Note from school....

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Registered: 07-24-2003
Note from school....
6
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 7:14pm

When I picked up my pre-pre-K daughter this afternoon from school I found a note attatched to the sign out sheet for me:

"Had difficulty following directions, keeping hands to herself, often reminded to use her words. Pushing is dangerous and not fun for anyone. Difficulty with transistions."

And....???? I asked. This is my life. I've initiated discussions about my daughter's behavior many times and I'm told that she's doing fine in school. I keep wondering if she's just "Kivrin" with me. Well, now I find out that what they mean by "fine" is "fine for Kivrin", not "fine" in a general way. I'm not surprised since she's diagnosed with an ASD, but I just don't understand why everything was fine last week and now it's worth a note home and what I'm supposed to do about it before next Tuesday when she goes back to school.

I guess I'm just venting to people who know the feeling, but I'd appreciate suggestions if you have any.

TIA
Mary

Avatar for insideout418
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 10:14pm

It almost sounds like to me that they have no idea what ASD is about.....sounds to me she's pretty typical!


Are her teachers trained in special needs?

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Registered: 06-25-2003
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 10:20pm

Mary,


What changed?

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
Avatar for cathby
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Registered: 05-16-2003
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 10:30pm

It does sound like typical ASD stuff. And you're right that we do understand.

Someone gave me a copy of "10 Things a Child With Autism Wishes You Knew" (I guess it was printed in an ASD mag?) and I'm thinking that might be a good thing for them to read... Anyone?

Cathy

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Registered: 07-24-2003
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 10:34pm

I actually had a long chat with one of the teachers, but she just went the same issues that we've been dealing with since Kivrin started. I think part of it is that Kivrin has picked up some extra behaviors from school, including talking back. I think a lot of adults react to that sort of direct challenge to authority differently than they do other things. However, the one thing that might be "different" is that pre-K starts at the beginning of August (Schools go back really early around here) and Kivrin will go to a new classroom with a new teacher. The school gets a lot of good publicity because the students that go through pre-k are all reading and beyond normal kindergarten level in most areas. I hope I'm not being paranoid, but I'm wondering if they are starting the documentation trail in case they feel the need to refuse her entry to pre-K. It's not that I care about her reading at 5 or being part of that particular class, but I'm not sure I'm happy with the message it would send to my daughter to be "held back" in preschool. Besides, she's really smart in a lot of things and I think she'd find repeating the pre-pre-K class really boring and that can't be too helpful for behavior issues. Sigh.....

Mary

Avatar for insideout418
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 10:47pm

I love that article.

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Registered: 07-24-2003
Thu, 07-06-2006 - 11:20pm

They are clueless. It's a long story, but none of her teachers have any special needs training. That may have to change next year. So far Kivrin's teachers have felt confident in dealing with her and have been adamant that her needs were so different from any of the other kids. If that has changed, maybe me should make a change too. I think it's easier to ignore certain problems the younger the child is...kwim? I know that as the next couple of years pass more and more people will find her quirks totally endearing, but I'm just wondering why her teachers have picked now to accept that is isn't acting like the other kids.

Mary