what should I be requesting?

[Guest guest]

Beth is currently in 1st grade. She had the WISC III done in August 2002. My

neighbor is currently getting her Masters to become a school psychologist. One

of the things she's been doing in her classes is administering tests like the

WISC III to kids. She tested Beth in February. Since she's a student, her

testing isn't official, but I know she went over everything with a fine toothed

comb. (She had to video tape the testing, so there's no way she missed

something.) When Beth was tested in February, she was on Ritalin and in a

familiar setting. Beth's scores were quit a bit higher. Her VIQ was 18 point

higher at 125, PIQ was 21 points higher at 108 (including maze subset which

wasn't done in August) and her FSIQ was 22 points higher at 119. Should I

request that the school do a new WISC III while Beth's on Ritalin? Is there any

point or should I wait for a year or 2?

Now for the next question. As I mentioned a while ago, over half of the

teachers on Beth's track are transferring to a new school. This is a bummer

because these teachers were already familiar with Beth. The various grades on

the same track work together as 'buddies'. For example, this year Beth has 3rd

and 5th grade buddies.

Well, we've found out who the new 2nd grade teacher is and she isn't from this

school. So, I have to err on the side caution and assume that she won't be

familiar with AS. So, here's where I'm stuck. What should I be requesting of

the school to prepare the new teacher? It's not only unfair to Beth, but unfair

to the new teacher to have an AS student sprung on her on the 1st day of school.

It seems like it would be much better for the teacher to have a little time to

'study' before school starts. Maybe then, the room wouldn't be so visually

cluttered, she'll have a seating plan with Beth in mind, etc.

So, for all you incredibly brilliant borg moms, what should I be asking for so

the teacher and Beth get off to a good start? I don't want a repeat of this

year. Things are better now, but I know that the teacher has/had a grudge with

Beth and didn't like her very much.

Kirsten

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/17/03 4:04:43 AM Eastern Daylight Time,

kirsten_forbes@... writes:

> Her VIQ was 18 point higher at 125, PIQ was 21 points higher at 108

> (including maze subset which wasn't done in August) and her FSIQ was 22

> points higher at 119. Should I request that the school do a new WISC III

> while Beth's on Ritalin? Is there any point or should I wait for a year or

> 2?

>

I don't think there is any point to having it redone at all. If you were

trying to get her qualified for a gifted program and needed the number score

to go up to get in, then you'd have to obviously push it. I also don't know

if you can give these tests closely together. If she was bordering something

like her score was so low that they were going to label her something like MR

or " slow learner " or whatever cool label that can be had, you would probably

want to have it redone.

Another interesting thing for you to do is compare the subtest scores. They

may be relatively the same overall.

<<So, for all you incredibly brilliant borg moms, what should I be asking for

so the teacher and Beth get off to a good start?  I don't want a repeat of

this year.  Things are better now, but I know that the teacher has/had a

grudge with Beth and didn't like her very much.

>>

I would request teacher inservicing. You can also ask what kinds of

inserving will be happening before school begins and ask to be included if

you want to see how it's being done or participate by sharing things about

your dd. I would also make up an easy to read packet of information for her

on AS and then perhaps you might consider writing a short " bio " on your dd so

she can " meet " her before she meets her.

Roxanna ô¿ô

Autism Happens...

[Guest guest]

Kirsten, you can ask for Beth to meet the new teacher before this school

year's end, so that she will be prepared to see her at the front of the

class in September. At that time, you can ask the teacher if she has ever

had an autistic student in her class. I have found that it is much easier to

explain to the teacher that AS is a higher functioning form of autism,

because they are more likely to be familiar with the autism term.

She may even ask you for reading material.

/ 4makelas@...

Way, Way Up in Northern Ontario