Re: Struggling with advanced class placement or no

[Guest guest]

Although this isn't specifically called out anywhere, he gets extra time on assignments. I've never heard his other accommodations don't apply for Pre-AP. They know to break down assignments into manageable parts to help him get started and I think that happens. It's really hard to know exactly what else they might do b/c I don't see it. I only see when there is a problem. I guess I kind of assume he's getting the support he needs in most of his classes b/c of his grades. He has the most trouble in Math and that teacher can be a real stick-in-the-mud, specific on the verbal instructions he insisted he gave in class that D must follow (um, write it down, dude), etc... Dylan has the most behavioral problems in that class too (not hard to imagine given the anxiey he feels b/c he's always forgetting something). The math teacher just doesn't get it too

well.

Something I've seen with him this year is ignoring an assignment if he missed it for some reason. It's like if he doesn't get the directions the first time, the next time it's discussed, he politely tunes out. I hope he's learning that he always has to do the work, regardless, because he always does. I never let him skip assignments of any type.

I can break out his general ed accommodations if you were looking for more. I'd be happy to. Just let me know.

"Over-optimism is waiting for you ship to come in when you haven't sent one out."

From: r_woman2 <me2ruth@...> Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2009 5:40:56 PMSubject: Re: ( ) Struggling with advanced class placement or no

>> Dylan is able to master the content in his Pre-AP classes, but that is with some school accommodations and mostly�the two of us�using the online grades system to keep up with all of his assignments.� It's a�true saving grace.Would you mind sharing what accommodations they are willing to give him in Pre-AP? That is one thing I'm at a loss at. They were not willing to give my son any accommodations AT ALL in the gifted classes, but the Pre-AP form mentioned 504 compliance at the bottom, so I figure that is a good sign. But it would help if I had an idea of what other people/schools found acceptable. Especially since you are in Texas too.

Thanks!Ruth

[Guest guest]

This may be a good time to let your son take part in the decision

making as yet another skill to learn. You may use some technique you like that

is structured like having him make a list of the pros and cons and talking each

over with you. What other options are there

can also be explored.

He may not have the patience for this exercise.

If he does though, you can be more confident that he thinks thru decision making

in a structured way. It is a good skill to develop sooner or later.

I do know parents that get services in advanced classes, such as help with note

taking, extra time, but that is not something we have

asked for. Others have and have gotten them.

Pam

[Guest guest]

>

> Although this isn't specifically called out anywhere, he gets extra time on

assignments.  

Do they automatically give him extra time, or is it just if he isn't visibly

finished at the end of the testing period?

> They know to break down assignments into manageable parts to help him

get started and I think that happens. 

See, I can't even get my son's grade-level teachers to do this, and it is even

on his 504. What grade is your son in again?

> It's really hard to know exactly what else they might do b/c I don't see it. 

I know what you mean. I get really frustrated about this, since I need to know

for our own interventions since they do very little. Heck, I'd need to know

anyway. But, I guees I just need to call more meetings and directly ask for the

feedback. So, that is my fault.

> Something I've seen with him this year is ignoring an assignment if he missed

it for some reason.  It's like if he doesn't get the directions the first time,

the next time it's discussed, he politely tunes out. 

My son does this too! I'm not sure I've put my finger on the whole problem, but

I know part of it is that he thinks it is too late once he's missed it. It

doesn't register with him that he has different rules than the rest of the class

(they are trying to be politically correct and kind of hide it, which actually

is kind of bad for an aspie, I think). So, he knows there are no late

assignments accepted in math, for example, and doesn't even realize he gets

another day or however long if he didn't understand the directions--and nobody

tells him. They don't realize how he doesn't generalize or remember. So, I'm

thinking it is partly a communication problem. Partly maybe he doesn't really

want to do it anyway, I'm sure.

> I hope he's learning that he always has to do the work, regardless, because he

always does.  I never let him skip assignments of any type.

See this is one of my biggest frustrations, because I can't get anyone to

communicate with me or learn how to work with him to the point where I can make

this happen. He's been getting out of doing so much of his work for the past

several years, and I hate it. And it also has the effect of hiding his

difficulties since there is a lot less to look at.

> I can break out his general ed accommodations if you were looking for more. 

I'd be happy to.  Just let me know.

