I need help with 504 plan suggestions

[rkwells]

I have a 10 year old son in 5th grade. He has ADD (no hyperactivity) and is just not able to focus and stay connected in the class room.

He has no organizational skills, losses things (supplies, homework, etc.), rarely brings home all the resources he needs for his homework and then even though I remind him to turn it in upon dropping him off at school, half the time he doesn't hand it in.

I am in the early stages of starting the process of a 504 plan for him...at this point it looks like the staff is going to be very cooperative.

He starts middle school next year and my primary goal is to set him up now so that we hopefully will have a good system in place for middle school and then high school.

I am looking for suggestions from any parents regarding what your childs 504 plan is...what kind of things did you include and what works best or maybe not at all??

At this point I am going to ask for a set of books at home and make sure he is seated at the front of the class near the teacher. My big dilemma is how am I going to keep him connected to the large group lectures and discussion?? He just can't stay focused. Any suggestions woud be so appreciated....thanks!

 

[krismom]

Your son sounds like my daughter- she is in third grade and her 504 plan has these modifications:

~seating proximity to teacher
~no scan-trons for testing
~agenda book that teacher / parent sign each night
~additional afternoon snack (carrots or pretzels- for sensory input)
~additional time on standardized testing

I can't think of any others now- I'll check my file. It sounds as if you are doing all your research now and they are working with, not against you. that's always a good sign!
Good luck-

 

[SueM in MN]

this thread will get a better resonse on our disABILITIES Community Board, so I'm moving it there.

 

[prekteacher]

This sounds like my son. He is in middle school and we do a homework folder in his study hall. (he has it last class of the day) HE puts the home work in the folder so he does not lose it between home and school. We also get a list of his homework on the school wed site. So i know what to ask him . His teachers also give him copies of important notes he needs for test. They also give him less question on the test . I hope this helps.

 

[vacation dreamer]

I have a 10 year old son in 5th grade. He has ADD (no hyperactivity) and is just not able to focus and stay connected in the class room.

He has no organizational skills, losses things (supplies, homework, etc.), rarely brings home all the resources he needs for his homework and then even though I remind him to turn it in upon dropping him off at school, half the time he doesn't hand it in.

I am in the early stages of starting the process of a 504 plan for him...at this point it looks like the staff is going to be very cooperative.

He starts middle school next year and my primary goal is to set him up now so that we hopefully will have a good system in place for middle school and then high school.

I am looking for suggestions from any parents regarding what your childs 504 plan is...what kind of things did you include and what works best or maybe not at all??

At this point I am going to ask for a set of books at home and make sure he is seated at the front of the class near the teacher. My big dilemma is how am I going to keep him connected to the large group lectures and discussion?? He just can't stay focused. Any suggestions woud be so appreciated....thanks!

I did not read all the reponses and hope this is not true in all schools but 504's in my school district sometimes are put on the back burner. When your child gets into middle school make sure EVERY adult who will work with him knows about the plan.

 

[Talking Hands]

A set of textbooks to be kept and used at home.

 

[cymomtx]

Hard copy of notes/lectures
email class assignment calendars/lesson plans
oral testing
small group testing
modified projects (including participatiion in nightime projects at school)

 

[donnajon]

Notification in advance of tests. DS10 can do well on tests but he has to study a lot more than the other students. If we find out about a test the day before, forget it!
One thing that has helped him is having a large binder with pockets in it. His assignment book is in the front and he keeps his workbook in it. We use pocket dividers for each class - that way he just brings home the binder everyday instead of having to bring home a folder for each subject. Having the books at home is a life saver. And make sure to get extended time on tests. That is a big one. Our teachers also sign off on his assignments - DS has handwriting issues and often the assignmet is written illegibly and doesn't help!
Also, remember the 504 can be revisited any time during the year. If you see a need not being met, you can ask for another meeting.

 

[KPeveler]

A set of textbooks to be kept and used at home.

I am ADD, and when in middle school i found having books at home extremely helpful! i am also tiny, so i didnt have to carry too much around (an added benefit)

 

[rkwells]

Thanks all for your replies and great ideas....this will help me to think over what is best for my little guy...I appreciate it so much! This is all so stressful and complicated, your support really helps.

 

[pcparamedics01]

I have a 10 year old son in 5th grade. He has ADD (no hyperactivity) and is just not able to focus and stay connected in the class room.

He has no organizational skills, losses things (supplies, homework, etc.), rarely brings home all the resources he needs for his homework and then even though I remind him to turn it in upon dropping him off at school, half the time he doesn't hand it in.

I am in the early stages of starting the process of a 504 plan for him...at this point it looks like the staff is going to be very cooperative.

He starts middle school next year and my primary goal is to set him up now so that we hopefully will have a good system in place for middle school and then high school.

I am looking for suggestions from any parents regarding what your childs 504 plan is...what kind of things did you include and what works best or maybe not at all??

At this point I am going to ask for a set of books at home and make sure he is seated at the front of the class near the teacher. My big dilemma is how am I going to keep him connected to the large group lectures and discussion?? He just can't stay focused. Any suggestions woud be so appreciated....thanks!

Have you thought about meds for him? Also one on one testing, frequent breaks during testing (very important), teacher/mom correspondence book, small group setting. etc. I hope I have not repeated other replies because I did not read them all.

 

[whgrn]

Sounds like both of my kids!

I know what has worked well for them is:

An 8-pocket folder with a space for each class, to bring home whatever papers are needed. Includes a space for notices from home to school or school to home!

A homework notation system to keep track of assignments. My daughter's is checked daily by the teacher to make sure everything is written in, and I check both kids' each night to make sure they do all their work. I check off as it is completed. If an assignment is not done, they get a homework stamp, and I know something was missed. we also use this for minor communications between home and school.

Small group pullouts for test. UNTIMED tests. If you give my son a test and tell him he has 30 minutes, he will freeze, and get nothing done at all. If you give him the test and don't tell him a time limit, he will finish in less than 30 minutes and get an A!!! My daughter has her tests read to her also.

An early warning system for any problems. I get to know the teachers very early in the year. I email them so they recognize my name and my kids' names. I let them know that I want to be kept up to date if their are any problems. I do NOT want to get a midterm report or report card that my kid is failing, when I never knew there was a problem to begin with!! I have monthly written reports from my daughter's teachers, since she is in middle school and there are more teachers to contact. One "reporting teacher" gathers all the info and gets it to me.

In my son's case, he sometimes NEEDS to move around. Last year in 4th grade, the teacher worked with him to help him with this issue. when he finished his work, he was allowed to get up and move around the classroom. He could visit QUIETLY with friends who were also finished, as long as they didn't disrupt others. He could go get a book and sit and read it. He could NOT interrupt anyone else. This worked out well. Now in 5th grade they switch classes, so he isn't sitting for long periods anymore. This has helped alot.

My daughter gets a study guide to fill out like everyone else, but she also gets one that is filled out by the teacher or TA. That is the one she studies from.

Does your school have an FM system? Both my kids have auditory processing issues, and I know this is common/similar with ADD/AHDD. It's hard to focus with all the background noise. This system involves the teacher wearing a microphone on a necklace around her neck, and there are speakers throughout the room to enhance the sound. Some kids even have a desktop speaker, or wear headphones. Any of these could be a huge help for your son.

Advance notice of tests
A set of books at home
Preferential seating

That's all I can think of for now. You may want to consider whether a 504 is sufficient. My son started with that, but went to a full IEP because he started at a new school. It has worked out well. He is fully mainstreamed, but still gets the modifications he needs.

I hope you get it all sorted out!!