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mom2bax
Sea Gull
Joined: Oct 12, 2007
Posts: 218
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
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 Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:23 am Post subject: info for teacher what to include |
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hey there
my son will be going to kindergarten next year adn i'd like to give his teacher a sheet or two of info as to how to understand and handle my son when he's there. i figure the more info she has the better she can adapt to it. i spoke with her today and she seemed willing to sit downand talk with me and said that an info sheet would likely be helpful in september when he starts.
 my question is what should i include.
basically i want a general aspergers 101 that is maybe 2-3 sheets max and with in that i can add specific examples from my son or from others.
so from those of you with your kids alreadyin school and those of you that have gone through the first of full days at school what is important to know before starting and while transitioning into full day structured school.
what have teachers done that really helped or really harmed?
as i am fairly new to the whole AS thing and new to the whole school thing i really don't know and am looking to those with expereince or those with as who can tell me what worked or didn't for them.
thanks |
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annie2
Deinonychus
Joined: Sep 18, 2007
Posts: 352
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 12:58 am Post subject: |
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Based on what I've done with teachers, I would make the info sheet reasonably brief and just list the main traits that your child is likely to exhibit. If you make it too long they are less likely to pay as much attention (information overload). Have a meeting with them and go through each point, and do your explanations. Some things might be: difficulty with eye contact; lack of social skills; need for routine or to be prepared for changes; may struggle with auditory instructions and need to see them visibly; sensory issues; meltdowns. Personalise it to your child.
At your meeting I would:
1) Ensure they understand something of AS as it relates to the autism spectrum eg. high-functioning/low-functioning, including your childs strengths.
2) Go through your list.
3) Make sure they understand the process of meltdowns so that they don't treat it as "NT naughtiness". The crucial thing is that teachers understand that, most of the time, meltdowns occur because of sensory overload or something in the environment stressing them, and your child requires time to "re-group" before they can bring any rationalisation to the situation. If the teacher doesn't get this, they will just treat them as though they're being naughty, confront and make demands of them, and make the whole situation worse. Give them some tips about things that have worked for you to get your child out of a meltdown (if there are any!).
It may also help to have a meeting about 6-8 weeks after your child has started, to allow some more dialogue. By this stage the teachers should have picked up on issues/differences, and you may be able to give them some extra insights.
Oh, well. That's my 50c worth. All the best.  |
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annotated_alice
Snowy Owl
Joined: Mar 26, 2008
Posts: 170
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:45 am Post subject: |
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Great topic. We have our first big post dx meeting with the school on Monday. We will be meeting with the 2 resource teachers, principal, guidance counsellor and 2 teachers for next school year. I figure that with this many people in the room there is no way that I am going to be able to keep my thoughts organized and be intelligible, so I was also going to make up information booklets about my sons, Aspergers and allergies. All of the allergy stuff is old hat for me, but I feel like I am so new to Aspergers that I don't know exactly what is important to include, without overloading them with info, and was going to come on WP and ask for help. But since Mom2bax has already asked the same question, I'll just keep an eye on this thread (if that's OK?).
I think the point of not treating meltdowns like NT naughtiness was really important. Would you also include something about how vulnerable aspie kids are to bullying? I wanted my sons being watched and protected by the adults around them as much as possible. |
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annie2
Deinonychus
Joined: Sep 18, 2007
Posts: 352
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 3:59 pm Post subject: |
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| annotated_alice wrote: | | Would you also include something about how vulnerable aspie kids are to bullying? I wanted my sons being watched and protected by the adults around them as much as possible. |
Oh, yeah, definitely! I probably forgot about that one, but then it wasn't such an issue with kindergarten. It's not just the bullying, it's also that our kids don't naturally have the verbal skills to defend themselves. Hacks me off when my kid gets in trouble for punching someone, when it is only a reaction to a verbal taunt. The teachers are now on to the other kids a lot more.
If you are new to Aspergers, then I'd also recommend reading something like "Aspergers Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals" by Tony Atwood, as it will help you to pick up that main traits of AS, and also probably some other traits that are evident in your child that you didn't know of. |
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aurea
Deinonychus
Joined: Sep 22, 2007
Posts: 381
Location: melb,Australia
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| Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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Can you take him to meet his new teacher/s a few times in advance, show him his new class room, where the toilets are etc.
Lots of visual aids, visual schedules (use pics if they have to)
A special place for him when things get to much, eg maybe a bean bag or book corner etc, let him know that he can use this space when he needs it.
Extra time to finish work, shortened work sheets.
Frequent breaks.
The inclusion of his special interests.
A buddy system for when he is in the yard at break times.
A quiet spot that he knows about if he needs it for break times.
The teacher needs to check in with him frequently, to see how he is doing/ make sure he understands what has been asked of him. Especially after break times maybe she could ask him what he did during lunch break (this way she may be able to find out if he was getting picked on or if he was lonely etc) This will also teach him that he can talk to the teachers.
A communication book and email address for you and the school.
She needs to know to listen to him, these kids don't generally lie, they do mix things up but these are honest mistakes
Lots of praise.
