DownSyn Forum

Kate's Mom · Posted: March 22 2007, 12:46 PM Post subject: Moving on to First Grade

The lead therapist in coordinating Kate's IEP called yesterday to start discussing what we wanted to do for next school year (going into first grade). Right now, until we meet as a group with all of her therapists and teachers, I'm not too sure on what our options are going to be. I was curious as to what other people's experience with the school situation was. Right now for kindergarten, Kate is in a typical classroom (1/2 day program) and gets pulled out for various things throughout the day and week. She also has a full-time aid that is in the classroom to assist her as needed and to keep her on track. One of the main issues is that she is not yet potty trained (when will it ever be done!!!) so I am not sure what will happen when she goes to a full day program for first grade.

Any advice or details on your experiences are greatly appreciated.

_________________
Kate's & Emma's Mom

Kate (DS) 09/20/00
Emma 07/27/03
Lauren 05/14/06

Emdad · Posted: March 22 2007, 2:53 PM Post subject:

Emma started in a pre-school program at the age of three. We were lucky, because it was at our local school, the same one Sam goes to. Her kindergarten class was actually in the same building as the pre-school; she shared playground time at the same area with the other pre-school kids, too. We were apprehensive about first grade, too. We actually asked about the possibility of keeping her in kindergarten for another year, and were talked out of it. The greatest argument they had (other than the implied pressure that they knew what was best and why should we challenge it - my cynical opinion, of course) was that she would keep moving with her peer group. Looking back, I think it was the right decision to make. She wasn't potty trained, either, but that just became part of her goals. To be more practical, part of the aide's job (bless her heart!) Emma had the same aide for three years, Carmen is now a family friend.
I don't know if you saw an earlier post, but we just moved her out of a mainstream class (2nd grade, now) into a special-ed class. She was, by her own behaviors, opting out of more and more classroom activity. I have to say that it was, while not what we may have wanted, our decision based upon what was best for her. It's only been about 3 weeks, but we're seeing a difference already at home. I think she's happier, and actually learning more in an atmosphere that's more suited to what she needs.
All of that's to say that you will know what's best to do. Go with that, as much as you can.
Jeff

Libby · Posted: March 29 2007, 8:39 PM Post subject:

I am no expert because we are not there yet. We are a year behind you. William is currently in private preschool and the only child in his class with special needs. He will continue on with Kindergarten this fall with the first semester, if you will, 1/2 day then will progress to full day to get him ready for first grade.

Our only option is public schools and I am not looking forward to this. Our school system is not very charming to me and I believe off the top of my head there are over 100 elementary schools from which to choose based on his future IEP. I have already started touring some schools and am not happy with what I have found thus far.

I know I'm not helping, I just feel your fear and frustration. I just know that I was recently told by a school counselor at one of the schools I toured that right now what I want for my child is the "least restrictive environment", so full inclusion in the beginning, then like Master Jeff (Emdad) suggested then around 2nd grade start reevaluating. I totally trust everything Jeff says. He's amazing Wink

!

I'm anxious to hear how everything goes for you. Your girls are lovely!!!!!!

Libby

_________________

Mommy to William (12/17/01 Ds);Sam (6/17/03); Ellen (10/5/04) & Charlie (6/6/06)

Georgianna · Posted: March 30 2007, 6:06 PM Post subject:

Renee is also in a 1/2 day kinder program and will be moving to a full day 1st grade. Like Kate, she has a one on one aid and is pulled out for various things during the day. Honestly, I'm not sure how she will do with an all day program. For about 1.5 years she didn't nap except on a rare occasion. Over the past 6 months or so she has had more health problems (she also has cystic fibrosis) and has been napping again. This is our biggest concern with 1st grade, whether she can handle the longer hours. I guess time will tell. I would think that the potty training wouldn't really be any more of an issue in 1st than it is in kinder. I would think that they would just continue to work on it with her like they are now.

Georgianna

burnsun · Posted: March 31 2007, 6:55 PM Post subject: Colin will likely repeat Kgtn

he was actually in a full day program this year (part in reg goom and rest in resourse for his puul outs and a lot of indvidual attention. He started out with an aide and about 15-30 minutes+ recess + their specialty class ( gym, art, etc). We are ending the year at about 2 hours in typical room each day.

He has come a long way, and there are many days that I think holing him back is bad- but!!!! We no longer have behaviors of hiding under table, pushing chairs or not listing and just plain not participating. I think that starting over and hopefully close to where we left off will help him to work on those skills they taught at the beginning of year and make some more progress.

Our hope is he will go to the 1/2 day kgtn with his class and aide and complete his resource room / therapies during the other half. He also is not potty trained at school.

