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moncs

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Everything posted by moncs

  1. Wow Bard you really did your homework ! Schools will be moving towards a Curriculum for Excellece (if you go to the EIS for Scotland you should get more info on this ) however there is no clear guidance as of yet as to how to do this so schools will still be using 5-14 National testing for a little while longer until they have something to replace it . 5-14 the scottish National Guidelines describe the progress though 5 levels Level A should be attainable in the couse of P1- P3 by almost all pupils Level B should be attainable by some pupils in P3 or even earlier, but certainly my most in P4 Level C should be attainable in the course of P4-P6 by most pupils Level D should be attainable by some pupils in p5-P6 or even earlier, but vertainly by most in P7 Level E should be attainable by some in P7/S1 but certainly by most in S2 if a report says they have attained level b it means they have completed the national test at level b and are now working towards level C Different school also use different tests such as... P1- baseline assessments Nfer Nelson is given to children in P3 and P6 ( i think ) the teacher administer the tests and Nfer Nelson collate the results and send the results back to schools. P 3 we often do a test called the Quest Test Can't think of anything else just now ignore the spellig i'm tired.
  2. Ignore all that I just noticed the date !
  3. hi it's been a while since i've visited the site i am a full time principal teacher and I am also fully class committed I have a son with AS who goes to a different mainstream school. Over a year ago i went back to studying and did a post grad in Asperger Syndrome from Sheffield Hallam Uni. All i can add is :- Life does get stressed, you do often feel as though you are sinking but you know you have to cope for your child . For me life is a treadmill with many happy times and lots of difficult moments. I get through each day by prioritising my life whilst keeping my long term goals in mind. It would have been a worse year if I was studying something that did not interest me or not important to me. hope it helps moncs
  4. Been to Disney several times but last year we went to guest relations and got a special pass for our stay . . With this you use the fast pass system for all the rides and it will tell you a time to return then you show your special pass and they will take you to an alternative opening route if the ride has one available. I will tell you some of the negative sides first...We had a horrendous time because so many of the staff were unaware of the pass and it's uses. When we showed it they read it and then took their own opinion of what they thought the card meant . Quite often we were directed back to queue, and we had to argue several times with attendants. We had to be very assertive with the attendants. Many saw our son without a wheel chair and presumed we were simply queue jumpers . They could not understand why we needed access to the alternative route and so every time we had to give the same explanation time and time again. Quite often the alternative route was a disabled access point with the wheel chair display. They could not grasp that this route was for anyone with additional needs. I was very angry because we had to constantly defend our right to have the card when it was clearly stated at guest relations that the attendants should only have to see the card and automatically give you access. Unfortunately this was not the case. this was further compounded becuase my son is unaware of his diagnosis and a member of the family had to occupy our son while we argued or case. It was so bad at the Animal Kingdom site that we took 2 days out of our holiday to lodge a formal complaint so that our complaint could be dealt with during our stay rather than waiting to come home . Disney were genuinely upset and are using my letter for training purposes , they also gave us free passes for the family to be used within the next 20 years. I was pleased that they responded well to our complaints but because of the high turn around of staff not everyone will be trained. Some things to consider before you go I don't know how well your child will cope with the buses to and from the different parks. If you stay out late the buses are jam packed like sardines and it was very stressful for me never mind my son. The food you get in all the parks are the same no matter where you go . fast good with different names . Also in the hotel area we were disallousioned with the food hall. this was one large dining area with 4-6 areas eg, pancake area, pizza , what we found hard was the same menu was used every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, It was also what you could get at the parks so there was no real variety. this is o.k. if you are staying for a few days you can put up with it but for 2 weeks it was too much . Our son ate the same everywhere he went it was a shame. My sister adn I broke out in spots because of the poor diet! Positives There was no problem gaining the pass just go to guest relations and explain the situation. When it worked it was great and alleviated all our stress . It also gave access to all the people in your party so you could all see the attractions together. I pass works for all the parks. The pass worked very well when we went to get photographs with the characters . we were taken to all the rooms one after another. The water parks do not have a similar pass but we did use the special time set aside for disney guests . These are displayed inthe foyer of your accomodation. Down town Disney have a special area for computer animated games adn rides . they have their own special pass and it was fantastic. We did not have any problem using it here and the staff were all aware of what the pass was for . this is a great place to go to if it is raining as it is all indoors. i would not let our negative experiences put you off but I think it is best to be fore warned .
  5. moncs

