Re: Not raising hand

March 8, 2011

Is your son a visual learner? Does he read? Maybe it would help to have a sign

visible to him that the teacher can point to with a picture of a child raising

his/her hand that says " raise your hand to talk " or something similar.

My son is very visual and these sorts of things have helped him when it comes to

getting him to follow straightforward rules. Social stories never helped him.

ly, I never understood their supposed utility - kids with Aspergers often

have trouble generalizing things from one situation out to another. So how the

heck is a social story supposed to help with compliance issues? I found them to

be good self-esteem boosters when pictures of my son behaving well or doing the

right thing were included with the story, but that's about it.

For the same reasons, explanations don't help, either.

One thing that has (to my shock) helped my son lately (he's also in

Kindergarten) is Choice A and Choice B. Choice A is always the preferred one

and Choice B is always the bad one. Basically, the teacher tells the child they

can do Choice A or Choice B, explaining what Choice A is and the good

ramifications of that choice, then what Choice B is and the bad ramifications of

B, then ask the child which choice they pick. When they pick A, say " good

choice " and make sure the child follows through. You can even use visual cues,

with Choice A and B written on big cards.

Good luck,

>

> My son is in Kindergarten this year. All year we've been told how he yells out

for assistance during class rather than raising his hand and waiting for a

response. He also does this just for reassurance that he's doing his work

properly even if he doesn't even have a question about it.

> No amount of talking about it, reminders, a social story(song) has helped. He

just doesn't get it. But he says he does.

> He will tell me he did not yell out once all day. That he raised his hand and

waited correctly, or that he did his work all by himself without needing help,

but his teacher will report that that was not the case.

> In January, they decided to start a 'star helper' program. Each day, another

child in the class will get a big yellow star on their desk. My son is to go to

their desk, or raise his hand and have the helper come to him for help. This is

to redirect him away from the teacher (so it's not a constant interruption) and

to help increase his social skills with his peers. I don't think it's working

very well.

> I ask him on most days who was his star helper that day and he says he didn't

have one. Or that he didn't need one. Or that his teacher or the adult classroom

helper was it.

> I finally figured out last night that when he says he didn't have one, it

actually means he didn't use them.

> It is such a knee-jerk reaction for him to yell out for teacher or aide, and

also to avoid his peers.

> Any ideas?

> Thanks

> TJ

>

March 9, 2011

Yes and yes. Maybe a picture of himself raising his had will work.

Thanks

> >

> > My son is in Kindergarten this year. All year we've been told how he yells

out for assistance during class rather than raising his hand and waiting for a

response. He also does this just for reassurance that he's doing his work

properly even if he doesn't even have a question about it.

> > No amount of talking about it, reminders, a social story(song) has helped.

He just doesn't get it. But he says he does.

> > He will tell me he did not yell out once all day. That he raised his hand

and waited correctly, or that he did his work all by himself without needing

help, but his teacher will report that that was not the case.

> > In January, they decided to start a 'star helper' program. Each day, another

child in the class will get a big yellow star on their desk. My son is to go to

their desk, or raise his hand and have the helper come to him for help. This is

to redirect him away from the teacher (so it's not a constant interruption) and

to help increase his social skills with his peers. I don't think it's working

very well.

> > I ask him on most days who was his star helper that day and he says he

didn't have one. Or that he didn't need one. Or that his teacher or the adult

classroom helper was it.

> > I finally figured out last night that when he says he didn't have one, it

actually means he didn't use them.

> > It is such a knee-jerk reaction for him to yell out for teacher or aide, and

also to avoid his peers.

> > Any ideas?

> > Thanks

> > TJ

> >

>

March 9, 2011

Yes he has an IEP. The goal for this is decrease the shouting out from 10x a

day-present level to 2.

This is the only issue he has, so I really don't want to change his classroom

placement at this time. His teacher & the spec ed teacher are not looking to

punish him for this, but find a workable solution, which is great. But I am

worried about not having such a great teacher next year...

Ironically, right now they are learning about weather. I lauged out loud last

night when reading the note that came home saying how we parents should spend

time everyday talking about the weather, looking at forecasts, etc. Since this

is one of his special interests, he's been doing that since he was 2! We spend

more time trying to change the topic than anything

Bonus is that he's been raising his hand to answer questions during class, which

is new for him, because of his love for this topic.

Thanks

TJ