***Side note- this is also what I want Melea to do and she will be entering KGTN this fall- so they will likely be flip flopping who goes where so they don't spend all their time together). I do not plan for her to repeat kgtn at this time- unless I see some behaviors or other issues. However she is a different child with different issues than Colin (she also speaks a whole lot- Colin doesn't speak often and then only a few words!- he mostly signs and just started signing to his teachers regularly around dec!

So it is an individual decision based on you little one's needs and abilities. This is not what I wanted for Colin- HOWEVER IT HAS MADE HIM BLOSSOM AT SCHOOL AND IS WHAT WORKS FOR HIM AND HE IS LEARNING! So maybe it is the best.

My problem is

_________________
Jane
mom to
Colin Miguel (11/19/00) DS & type 1 diabetes, ASD
Devon Richard(4/13/01) DS & Autism & Partial Complex, Seizures terology of Fallot
& Retinal detachment w partial blindness at this time
Melea Isabelle(2/13/02) DS
Adrian Elliott (7/04/03) ADD
Eliza Marisol (5/15/04) DS , ASD, pulmonary hypertension, ADHD, ODD, Autism Spectrum Disorder,
Miranda Olivia (2/1/05) DS & Partial Complex Seisure Disorder & iratractable epilepsy & Stero Typical Movement Disorder & AV Canal
Jordan Alexander(3/17/2007)ADHD
Emerson James (1/08/2009) 33 week preemie
Sarah Emmaline "Emma" Grace (2/15/2011) 35week little one with a variety of issues inc: cp & fragile x & Seizures & severe birth trauma & G-J tube, Severe reflux, and recurent pnumonia and tracheosomy and vent chugging princess since 8/24/2012!

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sandsmom · Posted: May 21 2007, 11:11 PM Post subject:

Hey ...Sydnie was in 1/2 day preschool programs for two years...at 5 we started her in all day inclusion preK it was about 1/2 and 1/2....we are finishing up on our K year.....and have already had our IEP for 1st grade. I too wasnt sure what "Their" plan was. I was sure I was going to stick with reg classroom with pull out but didnt know what they might pull. They too have agreed to do classroom with 2 hrs pull out. I dont know if this will work but its the only way to see. I do figure we will re eval later and if she seems to be happier in a diff setting then we'll go from there. But as of now....she will have an extra asst in the classroom. Who will help with the whole class but will stick by Sydnie when she needs it.

Just to give you a little bit of what we're doing...not sure if that helped any or not. I know its nerve wracking...I thought I would have a nervous breakdown before our IEP mtg. lol

_________________
Angie
Mom to Sydnie (5/26/00) and Saylor (4/30/04)

"May God Bless You As He Has Us"

An extra little chromosome,
that’s all it is, you see.
Where all of you were born with two,
I was blessed with three

"My Children are God's gift to me.
How I raise them, is my gift to God."

mom2nicole · Posted: June 03 2007, 7:14 PM Post subject:

Nicole was in a all day inclusive Kindergarten and she will be repeating next year. She has a hard time identifying her letters. She can site read about 10- 15 words and she knows about 6 letters but we felt why send her on when she was behind and kindergarten is a good year to start over. She starts summer school tomorrow and I will find out if this has been a good choice or not. She is already talking about all her friends from last year and I have told her that they will have a different teacher. She does not have an aide in class and she goes to special ed for about 1 1/2 hours each day. So I don't know if I was any help or not. Good luck.

_________________
Michelle
My Angel Nicole (9-12-2000)DS
Faith (2-18-2010)bilateral mild hearing loss

momofrussell · Posted: July 27 2007, 8:14 AM Post subject:

Where would YOU like to see your daughter placed? What do you think she can handle? If it's inclusion, then make that clear at the meeting, that you want your daughter included with push in or pull out services (push in!).

If you think she'd do better with some resource room time or say something half and half like a self contained class for part of the day and then some integration into the 1st grade room, part of the day, then make that clear at the meeting. Just don't let them tell you "this is how we do it with the kids".. or "This is how our spec ed program is for your daughter", ect.. because that it was the IEP is for and there are legally, various options based on your child's needs, not what/where the school wants her to be.

We are at the other end of the spectrum. Russell was and still is in a self contained class. In 1st grade he was in a class, then we moved him to a different placement (more restrictive due to his needs) but he was pulled out for "specials" which was library, art, music and PE. Since then, we have requested little to no integration because Russell truly isn't learning in the typical setting.

Good luck with it all!!!

A.

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Adrienne - mom to: Regan 17, Russell 12 DS, Autism, Visually Impaired, Reece 10.

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