I can't think of any more at the moment. These are things I would like to happen at my son's school, sadly they don't  . Good luck, hope this is what you wanted. |
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mom2bax
Sea Gull
Joined: Oct 12, 2007
Posts: 218
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 3:01 am Post subject: |
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thanks for the input so far.
just to clarify some stuff.
he has been to this school for the past year now in the jr. k program 2 afternoons a week, he will be in the same classroom and his teacher now is one of the e.a's in his class which will be good. (grade 1 may be a different story though)
the good thing with my son is that he's relatively laid back and as far as i know doesn't have a lot of sensory issues, taht being said though i am new to this and may not have picked up on the stuff just yet either.
he currently doesn't have a lot of issues but i worry that school may make those come out in him, and that he's going to be kind of bored since he already reads and does math.
but i know ther will be other things for him to learn and also he will be taught how to socialize better as other kids that age may not have been in a setting with that many other kids either so i think it will be good for him, just not sure how he will do with full days, but we'll cross that bridge once we get there.
has anyone sent a letter like this to the teacher?
anyone want to post a sample of it?
thanks again for your help. |
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Triangular_Trees
What is right is sometimes found on the left.
Joined: Jul 18, 2007
Posts: 2053
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:04 am Post subject: |
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*Also make sure to give her some information that its okay to leave for substitutes. That way you won't encounter problems because the substitute doesn't know about his aspergers.
I can't begin to tell you what happened the day I was treating a behavior problem boy very strictly because I had been told about his emotional disorder. I found out before recess so i didn't punish him, but he did spend most of the day laying on the floor which wouldn't have happened had I known in advance that what got the other children in line was the worst possible thing i could do to him |
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natesmom
Sea Gull
Joined: May 16, 2008
Posts: 243
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| Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:53 am Post subject: |
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Those are wonderful suggestions!!
The substitute issue is the BIGGEST one. Every child I have worked with who is on the spectrum had the most difficulty with substitutes. Sometimes the parents would chose to keep their kids home whenever there was a substitute. Depends on the child.
Fire Alarms - That is sometimes a trigger. Even with a warning, fire alarms could cause a meltdown. We had one student who literally couldn't handle the fire alarms and a staff member would actually take him outside right before the fire alarm happened. |
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jbollard
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: May 02, 2008
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 3:44 am Post subject: |
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What a great thread!
My HFA son starts school next year, and Im already worried about it.
We have an interview this week at the school, Im a bit worried about telling them too much, in case they dont want him to go to there school. It's only a 15min interview, how much can they ask? hey 
I have sent the school reports, so they do know ahead of time.
I think before he starts I think it would be a great idea putting information down in writing, so they do know what they are dealing with. (I find that some of his behaviours etc. only come out at home, for instance they never have a problem with him at pre-school)......But I might make sure he gets into the school before hand....  |
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mom2bax
Sea Gull
Joined: Oct 12, 2007
Posts: 218
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:19 am Post subject: |
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wll thanks again everyone but here's my problem,
much of what i know i have read on the threads here, sometimes i knod of remember examples etc but not that specifically.
soetimes i just don't notice stuff becasue it's stuff i just do and have just learned to do so it's not out of the ordinary for me to do so i just wouldn't think to put it on an info sheet.
i really only want 1-3 pages of info and will pass along the suggestion to leave it with the sub if there is one.
my other problem is over explaining and too many example sof stuff usually i have a hard time with the short and to the point stuff so i could use some helpo in that area.
if anyone has done one could you post a sample or pm me a sample of the letter, or if you know of a site that has one or something similar could you post the link???
thanks. |
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mollyandbobsmom
Blue Jay
Joined: Jun 19, 2007
Posts: 97
Location: upper midwest
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:28 am Post subject: |
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| I have given the book all cats have asperger's to my son's teachers with sticky notes explaining how certain of the traits do or do not apply to him. They have enjoyed and have even read the book to the class. It's a cool little book that makes it easy to understnd. very non-clinical |
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jbollard
Tufted Titmouse
Joined: May 02, 2008
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 4:26 am Post subject: |
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I suppose you could do a IEP for the teacher. There are examples in the sticky in the front of the "Parents Discussion" forum.
You could use this as a start?
Or seeing that your child will be starting school maybe they can do a IEP before he actually begins, so everyone is across his strengths, weaknesses, and interests etc. (have a plan before he starts). or you could suggest it?
(I think my sons school will be doing something like that before he starts school).
Only a idea? Hope it helps. |
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annotated_alice
Snowy Owl
Joined: Mar 26, 2008
Posts: 170
Location: Canada
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:46 am Post subject: |
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I finished mine on the weekend, using the suggestions here as a framework. I did 2, personalized to each of my sons' needs. They are 2 1/2 pages long, but large font and generously spaced, in an effort not to overload/turn off the new teachers.
I could PM a copy to you if you'd like mom2bax?
I am about halfway through Tony Attwood's Complete Guide to Asperger's, Annie2 and it is invaluable! I feel like I am understanding more about my sons (and some of my own traits) every day.
I thought that All Cats Have Asperger's was a wonderful book, but I have a feeling my sons would hate it. First of all they are very allergic to cats, so not big fans of them, and they take things soooo literally that I think they would get really upset about being compared to cats. |
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annie2
Deinonychus
Joined: Sep 18, 2007
Posts: 352
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| Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject: |
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| annotated_alice wrote: | | I am about halfway through Tony Attwood's Complete Guide to Asperger's, Annie2 and it is invaluable! I feel like I am understanding more about my sons (and some of my own traits) every day. |
Gr8!  It helped me greatly too . . . in fact, I must go back and read it again as I'm sure I'd pick up more now that I'm a bit further down the track. |
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