A
agee
Guest
Soooo...
My 8 year old, like so many of your kids, has trouble with school. He did okay in K - had the best teacher EVER - but still was in trouble a lot. Mostly for getting in other kids' spaces, some fighting, some defiance. She never punished him for wiggling, moving, talking out of turn, etc. Only addressed the really big stuff and made the rest something she/he could manage.
1st grade was terrible. He was put in a structure-less classroom with a teacher who had no control and difficult child lost it. He'd roll on the floor, smash other kids' work, misbehave, etc. All of this with an excellent 504 that K teacher and I wrote but which 1st grade teacher didn't follow. The only work difficult child completed in 1st grade was when the assistant sat next to him for the entire day. I asked for an IEP assessment and supplied complete neuropsychologist testing but was denied IEP because the teacher LIED and said difficult child had no behavior problems and did all his work in class. I supplied the hundreds of notes he sent home to me about difficult child behavior but it didn't matter. Teacher (who I now realize was covering his ass for not addressing difficult child behavior sooner) trumped mama. Also, difficult child was teetering on the edge of grade level standards so it didn't matter how he behaved - he wasn't failing so he didn't need help.
Ok. Now to 2nd grade. difficult child has an excellent placement with a wonderful, calm teacher and a highly structured, slightly stern but kind assistant. Really the best possible placement for him. She is following the 504 perfectly and has added her own accomodations based on difficult child's age and current abilities. But he still is having trouble. Last week was the 1st office visit...and the morning rages and afternoon retreats into silence/sadness have started up again.
I quit my FT job in June to work for our family business, but it's flexible. I also have a background in teaching and feel totally comfortable with the curriculum, etc. I am pretty dismayed about the way American schools are going...so I have the time, the ability, and the motivation. But I'm worried about my frustration level with difficult child. It could really mess up whatever balance we have. But then again, it could improve things a lot! We'd be doing school during his sweet spot - about 10 -1 - this is when his medications are doing their best work. And he's plenty bright, although tests terribly.
Thoughts?
Anyone been there done that?
Am I really ridiculous for thinking of this?
A
My 8 year old, like so many of your kids, has trouble with school. He did okay in K - had the best teacher EVER - but still was in trouble a lot. Mostly for getting in other kids' spaces, some fighting, some defiance. She never punished him for wiggling, moving, talking out of turn, etc. Only addressed the really big stuff and made the rest something she/he could manage.
1st grade was terrible. He was put in a structure-less classroom with a teacher who had no control and difficult child lost it. He'd roll on the floor, smash other kids' work, misbehave, etc. All of this with an excellent 504 that K teacher and I wrote but which 1st grade teacher didn't follow. The only work difficult child completed in 1st grade was when the assistant sat next to him for the entire day. I asked for an IEP assessment and supplied complete neuropsychologist testing but was denied IEP because the teacher LIED and said difficult child had no behavior problems and did all his work in class. I supplied the hundreds of notes he sent home to me about difficult child behavior but it didn't matter. Teacher (who I now realize was covering his ass for not addressing difficult child behavior sooner) trumped mama. Also, difficult child was teetering on the edge of grade level standards so it didn't matter how he behaved - he wasn't failing so he didn't need help.
Ok. Now to 2nd grade. difficult child has an excellent placement with a wonderful, calm teacher and a highly structured, slightly stern but kind assistant. Really the best possible placement for him. She is following the 504 perfectly and has added her own accomodations based on difficult child's age and current abilities. But he still is having trouble. Last week was the 1st office visit...and the morning rages and afternoon retreats into silence/sadness have started up again.
I quit my FT job in June to work for our family business, but it's flexible. I also have a background in teaching and feel totally comfortable with the curriculum, etc. I am pretty dismayed about the way American schools are going...so I have the time, the ability, and the motivation. But I'm worried about my frustration level with difficult child. It could really mess up whatever balance we have. But then again, it could improve things a lot! We'd be doing school during his sweet spot - about 10 -1 - this is when his medications are doing their best work. And he's plenty bright, although tests terribly.
Thoughts?
Anyone been there done that?
Am I really ridiculous for thinking of this?
A