First of all, I am a teacher with experience in grades K-3, and the first thing I have to ask is, why would you want a 504 for a child in Kindergarten? That is way too soon. Furthermore, the teacher is correct: if all students are being assessed and your child does not respond appropriately to the questions, that's a problem. Teachers do NOT like tests at all, and we are forced to administer them by the higher-ups. They are the ones who decide HOW and WHEN these assessments will be administered. Furthermore, I highly doubt that anyone has called your son "stupid," which seems an odd choice of words for a young child; usually that is an unacceptable word at the age of five. However, if he prefers the company of adults, he may have picked up a few terms from them. This does not imply any wrong-doing; it is just a fact that some words adults use are not heard in the everyday vernacular of very young child.
Moreover, we are talking about public school. While everyone is entitled to a free education, you get what you pay for, and special needs are not always handled in the most effective way when the issues are related to UNCOMMON disabilities. Most of the resources are spent on assessments, paperwork, and compliance with laws. And yes, your child is not the only one in the class; there are probably 20 more children at least who are also supposed to meet the expectations, and most do. I would advise you go the private route and pay for top-quality specialists. I gave up trying to secure speech services for my own son; uphill battle for less-than-stellar therapy was my final thought. So I have been on both ends of the deal, as a parent and as a teacher. Good luck
Well said SM!
I totally disagree that children are not at an "academic learning age" until 7. In the right setting, with brief periods of instruction, young children learn wonderfully. I was truly astounded and amazed at the learning my son did in preschool. Children start learning from birth. My son is eight and I'd say that the majority of the BASIC skills he's learned (math, reading, writing) happened in pre-K and kindergarten.
Also, let's face it, there are good schools and bad schools out there, both public and private. It's important for parents to do THEIR homework about their local schools to choose what THEY feel is best for their child, which is going to vary from child to child tremendously.
I just think it's painting with a broad brush to discount all public schools.
peace, actually kids start kindergarten at 5 years with a few 6 year olds. It has been fine for both of my children entering kindergarten at 5. Both learned to read, did math, etc. Math usually includes things like rolling dice and adding up the numbers. Most kindergarten classes aren't set up where there are desks and things like that. It seems like you haven't been in a classroom either in a long time or at all.
By first grade when kids are 6 to 7, most sit just fine at their tables and desks. I have a child with sensory integration disorder and he thrives in a controlled classroom --- much better than the loosey goosey style you see at Montessori schools. Routine is very helpful for some kids and structure is really wonderful as well.
We had issues in preschool-------- but traditional primary school has been fantastic for both of my kids. Both thriving and doing well after a hard preschool experience.
So readers, do not feel because your child has issues in preschool that you have to spend gobs of money for private schools. good luck
Children are not in the age of academic until age 7. It is a waste of their precious time. To try and force a child under 6 or 7 before they are ready to sit still and do math, reading, learning a letter, etc and be given something new to learn everyday, as the public school system dictates, is entirely against our human psychological development for learning.
I don't blame these children for acting out and having anxiety about all of this....
I would highly recommend researching other educational systems. I'm a huge follower of Rudolph Steiner and Waldorf education methods, but there are many other methods that might engage your child specifically and fulfill what he is needing: Waldorf, Montessouri, Unschooling, and many others....
I always ask myself with my own child or my students in my preschool: "what am I doing or the parents doing that is not serving this child?"
Kim John Payne, Barbara Schumaker "It's OK Not TO SHare" , and Alfie Kohn are some wonderful authors and experts on child psychology and parenting methods that are so helpful...
Best of wishes to you and your child..
Hi there and welcome to med help. Wanted to tell you about the sensory integration forum here at med help. My son also has sensory and love to have other people to discuss things with. here is the link:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Sensory-Integration-Disorder-SID/show/1396?controller=forums&action=show&id=1396&camp=msc
Or you can find it in the "related communities" section at the right of this page. thanks and hope you join us!
This sounds like my son. He has a sensory processing disorder and has made great gains with occupational therapy.