Early Days

[LKS]

Bit of advice please everyone. I know its early days and the kids have only just gone back but there are a few little niggles that have cropped up and I don't know whether to go and see the SENCO yet or not. This is a fresh start for son and I don't want to go in and play the heavy parent yet. L.S.A. support was supposed to be very low key for son at first as he hates people sitting on his shoulder. They were just going to make sure he had got his homework down o.k. and generally float around the class. We have had homework probs. already son didn't write maths down correctly (I didn't know it wasn't correct otherwise I could have checked with someone else) He also hadn't put the date it was due in. Teacher was cross and told him of course it was due in the next lesson. He is very disorganised and his friend told me he was still trying to write the homework down when the next class were coming in! As mentioned before his writing is very poor. The english teacher told him I hope I can expect a significant improvemrent in your handwriting. I'm not saying any of these teachers made these comments in a particularly nasty way, but should I just go in and make doubly sure that everyone is aware of his difficulties.

[annie]

Hi LKS,

 

I would have a word with the SENCO, just to ask them to explain your son's difficulties to the teacher as they don't appear to understand them.

 

Could the SENCO ask teachers/LSA to write homework in homework book?

Would your son be able to have access to an Alphasmart? I know my son can type fast, but writing he struggles with.

 

Better to nip things in the bud now.

 

Annie

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[mossgrove]

I agree with Annie.

 

You donlt have to come across as agressive, but a quiet word to let them know your concerns would be justified as these things can escalate out of control very quickly.

 

Simon

[streamdreams]

The english teacher told him I hope I can expect a significant improvemrent in your handwriting.

Not unless you teacher ###### well do something about it

 

Where do the get off with such remarks? what does she expect "Your sins are forgiven ! Get up and walk my son"

 

They need to be more carefull if he is at all sensitive that one is going to hurt. If a teacher made a remark like that to me I would have needed a new teacher before you got a dam thing out of me

 

Ok end of rant, it just i suffered my whole life from that one

 

Are you doing anythin to help in this area ? There is something called "handwriting without tears", it may help. I mentioned it too to my son's special school , they knew of it , liked it and used it , and said they will consider it when he is fully evaluated.

 

just a thought

 

J

Edited September 13, 2005 by streamdreams

[annie]

Hi Streamdreams,

 

 

They need to be more carefull if he is at all sensitive that one is going to hurt. If a teacher made a remark like that to me I would have needed a new teacher before you got a dam thing out of me

 

Ok end of rant, it just i suffered my whole life from that one

 

Thank you for writing that. My son is exactly the same.

 

Annie

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[LKS]

Yes he is sensitive and that comment did hurt. He has his own alpha-smart. The SENCO told me that lots of pupils use them at school. So far no-one has used one in any of his lessons. He told me he is too embarressed to take his in as everyone will think he is stupid because he can't write properly. I think at the moment he is desparately trying to fit in. As far as I was aware the L.S.As were supposed to check he had his homework written in. He tells me no-one has checked so far, but perhaps they are just observing from a distance(like a different classroom perhaps )The problems he is having in his classwork so far seem to be filling in sheets where there is not enough room for his writing and drawing diagrams. He is in the top set for maths because maths is his thing, yesterday they spent the whole of the lesson ruling margins on every page of their exercise books Anyway you have given me the confidence to go in, the school need to be seen to at least getting it right in the early days.

[phasmid]

We had similar problems when Phas Jr moved to middle school (pre dx). His school had planners where homework was supposed to be written up. He had all sorts of hassle with getting it written in. We suggested that someone (it ended up being a 'friend') check it had been put in the planner correctly before leaving the room. It worked. If the teacher won't check he has got it all written down then suggest this. That way you have gone in with a problem but offered a workable solution to it all at the same time.

 

Hope that helps.

[LKS]

Good idea phasmid I think he would prefer to have a friend check. I am a bit surprised that we are having these little probs. because as per your earlier advice to me, we did draw up a this is ***** sheet highlighting weaknesses and strengths and stratagies that we and other teachers have used in the past. Also the specialist teacher for autism went through it with me so it wasn't so wordy, all teachers are supposed to have one of these It has a small photo of him on as well. It says ***** is disorganised and care should be taken to ensure that all homework and any instructions have been correctly copied. It is important that you check that ***** has understood any verbal instructions. (in english the teacher asked the class to stick a worksheet in their books, now most of us would have stuck it at the front or the first available page, son picked some random page in the middle He said well she didn't say where to stick it!)