MARCH OF DIMES | MARCH FOR BABIES | NACERSANO

Lindsay's Latest

ROUTINE

Two calls from the Nurse's Office last week on Thursday and Friday. This pull-out thing isn't going so well afterall. Yes, Mr. T needs practice raising his hand and following directions, but he's BORED in there. Come on, alphabet and shapes? We've been doing this since he was 2 1/2! Challenge him! On Thursday, he was rolling around on the "thinking pad" and hit his head. Pretty bad bruise. I was on campus volunteering, so I got over there and he sat on my lap and allowed me to hold an ice pack to his head. He was okay and was still up for going to PT with the ladies. An hour or so later in the cafeteria, after I was done with my paper towel distribution duty, I went over to his table to quickly say goodbye. We do a quick first bump and then I'm off to eat lunch and teach at the high school in the afternoon. I had overheard some talking about how the plan was for Mr. T to start his lunch, but then move him to the Spec Ed room. No! I told the teacher and classified helper that's not what I agreed to at the IEP meeting and he needs to eat his lunch in the cafeteria with his class. Stopping and starting him is confusing to him! Well, come to find out, they went ahead and did what they wanted, but didn't find this out until Friday. On Friday, he had a great morning. Got busy on his morning worksheet without prompts from me. Earned his plastic horses and sat quietly playing. Went to morning pull-out without any issues. Spec Ed. teacher came back and did a so-so signal with her hand. He went potty and another person was there to take him to his recess. Brought him back to class where he had some minutes on the computer, another aide comes back to get him, he gets into his line, and they walk to the cafeteria for lunch. Again, paper towel help at the handwashing station, and of to say goodbye like usual. I go back to the classroom to finish a project and I get a call from the Nurse. At first, I wasn't sure which kiddo it was for, but then I knew it was Mr. T. He hit his head AGAIN in the Spec. Ed room. I was a little confused. Where was he? Why is he over there? Shouldn't he still be in the cafeteria?! She didn't know that I was on campus, so I quickly got up to the front office. No bruise, but Spec. Ed teacher was saying that he was acting strangely and took him there as a precaution. I asked her why he was there and it was because the classified person who was watching him had to go to another duty assignment. So, the Spec Ed. room is now a holding cell for my child? He doesn't understand why he's there not that I wanted him there in the first place. There is no worksheet for him to complete, no other kids, nothing. What are we doing here people? Seriously? A few e-mailes to send this weekend, but trying to find the right words before Monday morning. Spec. Ed teacher suggested that I observe afternoon Math pull-out to see if he was any better. I guess it hasn't been going so well in the afternoons either. I asked what he does and she said that he wanders, gets into stuff, and rolls around. Hmm, could he be bored? She had a few minutes, so we followed her back to her room and she watched as Mr. T and I played a game. It's a game he was familiar with and I was hoping he'd talk as much as he did! It was awesome! He was talking, interacting, using SO many words. Yeah, he can do A LOT. Set up opportunites to succeed, give him language opportunities, give him 1:1, give him your patience, your praise, and he will comply. It took a few weeks to be able to sit down with Mr. T and actually play a card game. Taking turns, taking one card at a time, prompts, praise, it's possible. She doesn't have the training, nobody does. The staff doesn't know how to help him. I do believe that they want to help him, so that's positive. Hold on, there's more. Let me take a sip of something with alcohol first. Okay, I quickly went home to eat lunch and went back to observe Math. I saw one kid repeatedly hit another kiddo with a sit disc before the aide got up and took it away from him. I watched that same kiddo kick Mr. T in the leg. I think this kiddo is on the Spectrum, but he's aggressive. Oh my goodness, this is not a good fit. There's another kiddo who instigates and drives Mr. T nuts. My kiddo is sitting/standing and working and this other kid just marks his paper and bothers him. These things are happening in the classroom. What hurt my heart is that not one of the teachers asked my son or the other kiddo getting hit if they were okay. I know it's going to take some time, but it's going to get better, right?

  • Definately send those emails girl!!!  Stay on them to make sure that they're serving him the way that he should be served.  Also, report what you saw in that class as well.  It needs to be documented so that you have T's best interest covered.  I'm sure they'll get their act together soon, but I know it's frustrating until then.

    Hugs!

    Tracy

  • I would definately say something. There is no reason really as to why he is being treated that way. I really think that every teacher should have to take a class that helps special needs children so they have a better understanding as to help them. I work in daycare and I have taken a special needs class and it has helped me to help the children that I have to care for. It sounds like T has a lot to offer and he's just not getting the encouragement that he needs. I hope that it starts to get better as the days go on. Hopefully the teachers and the aid will be able to help him and understand him better  soon. It's fustrating when you tell the teachers what works best for your child and what you would like for your child and it doesn't happen. It happened to me the first week that Kai was in daycare. HUGS

    Laura

  • I think it will get better.  There is so much to consider and with a kiddo on the spectrum always a million things to work on and needs.  One thing I've seen be extremely helpful is to take some time to consider what you want Mr. T to get out of school.  This should a short list- 3-4 things most.  What would the 3-4 most important lessons that need to be tackled before anything else?

    For instance, no sense tackling raising hands if a kiddo isn't attending to an activity- why would you raise your hand to something you're not paying attention to or caring about?  Attending would have to come first, and then the team would have to figure out how to boost attending (exciting activities, small group or even just 1:1).

    A short priority list can help the team decide how to plan his day, and what to prioritize over other things- because you just can't work on everything at once, and when you try (as it sounds like they might) nothing winds up getting done.

    Hugs momma- this is a long journey!

    Lauren

  • Oh Lindsay I am so sorry that school experience has not been so fantastic. It is so hard, I agree with Lauren, the best plan is to concentrate on 3 or 4 goals and make the school be set for them, because there is no use in too much talking and no results. Be patient, I know is hard, tell me about it, but what I learned from my experience is that keeping calm and open helps a lot better, try to listen to their plans for T and let them try them, even if you do not agree, maybe in school they work.

    Deep breaths

    hugs

    Lorena