    ABA

    I've not looked into this very much but have reciently heard of a family who is using this treatment with their son. The ABA therapist is also giving input to the child at nursery . I have heard some really scary things about the therapist forcing the child to sit and phsically moving the legs to get him to sit . This is all given the ok by the parents. They are expecting the nursery to carry this. This does not sit very well with me and I was wondering if anyone has tried ABA , is this just a one off thing I have heard or is it always this forceful ? I would be interested to know of any experiences. Moncs
  6. Sorry sorry sorry i make so many typing errors it is CSP not CPS.
  7. I've just reread some of the earlier points and thought I should clarify some points. The CSP is very new and so many children will not have one. Many Professionals will have no experience of using one or gone through the steps to get one. Class teachers will not be involved in the process It will be the HT. responsibility , depute , PT, or an assigned coordinator within the school . The class teacher will however be involved in writing up the targets for your child's IEP which is of greater importance to their daily education . The CPS on the other hand is as the name implies it is a way to coordinate outside agencies.
  8. The CSP now replaces the old record of needs. If your child has a record of needs they will automatically go onto the new CPS. The CPS follows along the lines of a chain reaction from the date when you ask for one or write your letter they have so many days to respond and then so many days for the next stage and so on..... I had considered one for my son who has Asperger Syndrome adn will be going to the high school in two years time . however, as Principal teacher in my school I was sent on the traiing course for our school . So if any parents ask for a CPS I will be able to start the 'chain of event.' After being on the course I have to say I think it is a complete and utter waste of time ...The new guidelines states that a child will only require a CPS if they have several outside agencies working for your child this does not include ed.psy learning support (which is dealt with in school) The CPS basically ensures that at a review meeting they will try to get these agencies at the same meeting. Unfortunately the guidelines have now opened up the flood gates by stating that all children at some point may need extra support through a CPS at some point in their education eg. Children who suffer a breavement, travelling children and so on .... I strongly feel that the children who genuinely require support are being shunted. The CPS does not benefit my son in the same way as the record of needs did in the past. The CPS was only introduced a short time ago I can't quite remember of hand and so at this time there will not be many children who have a CPS . I've left all my notes at school so I can't give you the correct jargon but this is the jist of it. If teh record of needs was still in place I would go down that route but I will not be asking for a CPS it really does not hold much weight. Moncs sorry about all the spelling errors
  9. moncs

    Homework

    Hi Karen , don't know about the English system but in Scotland it is not compulsory. I'm a teacher and if a parent explained to me why it was too difficult it would be fine with me. With my son we have a visual time table for home time so he can see he has h/w to do and how long. I use a time timer. if the work is not completed it gets left but I make sure that when he is working on his H/w he gives it his full attention. no t.v no interruptions. I remind him if he finishes he can go onto his next activity what ever it is . i usually put the things he likes to do next eg watch pokemon. I don't do it straight away when he comes home from school as he needs that time to calm down. If he is asked to write the words 3 times we negotiated with the teacher that he writes it twice . He had a project to do on the weather and he would not have been able to write it or read it so made a video . things like that . Remeber the h/w may be differentiated for the group he/ she many be working in but it will not be necessarily differentiated for your child . This is what you can do.hope this helps. monica
  10. sorry I pressed the size button. moncs
  11. Just came back from America were I bought the book The Indigo Children the new children have arrived . by Lee Carroll and Jan Tober . Still reading it but a few things have got me thinking I will just quote one:- It has escaped mainstream attention due to teh fact that it is just too 'weird' to consider in teh paradigm of human psychology, which smugly considers humanity as a static , unchanging model . As a rule, society tends to believe in evolution , but only in the past tense. The thought that we might be seeing a new human cconsciousness slowly arriving on the planet now- manifested in our children - goes way beyong established consevative thought. Other parts of the book I think can be true of most children so I am still reading and pondering.
  12. www.widgit.com 01223425558 ext. 773 I would request a catalogue and it will explain widgit boardmaker and anything else you may need to know.
  13. moncs

    Board Maker

    Hi Emum , I don't think my school would buy it since we are new and our budget is very scarce. I would like to use it for my son and it would also be useful for my studies . thanks Moncs
  14. moncs

