middle school -- yikes!

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Registered: 03-26-2003
middle school -- yikes!
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Mon, 08-13-2007 - 4:56pm

Last week I called the school and asked for the assistant principal who attended Weston's IEP meeting last spring. She had assured me then she would be very willing to take him through the school and meet all his teachers early making sure he would be totally comfortable before school started. I was told she no longer worked there and that the new assistant principal in charge of placement would be happy to assist us. So I talked to him, re-explained Weston and his immediate needs for the beginning of the school year. We set up an appointment for this morning. When I came to school at the appointed time, he was in a meeting, so he'd asked the receptionist to take care of us. She of course had no idea why Weston was having an additional tour and why he needed all this reassurance for going to middle school. She totally didn't understand or like the fact that he needed to have a social story and precise walk through from where the bus will drop him off to where the hall his classes will be and who might be his resource teacher/case manager. (she walked across the parking lot, Weston got all upset and had to walk around on the sidewalk)

Thankfully, the resource chair was in her classroom (on the hall his classes will be) and came out to meet him. She'd read his file and recognized his name but didn't remember much about him or who his case manager would be or which was his homeroom, but I could just see the wheels turning in her brain when he talked to her (never making eye contact, talking in his very precise words in a stilted manner, smiling in his robotic way, laughing his forced laugh, toe walking and wringing his hands)

We can pick up his schedule on Wednesday and walk around and find his classrooms again. He'll have 'camp'-- which is orientation for any student-- on Friday. Then they said he can come again as many times as he needs too-- but also said, "I'm sure he really doesn't need to do this, everyone is nervous and the teachers will make sure to help them if they need it the first few days". I just know that they don't understand how much anxiety he'll have between now and then if he doesn't go over and over this stuff w/o lots of other kids around.

So, I'm glad they're making an effort but I wish they'd understand a little more what would help him and how to make him more comfortable w/ this whole change.

Betsy

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Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 08-14-2007 - 1:44pm

Betsy,
Oh Man! What a bummer that last AP is gone! Poor Weston and poor you! I can just imagine how you felt that day, being made to appear like an overprotective inconvenience.

I am almost tempted in those situatios to drop the my own support for my child and jusy *let* them get the fat end of the wedge. Except for the stress that would cause Pete.

((((Hugs))))

To quote from my kids' current favorite movie (School of rock) "Don't let The Man get you down"

-Paula

-Paula

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Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 08-14-2007 - 9:09pm

Betsy,

Just before Cait went into middle school after we got her schedule I did a few things to help her. First I made a map of the school campus. Foruntately there was one online and I printed that and then drew my own simplified version (no way she was going to understand the one there). I marked her classes and then I would highlight the rooms and her schedule for corresponding colors for classes. So for instance Language arts/social studies would be in pink in her schedule and the room was highlighted in pink on her map.

Then we went to the school before the school year probably 2-3 times. The first time we walked her schedule until she was able to do it on her own and lead me around. We had the highlighted schedule and map with us so we could follow the schedule (next is language arts, it is pink. Where is the pink room).

Then on the 2nd and 3rd days we practiced the schedule again but with alternate routes. Then we practiced walking to various important places using a variety of routes from a variety of places. So we would be at the science room and I would have her find the nearest bathroom. Then from there to the library, office, nurse, etc.

Most importantly I made sure she could find her teachers support class from anywhere on campus.

On the first day of school I put one color coded schedule taped into her binder and another in the front pouch of her backpack incase she got nervous and forgot.

It sounds like over kill but it helped A LOT! Cait is a girl who was notorius for getting lost and missing on campus. She also is a huge flake and middle school had nearly 5 times the number of kids from elementary (from 350 to 1500). You should have seen what I did to her back pack, ROFL. Every pocket was labelled with what goes in it. It worked. I don't have to do as much anymore at all but now she has the skills to find her way, etc. I will likely do the same for high school.

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Avatar for betz67
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Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 08-15-2007 - 10:21am

Thanks for the great ideas Renee! Thanks for the support Paula!

We got Weston's schedule and books today. I knew that he would probably be cross teamed, but I was really surprised how far apart some of his classes are. Amelia looked at his schedule and said, "Mom, his room numbers are all over the place, this is whacked!" I believe that means that she doesn't think his schedule is easy by any means! She did reassure him by telling him that he has the best Algebra teacher and his Spanish and Latin teachers are great, but then she had to add that his science teacher NOBODY liked. LOL!

He has 'camp' on Friday-- they'll get their lockers and practice doing the combinations enough times that they'll be able to get them opened. They'll go through their schedule. The even said they'll pair him w/ someone else if necessary for the first few weeks-- don't know if that will be possible if his classes are all over the place though.

We will have a meeting w/ his resource coordinator/case manager before school starts so that we get his agenda, notebooks, backpack and everything ready to go. He's always had visual cues on his large notebook, but this year they want them to have a separate notebook for each class-- I don't know that this method will work for him but I want the case manager to help him figure out what will work for him. I also want him to know her well and be comfortable w/ her because we've told him that ANY time he's overhelmed or has too much people or too much stress that he's allowed to go to her room and get help. This made him feel much better-- so now we have to get them to follow up on that.

Betsy

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Registered: 12-22-2003
Wed, 08-15-2007 - 11:25pm

Oh Betsy, you're facing one of my greatest fears. I have no clue how we're ever going to make it through middle school...and since this is Noah's last year in elementary school, I've already started worrying. (Hey, worrying is what I do best.)

Sounds like Renee gave you some great ideas...that I'm now going to snarf away in my reference file for future needs.

Amy

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