Homework

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 10/4/99 7:52:38 AM Pacific Daylight Time,

sfaust@... writes:

<< Has anyone had

homework issues? Have you ever considered using or have used a tutor? >>

I have to start by saying that Ian is only in 2nd grade so our situation is

probably at a different level. Here in San Diego homework is required every

night and counts as part of their grade.

A couple of questions first. Can you tell what about the homework is the

problem? With Ian it seems to be making mistakes. He has no problem making a

mistake on something that he perceives as challenging. But if he feels he

should know something already or it is easy he will become paralyzed and is

unable to do any of the assigned work.

Right now his daily homework involves spelling and math. On Monday he has to

write the spelling words and show the syllables. He cannot write the words

that have one syllable. He will fly into a rage if the first word on the list

has one syllable and we insist that he write it down. So I have talked with

his teachers (he has two this year) and I explained that OCD will not let him

write the one syllable words. We are very fortunate that his teachers and the

staff at his school are very supportive and understanding when it comes to

OCD. They have been very responsive to Ian's needs so far.

One thing that we did last year before we understood about the OCD was to

give him small blocks of time to work in - 10 minutes (on a timer) to get as

much done as he could then ten minutes of play or relaxation. I was really

surprised at the amount he could accomplish when he knew that he only had to

work for a short period of time.

Does Tyler pretty much understand the material and the homework is mostly

review? Is he getting more homework because class work is not being finished?

How much communication is there between home and school? I am talking with

Ian's teachers daily because Ian does not show his anxiety and frustration at

school. He is able to maintain remarkable control but then explodes at home

(or in the parking lot) because it is a safe place and he has to get it out

sometime.

The Principal, counselor, teachers and staff cannot imagine Ian throwing a

tantrum or raging out of control. They had all spent time observing him

during school prior to our 504 meeting at the end of last year. Every one of

them said he seems like a normal, happy, well adjusted child at school. They

were willing to believe our account of Ian's problems but they did say that

on the surface it does sound like a spoiled, manipulative child acting out at

home to get his way. We were able to give enough examples of irrational

behavior and our firm responses to it to show that we were not parents who

just caved in at the slightest misbehavior from our child.

We are working on E & RP with Ian concerning his fear of making mistakes but it

is very high on his list and so we are starting very slowly and homework may

not be able to be addressed directly for a while.

I know his teachers are somewhat concerned that Ian may start to use the OCD

as an excuse and take advantage of our willingness to modify his assignments.

But I know if they could see the state he is in when OCD interferes with

homework they would know it is no act. He actually enjoys homework and is

eager to do it when OCD is not causing problems.

I know I've rambled on again. I am trying to respond more often so that I can

come to the point more quickly. There is just so much to deal with and it's

nice to have a place to air it out.

Take care.

Joy in SD

[Guest guest]

If you're sending him to school, let the school deal with teaching him. I

recently had a similar situation. I homeschool , and we had a bout of bad

behaviors that I had to deal with. I thought we were past them, but apparently

he was still behaving badly at speech. The speech teacher made the comment that

he was better behaved when he was in school (read, she's next door to the spec

ed class and used that teacher for discipline, didn't do it herself and how has

to deal with it herself). I came to the conclusion that I am not responsible

for how he behaves at school, only how he behaves with me, especially since they

prefer me to not come in the room with him during speech. You are not

responsible to teach him, that's their job. If you wanted to teach him, you

might as well do it full time like your other children. (and I say that knowing

full well it would be extremely difficult - I only have a baby and it's hard to

teach .)

Loriann

[Guest guest]

Ok guys,

Tell me if I am out of line.

I told ya'll about the conversations I had with Matt's school yesterday.

