transition from Ga's Babies can't wait to Forsyth county special needs programs

[Guest guest]

Hi there. I was just wondering if anybody had any opinions re: the

forsyth county school districts special needs program. I met with

them today to start transitioning my 2 1/2 year old into the system

and was shocked to find out about their pre-school. Our school would

be s Creek Elementary and thats where she would be sent because

of where we live. I was shocked to find out that they group all the

kids in one class without taking into consideration the functioning

levels of each child. So high fuctioning and severe all in one class.

I thought that the program was designed to teach children at all

levels by grouping them at the same functioning level. I don't know

how a teacher and an aide can teach and control a classroom when all

the children are at different levels. I just asssumed their would

different classes for language, autism, behavioral issues, ect. Is

this crazy or is it just me? I have a child in kindergarten who has 2

downs children in her typical class. One is high functioning and one

is not. I see how hard it is to teach the class and give the extra

attention to the low fuctioning child that is desperatley needeed. I

am now thinking I am going to put my 3 year old in private school

next year and just continue to pay out of pocket for her therapies.

She is very bright, her biggest issues are obviously her expressive

speech and her fine motor due to low tone. Any advice??

[Guest guest]

Hi Tara:

When Landon was getting ready to transition out of Babies Can't Wait,

I had a classroom option. I didn't like the classroom option and put

him in a church program-2 year old classroom, twice a week, half

days. He went to the church for two years and is now in the state

funded preschool program. For two years, I took Landon to speech

therapy (schools, churches, etc.) and did one private speech

session. This year the SLP was going to his preK, but just recently

due to SLP schedule conflict, I had to start taking him back to the

school for speech therapy. If you aren't happy with the classroom

placement, talk about speech therapy and OT through the school

district. Our meeting was always 3 people...the SLP, the assitant

director of special education, and myself. I also was in contact

with the director of special education talking about my options with

her. I am not sure about your county...I am in County and

haven't had any trouble getting speech through the school district.

Anyway...If you are able to take your child for therapy, you could

discuss just speech or OT to help with any schedule conflicts.

Good luck,

Tina

mom to Landon 5yo

>

> Hi there. I was just wondering if anybody had any opinions re: the

> forsyth county school districts special needs program. I met with

> them today to start transitioning my 2 1/2 year old into the system

> and was shocked to find out about their pre-school. Our school

would

> be s Creek Elementary and thats where she would be sent because

> of where we live. I was shocked to find out that they group all the

> kids in one class without taking into consideration the functioning

> levels of each child. So high fuctioning and severe all in one

class.

> I thought that the program was designed to teach children at all

> levels by grouping them at the same functioning level. I don't know

> how a teacher and an aide can teach and control a classroom when

all

> the children are at different levels. I just asssumed their would

> different classes for language, autism, behavioral issues, ect. Is

> this crazy or is it just me? I have a child in kindergarten who has

2

> downs children in her typical class. One is high functioning and

one

> is not. I see how hard it is to teach the class and give the extra

> attention to the low fuctioning child that is desperatley needeed.

I

> am now thinking I am going to put my 3 year old in private school

> next year and just continue to pay out of pocket for her therapies.

> She is very bright, her biggest issues are obviously her expressive

> speech and her fine motor due to low tone. Any advice??

>