What could public school do for us?
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| Sat, 08-18-2007 - 9:30pm |
Currently we homeschool. DS 7 has not been to public school at all. In the past 2 years we have built a solid homeschooling network and DS is making real friends. Although we did check out the school last year, I had no intentions of him ever going.
In the light of a possible autism dx, I am wondering if the school would offer us something that I am not able to provide. For this school year DS is slated with an weekly hour long social skills group of 4-6 kids run by 2 OTs and 3 helpers. During that time the moms are given social skill lessons by a social worker to enhabce what the kids are learning. This runs Sept through May through Easter Seals. DS will continue his weekly hour long therapy session to work on emotional literacy and anger management.
Karate is weekly and he loves it. His sensei gets him-she and he respects her. Scouts is weekly and is a whole different group of kids than his homeschool kids. He has a monthly science club that is really a public speaking group with a science bent. Homeschool gym is weekly --his 3 good frieds are in this class- a different sport each week for 1 1/2 hours. Afterwards we stay and swim. We also swim 1-2 times more a week. Swimming keeps him really regulated sensory wise. At least once weekly but usually twice he has a one on one playdate and these last anywhere from 2-6 hours. No tv no video games but actual one on one playing and imagination and compromising.
Throw in errands, library trips, field trips and outside playtime oh and school. He is wanting tennis lessons but I don't know if I can fit private lessons in the budget.
If he were in school all day the only things we could keep would be karate and scouts. The others would have to be dropped due to time constraints and him needing his down time. The pool membership wouldn't be worth it for only swimming on the weekends. The social skills group wouldn't work becasue of the distance and time of school dismissal.
What would public school offer him? I would need for him to get a full grade skip to even consider it. In my mind he would be giving up alot so I would want him to be getting alot in return. I on the other hand would be gaining a lot of me time or maybe not if I am constantly there for meetings and such. I know most of you are in public school what would I be expecting from them? Thanks Heather


Heather, my god will you homeschool my son? lol Seriously, it sounds like what you are doing is perfect for him. As a parent that is EXTREMELY disappointed with the public school system right now, I applaud you!
Others may come in and give some more helpful advice, but I know my school isn't doing half as what you are doing for him right now.
Lainie
Thank you. I only have one child so that helps right there. DH is not picky about a messy house so that helps too. I am a mom, a wife, a teacher, and a homemaker. Unfortunately DH often gets the short end of the stick as I can only seem to do 2 of those things well at a time. It also helps that DS is an academic kid and although he dislikes math and grammar, if I can relate it all to history and science he is a willing and enthusiastic student. I have an awesome homeschool group of moms (all with NT kids) who are understanding and accepting of tics occasional outbursts and quirks.
I hope you can improve your child's school situation more to your liking. Heather.
son is attending a gifted class in public school.the school offers swimming, computers, language and music lessons. we were extremely fortunate to get into this school. i believe there are aspies many in his class, some dxed some not dxed. the teacher deals with their quirks beautifully. son is learning great social skills. some of his quirks are fading and he's gained great confidence in himself.
an iep could help.
i'd look into the local schools and see what they are offering.
If I could offer my son what you are providing yours, I'd drop public school in a heartbeat.