The sp ed teacher told me that he started reading his first book

yesterday, and he " NEEDS TO READ EVERY NIGHT! " We do go over his flash

cards about 3-4 times a week, depending on what else is going on in our

lives. Also, there is a homework sheet in his folder this morning, for me

to sign that he has done all of the assignments from sp ed, and one from

the reg ed. I modify the reg ed one, as he has no math from her, and the

reading assignments we do his flashcards and I usually read a book to him

at night. So yesterday was the first day with " homework " sheet from the

sp ed teacher. She also wanted him to do " side 2 " of a math worksheet,

where I am supposed to go hand over hand with him to write numbers, and

have him color in the correct number of boxes. HE is 9 years old in the

2nd grade, and this alone will take at least 30 minutes, plus the way he

has been acting lately, I just dont' know if I can do this. Is it

unreasonable of me to tell them " NO " , I'm not physically fighting with

him to write numbers! Reading the word cards and the book takes us about

15-30 minutes, plus the time to read a regular book. Matt gets home from

school at 3:30 pm, needs some time to 'decompress " as he is screaming

" NO " when he gets off the bus, then there is dinner to fix, and I have 4

other children who need things.Luckily, we homeschool them so they at

least get some of my attention during the day. plays basketball,

and her practice is 1-2 times a week in the evening, I take care of my

mother, who lives with us and is wheelchair-bound, of course there is my

husband, who is works evenings, so he can't help with this, and

yesterday, the washing machine broke!!!! AAAHHHHHHGGGGGGG! So I get to

send him to school without his home work done, and I will be the bad mom.

To top it off, he is back to staying up until midnight every night (For

the past week) and getting up at 6. I dont' know how he does it. IF

someone tells me today that he doesnt' have autism, I think I will

screammmmmmmm

S

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[Guest guest]

:

Here's the deal. Most kids in second grade have approximately 20 minutes of

homework. PERIOD. Find out what the policy is for OTHER kids who do NOT

have any disability at all. If they are required to do 20 minutes of

homework, then that's all Matt should have to do too.

Special Ed doesn't mean extra work to keep up. It means accomodation so

that you get maximum learning for the same amount of effort---in my opinion.

In this day and age with two parents working and any other kids, it's

impossible to guarantee quality work time with kids who require you to

choose exactly the right moment to work with them. 20-30 minutes seems like

plenty to me.

20 minutes of their stuff, and 20 mintues of " floor time' type work (which

in other lingo I would translate as " quality time with Mom or Dad " so that

there's some positive time between the two of you too.

geez.

This reminds me of a parking lot conversation I had with a mom about her

son who has some learning disability (not sure what yet). He was in tears

b/c everyone got a reward for doing their 3's in multiplication, but he

couldn't get it. He worked 3 hours for 3 nights to try and learn his threes

and missed ONE. Don't you think they could accomodate that???

Anyway.

Those are my thoughts.

Remember, we're riding in your pocket!

Joan

[Guest guest]

Mu opinion is that home is home and school is school. I spend approx. five

minutes (if he lets me) going over what is in Elie's bookbag before I let him

escape to his room for PJ on and decompress time. HE WILL NOT DO MORE THAN 5

minutes of school work with me. That is why he goes to school. I am not his

academic teacher - only his mom and homelife teacher. And make sure that the

school understands that he is not to be reprimanded for NOT DOING SCHOOL WORK AT

HOME!!

Sara

>>> J Stolz <stolzfamily@...> - 02/18/0 10:56 AM >>>

From: J Stolz <stolzfamily@...>

Ok guys,

Tell me if I am out of line.

I told ya'll about the conversations I had with Matt's school yesterday.

