Self contained class vs. regular with aide

[Guest guest]

Much to my dismay we met with our 7 year old daughters teachers yesterday and

they are strongly suggesting she be in the special ed self contained classroom

for next year. She is in a regular second grade class going out to the resource

room for reading and math.She has an aide.It is a very small group-it has

fluctuated between 4 and 6 children. Since the beginning of the school year her

classroom teacher and spec ed teacher, for reading and math, have reported poor

focus,lack of independent working,and sometimes mild resistance to actually

doing the work.It's so frustrating because her reading skills and math

sequencing skills are so inconsistant -great one day with improvement then

messing up sometimes simple counting.. Also, when she is pulled aside for more

individual insruction she resists, saying she wants to stay with all the kids

and do what they are doing.

On the contrary ,at home I found her focus and concentration very good and much

improved to last year. She also reads better at home, does some of the new

material in math better at home, knows her spelling words awesome at home, then

takes the test at school and messes up. Her speech pathologist who has worked

with her at school for the past 4 1/2 years has said she is much more attentive

in group and not as distracted as she was in the past years.She has much

difficulty with math but at home she tries so hard and really works hard on her

homework. However, I have seen the zoned out inattentive behavior the teachers

are talking about-last year(only periodically now),and currently at dance class

(which is difficult for her-but she loves it and insists on still dancing).

The teachers think she will be lost in the greatly increased independent

expectations in a third grade class, even if she goes out for reading and

math.They said she is very quiet in the regular clssroom while they are doing

science and social studies, and during group reading. Her teacher said she seems

kind of spent and just tired and zones out by the end of the day when she is in

the regular class for that. They said they think she would " shine " in the

special ed class. And she would go to a regular class for social studies and

science but there would be less expectations placed on her for projects and

reports. I asked why they couldn't do that if she was just in the regular class

and went to the resource room for reading and math. Also, they said they think

she will start to be picked on because kids start to get that way in third

grade. Shea,our daughter, is more imature acting than her peers and her speech

makes her sound much younger(more like a three year old).They said the kids in

the class now are nice, but they kind of treat her younger and try to help her,

but they are worried as she gets older like next year, it can turn mean and Shea

will start realizing she is different and comments from kids will hurt her.

She has an aide now who hangs back but helps out if needed. The aide is

assigned to her but I know they have 2 severe behavior kids in her class room on

purpose because they know the aid will be there to help.

I would really appreciate anyones inut or experiences. By the way,she LOVES

school. Thanks so much, cheryl