behavior disorder teacher?

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
behavior disorder teacher?
3
Wed, 05-02-2007 - 10:20am

I'm hoping you guys can help me work through this.

They are hiring a teacher for next yr for Kyle (he'll be in 7th grade), an eigth grader, and several sixth graders. They are setting up a mutli grade self contained classroom. The school psychologist told me they are looking for a teacher with autism experience. The principal told me they had the job posted. I went and looked for it and the posting doesn't mention autism at all. It says they would prefer a teacher with a behavior disorders endorsement. When I saw that I of course got all worked up. After a couple days to calm a little and talking with my advocate I'm trying to be reasonable and not jump to any conclusions.

I know Kyle was having behavior problems that ended him up in the self contained class he's in now. He's doing great in there, btw. He hasn't has a single melt down since the move and they tell me he's doing great, staying on task, needing few breaks, using his break card when he does need on and using his help card when he needs help from the teacher. Ok, so I'm worried about Kyle being in a "behavior" class or with a teacher who looks at Kyle's behaviors from a behavior disorder viewpoint instead of an autism viewpoint. But I want to be reasonable and not discount a placement or teacher based on a lable.

Anyone have any words of wisdom, BTDT advice?

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Wed, 05-02-2007 - 10:42am

Samantha,


I started a long post

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 05-02-2007 - 10:56am

1. What kind of class is he in now?
2. What is that teacher like? and
2. If he is doing so good now why are they moving him to a new program with a brand new teacher?

I have come across this problem a few times with Mike. They decide to start a new program around him and a few others but it is brand new and their plan IMO isn't always the best.

My thought is this, if you have something that is successful you stick with that and slowly transition when it is time to transition. (ie the kid has made lots of improvements and is ready for less restrictive or they are transitioning to next level).

Kyle has gone through a million things this year. He has had a very rough year. This is the first time I hear in a very long time that he is doing well. I wouldn't want to mess with that. In your shoes I would likely request he stays in his current program until something is set up in place and would be a logical move for him. My fear is that transitioning him too quickly and doing so to a brand new teacher in a brand new class may cause him to have more trouble.

As for the behavior qualifications vs. whatever, hard to say. They may hire someone who is good with children with autism though I am not sure they get what that means by advertising for a BH teacher. But you really won't know if that is the case until you meet the teacher.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Wed, 05-02-2007 - 11:48am

Renee,

The reason they are moving him is because the class he's in now is supposed to be strickly 8th graders. We knew it wasn't the right spot for him when we placed him there because it is an 8th grade schedule. But at the time it was the best offer. He can not go back to school full time in this class unless he goes to PE, Art, music, lunch, ect with the 8th graders. No one thinks that's a good idea. The teacher he's with now has kids with autism in her class and behavior kids. Her main focus has been behavior kids. I don't feel she'd be good for Kyle long term. Last friday at our team meeting she didn't seem to get why it was important for Kyle to stick with his written schedule. But it was homeschool fulltime, out of distric placement -of which none were appropriate, or her 8th grade class.

Samantha

Samantha