The sp ed teacher told me that he started reading his first book

yesterday, and he " NEEDS TO READ EVERY NIGHT! " We do go over his flash

cards about 3-4 times a week, depending on what else is going on in our

lives. Also, there is a homework sheet in his folder this morning, for me

to sign that he has done all of the assignments from sp ed, and one from

the reg ed. I modify the reg ed one, as he has no math from her, and the

reading assignments we do his flashcards and I usually read a book to him

at night. So yesterday was the first day with " homework " sheet from the

sp ed teacher. She also wanted him to do " side 2 " of a math worksheet,

where I am supposed to go hand over hand with him to write numbers, and

have him color in the correct number of boxes. HE is 9 years old in the

2nd grade, and this alone will take at least 30 minutes, plus the way he

has been acting lately, I just dont' know if I can do this. Is it

unreasonable of me to tell them " NO " , I'm not physically fighting with

him to write numbers! Reading the word cards and the book takes us about

15-30 minutes, plus the time to read a regular book. Matt gets home from

school at 3:30 pm, needs some time to 'decompress " as he is screaming

" NO " when he gets off the bus, then there is dinner to fix, and I have 4

other children who need things.Luckily, we homeschool them so they at

least get some of my attention during the day. plays basketball,

and her practice is 1-2 times a week in the evening, I take care of my

mother, who lives with us and is wheelchair-bound, of course there is my

husband, who is works evenings, so he can't help with this, and

yesterday, the washing machine broke!!!! AAAHHHHHHGGGGGGG! So I get to

send him to school without his home work done, and I will be the bad mom.

To top it off, he is back to staying up until midnight every night (For

the past week) and getting up at 6. I dont' know how he does it. IF

someone tells me today that he doesnt' have autism, I think I will

screammmmmmmm

S

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---------------------------

[Guest guest]

Sara,

I think I need you with me at my IEP conferences! You put these things so

well. Ever consider a vacation to Vegas???

I know the answer is that this is an academic school, and there is

homework for ALL students. IF I dont' want the academics, then we need to

look at other schools. But if you could see what happens in our

neighborhood because Matt attends this school, you would be amazed. this

is the first time in his life that he wants to be with other kids, asks

to go out in the front to play, and the kids play with him. I cried last

summer when I went out to find the entire neighborhood (including my 15

and 14 year old daughters, who were watching him) playing

" duck-duck-goose " . There were 12 kids playing this, with Matt being about

in the middle age wise. It is the only game that he could really " play "

so they played with him. FOr about 15 minutes! They come (Occasionally)

and ask if he can come out and play too. So I really want him at this

school, even if it is in most of the day in a separate classroom. The

kids see him at lunch and recess, and remember him.

I love your line about not being repremanded. If I dont' sign off on his

classroom paper, his whole table is counted down! I have been known to

'fudge " (P.C. for lie) about whether we get it all done. Some nights, a

bedtime story is just not possible! And now the resource room has added

reading his book from class, and a math paper, which is really a

handwriting paper. HE cannot write at all yet. Well, he can make the " TT "

at the end of his name, and with much encouragement at school, the MA is

somewhat legible, but that is it. At home, I give him beads to string,

playdough to play with, crayons, colored pencils, markers,a nd a write

on wipe off board to write on. HE plays basketball as much as he can (We

lowered the hoop to 6 ft, and kind of lean it off the driveway, then he

can actually shoot a regular basketball and make it.) Plus, I do have 4

other children, a mom, and a husband to also take care of, so he is not

the center of our lives 24/7---although sometimes it does seem like he

is.

Sorry for rambling. Time to get the kids started on school

S

> From: MIDVALE <Midvale@...>

>

> Mu opinion is that home is home and school is school. I spend

> approx. five minutes (if he lets me) going over what is in Elie's

> bookbag before I let him escape to his room for PJ on and decompress

> time. HE WILL NOT DO MORE THAN 5 minutes of school work with me.

> That is why he goes to school. I am not his academic teacher - only

> his mom and homelife teacher. And make sure that the school

> understands that he is not to be reprimanded for NOT DOING SCHOOL

> WORK AT HOME!!

>

> Sara

>

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[Guest guest]

Part of me is jealous that your school actually considers Academics.

Apparently that's not on anyone's list for Andy, even though he's included.

When they do class presentations, they think it's neat if he hands out

fliers at the door---so what if we fought to attain an adaptive keyboard

for him to do presentations.....

For years I have said to his IEP teams that MY job is home. *I* teach the

lifeskills. YOUR job is to help him get along in groups....and to teach him

some skills (academic too?) that help him do that (read key sight words

like " stop, " for instance). But if *I* have to spend all my time adapting

curriculum for YOU, how do *I* get MY part done?

