WWYD: Changing classes for middle school student

[MushyMushy]

This is sort of a different WWYD about changing teachers. I have tonight to think about it.

Anyway, my 13 (soon to be 14) year old daughter has an IEP in speech/language and reading. She was getting low, low grades and scores in reading and had been tested well below her grade level. Being an (unemployed ) English teacher myself, I help as much as I can at home and have strongly encouraged reading. Our house is almost a library on its own.

In 6th grade, she did poorly in a regular ed English class, so in 7th grade she was placed in a smaller self-contained special ed reading class and she THRIVED. For one, the teacher she had was the BEST. For another, she just plain did better in a smaller class environment. Her grades went from C/D to A in there.

This year she was placed in a regular ed classroom. The teacher she has is really good, plus she came from a special ed background, so she knows her stuff. Her IEP caseworker called me today to tell me that I had the option to either keep her where she is, or go ahead and have her switched out into a much smaller self-contained classroom -- we're talking 3 students in there! That special ed teacher is also very good. I haven't talked to her regular ed teacher yet, but according to my DD there are only maybe 10 or fewer kids in that class too.

She's only been in school for 3 days, so it shouldn't be too much of an adjustment. She'd have to switch reading and math classes.

It's ultimately up to me, but when I talked to DD about it, she was adamant about wanting to stay where she is. BUT, she's more worried about the fact that this regular ed teacher is nice and she has a couple of friends in the class than doing well with grades. According to her, she gets along with all the kids in this class. I'm not sure who's in the special ed class, but knowing some of the kids who have IEPs in her grade, they could be rather rough. I don't mean that to sound bad, but I know these kids and taught a good many of them myself.

So WWYD? Just typing it out like this is helping the decision making process, but it would also help to have objective opinions.

 

[Kath2003]

Personally I would leave her where she is. A larger class will help her learn to cope with her learning needs in a bigger classroom. Ultimately, it's a step towards success in the mainstream classroom.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

WWID? That is a tough call. Can you switch over later if she starts bombing the class?

I would talk to the reg. teacher first and express my concerns before I switched.

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'd take into consideration the math class that would also be changing. - If you feel she's in the right math class now, I wouldn't risk losing that for only a slight advantage in reading. (Because the regular class is pretty small itself, and has such a prepared teacher, it sounds like she will do fine in there.) But if you also feel she's in the wrong math class, then I'd take the chage.

 

[KirstenB]

DId you guys (you and the special ed teacher) decide to place her in a regular English class together? Was this brought up during the IEP meeting at the end of last year? Or is this something unexpected?

If her teacher from last year thinks she's ready, then let your dd give the regular class a try. BTW, I'm glad she made such good progress last year, that's awesome!!!

 

[LBAK]

I would leave her for now. You can always change later especially since she has an IEP. Her self-esteem is so important at this age and she wants to be part of a "regular classroom". I found with my LD daughter that sometimes self esteem has to come before grades. It sets them up for life. If she's not thriving by October then call a CSE meeting and change her.

 

[MushyMushy]

Sorry for the long quotes.

Personally I would leave her where she is. A larger class will help her learn to cope with her learning needs in a bigger classroom. Ultimately, it's a step towards success in the mainstream classroom.

I don't think that's really an issue. She's been in regular ed classes all along. Last year was her first year in a self contained classroom.

WWID? That is a tough call. Can you switch over later if she starts bombing the class?

I would talk to the reg. teacher first and express my concerns before I switched.

That's a good question. I'll have to bring that up when I talk to her. One good thing is that the special ed class uses the same book and stays on track with the regular ed class, so she'd be able to slide right in either way.

I'd take into consideration the math class that would also be changing. - If you feel she's in the right math class now, I wouldn't risk losing that for only a slight advantage in reading. (Because the regular class is pretty small itself, and has such a prepared teacher, it sounds like she will do fine in there.) But if you also feel she's in the wrong math class, then I'd take the chage.

She's in general math and has a great teacher, so I do hate to switch her out of that class! That does play a part in my decision.

DId you guys (you and the special ed teacher) decide to place her in a regular English class together? Was this brought up during the IEP meeting at the end of last year? Or is this something unexpected?

If her teacher from last year thinks she's ready, then let your dd give the regular class a try. BTW, I'm glad she made such good progress last year, that's awesome!!!

No, this was never brought up at the IEP meeting. When we left it, we had decided she'd remain in a self contained classroom. I have to say I wasn't completely surprised when she ended up in a regular ed classroom. One of my best friends is a special ed teacher in the district and she said they're moving towards getting rid of self contained classrooms altogether. Not a good idea, IMO!

I would leave her for now. You can always change later especially since she has an IEP. Her self-esteem is so important at this age and she wants to be part of a "regular classroom". I found with my LD daughter that sometimes self esteem has to come before grades. It sets them up for life. If she's not thriving by October then call a CSE meeting and change her.

I need to find out if that's a possibility! After thinking about this some more, I'm inclined to agree with you. If I knew she'd be able to switch into the self contained classroom if she's not doing well, I'd feel a lot better about it!

 

[MM27]

If she is happy where she is, the teacher is known to be good and the class is small, I would leave her where she is. I'm sure you could have her moved at the end of the marking period if she isn't doing well.