Getting Ready for 1st Grade

[Guest guest]

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all getting ready for an Awsome summer!

I have a question: My son is in Kindegarten, starting 1st grade in August. His

IEP states that he spends half a day with the regular grade class he is in and

the other half at his ESE classroom in the cluster. This year that is ending I

din't have any input as to the teacher I wanted for him, I deferred to the

choice made by the school and didn't have the best experience (lack of

communication between teachers, teachers and home, maybe not much experience by

the regular teacher in inlcusion, etc). So my question goes to: can I request

a specific teacher for next year, for 1st grade? And how can I find out the

qualifications and experience these teachers have with inclusion and

mainstreaming? I have been asking around and I already have a couple of names

( " best of " according to parents and kids), but that opinion comes from typical

kids and/or parents of typical kids.

Any ideas? Will appreciate any advice. Thanks!

Carolina

[Guest guest]

You sound like a swet, sweet mother, and you child is so lucky to have you.

There are so many issues we look at when we place students in mainstream (gen.ed.) classrooms: Is the gen ed. teacher enthusiastic about an autistic child? How many students are in her class already?, Are there other students in her class with disabilities, and if so will there be extra help? Are there students with behaviors in the class?

I have a coworker who had several cluster kids last year. The parents lover her. This year she has asked the administration if she can get a break. She feels that another teacher takes on having the cluster students. A couple of years ago I had a coworker who was three months pregnant in August. She asked her administration if they could "go easy" on her, and not place "hard-to-teach" students in her class that year. At some schools, the teachers work together and place the cluster kids pretty much without input from the administration. At other schools, the administration decide how this is done. At my school, the administration and the teachers work together as a team.

You should absolutely let the administration know that you are aware of their good teachers. If you know of a teacher that is well-liked, you should request her. What do you have to lose? However, you do not know which teacher may be best for your kid. If I were you, I would e-mail the school's autism coach, the ESE specialist, and cc the AP, and simply ask them to place him with the most loving gen ed teacher. In this way, you have let them all know that you are involved and you will follow up. Most schools want to work with the parents, and none of them want problems.

Let me know if you need help writing the e-mail.

Teacher.

Subject: Getting Ready for 1st GradeTo: sList Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 5:25 PM

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all getting ready for an Awsome summer!I have a question: My son is in Kindegarten, starting 1st grade in August. His IEP states that he spends half a day with the regular grade class he is in and the other half at his ESE classroom in the cluster. This year that is ending I din't have any input as to the teacher I wanted for him, I deferred to the choice made by the school and didn't have the best experience (lack of communication between teachers, teachers and home, maybe not much experience by the regular teacher in inlcusion, etc). So my question goes to: can I request a specific teacher for next year, for 1st grade? And how can I find out the qualifications and experience these teachers have with inclusion and mainstreaming? I have been asking around and I already have a couple of names ("best of" according to parents and kids), but that opinion comes from typical kids and/or parents of typical

kids.Any ideas? Will appreciate any advice. Thanks!Carolina

[Guest guest]

Hola Carolina,

The first item of importance is your IEP and its annual date. If the IEP is still en force when the transfer is done, they have to follow whatever is in the IEP.

I have to refer you to the IDEA because Hard Working thinks your child's placement depends on school staff and not on the needs of your child. This is contrary to law. Perhaps you should be looking in the federal mandate for the child to be educated in the least restrictive environment and perhaps your child should be mainstreamed the whole day. Remember the school is suppose to meet your child's needs and not the other way around.

It can be a real love affair between you and the school until you disagree. You are your son's advocate and you are advocating for your son's needs. I'm sure you are a "sweet, sweet mother" but honestly that is not your job.

To: sList Sent: Sun, June 12, 2011 7:25:01 PMSubject: Re: Getting Ready for 1st Grade

You sound like a swet, sweet mother, and you child is so lucky to have you.

There are so many issues we look at when we place students in mainstream (gen.ed.) classrooms: Is the gen ed. teacher enthusiastic about an autistic child? How many students are in her class already?, Are there other students in her class with disabilities, and if so will there be extra help? Are there students with behaviors in the class?

I have a coworker who had several cluster kids last year. The parents lover her. This year she has asked the administration if she can get a break. She feels that another teacher takes on having the cluster students. A couple of years ago I had a coworker who was three months pregnant in August. She asked her administration if they could "go easy" on her, and not place "hard-to-teach" students in her class that year. At some schools, the teachers work together and place the cluster kids pretty much without input from the administration. At other schools, the administration decide how this is done. At my school, the administration and the teachers work together as a team.

You should absolutely let the administration know that you are aware of their good teachers. If you know of a teacher that is well-liked, you should request her. What do you have to lose? However, you do not know which teacher may be best for your kid. If I were you, I would e-mail the school's autism coach, the ESE specialist, and cc the AP, and simply ask them to place him with the most loving gen ed teacher. In this way, you have let them all know that you are involved and you will follow up. Most schools want to work with the parents, and none of them want problems.

Let me know if you need help writing the e-mail.

Teacher.

Subject: Getting Ready for 1st GradeTo: sList Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2011, 5:25 PM

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all getting ready for an Awsome summer!I have a question: My son is in Kindegarten, starting 1st grade in August. His IEP states that he spends half a day with the regular grade class he is in and the other half at his ESE classroom in the cluster. This year that is ending I din't have any input as to the teacher I wanted for him, I deferred to the choice made by the school and didn't have the best experience (lack of communication between teachers, teachers and home, maybe not much experience by the regular teacher in inlcusion, etc). So my question goes to: can I request a specific teacher for next year, for 1st grade? And how can I find out the qualifications and experience these teachers have with inclusion and mainstreaming? I have been asking around and I already have a couple of names ("best of" according to parents and kids), but that opinion comes from typical kids and/or parents of typical

kids.Any ideas? Will appreciate any advice. Thanks!Carolina