They tell me I can trust them....and then they call me for help. Or, they

tell me I can trust them, and then he sits there with nothing challenging

to do b/c no one thought about adapting the activities prior to 10 minutes

before.

ARRRRRRGHHHHH!!!!

, ask if hte criteria can be changed for " finishing " the sheets so that

it's not such a stressor. Explain to everyone the amount of unnecessary

pressure they are putting on your family and your son. That for him to stay

motivated about learning, especially with his disability, it needs to be

positive.

It is so much like taking away recess from kids who need to blow off steam

to be successful..........

My kids have yet another four day weekend. Don't move to the Portland

school district guys---kids don't go to school here. Parents lose their

sanity fast.

j

[Guest guest]

> My kids have yet another four day weekend. Don't move to the Portland

> school district guys---kids don't go to school here. Parents lose their

> sanity fast.

They don't attend school here either. My kids are on yet another weeklong

break (with another one in April). In November, it's the worst. Not only

do they have Thanksgiving weekend off, but every Friday is a half-day (for

conferences), and there's some other day that's off -- Veteran's Day? -- as

well as another for a superintendent's workshop. I don't know how they get

anything done that month.

CK,

Mom to Ian (2/89),

(9/90),

and Rose (6/94)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 02/22/2000 12:21:13 PM Central Standard Time,

stolzfamily@... writes:

<< Just tell him no, firmly, and stop ALL the wrestling >>

I agree with you, . Why are they allowing wrestling out on the

playground anyway? How do they control it? And how is he supposed to

understand about the several areas (breasts, buttocks, crotch, butt, etc.)

that he isn't supposed to touch during the chaos of all the arms and legs

flying while kids are wrestling? Our school does not allow wrestling except

in PE under controlled conditions when the kids are older and approaching it

as a sport, not as horsing around. I would ask school officials why they

allow this to go on in the first place, especially in this day and age.

Under those conditions, ANY kid could get in trouble that way.

Hang in there,

Maureen

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 02/22/2000 9:20:00 AM Central Standard Time,

jmedlen@... writes:

<< They tell me I can trust them....and then they call me for help. Or, they

tell me I can trust them, and then he sits there with nothing challenging

to do b/c no one thought about adapting the activities prior to 10 minutes

before. >>

Gosh, Joan, I can see why you are so completely frustrated. Does Andy have a

team member called an " inclusion facilitator " or something similar? In our

district, where is fully included, an inclusion facilitator is the

team leader. She is responsible for curriculum adaptation along with the

classroom teacher and aides. She is the coordinator of the entire team - PT,

OT, speech, adaptive PE teacher, classroom teacher, aides, psychologist,

nurse etc. I have the most contact with her and, because she has

EVERY year, unlike the classroom teachers, she knows the best and sees

the big picture. I think having an inclusion facilitator is essential for

kids to be successfully included. That sure is a lot of pressure on you to

be relied upon for curriculum adaptation. They're the teachers, you're the

mom - I absolutely agree with you!

Just my 2 cents,

Maureen

[Guest guest]

Joan and Sara and all,

I just went up to the school to talk to the teacher. (I'm always up there

it seems). On Friday, as I said, he had no ritalin, and hasnt' since, and

while he is still very 'Active " and distractable, he is not negative,

nasty, screaming no to everyone, and violent. Gee, seems like we wont' be

giving him ritalin. SO I told the resource room teacher, and she started

out with how difficult it was to get him to read anything! Just couldnt'

sit still to read, and math (writing it ) was a wash! So she understands

now. Of course she has to experience it, not just hear about it from me.

She wants to just cut him back on the dose, but I am unwilling to give

him any more right now. We go back to the psych on Thursday. If I can

handle it until then, they can too. One more thing, it seems he refuses

to use the computer at school. I took in " Blue's Clue's " CD rom for them

to use, and they have a touch screen (Which I fought to get) but he is

adamant about not using the computer. HE likes to play a little (30

seconds max) at home on it, but I guess that is one of those " Box " items.

(If you are in a box, you stay in that box, and dont' get out. Computer

is in the " home box " now. Reading is in the " school box " .