    Board Maker

    Thanks I think I got the jist of that and then it got a bit echnical the basic pack is �35 i might try that one first Any ideas where I can buy it in Britain or do I have to buy it from USA ? Monica
  15. I am interested in boardmaker but I don't really know where to get it . information from the internet claimes boardmaker and widgit use the same pictures. Has anyone used it , where did you buy it and how much if its' not too cheeky. The ones I looked at were all from USA and I am unseure if I would be able to use int on my PC surely I must be able to buy it in Britain . I am keen to use it for my son but I also want to try some ideas wth some pupils in my class . I f anyone has other ideas please let me know. Thanks monica
  16. hI someone else asked this same question not so long ago but I don't know what it was under . My husband and motherinlaw attended the full course it was brilliant I would strongly recommend that you attend. try looking for the other replies they may help.
  17. You could try the lip stick test to see if they have an awareness of themselves. Sit in front of the mirror and play for a few minutes . then without them seeing dap their nose with some lipstick. If they have an awareness that it is themselves in the mirror they will rub it off their nose if not they will try to rub the mirrror. Do they point to show joint attraction ? Do they play imaginatively ? Have you tried the sally ann test? Just some ideas
  18. Hi , Ive felt like that for the past 7 years . Nothing makes me cry I feel so hard and i am devoid of emotion . Thats probably why I am on the happy pills ! so you are definitley not alone .Perhaps a visit to the doctor? Moncs
  19. Sara,My son has just finished at DDAT and we were amazed with the results.Just looking at his results over the past year is astounding . He has achiedved so much since attending . It may not work for everyone but it certainly did for us. Moncs
  20. My husband and mother in law both attended one in Glasgow this year. It was fantastic! The both learned so much and met other parents with similar difficulties.The pack you recieve is excellent it is easy to read without jargon cluttering it up. I would recemmed anyone to attend if possible. .Ithink the pack is so valuable that the medical profession and schools should all have access to it.
  21. streamdreams I've completed the first part and about to begin part 2 which is more class based . hopefully this will be the most practical part too. Thanks for your interest . I think we need to give teachers knowledge and practical strategies they can try . Bearing in mind these might not work. A big change will be the teachers methodologies ( I am hopeful that if teachers know why they have to adapt then we may see a more productive education for our children) Monica
  22. Thanks for all your responses , in my thesis I have outlined the need for teachers to understand the social and sensory demands that are placed on children when involved in extra curricular activiteis or events that are not part of the school routine. Concerts, outings, visitors, school shows etc. I will include social dancing , Christmas parties . Before the end of term I too,k my class to a tri golf tournament . There was over 300 kids in a large open hall , lots of noice and movements. I immediately noticed 1 boy standing with his hands covering his ears. you can guess what I thought. When the boy and his carer came to my group I asked the carer is he had As and she was astonished that I could tell . It wasn't that difficult . My point is the school did not take into account the child's needs for this activity. Or perhaps they did not have a full understanding of the the child's needs and what the implications of them were. But I feel this is a serious area that needs addressed. There were many options available to the school yet none were taken. Sorry for spelling mistakes I am too tired Monica
  23. moncs

    clumsy boy

    Lil me I used to get so frustrated with Alex because he wanted to ride a bike but wouldn't let you help him and when he did we had to run around the parkwith him on his bike while we held the back of the bike. My back was nearly broken. AS I said earlier after 6 weeks at DDAt he could ride his bike and we have never looked back. On our first visit the doctor explained to us why he couldn't ride the bike he explained that he had to do too many things at the same time like looking ahead and all around, as soon as he movees his head his vistibular balance goes. He also has to coordinate his legs to push off and cycle ,again this affects his vistibular balance and so on . Alexander could not coordinate any of these at all. The programme he does is split into 3 types of exercises vistibular balance, visual eye tracking , and general body awareness and fitness. In esence Alex was doing specific exercised to improve his balance and eye tracking We were amazed when he learned to ride his bike it meant he had another skill which would give him the opportunity to socialise with other children instead of running along after them. Monica
  24. Puffin I thought more about your comment on open plan areas. in SCotland there is a big drive for open plan schools and joint campus' I teach in a newly built joint campus school . It has only been opened a year and I see how difficult it is for my class never mind for a child with AS. Too much noise, movement , bright lights that can't be switched off , phones in class, computers on in the next class,I could go on .There is no provision at all for quiet areas. The whole exercise is a cost cutting exercise,and lack of foresight with the planners and education department. I don't know if any other areas arefacing the same difficulties.
  25. A BBC ? what is that ha ha Your showing your age I think what teachers need to understand that some strategies will work for some children and not for other. And a stratergy that worked this week might not work next . Again you hit the nail in the head teachers have to be flexible. Monica
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