Re: Kindergarten and classroom integration

[Guest guest]

Hi, as a former school teacher I recommend that you talk to the kids. Kids at

this age are so understanding, forgiving & want be helpful. I taught 1st & 2nd

grade with many children that were typical in all ways as well as many kids that

different challenges. Having a parent come in & talk the classroom during

circle time or what ever is a good time with out your child was the best thing

for everyone. When we had parents do this, it breeds a strong & helpful

community. This way the kids can ask you all kinds of questions so that they

can understand & help anyway they can. Like I said kids at this age want to be

helpful & they understand way more than we generally give them credit for.

Hope this helps. Good Luck!

________________________________

From: nadineck <nadineck@...>

Sent: Wed, July 21, 2010 1:30:58 PM

Subject: [ ] Kindergarten and classroom integration

Hi,

My son is starting kindergarten in September. He has apraxia, a language

disorder, a word retrieval issue, and is cognitively normal. He is a bright,

happy, social boy at home and with friends, but he's self-conscious and shy with

people he hasn't achieved a comfort zone with. His speech output is severely

delayed, and he takes a long time to get his sentences out. His speech sounds a

bit like that of a severely hearing impaired person.

The classroom he is entering is integrated, with an extra aide for him, and two

other kids.

I think it would help to write a letter to the other parents introducing Will

and explaining his issues. People sometimes make the mistake that he's

cognitively impaired, or has issues he doesn't, because of the way he speaks. I

really want to help him get off to a good start socially, and intend to be

proactive with playdates, with the hopes that he can forge friendships with the

kids in his class.

I wonder if writing a letter is a good idea? Should I also go into the classroom

to speak with the kids? Should my son, Will, be there if I do? Has anyone done

this, and do you have any advice, or even a copy of your letter, or suggestions

how to phrase things?

Thanks for any advice!!

Nadine

[Guest guest]

Hi, I had a similar situation last year -- and I made sure that I met with

the teacher right away to tell her to speak to my daughter as she did the

other kids -- even if she can't respond -- and I made sure that her aid

reinforced with the other kids all the time that my daughter was 'smart',

understood what they said, but that her words got " stuck " a lot and for them

to have patience as she wants to be their friend. It helped. I didn't try a

letter, but maybe that would be nice too.

On Wed, Jul 21, 2010 at 1:30 PM, nadineck <nadineck@...> wrote:

>

>

> Hi,

>

> My son is starting kindergarten in September. He has apraxia, a language

> disorder, a word retrieval issue, and is cognitively normal. He is a bright,

> happy, social boy at home and with friends, but he's self-conscious and shy

> with people he hasn't achieved a comfort zone with. His speech output is

> severely delayed, and he takes a long time to get his sentences out. His

> speech sounds a bit like that of a severely hearing impaired person.

>

> The classroom he is entering is integrated, with an extra aide for him, and

> two other kids.

>

> I think it would help to write a letter to the other parents introducing

> Will and explaining his issues. People sometimes make the mistake that he's

> cognitively impaired, or has issues he doesn't, because of the way he

> speaks. I really want to help him get off to a good start socially, and

> intend to be proactive with playdates, with the hopes that he can forge

> friendships with the kids in his class.

>

> I wonder if writing a letter is a good idea? Should I also go into the

> classroom to speak with the kids? Should my son, Will, be there if I do? Has

> anyone done this, and do you have any advice, or even a copy of your letter,

> or suggestions how to phrase things?

>

> Thanks for any advice!!

>

> Nadine

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Are there any good books on this topic that someone could recommend? Kate

>

> >

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > My son is starting kindergarten in September. He has apraxia, a language

> > disorder, a word retrieval issue, and is cognitively normal. He is a bright,

> > happy, social boy at home and with friends, but he's self-conscious and shy

> > with people he hasn't achieved a comfort zone with. His speech output is

> > severely delayed, and he takes a long time to get his sentences out. His

> > speech sounds a bit like that of a severely hearing impaired person.

> >

> > The classroom he is entering is integrated, with an extra aide for him, and

> > two other kids.

> >

> > I think it would help to write a letter to the other parents introducing

> > Will and explaining his issues. People sometimes make the mistake that he's

> > cognitively impaired, or has issues he doesn't, because of the way he

> > speaks. I really want to help him get off to a good start socially, and

> > intend to be proactive with playdates, with the hopes that he can forge

> > friendships with the kids in his class.

> >

> > I wonder if writing a letter is a good idea? Should I also go into the

> > classroom to speak with the kids? Should my son, Will, be there if I do? Has

> > anyone done this, and do you have any advice, or even a copy of your letter,

> > or suggestions how to phrase things?

> >

> > Thanks for any advice!!

> >

> > Nadine

> >

> >

> >

>

>

>