Next question:

It seems that Matt, on Friday, touched a little girl on the bottom. I

dont' have any more details than he was outside, all kids were

" wrestling " with him in on it too, and I guess it was a purposefull

touch. THe resource room teacher saw it, brought him to the principal's

office to " explain the inappropriateness of this " (I'm sure this was all

lost on Matt. Just tell him no, firmly, and stop ALL the wrestling) THe

teacher said we coudl have real problems if this increases. Matt has no

idea why you would touch an arm, but not a bottom. He does need to learn,

obviously. I dont ' want him doing this. But, I think, a general rule of

keep your hands to yourself, and stopping all the wrestling by all the

kids. He gets wound up and will end up hurting someone, but not meaning

to. SO should I make a big deal of this?? LEt it slide??? See what

happens???? I dont' know.

Thanks for all the support you give, all of you. I dont' know what I did

before I found you, and I dont' know what I'd do with out you.

S

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[Guest guest]

:

I don't have much to add about the latter issues in your note---yet. I have

to read it a few times and think it through.

BUT.

When I spoke to Dr. Capone about Andy's history prior to going to see him,

I mentioned we had tried adderall (the ritalin generic) for attention and

it brought out aggressiveness and obstinate (mean) behavior. He quickly

said he wasn't surprised (when people don't have to think about the reply I

figure there's more experience than when they have to think about it a

while). He said that ritalin/adderall is the exact opposite of what kids

with DS/ASD need. Thus we started by trying Buspar, which helped with

impusliveness and attention *a lot*.

I don't remember what medications Matt is taking, but I thought I'd share

that. I think you should tell the teacher that although the next few weeks

may be difficult, you and your physician/psych (who ever it is) will be

working on a more comfortable alternative for everyone.

The one good side to buspar (it is one of the drugs for adhd) is that it

doesn't " wear off " like Ritalin does---so you don't have the two different

children to deal with.

And...it has it's own commercial! We howl everytime we see it.

j

[Guest guest]

Joan,

Thanks for your reply. I will take that to the psych and talk about it.

Matt is on Naltrexone, which has worked very well in the past, until it

got messed up with the surgery in December. IT seems that EVERYTHING

changed then. Ritalin had worked well before. But I will not allow the

school to say he has to be miserable with the combative, nasty behavior

just so he can learn to read. There must be something else out there!

I asked the resource room teacher if she had read the Disablity Solutions

that I copied for her. I gave it to her on the Friday before Matt went on

a 3 week track break. He has now been back to school over 1 week, so it

was 4 1/2 weeks ago. A magazine, easy reading, about the diagnosis of one

of her pupils. The only thing, really, written about it! She has seen it

and " browsed " some of it, but hasn't had a chance to really read it yet,

as she gets stuff to read from everyone! I am very disappointed. IF this

was written in some scholarly journal, in a difficult to read format,

like one huge article, I could see it, but it is so easy, so infomative.

This tells me she really doesn't want to know. I am probably blowing this

all out of proportion, but...............

Just for kicks, let me tell you about my weekend. Started on Wednesday,

the washer broke. I called Thursday, and the guy could come out on Friday

am. Came Friday am, needed a new water pump. Came back Friday afternoon,

and said he fixed it. It wasnt' BUt of course, I didnt' know that until

Friday night. Dh and I left Friday night at 2 am for Phoenix, for a

conference on HOmeschooling. Kids stayed home with my mom (81 years old,

in a wheelchair, can be grumpy). Marie, 15, was in charge of Matt. Matt

got burned on his hands from the fireplace screen. Things fell apart

here. No one has clothes yet. Mom is mad, Marie is upset, and being a 15

year old girl with her 14 year old brother. (translation----Fighting)

Came home SUnday afternoon, to the fighting. Still no clothes. Mom told

me my brother, who lives in Denver, called while we were gone. He had

been her a couple of weeks ago, rented an car, and accidentally left a

small box in it. I am supposed to call the rental car company and see if

I can get it back. I lost it! I told her " NO< I AM NOT GOING TO DO THAT>

GEORGE CAN CALL< HE IS A BIG BOY< AND HE CAN CALL THEM HIMSELF! " So now,

mom is not speaking to me, either. Is this good, or bad??? THen the

teacher things! CALGON>>>>>>>

S

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[Guest guest]

