OT: Need advice for Special Ed for DD6

[frannn]

DD6 is a delayed learner, and requires OT & PT. She has been in a smaller, specialized class since she began school. We had a CSE meeting today to discuss her progress and placement for next year, second grade. She is doing very well in her current placement, except for OT & PT, and one atendee said she seems a bit immature (although she is extremely social). I was given three choices for next year, since her test scores were good- 1) keep her in a smaller class setting this year, with mainstreamed English (already doing this year) and Math, 2) hold her back in 1st grade, but in a mainstream class in a different school with extra special ed teachers, or 3) put her into a mainstreamed 2nd grade with extra special ed teachers in the other school. The head of the committee is pushing 2) or 3), as she feels DD would have an easier time adj to mainstreaming this way, instead of waiting till 3rd grade, when it might be a bit more difficult for her. Her current teachers sees that point, but also feels that she is doing very well with the setup now, and that they could try to mainstream her a little bit more in her current setup (but not with as much extra help in the mainstreamed subjectsas in school 2 ). Her birthday is in Sept, so she'd just turn 7 for the next school year. DH and I are torn. Any teachers out there with guidance, or parents who've been through this?

 

[eeyoremum]

I am not a teacher. I'm a parent.

I have a son with learning issues. He has LRT help in regular grade 4. I have begged the school to hold him back since grade 1 but they will not do it.

He is immature for his age but very social like your daughter. I personally think he would do better with younger kids rather than his own "peer" group who essential ignore or bully him.

Personally I would say if she is thriving in the current set up why change it? BUT if they are insisting on mainstreaming her I think I might hold her back a year.

Not holding my son back but taking him out for "extra" help has caused him to miss more and more so every year his is more behind than the last. So this year he takes math in the LRT room at a grade 3 level (even though his in grade 4) my argument has always been when will he learn the grade 4 stuff??? It is a never ending cycle. Factor in the immaturity and you have a reciept for social disaster IMO.

This is just one mum's opinion. I hope everything works out for your daughter.

 

[dogodisney]

Do what you feel is best for your DD. You, your DH and her current teachers know her better than "this committee". IMO, if she is doing well the way things are now, keep it that way.

My DGD (5) is in kindergarten and is considered to have a SDD (severe developmental delay). Her school has a special ed Pre-k which she attended for 2 years. She receives OT and Speech. She too is very friendly and immature. She has progressed a lot this year but she has a loooong way to go. I already have told the teacher I plan on retaining her next year. There is no way she will be ready to move on. The expectations from these kids now is unbelievable.
I have begged for them to retest her and at her last IEP meeting they finally agreed. Even the principal got involved and told the school psychologist that she needs to be retested so we know what to do for her. So now it's a waiting game to see when it will be done. It is so frustrating.

Good Luck and please let us know how you make out.

 

[stacy6552]

I think she'd be fine in the gen ed 2nd grade, but you need to be very specific in her IEP that she has support 100% of the time. INdividualized in you want. If you aren't specific enough, she could sink like a stone.

 

[sk!mom]

Teacher here- Since she has such a late birthday, I would retain her. I would want her to stay in the setting where she is doing well. With an extra year of making progress, she will be much more likely to be ready for mainstreaming after another year in first.

In my state, a September birthday would be a year behind as the cut off date is 8/31.

I have students every year who are doing so well that I am really surprised to see that they were retained early on. On the other hand, I have students who are pulled daily, still trying to catch up or fill gaps, while they continue to miss or fall behind in the current curriculum.