Inspired by the teachers threads....

[bsnyder]

Anyone else have a positive story they want to share, now that their kids are back in school?

Sorry this one is so long, but it takes a little background information to explain it....

I've spoken before on the boards about my neice, Ellie. She just started 4th grade last Thursday. Ellie has high-functioning autism, and she presents many of the specific features of Asperger's Syndrome such as hyperlexia (a precocious ability to read words], intense preoccupation with certain interests or subjects, inflexible adherence to specific routines or rituals.

The school Ellie is attending is a regular private school that her two sisters and my daughter Allison also attend. She attended another much smaller private school until 2nd grade, but moved Ellie on the strong recommendation of her 1st grade teacher that she could thrive there. There was a lot of trepidation about moving Ellie, because this school doesn't have a history of accomodating any type of special needs, but Ellie has done wonderfully there.

My sister just called me and said she just had a great conference with the two 4th grade teachers. But what amazed her was that the teachers had, on their own, gone out and purchased and read an excellent book on Asperger's Syndrome. They had it marked with many sticky notes, and had lots of relevent questions to ask my sister, on how to handle certain situations.

I am SO impressed with the dedication of these two teachers!

Anyone else have a story to share on a good teacher experience this year??

 

[debster812]

Those are 2 GREAT teachers!!!!!!

What a wonderful story. I think the key to all of this is good communication between students, parents, and educators, and all the involved adults admitting that they "Don't know what they don't know."

It sounds like Ellie is going to have a great year!

 

[binny]

yep!

My dds special preschool is WONDERFUL!!

She has a few issues and learning disabilities and last year when she began was mostly non-verbal this year when she went in for orientation today, she was speaking in sentences

Another mom that began with us last year was crying saying she couldnt believe how far Karissa had come She was so happy for us

When we walked in this morning everyone was so happy to see each other there were hugs and tears and " I cant believe how much youve grown over the summer!!" all over the place. It brought tears to my eyes to see how loved my child is! I have been so blessed with this group of ladies and couldnt be more grateful for all they have done.

You know you have a good school when the teachers call over the summer and ask to meet you at the park because they miss your child

 

[RUDisney]

I have a similar story about teachers going out of their way to make children feel at home. When my kids started school in November 2001, they didn't speak English. I could have started them in an ESL (English as a second language) class at the public school, but I wanted them in a private school and I wanted them in a regular class. There are no counselors or teachers in ESL who could speak Russian, nor were they aware of Eastern European cultural things that could have impacted our kids progress and learning.

Anyway, the teachers knew that they were going to have our kids in their classrooms. On their own, they went online and found some basic Russian words so they could make the kids feel at least a little more comfortable.

On the day that the kids started, everyone stood up and said, "Privyet, Ivan," and "Privyet, Kristina." Privyet means 'hi.'

Their teachers worked with them to make sure that they fit in and that they always had a buddy with them. Our kids spoke fluent English in 3 months. I attribute so much of that to the kind and caring teachers that they had in Pre-K and K.

 

[CEDmom]

I'm a firm believer in what goes around comes around. In most instances caring, involved parents will encounter caring, involved teachers. In may take some work and time for both parties but the end result is a happy successful student.

My mom taught elementary school for almost 30 years and at the young age of 74 still volunteers twice a week at her local school helping children with reading difficulties. That said, I've been around many teachers and very rarely encountered one who wasn't dedicated to the profession.

 

[CourtasanSatine]

10th Grade Choir and English were the classes.My dad had died about 3 weeks after Christmas break and my choir teacher checked in with me the rest of the school year to make sure I was doing ok.My English teacher got the entire 10th grade to sign a card another girl had made(the fact he had cancer was known among my group of friends who told the teachers for me)

 

[Piglet]

My DD's K5 teacher she had last year is an angel sent from heaven. She not only was great to my DD, she and I have become really good friends and still get together and talk often.

My DD was born with a metabolic disease and has problems keeping her blood sugar stable. I had a really hard time "letting" someone else be responsible for her. She made me feel so comfortable with her being at school and making sure she got her meds and ate when she needed to. She called when she was in the hospital in January for 5 days and would email me often and call and let me know how things were going. My DD declared her, her best friend. On the last day of school she cried as they hugged and promised they would see each other over the summer. She, DD and I have met for lunch a few times.

The best part is that she moved from K5 to 3rd grade this year and so my DD will have another chance to have her as a teacher again.

Melinda