Time to re-write his IEP to specify that h/w will consist of REVIEWING papers

sent home from school. I occasionally get Elie to re-read his Edmark paper or

his cicled comprehension paper from reading. Once in a very great while his

reading book come home and I can bribe a page or two out of him. He will agree

occasionally to write his name for the TSS worker so that I don't have to sign

that. BUT THAT IS ALL. His IEP states that school work will be sent home

each day and will be reviewed at home!! You too can do that. Academics need to

be ADAPTED to his need that is why it is called and I EP. Each according to

hi/her specific needs. As far as penalizing his class - tell this person that

you will initial reviewed work for her to re-review wach day thus you have done

the requisite overview of his work with him. (Just to be really ON IT , redline

and circle all grammatical errors and misspellings in the notes that she sends

home - drives teachers nuts!) I have been known to read teachers' notes home and

then give them a grade for content and accuracy.

Sara

>>> J Stolz <stolzfamily@...> - 02/22/0 10:08 AM >>>

From: J Stolz <stolzfamily@...>

Sara,

I think I need you with me at my IEP conferences! You put these things so

well. Ever consider a vacation to Vegas???

I know the answer is that this is an academic school, and there is

homework for ALL students. IF I dont' want the academics, then we need to

look at other schools. But if you could see what happens in our

neighborhood because Matt attends this school, you would be amazed. this

is the first time in his life that he wants to be with other kids, asks

to go out in the front to play, and the kids play with him. I cried last

summer when I went out to find the entire neighborhood (including my 15

and 14 year old daughters, who were watching him) playing

" duck-duck-goose " . There were 12 kids playing this, with Matt being about

in the middle age wise. It is the only game that he could really " play "

so they played with him. FOr about 15 minutes! They come (Occasionally)

and ask if he can come out and play too. So I really want him at this

school, even if it is in most of the day in a separate classroom. The

kids see him at lunch and recess, and remember him.

I love your line about not being repremanded. If I dont' sign off on his

classroom paper, his whole table is counted down! I have been known to

'fudge " (P.C. for lie) about whether we get it all done. Some nights, a

bedtime story is just not possible! And now the resource room has added

reading his book from class, and a math paper, which is really a

handwriting paper. HE cannot write at all yet. Well, he can make the " TT "

at the end of his name, and with much encouragement at school, the MA is

somewhat legible, but that is it. At home, I give him beads to string,

playdough to play with, crayons, colored pencils, markers,a nd a write

on wipe off board to write on. HE plays basketball as much as he can (We

lowered the hoop to 6 ft, and kind of lean it off the driveway, then he

can actually shoot a regular basketball and make it.) Plus, I do have 4

other children, a mom, and a husband to also take care of, so he is not

the center of our lives 24/7---although sometimes it does seem like he

is.

Sorry for rambling. Time to get the kids started on school

S

> From: MIDVALE <Midvale@...>

>

> Mu opinion is that home is home and school is school. I spend

> approx. five minutes (if he lets me) going over what is in Elie's

> bookbag before I let him escape to his room for PJ on and decompress

> time. HE WILL NOT DO MORE THAN 5 minutes of school work with me.

> That is why he goes to school. I am not his academic teacher - only

> his mom and homelife teacher. And make sure that the school

> understands that he is not to be reprimanded for NOT DOING SCHOOL

> WORK AT HOME!!

>

> Sara

>

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[Guest guest]

At 11:59 AM 2/22/00 -0800, you wrote:

I told her " NO< I AM NOT GOING TO DO THAT>

>GEORGE CAN CALL< HE IS A BIG BOY< AND HE CAN CALL THEM HIMSELF! " So now,

>mom is not speaking to me, either. Is this good, or bad???

What? you can't fix everyone's problems?!? Well MARY! What will we do with

you! This just cant' continue!!

