Re: Question for those who have transitioned from Preschool to Kindergarten

[Guest guest]

We're in the same boat as you are with our youngest son. His birthday is in June, and we actually did opt to put him in preschool for another year, but our time is running out on that, and he must transition this fall. Mind you, he's non-verbal, so that played a big part in our decision to return him to preschool this present year. That might be different for you.

I shudder to think what kind of horror they have in store for his transition...no matter what, it isn't going to be pretty. Welcome to the awful problem we have for our kids...full-inclusion vs. seclusion...and nothing in between! Yes, there really does need to be some middle ground, but since IDEA 2004 states that the children with disabilities need to be included with the neurotypical children as much as is possible, LRE is being used by many districts as a club...in this case, a big stick weilded against our kids. Hey, if IDEA says that's all they have to do is stick them in the class with everyone else, well great! That's all they'll do. Then, mayhem ensues. And, the school wonders why. Then, "behavior problems" result, and a big mess is the end result.

I wish I had great advice...but my oldest was harmed by all of this nonsense. So, my best advice would be this...IDEA does stat that disabled children should be included in the general ed classes as much as possible -- BUT, it's that last part that's important..."as much as is possible." That will be different for each child. If you know your child will be overwhelmed by the large number of children in the class, share that with them...preferably in writing. If you feel he is ahead of the secluded class...state that in writing too with reasons to support it. Ask what they can offer that's in the middle of those two things. You never know unless you ask.

Meanwhile, investing in those boxing gloves would be a good idea...and reusable ice packs, ACE bandages, pain relievers, etc.....

Good luck!

--Suzanne

-----Original Message-----

From: mystique2574@...

Sent: Wed, 24 Jan 2007 9:44 PM

Subject: [ ] Question for those who have transitioned from Preschool to Kindergarten

We are already looking into what will be going on next year for

Kiernan... and I'm curious for those that have already made this

transition... what options did you have.. and why did you choose what

you did?

For us.. we've been told he can be put in a regular Kindergarten room

with 22+ other students, I've spent days as room mom for my

daughter's kindergarten class this year and know that this would not

be an option since he has a hard time with 10 children in class..

couldn't imagine him with more than 20.. he's meltdown every morning

at the lockers, he can be put into a secluded class with only special

needs and honestly it's at a level lower than he is currently at...

or he can remain in preschool another year where he will be much

bigger than the other kids which could pose a problem... gonna see

how things go til the end of the school year of course... but.. just

curious what other school districts may have... I know even his

teacher has said that a class needs to be created that is somewhere

between full inclusion and full seclusion.. for those that do show

so much potential... but no one has advocated for it yet (hmmmm

wondering if I should invest in boxing gloves)..

Thanks for the help!

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[Guest guest]

My son has been in the regular classroom since kindergarten (he is in

2nd grade now) with an aide. Although he has done ok in the

classroom generally, he recently has had some issues with attention -

particularly in the lecture/discussion parts of the day. As such we

have requested either reverse mainstreaming for some of the day or

placing him in the resource room for one-on-one instruction during

periods of large group lecture/discussion. Starting this week, he

will be placed in the resource room for one-on-one instruction for 90

minutes a day (during language arts, which is where he has the most

difficulty). We just asked for the change of placement, and they

were accommodating. The plan is to eventually transition him back to

the regular classroom full-time; however, we will have to work on his

attention issues before that can happen. I guess what I'm trying to

say is that every child is different and if you ask for a change in

placement, the school may be accomodating.

Thanks.

Debbie Z.

>

> > curious what other school districts may have... I know even his

> > teacher has said that a class needs to be created that is

> >somewhere between full inclusion and full seclusion.. for those

> >that do show so much potential...

>

> My son is in 2nd grade and moving to a program within our district

> that is exactly this. I first heard about it a month ago, visited

> it 10 days ago, and decided to move him there last Tuesday.

>

> It will likely be a battle to get your district to start one in the

> particular building your son will attend, if they don't currently

> have one.

>

> Our district has 7 elementary schools and 3 of them have programs

> for autistic kids. Our neighborhood school is not one of them. It

> seems ridiculous that I did not know about this part inclusion/part

> mainstream placement until I forced my way to the top of the

> district and got a district bigwig to come to our IEP meeting.

>

> My life would have been way easier had I gotten this information

> sooner, so I am passing it along in case it might help someone

> else. I say, gather as much info as you can on your district and

be

> a bully if you have to be. And most of all, listen to what they

> have to say.

>

> I guess I blame myself for being so darn stubborn all these years,

> about trying to make it work at our neighborhood school.

>

>

> Sue

>

> PS if you want more information about our particular program please

> feel free to email me off list.

>