nd or 3rd grade level in

> reading and math. I am ok with his learning in a seperate class and

> they dont give him easy tasks. Most of the time i think its way too

> hard but we do our best. So whats left for our kids outside the

> contained classroom? We are left with choosing from what our school

> calls " specials " .(Funny that they call them that.) Being Gym, Band,

> Choir etc. Physically I cant expect him to be in PE, he would be

> trampled. So i figure choir is great...Adam loves music,

performing,

> and singing. He isnt a great singer but he gives it his all. This

is

> his second year and he just had his first performance wed. night. I

> get a call Thurs from his teacher informing me that he has been

> pulled from choir due to the fact that the choir teacher said that

> Adam ruined the concert because he sang way too loud and was making

> the other kids laugh. Of course i was upset with this decision. The

> teacher of course takes the neutral position saying she's caught in

> the middle. I have a conference next week and the teacher is going

> to talk to the principal. Now on top of it the choir teacher is

> saying he misbehaves in class, and that gives them grounds to

remove

> him. They never informed me of any behavior problems. The choir

> teacher runs several different choral groups and they are

> competitive. This class is basic choir and Adam does not go to any

> competitions.

> Any ideas on how to deal with this one..? Liz

>

> __________________________________________________

>

October 19, 2007

Hi Liz,

Welcome to the group. If this is a general music class, I am assuming that you

do not have to try out for the class. The class is open to all students. I would

not allow this teacher to dump him. I would meet with the teacher and ask her

for substantiated data to support her statements of poor behavior. If she

instructs students in singing why hasn't she instructed your son, her student.

Why has she allowed her students to laugh at him? If his singing is too loud it

is the teacher's responsibility to instruct him to sing more softly. If the

teacher does not have the expertise in this area to appropriately teach him,

request that a music therapist assist the teacher and your son in this class. I

would also request that the teacher take a personal development class in

positive behavioral supports. It is your son's right to be included. I would

support his right to sing. I agree with Carol that you could request an FBA too

for the behavioral piece. You may ask if one of his

typical peers would buddy with him for additional support. I also am assuming

he has a transitional plan in his IEP, music can be used as part of that plan

for transitioning into adult life for socialization and community activity. He

just may choose to join a community group for post secondary activity. It may be

a good strategy to use in your meeting.

My son is also a HS student included with his typical peers. Reality is, his

school would not support inclusive classes, specials or otherwise, without my

being an aggressive supporter of inclusion. If you are not an aggressive voice

the staff would prefer to make their jobs easier and not deal with any sped

student in the general classroom.

Charlyne

mom to Zeb 14 DS/OCD/ASD?

Liz wrote: Hi everyone,