Re: singin' the start of school blues

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/9/2004 9:58:15 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

russandluann@... writes:

No matter where we've been, it always seems to take weeks before things are

fully implemented! Logistics seems to have a lot to do with it--the student

schedules are not finalized until late August, and the teachers only return

to school a day or two before the students. So there is no time built in for

them to know about Matt's needs in advance. And those first few days/ weeks

are so crucial for a good start to the year!

Oh yes, every year we double-check to make sure that the things put in place

on the IEP/IAP are actually happening. I make calls, referring to them as my

" annual nudge calls " to double check on things. Still, each year there is

some glitch. This year was a doosey!

There is time for the teachers to learn about Matt's needs before school

starts. Those few in-service days are the time. In our school, they arrange for

the in-service training to take place during those couple of days before

school starts. The teachers don't mind because it gets them out of tortuously

boring meetings.

The teachers are trained at that time because we insisted that the training

happen before our kid walks into the classroom. The teachers know what to

expect and my son has the reassurance that the teachers know about his needs.

The TOD and his teachers worked out the timing a couple years ago and the

administration was happy with the timing since they don't have to pay the

teachers

anything extra for the training time. They're required to be in the schools

for in-service days at that point. And that training is built into the TOD's

annual costs if it occurs during normal hours. If they did it on another

evening, they'd have to pay the teachers and the TOD extra because the time

goes

beyond their contractual hours.

Now for my horror story. Even though we had wonderfully successful meetings

this past spring, we had a complete mess last week. The high school guidance

counsellor who was at all the meetings and was to implement everything, left

her job at the point when she was setting up the schedules. The new person

had only a couple days to get it all done. She took a look at our son's

classified status and put him into a standard SpecEd schedule. (ARGH!)

We got the schedule last week (school started Tuesday) No one returned my

calls because they were overwhelmed by the work being done while so shorthanded.

The TOD called me when she saw the scehdule -- we'd both been making the

same calls. Apparently the new person made most of the needed changes the day

before the in-service training was to take place. All but two teachers were

able to be in the training. At the last minute they were able to switch things

around to get the needed Art requirement into place. So, the art and science

teachers are not trained, but the TOD has spoken with both of them and she

will make the arrangements so that they will also get the needed instruction.

As of yesterday, they were not able to locate his FMs or the Dayna. Rumor

has it they are somewhere in the building, but not in the safe. I had a

conversation with the prinicpal yesterday and in theory they'll find the FMs

for

today. (sigh)

Since his schedule was all messed up, only one of his classes has been

scheduled to be held in a room with smart boards. The principal and assistant

principal were also in our meetings and they thought all the needed

accommodations had been handled. They are being great about getting this stuff

straightened out. The classrooms are my mission for tomorrow. Having teachers

swap rooms

is apparently easier than altering Ian's schedule yet again. I don't care

how it's all accomplished, just that it gets done.

(sigh) It just never stops, huh?

Best -- Jill

[Guest guest]

> Since his schedule was all messed up, only one of his classes has

been

> scheduled to be held in a room with smart boards.

Hi Jill,

What is a " smart board " ? It sounds interesting!

I am also dealing with a transition -- mainstreaming! Our

compounding complication (and delight) is that everything is in a

brand new (fabulous) building. But as a consequence, the whole

school staff is frazzled, email doesn't work, ... the list goes on.

I feel guilty bugging anyone about anything, but that darn FM is

still not behaving!# & (%#$!

Lydia

Mom of in 1st grade

and Colin in 5th grade

[Guest guest]

I like the idea of the inservice before school (insert slapping my

head and saying DUH!) We were supposed to have one Tuesday but the

school did not plan anything...so they just kinda went around and

talk to people...got the job doen but you can bet next year I will

take things into my own hands!

And yes, it's the last minute. The school new since March was

getting an implant and when are we getting the FM? TOMORROW....when

did school start? Aug. 25th! ARG!!!

I think in his Spring IEP I will put down to have things ready BEFORE

school starts. Again...insert DUH here!

On the plus side, we had a whole new team for his IEP and they

TOTALLY relied on my audi and S/L on what to do. Whatever they said,

it was put in his IEP...no questions asked. THAT was great! And his

school S/L seems REALLY on the ball.

So I think it will all be ok in the end.

mom to , 5, progressive bilateral since 3, CI in May

, 3, hearing and getting so big!!

, due Nov 13th...3 pounds 9 ounces as of today

[Guest guest]

I like the idea of the inservice before school (insert slapping my head and

saying DUH!).....I think in his Spring IEP I will put down to have things ready

BEFORE

school starts. Again...insert DUH here!

,

Forgive my delay in writing, but I've been fighting a computer virus for the

past two weeks. Talk about a duh moment, when we were writinh 's IEP last

spring and talked about speech I never though to have is written down that her

speech time (at least part of it) be one to one. Now I'm sure we will pay the

price as they lost the previous SLP and we had to wait three weeks to get a new

one.

Debbie D

" I'm through accepting limits, Cuz someone says they're so. Some things I

cannot change, But till I try I'll never know " Defying Gravity from

" Wicked: The Musical "

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