Re: Middle school successes?

March 2, 2011

My son had a tough time with the transition to middle school. Part of the issue

was that he had done so well in 5th grade that the school wasn't anticipating

any problems. My son was completely overwhelmed. The middle school split each

grade into 2 teams. It had a 7 period day and would group 2 periods a day for

academics so that academics were every other day and non academic classes were

fit in where there was space. The only thing that I really liked about the

schedule was special services like speech therapy were scheduled for one of

those elective periods rather than being pulled out of a class. What we ended up

doing is pulling my son out of some of the electives and gave him a free period

each day so that he could have extra time to work on inclass assignments or

start his homework early. We also got a 1-1 aide for my son at that time because

he was having so many melt downs at school. I kept in very close contact with

the special ed coordinator and my son's teachers to make sure everything was

going smoothly. Things went much better in 7th and 8th grade. My son is in high

school now and finds it easier than middle school.

A tour of the school will probably help prepare your son. Ask the special ed

department to set it up for you. You could also ask if your son can come in to

meet his teachers before school starts. In our area the teachers start 2 days

earlier than the students so it's not a big deal for this to happen. You should

also ask the school to set up a person for your son to go to if he needs help

and/or is overwhelmed. There is a lot of homework at the middle school level so

you may also want to consider getting your son some accomodations in that area.

We also asked if my son could practice opening his locker during our visit

before starting 6th grade so that he would be familiar with doing that task.

Caroline

>

> Hi,

> I'd like to know what type of schools and assistance worked well for your kids

in middle school. I have an AS son who will be in 6th grade next year. I'm very

nervous about putting him in our public middle school with 1100 kids even though

our district has done really well with supporting him in elementary school. I'm

more interested in hearing about non-online schools since I know I can always do

a virtual school if absolutely necessary. But my son has likes school now and

learns much better from teachers than his dad and I. So I'd like to keep him in

school and am starting to look at local private schools. But I don't really know

what to look for.

>

> Also has anyone asked to tour a public middle school - can I just ask someone

to give me a tour?

>

March 2, 2011

I do need to add, I am lucky because since they put the 5th grade in the middle school, it is a much easier transition, 5th and 6th go same time as elmentary and they have their own principal, 7th and 8th go same time as high school and have their own principal. In 5th grade, they have 3 block classes, and then two related arts, so there is not that much changing of classes, the teachers are also easier on them, dealing with lockers and such because they are 5th grade. They also get gym everyday in place of recess, some days however, is classroom learning, to act as as health class. I love this transistion as I think it has made things much easier for my dd.From: Catcelia <c2cats@...> Sent: Wed, March 2, 2011 7:31:49 PMSubject: ( ) Re: Middle school successes?

My son had a tough time with the transition to middle school. Part of the issue was that he had done so well in 5th grade that the school wasn't anticipating any problems. My son was completely overwhelmed. The middle school split each grade into 2 teams. It had a 7 period day and would group 2 periods a day for academics so that academics were every other day and non academic classes were fit in where there was space. The only thing that I really liked about the schedule was special services like speech therapy were scheduled for one of those elective periods rather than being pulled out of a class. What we ended up doing is pulling my son out of some of the electives and gave him a free period each day so that he could have extra time to work on inclass assignments or start his homework early. We also got a 1-1 aide for my son at that time because he was having so many melt downs at school. I kept in very close contact with the special ed

coordinator and my son's teachers to make sure everything was going smoothly. Things went much better in 7th and 8th grade. My son is in high school now and finds it easier than middle school.

A tour of the school will probably help prepare your son. Ask the special ed department to set it up for you. You could also ask if your son can come in to meet his teachers before school starts. In our area the teachers start 2 days earlier than the students so it's not a big deal for this to happen. You should also ask the school to set up a person for your son to go to if he needs help and/or is overwhelmed. There is a lot of homework at the middle school level so you may also want to consider getting your son some accomodations in that area. We also asked if my son could practice opening his locker during our visit before starting 6th grade so that he would be familiar with doing that task.

Caroline

>

> Hi,

> I'd like to know what type of schools and assistance worked well for your kids in middle school. I have an AS son who will be in 6th grade next year. I'm very nervous about putting him in our public middle school with 1100 kids even though our district has done really well with supporting him in elementary school. I'm more interested in hearing about non-online schools since I know I can always do a virtual school if absolutely necessary. But my son has likes school now and learns much better from teachers than his dad and I. So I'd like to keep him in school and am starting to look at local private schools. But I don't really know what to look for.

>

> Also has anyone asked to tour a public middle school - can I just ask someone to give me a tour?

>

March 3, 2011

I've never had any choice about putting my 5th grader in school because I'm a single parent. When we got the official Asperger's diagnosis, Adam was in 3rd grade and was moving to a different elementary school. Since the diagnosis was recent, I still had to take a copy to the new school. I just took the boys with me and told them that it would help.My school district is a little different, we start middle school in 5th grade. I took Adam on tour after school late in the school year (after standardized testing). I took him twice more during the summer, and a fourth time a few days before school started when we knew his class schedule. I got doubly lucky because his fourth grade teacher moved up to the middle school as well - Adam was placed in one of her

classes, and ALL of Adam's core classes are in portables. It has greatly helped with his sensitivity to noise. I won't have the portable option next year, but he is used to the school at least. I get to do the great switch again in 7th grade.FawnFrom: tracyandjamie94 <tracyandjamie@...> Sent: Wed, March 2, 2011 1:22:08 PMSubject: ( ) Middle school successes?

Hi,

I'd like to know what type of schools and assistance worked well for your kids in middle school. I have an AS son who will be in 6th grade next year. I'm very nervous about putting him in our public middle school with 1100 kids even though our district has done really well with supporting him in elementary school. I'm more interested in hearing about non-online schools since I know I can always do a virtual school if absolutely necessary. But my son has likes school now and learns much better from teachers than his dad and I. So I'd like to keep him in school and am starting to look at local private schools. But I don't really know what to look for.

Also has anyone asked to tour a public middle school - can I just ask someone to give me a tour?

March 3, 2011

Thanks for all of the advice from everyone that has responded. I will try to

make an appointment with the counsellor or SPED teacher soon.

- you sound like you are in the same situation I might be in. I too am

hearing very mixed messages about out local middle school from parents who love

our elementary school. I'm also starting to investigate local private schools to

see if the quieter smaller environment might be better. What worries me most is

a parent friend who tells me the MS principal is a " see no problems " type of

person and that there are undealt with problems with bullying. Since my son has

been bullied in the past I really do not want to deal with that problem again.

Again thanks for all of the responses,

>

> From: tracyandjamie94 <tracyandjamie@...>

> Subject: ( ) Middle school successes?

>

> Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 1:22 PM

>

> Â