{{{{{{{{{{}}}}}}}}}}}}

BTW, I think it's common for teachers to put off reading things that

parents bring. Last year, when the school psych told me the two couldn't

exist together I brought two articles that said it can (2 out of what,

10?). She then told her supervisor that they can't be expected to read

things in the team communication notebook if the mother keeps cluttering it

with research articles! She just didn't like that I had more information

than she did and made her look bad.

But, they just want to leave work at work, too. Not that it helps US, but I

do understand it. If *I* could put off reading stuff to help Andy I

probably would too! See, she won't have to deal with the results of her

ineffective methods for the rest of her life. We do. Irritates me too. It's

not right, nor is it fair. It's not what I would do with a similar

request....and that's why it bothers me the most.

j

[Guest guest]

<< Homework????? I am just shocked, pissed and stunned that

they think they can dictate what goes on in your own home. Sorry, this one

just really gets me. :-) >>

Hi, Everyone.........I spend about an hour each night total (we have frequent

breaks) helping Gareth do homework. I guess I am a minority here because I

asked the school to send work home. I want to know what they are studying in

each class because repeating it over and over again at home is the only way

he picks up things. I know the teachers cannot repeat each assignment over

and over. I feel it's the best way for him to really learn things. This

Friday, he's got his first quizzes in SS and Science. I teach him the basic

facts he needs to know (they modify his courses). If I did not make him

write his spelling words out each night, he would never learn them by Friday.

I have to admit that it is a pain in the butt for me, and my housework and

e-mail gets neglected, but I truly believe it's best for Gareth.

Tonight, I had 3 days worth of e-mails to go though!!! Take care,

Everyone.

Margaret

[Guest guest]

ICharlyne wrote:

> >The school very seldom sends any

> homework home and I ask daily.The homework that we do get on occasion is

> what

>

Charlyne,

I feel your pain and FRUSTRATION!!!!! Homework should be given everynight. It

gets them in the routine. My daughter is not in an inclusive setting yet or

at the level you describe but my son who is LD and possibly ASD had the same

problem. I ended up modifying the homework. I would ask them in class if they

were modifying. They would always say yes. I found out their modifications

were just prompting him (reminding him to stay on task) please! They couldn't

understand why some days he was able to do it and on others he could not.

They had 3 teachers (One was Special ED. full time, Reg. and Math teacher)

giving assignments and the homework was so confusing that I told my son how

to do it and got it wrong. Guess I would have to repeat 1st grade. It would

take me 10 minutes to figure out the directions.

>After having this

dialog with the special ed teacher on her modifying work we now were sent

home tonight the vocabulary words as follows:

department,audience,expression,obeys,commands,accident. Does anyone have a

brick wall I can barrow for my head?

Those vocabulary words are unbelievable. My son is in second grade and they

give him 3 letter words. Sort of the opposite problem. In his class they

track the kids in different spelling groups. And in different reading groups.

I don't know how I feel about that. I guess their trying. What does the

Special Education teacher do all day? Can't she advise the Reg. teacher how

to make modifications? Sorry to go on and on but I feel the same way

sometimes. Although this year is much better. Knock on wood. Communication is

the key. Good luck. I think we are all working on that.

Diane (mom to Rochelle 5ds and Danny 7)

[Guest guest]

Diane,

I agree that homework is vital but it needs to be appropriate. I guess that's

my gripe.

Charlyne

Mom to Zeb DS-? 8

[Guest guest]

Also to make ABC order more relevant to some of my MH students I used to not

use spelling words, but their names (and other familiar names in our school

or their lives), to look up in a phone book--which is a good real life skill

and they seemed more interested in doing that than looking up words in a

dictionary. Not that using a dictionary isn't an important skill. But if

motivation is a problem maybe the phone book would be a good start.