, I'd love this if it isn't too much trouble. It would really help me to

see how a similar middle school aspie's accommodations look. Like I said,

especially since you are also in Texas. I really haven't been able to find any

parents around my area. I have to show my son's 504 Plan to so many people all

the time, that I have it all typed up and stored on the internet so I can easily

reach it from any computer with an internet connection LOL.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

>

> He may not have the patience for this exercise.

> If he does though, you can be more confident that he thinks thru decision

making in a structured way. It is a good skill to develop sooner or later.

Of course, you realize that if he could do this, he would not have an AS dx.

I know that because he has a twin brother who is NT that can discuss issues,

introspect and problem-solve like this without any problems. That is one of the

big differences between them that tells me one needs a clinical dx and the other

doesn't (his brother does have some sensory issues and weak executive

functioning--just not to the clinical level). For my AS son, his taking an

opinion and identifying within himself that he enjoyed his GT classes and wants

to get back into advanced classes is a big step.

Ruth

[Guest guest]

Yes of course I agree with your Ruth completely, decision making involves a

complex set of skills our kids don't grasp easily. All we can do is try to take

small steps toward teaching certain concepts and ways of thinking. Since my

daughter has wanted to buy everything she sees since she was 5 we started early

with her saying what the budget is almost everywhere we go. She felt we were

being mean to her by saying " no " she looked at our decision making so critical.

She has grasped the concept of a budget for an outting but has not made progress

on saving money for a bigger purchase (that requires some planning skills). She

also is too impulsive and gets to anxious to wait for a bigger purchase. There

is no race, lots of kids have their parents help them with decision making

throughout there life.

But I expect my child won't pick these skills up intuitively thru experience but

will need me to directly teach it step by step.

We have so many power struggles with her, I find I am trying to teach

how I make decisions earlier than perhaps is reasonable for her age and issues

but seems a necessity for us.

Pam

[Guest guest]

Remember, if they are letting him get out of doing assignments, this should be discussed as part of his assessment. I mean, it would be just like the bureaucracy to let him out of doing some of the work because supporting him while he does it would take up their time or resources. But then later, when you are asking for serious help, they say he doesn't need it because he is doing great. He is only doing great because he doesn't have to do half the assignments.

Roxanna

"Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself." ~ Mark Twain

Re: ( ) Struggling with advanced class placement or no

>> Although this isn't specifically called out anywhere, he gets extra time on assignments. Do they automatically give him extra time, or is it just if he isn't visibly finished at the end of the testing period?> They know to break down assignments into manageable parts to help him get started and I think that happens. See, I can't even get my son's grade-level teachers to do this, and it is even on his 504. What grade is your son in again?> It's really hard to know exactly what else they might do b/c I don't see it. I know what you mean. I get really frustrated about this, since I need to know for our own interventions since they do very little. Heck, I'd need to know anyway. But, I guees I just need to call more meetings and directly ask for the feedback. So, that is my fault.> Something I've seen with him this year is ignoring an assignment if he missed it for some reason. It's like if he doesn't get the directions the first time, the next time it's discussed, he politely tunes out. My son does this too! I'm not sure I've put my finger on the whole problem, but I know part of it is that he thinks it is too late once he's missed it. It doesn't register with him that he has different rules than the rest of the class (they are trying to be politically correct and kind of hide it, which actually is kind of bad for an aspie, I think). So, he knows there are no late assignments accepted in math, for example, and doesn't even realize he gets another day or however long if he didn't understand the directions--and nobody tells him. They don't realize how he doesn't generalize or remember. So, I'm thinking it is partly a communication problem. Partly maybe he doesn't really want to do it anyway, I'm sure. > I hope he's learning that he always has to do the work, regardless, because he always does. I never let him skip assignments of any type.See this is one of my biggest frustrations, because I can't get anyone to communicate with me or learn how to work with him to the point where I can make this happen. He's been getting out of doing so much of his work for the past several years, and I hate it. And it also has the effect of hiding his difficulties since there is a lot less to look at.> I can break out his general ed accommodations if you were looking for more. I'd be happy to. Just let me know., I'd love this if it isn't too much trouble. It would really help me to see how a similar middle school aspie's accommodations look. Like I said, especially since you are also in Texas. I really haven't been able to find any parents around my area. I have to show my son's 504 Plan to so many people all the time, that I have it all typed up and stored on the internet so I can easily reach it from any computer with an internet connection LOL. Ruth

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