Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 You can most definitely ask for a tour. Our middle school has been great!! My daughter has learning support to help her work in groups and organizing. She has an IEP but it is mostly social. She also has lunch with guidance counselor and a few girls once a week. Just talk to school. Find out what support is avaliable! I want my fighter to stay in public school to keep her social skills going. tracyandjamie94 <tracyandjamie@...> wrote: >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? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Hi,I’m a middle school teacher in a large public school, and below is a partial list from my book “Four Minutes A Day” under the chapter IF YOU ARE A PARENT OF A POTENTIAL VICTIM ENTERING A NEW BUILDING – I hope they help you and that you respect my copyright by giving credit in any reproductions of this e-mail.Thanks .E.C. Bernard· Most schools give tours to students at the end of fifth – ours are in May. We bring over the different elementary schools on different days and former students from that school give tours of the building. It is somewhat rushed and not as reassuring as the tours that are also offered to anyone interested one day about a week before school starts.The problem is that a tour student might make a throw –away comment to be funny and an AS child might be unnecessarily anxious over that comment for months.· I suggest that the best time to take a tour is when your child has his or her schedule for the new year. Ours are mailed out two weeks in advance. Ask the guidance office or receptionist or principal’s secretary for a map of the school building. Highlight the colors of the rooms that are on your child’s schedule and place a period number in the room representing the square. If each day there is a different schedule or an odd day schedule and an even day schedule, use two maps. Put them in a page protector and in the folder where your child will keep his or her assignment book.· The first day it is assigned, bring the lock home and practice on it. Bring it back the next day. We have special locks that are push buttons for students to anxious to use a conventional lock. Your child may have a gym lock and a locker lock, make sure both can be used.· Help your child to figure out where the bathrooms are and when to use them – “oh look period 3 and period 4 are in adjoining rooms, you’ll have four minutes to go to the bathroom around the corner.”· Help your child to figure out where the safe adults are in case of anxiety or bullying.· If your child needs aspirin or other drugs during the day bring them to the school nurse with a doctor’s note to be administered and make sure your child can find the nurse.· Many AS students take the teachers’ threats about detentions for late students very seriously and are seen striding through the halls when everyone is strolling and still making it on time. Notice the school clocks – are they analog or digital? Can your child tell time on them? If the clocks are analog, and you can’t use the cell phone during the day, give your child a digital watch and perhaps during the tour make reassuring comments –“ wow it only took two minutes to get to the gym from your last class and you have two minutes to spare!”· I’ve overheard many well-intentioned parents relay their anxiety to their children so be very careful of what you convey. Things like “ I don’t know if I can climb all these stairs in four minutes” or “I could never open my lock either” “I hope some of your friends will be in your class” don’t help. COPYRIGHT © 2010 BY E.C. Bernard All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 2, 2011 Report Share Posted March 2, 2011 Have you researched the school? I'm in a great school district but our local middle school just failed the state evaluation on services to special needs kids. My neighbors all love the elementary school, but aren't so keen on the middle school - one neighbor put all 3 (NT) kids in private middle school they were so unhappy with the school. Hope your research turns up the opposite of mine : ) From: tracyandjamie94 <tracyandjamie@...>Subject: ( ) Middle school successes? Date: Wednesday, March 2, 2011, 1:22 PM 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 My Aspie is finishing up 7th grade in a public middle school. We did take a special tour before 6th grade, we just talked with our school psychologist and the autism specialist in our district. For us, middle school has been ok. 6th was great, 7th has been harder. He sees the social issues more in himself now, but he has found a small group of friends. He is part of a social skills group that meets once a week, so that helps. If you have any specific questions, please feel free to email me at rchallway@.... I'm also a middle school teacher by trade... Corey > > 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? > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 3, 2011 Report Share Posted March 3, 2011 I currently homeschool my 14 year old aspie. Its connections academy virtual school. He has an intervention specialist and school psychologist through this school. His grades are the best they have ever been. Im considering a private small school in the future that happens to have an autism director. My sons grant will take care of tuition. Make your decision carefully these children do not do well with change. Consult his counselors, Drs etc. ALSO private schools will allow you and your child to sit in a few classes infact my son can be appointed another student who will show him around for a half day. Remember you are your childs best advocate and in most cases his only one. God Bless you! > > Hi, > > I'm a middle school teacher in a large public school, and below is a partial > list from my book " Four Minutes A Day " under the chapter IF YOU ARE A > PARENT OF A POTENTIAL VICTIM ENTERING A NEW BUILDING - I hope they help > you and that you respect my copyright by giving credit in any reproductions > of this e-mail. > > Thanks . > > E.C. Bernard > > . Most schools give tours to students at the end of fifth - ours are > in May. We bring over the different elementary schools on different days and > former students from that school give tours of the building. It is somewhat > rushed and not as reassuring as the tours that are also offered to anyone > interested one day about a week before school starts. > > The problem is that a tour student might make a throw -away comment to be > funny and an AS child might be unnecessarily anxious over that comment for > months. > > . I suggest that the best time to take a tour is when your child has > his or her schedule for the new year. Ours are mailed out two weeks in > advance. Ask the guidance office or receptionist or principal's secretary > for a map of the school building. Highlight the colors of the rooms that > are on your child's schedule and place a period number in the