Jill

[Guest guest]

I think ABC order will be helpful to her in the long run.......but only if

she is ready to learn this now. You might have to judge by looking at

whether or not she can stay on task learning this, and to me it sounded like

from your email that she really isn't thrilled doing it? Being able to

alphabetize is a skill that will be very helpful for future employment

possibly. I don't think my guy is ready for this, but you know your

child best! You can at least give it a try and then decide from there. I

say go for it if you and have the patience for it! : )

Jackie, mom to 14ds, 11, and Bradley 8

[Guest guest]

OK,

Answering as a teacher and a parent whose daughter now needs to look up words

in a dictionary or a thesaurus, a skill like that will eventually progress

to a greater skill that will come up else where in one's life and be needed

then.

So I dont think that putting spelling words in ABC order is so outrageous if

you want her to eventually look up words in a dictionary for meaning and

content.

i know it seems endless and pointless, but you have to look at the bigger

picture and then say, OK, maybe this will be a useful skill at another time

in her life. It's also just another trick to learning the words and practice

spelling them. Especially out of order, because some kids just memorize the

words from a list.

~ Mom to 11 DS and 7 NY

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/29/2002 6:47:49 PM Central Standard Time,

linman42@... writes:

> So I dont think that putting spelling words in ABC order is so outrageous if

> you want her to eventually look up words in a dictionary for meaning and

> content.

>

HI

Right now I try to look at all skills as " functional skills " something needed

now or down the road sooooooooooooo you are right Sara might have to go to

some silly workshop and line up in alphabetical order by her last name heehee

I had to do this at a Villa workshop lol

Kathy mom to Sara 10

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/29/2002 6:55:09 PM Eastern Standard Time,

northnr@... writes:

> . Having her write the words does help with retention, but the ABC order, I

> am not so sure about.

> Anyone have any ideas?

>

Alphabetizing comes in handy in many ways. My daughter has volunteered in

our local library for years ... she files books, including easy readers,

which go in alphabetical order. She registers readers for the summer reading

program and files their information cards.... in alphabetical order. She

hopes to get a job in an office and filing will be involved .... the

paperwork will be filed .... in alphabetical order.

The girl is list crazy here ... anybody else have one of those? Anyway, she

types up lists about everything ....here's her favorite .... CDs each of us

own ... she keeps them maintained on the computer ... in alphabetical order (

that is to keep her old mom from buying a CD she already owns!)

Cheryl in VA

[Guest guest]

's teacher has her do this sometimes also. I think it is just another way

to learn to spell the word, and it doesnt hurt knowing how to put them in ABC

order. They have to learn this to check out a library book right? You think

has a lot to do. is 8 in third grade and reads at a third grade

level. SHe is given the full spelling list which is 15 words and " word wall "

words. Most weeks she gets only a couple wrong. Her teacher wanted to start

giving her only 5 and we said to give her the whole list and see what happens.

She really is doing exceptionally well and works hard. She is even learning

cursive.

Kathy

homework

I am not a teacher, and therefore I don't understand everything about

education. However, I think I have a good idea of what needs for the

future.

brings home spelling words to learn over the course of the week. She is

tested on 5 words out of the 10 on the list. They continue on to test her on

the other 5, but don't count misses against her, correct answers are treated

like extra credit. I have different ways of helping her learn to spell the

words, seems to be working okay.

Now, knows her ABC's and the coordinating sounds. She is reading well

on a solid first grade level, emerging high first grade to early second grade.

What purpose is served by having her learn to write her words in ABC order? I

know this might sound silly, but I can maintain her attention for homework for

only so long. I would rather concentrate on spelling and reading. Having her

write the words does help with retention, but the ABC order, I am not so sure

about.

Anyone have any ideas?

Sharon

Mom to (10, DS) and (6)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/29/02 7:50:41 PM Central Standard Time,

b4alltoday@... writes:

> Right now I try to look at all skills as " functional skills " something

> needed

> now or down the road sooooooooooooo you are right Sara might have to go to

> some silly workshop and line up in alphabetical order by her last name

> heehee

> I had to do this at a Villa workshop lol

>

> Kathy mom to Sara 10

>

> Whenever I am in a situation where everyone introduces themselves by

> name, I am always afraid when it's my turn, I'll forget my name. Never

> have yet but it always worries me a bit. always has.