The good, the bad, and the ugly

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
The good, the bad, and the ugly
6
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 9:29pm

We have officially ended the first week of Kindergarten. It was an intersting week to say the least.
The good: Emma's teacher is old school, take no excuses, consistant. The school Social Worker wants to work with Emma for 30 minutes a week and agrees that ASD fits. Emma had some good mornings and is going into school without kicking and screaming. She has not had a melt down on school property.

The bad: Emma's teacher is old school, take no excuses. She disagrees with me that ASD fits. She spent 30 years in special ed and "worked with a lot of kids" with asperger's and doesn't see those behaviors in Emma. My thoughts: Every Aspie is different, and she was in a resource room, so likely her aspies had a lot more behaviors. I've never said, Emma has every Aspie characteristic at the worst degree. Emma just has enough that it fits. Emma is the first child to sit in the safe seat (on the 2nd day of school) and is the first child to go to the buddy room.

The ugly: The first skate party of the year was yesterday and I got on skates too.

Not really sure of the point in this. Just wanted to put this first week into perspective and out into cyber space.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 9:39pm

I forget brook, does she have a formal dx medically?

I hate teachers like that. I just got chris's dx from the regional center as Autistic Disorder and boy I can't wait to rub it in their faces at the next IEP meeting.

I got alot of "we don't see these behaviors here at school either".

Hey also maybe you could get the social worker to speak to the teacher?

Lainie

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 10:55pm

No formal diagnosis yet. We're really close to a "She has a high liklihood of ASD" and a referral. The psychiatrist has the ASDS and should be getting it to a psychologist this week.

I'm really not worried if the teacher agrees with the direction we're taking with Emma's dx, as long as she's willing to work with Emma on what works. She is consistant with her which is great. I think she's also understanding of the fact that Emma is testing her, and will undergo a much longer testing phase than the other kids. During our conversation today I felt the need to explain myself or offer suggestions and I told her I had none. She said, she's not looking for any explantions and knows that Emma is testing her. It's awesome that she's understanding. I just have moments where I want her to cut my baby some slack. . . even though I know that's the last thing Emma needs.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Fri, 08-24-2007 - 11:39pm

Well imo cutting them some slacks IS sometimes needed with them. I mean even NT kids need a bit of slack sometimes you know?

Lets hope she can tell the difference on when Emma needs it and when she doesn't.

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-13-2003
Sat, 08-25-2007 - 3:27pm

Thanks for sharing your first week. My ds starts kindy next Wednesday (bite lip). How can the teacher say whether she is ASD or not it's only the first week!!! Our school tried to say that "spinning was never observed at the school site" So now everytime we see our some spin around and around me and dh look at each other and say "But spinning was never observed at the school site!" Then we laugh!!

BEst of luck next week too.
Molly

Molly
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-06-2006
Sat, 08-25-2007 - 4:47pm
Safe seat and buddy room?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-18-2006
Sat, 08-25-2007 - 8:47pm
No, I'm in Kansas, but it's the BIST system. I don't remember what BIST stands for but it's the great new discipline tactic for elementary school kids. It doesn't work as well for kids like ours. I give Emma a month before she figures out that if she doesn't like what they are doing she just has to act out and she'll get to leave the room. I really don't think it works for a lot of kids, but school districts think is the greatest thing since corporal punishment fell out of favor.