School - What they didn't tell me...

TypoJEnny

New Member
Ok I really need to vent...

Last year my son was in 5th grade. We had to place him in a day treatment facility for 6 months. So I told his school I wanted him to take 5th grade over. (he couldn't even write a full paragraph). I ended up emailing the local news station about our situation because I was told "we don't retain a child that old". I got enormous help from the local news. The TV anchor emailed me back and gave me his wives email address. I contacted her and we had coffee and talked. She made a few phone calls and gave me a direction. She gave me names and numbers of people to call. She told me what exactly to say to plead my case and gave me step by step instruction on everything.

I followed her advice and after putting my foot down and calling everyone including the state Special Education Director. I got my son retained and in a new school. This school is a brand new school with new staff and a very friendly and helpful Principal. I met with her and gave her information on my son. I asked her to place him with a kind and patient teacher. Someone that is loving and caring and willing to work with me.

The next time we met she told me she had the perfect teacher for my son and not to worry.

Okay. So, we are two days into the school year and I found out that my son's kind and patient homeroom teacher only has him for about an hour. They are doing a rotation. A different teacher for each subject! It just so happens that the subject his teacher teaches is the subject he goes to the Special Education class for. He had the rotation a couple of years ago at his other school and it was a nightmare. Trying to get 4 teachers on the same page, and to get them to actually read the IEP let alone follow it! We ended up placing him in Special Education for all subjects.

Its day two and I got my 2nd email from his Special Education teacher and tonight I got a call from his math teacher. Get this... she didn't even know he had an IEP, let alone that math is a subject that he is suppose to go to Special Education for. My son told me they told him that he has to go to mainstream then if he is having problems he can leave the class and go to Special Education. (okay, lets give a child with conduct problems the choice of when he leaves class). He let me know that today after he was given his math assignment he let his teacher know he was to go to Special Education for help. She allowed him to go. When he got to the Special Education class no one was there. It was the teachers lunch break and the class was empty. No TA or anything. So he went back to mainstream and did the best he could.

I have to keep reminding myself...it is only day two, they haven't got their ducks in a row. It will take time.

I just wish that when I was working so hard to get him into another school with the "perfect" teacher for him, someone would have told me that he would have 4 different teachers. This is elementary school. Part of the reason I wanted him held back was because he is not ready for the whole changing classes every hour thing.

I'm just ticked. I hope the teachers read and follow the IEP. We got burned before I won't let it happen again. I know his IEP front to back, heck I helped his teacher write it last year.
 

nvts

Active Member
Hi! I'd call the principal and set up a meeting with ALL of the teachers that he's going to be working with. Since this might actually turn into a positive experience with switching classes, I'd attack the problem head on. No one can claim ignorance if they're all aware of his disabilities.

Set up a formal agenda. Don't let this turn into a yack session for all of them to sit and talk about his behavior.

Make sure that all of them are aware of the goals and objectives on his IEP.

Check out the book "Asperger Syndrome and Difficult Moments - Practical Solutions for Tantrums, Rage and Meltdowns". Just buzz over it, it will familiarize you with various techniques that you can have them employ as well as terminology that they might throw around.

Hand out sheets with your contact information so that they can contact you for questions or concerns. Advise them that you would prefer it be via e-mail (this way you have a written log of the various contacts).

Above all: don't make excuses for them. I know what you mean when you say that you shouldn't jump because it's "only the 2nd day". For a lot of us 2 days of uncertainty can unhinge the whole year!

Just my opinion!
Beth
 

Martie

Moderator
Jenny,

My son did not handle class to class transitions at all well when they started (in 6th grade.)I could NEVER get his math teacher on the same page and math was his strongest academic subject! (in other words, unlike English, he should have done well in math.) I would not let the day 2 thing stop me. They should know what they are doing BEFORE school starts.

I like Beth's idea a lot. I would approach the principal and ask for a meeting that includes everyone to be "efficient" of everyone's time. And do make an Agenda. You have a right to an IEP revision meeting any time there is a problem. This is a PITA for staff, especially if it involves a teacher who is not involved in the current "problem." Therefore, the 2004 law allows "minor" IEP revisions to be made in writing with parental consent without having a meeting. If you are armed with this information, you can hope that one meeting will do it and get the principal on-board. Of course, as usual, there is no legal definition of "minor," so for me, with a school that would not cooperate, everything would be "major" until the IEP is correct and every teacher knows what the plan is.

Martie
 

TypoJEnny

New Member
Thanks for the suggestion about the revision meeting. I was thinking about it before I posted. I was just worried that it may be to soon. I have to go into the school tomorrow for a PTA thing. I think I will book an appointment with the principal and explain my concerns and ask for a meeting with all the teachers. I think I will ask for one at the begining of next week to give them time to read the IEP. This will also give me time to get my notes together and a plan of attack. LOL

You ladies are wonderful. Thanks soooo much!!!

Jen
 
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