Looking for feedback, please!!!

[blestx4]

I have to apologize in advance for this long post, but hope to get feedback from those of you with older kids, who have gone through Kindergarten.

I have been stressing for weeks about placement for Michael next year. His IEP meeting, scheduled for last week, was canceled because we're not sure what to do.

A little background into Michaels schooling, thus far:
Shortly after his 2nd birthday, he started going to a program, 2X's a week, 2 1/2 hrs a day, but had to be pulled out after 3 months when diagnosed with Leukemia (was out the remainder of the school year). Last year he was in a program (different school) 5X's a week, 2 1/2 hrs a day, but missed lot's of school due to his treatment. Both programs were inclusive, so basically he was going for socialization & therapies.

I should mention that I live in an area where there is not much available for children with special needs. Due to his medical condition, I chose to keep him close to home, rather than send him to a more appropriate program. By that I mean one with self contained classrooms, which is what he needed, & still needs due to his delays.

This year he's in a terrific school (3X's a charm!!), 6:1:2 & 1:1 aide, the only downside is the drive (45 minutes, each way). I just wasn't ready to put my baby on a bus!!! The sad thing about this year is he has missed even more school than last year & hasn't really gotten the full benefit of this wonderful program.

My choices for next year so far are:
- our school district, in a class that will probably only have about 6 kids, but k-2nd grade
- a BOCES program, similar to what he is receiving now, or
- to fight for an extra year of preschool
All scenarios include a 1:1 aide

FINALLY, the questions...has anyone else had there kids in a self contained kindergarten with mixed grades?? If so, how did it work out?? Would love to have Michael in district, but afraid he will not get the attention he needs. Any thoughts on trying for the extra year of preschool?? Any experience with BOCES (not sure if that's only a NY program)?? Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks for being so patient, I know this post is probably much longer than it needed to be (but it feels good, sort of like a therapy session)!!

Ann Marie

[ALLISA]

blestx4 said:

FINALLY, the questions...has anyone else had there kids in a self contained kindergarten with mixed grades?? If so, how did it work out?? Would love to have Michael in district, but afraid he will not get the attention he needs. Any thoughts on trying for the extra year of preschool?? Any experience with BOCES (not sure if that's only a NY program)??

My duaghter is in self contained room with K-2.......it works fine for us. All the kids are on their own programs so they interact very little,.....

Extra year of preschool....we did as well.....it was great for us....the setting and situation varies so it is hard to give advice on....BUT if you are satisfied now....I'd say why not extend ? Her preschool program was FULL day every day.....and it was "the PDD" class....all kids there were ASD.....(as is her current K-2 room)

I;m not complety sure what BOCES is.....BUT.....I have heard VERY positive things about it on Autsim/PDD board ....not sure if this link will work or not....takes you to Autsim Parent board....I did search on BOCES 'cause I know I read about it there before.....all the posts on that page have BOCES in it ( will be highlighted in yellow).......

www.autism-pdd.net/forum/search.asp?KW=boces&SM=1&SI=PT&FM=1&OB=1


I hope his health is good and clear now !

let me know if you have any more specific questions !

[Kristin]

Clarice's kindergarten was just K kids. It wasn't much different than pre-school. We tried to keep her in pre-school, but lost that battle because the pre-school for special needs was out of our district. Her primary has been in a 1-3 class that has been really well run. The class is split into 3 levels and each child is placed in a group according to their academic level, not age. If she needed to be in the lowest level for math, that is where she went. When she began to read better, they moved her up a level in reading. She might be in a different level group depending upon the subject. Each group had 3-4 kids and one aide or teacher running it. It has been successful, and the age spread hasn't mattered because each child's program was fairly individualized. As she goes into a 4-6th grade class next year, it will be run the same way.

[chasesmom]

Wow, lots of choices, that is always a plus and makes it easier for you to be able to make the right choice for Michael! I hope his health is better?? He is in my prayers now.
Chase did an extra year of preschool, because we loved his preschool and felt it was a plus to continue with something he was doing so well with and still learning in. However while he continued with the preschool in the a.m., he ALSO did kdg. in the afternoon. The school balked at it, saying it would make him too tired, however most all school here are all day kdg so we won and Chase was not tired, and did absolutely beautifully, he learned so much that year we could barely keep up So that is a thought for you.
Another thought, LOL, cant believe I am saying this, wouldnt my county special ed director be proud of me......keep in mind that change can be very good. We often get too comfortable and fear change for our kids or we get a preconcieved idea in our head of what we think is best for our children (ok I admit I wanted Chase to be fully included forever and never in a center based program because I just "KNEW" he was going to be the next enstein with DS child prodigy) LOL so what I am saying is look at all the programs, go in and see each of them, dont just hear about them and say yes or no, go check them all out one at a time with an open mind even if you are sure that one will be awful, look around and ask questions, go in prepared with a list for each program and try to have an open mind, so very NOT easy to always do.
And last...I think it is so important to not only look atthe programs, but to speak to the teachers also. That made such an impact on me and on more than one occasion changed my mind on where Chase was going. Attitude is so important and why a teacher is there is so important. I had Chase in a multi aged room and he didnt do well at all, but that was just Chase, maybe Michael will do well, I have heard others say it worked for their kiddos, it is just so individual it is just hard to say
Good luck and let us know how it goes.
hugs, Robin

[blestx4]

Thank you so much for all the great responses!! Allisa, thanks for the wonderful link - it has been very helpful (tzoya is also from LI & seems to have a wealth of info). Michael is in a class now where all kids are ASD/PDD. I am making myself sick over the whole schooling thing. I am terrified of the next stage, K-21. I feel that I have been living in a bubble up until this point. That's why I finally decided to join some boards (would occasionally read) to get some advice from all of you who have been, or are going through this already. Michael is still a baby to me, I know I have to stop treating him that way, but....lets just say I'm working on it, LOL!!!

Robin, I have checked out both schools, but the problem is they don't know who his teacher would be. I may just sit in on a class anyway. The same thing happened last year, not knowing until just before school started, but thankfully his teacher is wonderful. I do understand what you're saying about being comfortable & fearful of the unknown, that's why this is so difficult. I want him to move forward, but wonder if he needs more basic skills to do this. Were your kids potty trained?? how were their self help skills (Michael isn't doing anything himself)??

Anyway, I could go on & on!! Like my DH says, "everything will work out fine, it always does"!! I'll let you know what happens.

Thanks again, guys.

Ann Marie

[momofrussell]

When Russell started kindy he went into a self contained class for k-2nd. Now in our new school he is in the 2nd grade (technically) but in a self contained class for k-5. I use to NOT like the K-5 idea and in our old district probably wouldn't have worked, but the number of kids in this new class/school are low so it's working well.

Russell still isn't potty trained and due to him being really delayed, is still learning self help skills... he is still pretty much dependent on us.

I would go observe the classes and just see the types of programs they have. I know it's frusterating not to know what teacher will be given but you need to see the programs and go from there!

Good luck!!!

A.

[Monique]

I just saw this post and am a fellow long islander who had the same situation last year. I PM'd you as i wasnt sure if you would come back to this as its been over a month.

Monique.