Changing school again?
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| Sat, 10-22-2005 - 8:54am |
Just a quick update note, and yes, as the title says, we are considering changing schools again. And the only difficulty here is the crap shoot element of this, as we have to decide --- without really knowing --- what is best for Malcolm right now.
His current school is small private ASD school, 9 per class, with a mix of high and low functioning kids in classroom. None of Malcolm's close ASD buddies are IN his classroom, onw boy he does really likes but is just getting to know. The reason we would take him out is 2-fold, not enough academics at this therapeutic school for our super smart boy, and he is leaving most of the school behind in his social skills now. This is due in part to RDI and social skills provided by this school, his success in 5 weeks of NT camp this past summer could have never happened the year before.
His first school has invited him back, as they have an opening right now and never wanted him to leave in the first place. They are a mix special needs private school of very high-functioning, non-agressive students. When we moved Malcolm, they only went through 2nd grade, but now have expanded through 5th. He knows 3 boys in the class, 10 kids per class, lots of language and interactive skills. They would indeed be more of a match academically and even challenging for him socially.
BUT he would not be getting the same level of RDI and social skills all day long, so this is a tradeoff. He would continue to get OT, ST, and definitely the school is open to working with us, using RDI techniques, etc. Obviously we are leaning towards the move, but now need to discuss with current school, therapists, and Malcolm himself. Also, we have a little time for the decision, as the opening will be held for us for awhile in order to make the decision.
That's it. Never a dull moment. I am somewhat concerned about a big move so soon in school year, as Malcolm just got back comfortably in his body after end of summer difficulties, but he did bounce back real well and even quickly. This is the crap shoot part, but we will have Malcolm visit his old school and potential new classroom first for a day, and we will all decide together!
It's so different having a bigger boy now.
Sara
iloevmalcolm

Sara,
This is such a tough decision, because you can plan for all the things you *think* will be issues, but there could be sneaky ones out there that you hadn't anticipated.
I think you need to factor in future transitions, and think of where Malcolm needs to be socially and educationally for success in middle and high school. Which school will offer him the best chance for success in the future? Is there any way you could change either program to accomodate the missing pieces from the other program?
Peter changed shcool 4 times in 4 years, (and daycare a couple of time too). In my experience the transition went well each time, because he was well prepared, and because we managed to go to a more suitable program almost each time (except in K). Then again, Peter was very young at that time.
I think you are going about it the right way. You are right to include Malcolm in the process. At the end of the day, I think you will follow your gut(s) and make the right decision.
(((hugs)))
-Paula
visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Tough decision!
Somethings I consider when choosing placement (yes we are having a similar issue now as well). Is how is he doing in his current placement, where will he make the most improvements, etc. I found with Mike what "sounds" like it would be best isn't always what is.
On the one hand all this progress was made in this last year in this school right? Something is right about this placement then. On the other hand you mentioned he is moving beyond them and possibly needs to make the next step. And change is hard.
Mike is in a class that is lower functioning than he is academically, however, his teachers individualize for him. It is one small class where he is understood and doesn't have all the stresses of a typical class. Now Mike's academic skills would say that he should be mainstreamed or in higher classes. We tried to push that forever, but there is something about this lower functioning class and the teacher that works for Mike and not only has his behavior and skills improved 1000% but his academics even went up dramatically on his state tests.
Good luck on the decision. It is never easy. I know we are starting the same process with Ms. Cait and in 2 years Mike will need some creative placement.
Renee
Sara,
Good luck with your decision! Now that Malcolm is older, having his input would probably be very beneficial. Changing schools may be an adjustment, but he has gone there before, so the change may not be to difficult. It sounds, from your post, that changing schools would really be helpful for him socially and academically! Anyway, good luck!
Michelle
Thanks, everyone, for your replies and feedback. It is not an easy decision, and I actually vacilate every single time I think about it (mind hurting...). Malcolm has made tremendous social and emotional progress this past year at ASD school, but it is not like he wasn't making some progress in K and 1st at the original school. And he was flying academically there. The thing is, 1st school had him with kids a year and even 2 ahead of him and he was very developmentally behind socially then. Even so, he was at the top of the class academically, but had trouble participating in classroom discussions and making friends (except with girl he is still "engaged" to, and that was love for sure).
He has definitely been Big Man on Campus at ASD school and that has indeed been very good for him. Again, the kids in classroom are older but he is way ahead of them on all fronts. He is the leader of his classroom, does now totally participate, and yet he has been treading water academically all last year and now again. They do make some academic progress, but it is slow and at so easy a pace for him. We pushed last year and they brought the work level up some, but still never got close to what he is capable of. The solid academic grounding he had in K and 1st has held him in good stead, although he has often commented on how easy this school is...
We will have to see what we decide. We could also decide to leave him at ASD school for this year with understanding that we want to move him next Sept. That would mean we would have to see if there will be another opening, of course. But that could also work.
The very good question of setting up his success route for middle and high school is also very difficult to answer, as our choices in middle and high school get even slimmer and more awful than in grade school. We very much have in mind that unless Malcolm ends up in one of VERY few programs, we may be homeschooling for middle school for sure. And happily, compared to the alternatives. Many of his buddies may end up doing the same, so we could form our own school without walls...
The ASD school has a difficult time finding any appropriate placements for their graduating classes, usually end up "keeping" them another year so there are (wink, wink) 2 5th grade classes there at all times. The other school has a far better placement record. Because Malcolm is an unusual child, we do believe that he may have a good shot at those few strong programs just because of his strengths, but obviously we will try every idea we have to help him become as independent and happy and well developed a student and person as he can be in the next 3 years.
He will indeed be very familiar with teachers, students, expectations if he switches schools, getting either school to include missing elements is possible on both fronts, although ASD school is therapeutic by design and 1st school academic by design. In fact, I would say that one school uses academics towards therapeutic end and other uses therapy to achieve academic ends. And both are very interested in the complete child, actually, they are both very lovely schools. A wealth of riches, and yes, I am grateful. Augh.
I will of course keep you all up to date. I have a rambling message from his psychotherapist on my answering maching to really listen to, she sounds as fence-y as I am...LOL I feel that my dh is leaning towards making the move, solid academics means more to him, but he is as always insistent upon thorough investigation before decisions.
And in the meantime, Malcolm has spent this morning with new terrific horse riding instructor and then the afternoon writing a book about 2 friend horses that had to race each other, co-written with one of his buddies who was over for the afternoon, he wrote down the story, buddy illustrated.
Sara
ilovemalcolm