room > representing the square. If each day there is a different schedule or an odd > day schedule and an even day schedule, use two maps. Put them in a page > protector and in the folder where your child will keep his or her assignment > book. > > . The first day it is assigned, bring the lock home and practice on > it. Bring it back the next day. We have special locks that are push > buttons for students to anxious to use a conventional lock. Your child may > have a gym lock and a locker lock, make sure both can be used. > > . Help your child to figure out where the bathrooms are and when to > use them - " oh look period 3 and period 4 are in adjoining rooms, you'll > have four minutes to go to the bathroom around the corner. " > > . Help your child to figure out where the safe adults are in case of > anxiety or bullying. > > . If your child needs aspirin or other drugs during the day bring > them to the school nurse with a doctor's note to be administered and make > sure your child can find the nurse. > > . Many AS students take the teachers' threats about detentions for > late students very seriously and are seen striding through the halls when > everyone is strolling and still making it on time. Notice the school clocks > - are they analog or digital? Can your child tell time on them? If the > clocks are analog, and you can't use the cell phone during the day, give > your child a digital watch and perhaps during the tour make reassuring > comments - " wow it only took two minutes to get to the gym from your last > class and you have two minutes to spare! " > > . I've overheard many well-intentioned parents relay their anxiety to > their children so be very careful of what you convey. Things like " I don't > know if I can climb all these stairs in four minutes " or " I could never open > my lock either " " I hope some of your friends will be in your class " don't > help. > > COPYRIGHT C 2010 BY E.C. Bernard > > > > All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part > in any form. > > > > > > 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? > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 E.C., I saw on the news again last week that there is a state that will legislate bullying out of existence. I wish I had paid attention to the details now but I was in the middle of cleaning out my parents old house and I saw it in a rush and I could find it in a search. I found this one different than the typical because this woman actually seemed to realize that the reason kids bully is to gain status and attention for themselves. She seemed to get that there was a third party to this (the observers) and how it equates with popularity. She was explaining that the real popular kids don't bully because they already have status and are secure with it. The medium popular kids are the ones who bully, to impress the popular kids and gain attention for themselves. I paused to watch, in amazement really, and then, sadly, she reverted back to a normal politician and was going to pass some sort of law against it. anyway, it was interesting if just because they are seeming to finally look at what the benefits are for the bully. But as usual, they think a law will make it go away. Roxanna “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.†- Luther King, Jr. ( ) Middle school successes? Hi, I’m a middle school teacher in a large public school, and below is a partial list from my book “Four Minutes A Day†under the chapter IF YOU ARE A PARENT OF A POTENTIAL VICTIM ENTERING A NEW BUILDING – I hope they help you and that you respect my copyright by giving credit in any reproductions of this e-mail. Thanks . E.C. Bernard · Most schools give tours to students at the end of fifth – ours are in May. We bring over the different elementary schools on different days and former students from that school give tours of the building. It is somewhat rushed and not as reassuring as the tours that are also offered to anyone interested one day about a week before school starts. The problem is that a tour student might make a throw –away comment to be funny and an AS child might be unnecessarily anxious over that comment for months. · I suggest that the best time to take a tour is when your child has his or her schedule for the new year. Ours are mailed out two weeks in advance. Ask the guidance office or receptionist or principal’s secretary for a map of the school building. Highlight the colors of the rooms that are on your child’s schedule and place a period number in the room representing the square. If each day there is a different schedule or an odd day schedule and an even day schedule, use two maps. Put them in a page protector and in the folder where your child will keep his or her assignment book. · The first day it is a ssigned, bring the lock home and practice on it. Bring it back the next day. We have special locks that are push buttons for students to anxious to use a conventional lock. Your child may have a gym lock and a locker lock, make sure both can be used. · Help your child to figure out where the bathrooms are and when to use them – “oh look period 3 and period 4 are in adjoining rooms, you’ll have four minutes to go to the bathroom around the corner.†· ; Help your child to figure out where the safe adults are in case of anxiety or bullying. · If your child needs aspirin or other drugs during the day bring them to the school nurse with a doctor’s note to be administered and make sure your child can find the nurse. · Many AS students take the teachers’ threats about detentions for late students very seriously and are seen striding through the halls when everyone is strolling and still making it on time. Notice the school clocks – are they analog or digital? Can your child tell time on them? If the clocks are analog, and you can’t use the cell phone during the day, give your child a digital watch and perhaps during the tour make reassuring comments –“ wow it only took two minutes to get to the gym from your last class and you have two minutes to spare!†· I’ve overheard many well-intentioned parents relay their anxiety to their children so be very careful of what you convey. Thi ngs like “ I don’t know if I can climb all these stairs in four minutes†or “I could never open my lock either†“I hope some of your friends will be in your class†don’t help. COPYRIGHT © 2010 BY E.C. Bernard All rights reserved, including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. 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 abou t 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 4, 2011 Report Share Posted March 4, 2011 your principal should encourage you and your child to take a tour of the school. The principal would want both you and your child to feel comfortable in the schoolAmy Spikings ( ) 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? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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