Recommend Your School
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Anonymous
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Yes, this is yet another school recommendation post. I'm a frequent poster on this board, have been hanging around here for about 6 years
We are in dire[u] need of a new school for DS. He's 11, in public. Has ADHD/Inattentive with various LDs that I would describe as serious. He is on meds and in self-contained classes for reading and math. He also has a private reading tutor. His LDs are making it nearly impossible for him to learn in his current environment, including his self-contained classes which have approx 13-15 kids in them. For him 13 might as well be 30...that is how difficult it is for him to sustain his attention. Consequently, he is reading at a 4th grade level! Should be at late 5th grade. He also has some difficulty with peer to peer communication as his LDs are language based LDs. Looking for a nurturing environment with STRONG academics. We are in MD but more than willing to make the drive for the right school TIA |
Anonymous
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OP,
You need to meet your kid where they are, not where they should be, e.g., reading level. If he's unable to learn in a public contained classroom even with medication, I would look at Ivymount. Judging by your post, you may see this as a step back, but you really need to focus on why he's not learning and how to help him b/f you look for strong academics. Public funding might be an option but it won't be a quick process. I realize there aren't a heck of amount of options. Call Ivymount and speak with the director. If there are other options, I'm sure she'd be able to point you in the right directions. GL. |
Anonymous
| Other schools for you to look at, if you decide Ivymount is more support than you need, is Lab, Siena, Commonwealth, and McLean. |
Anonymous
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OP here. I don't think DS would be a fit for Ivymount. At least not from what I know about the school and the few kids that I know that go there. Of course I am judging this solely on that knowledge and could be totally off the mark as I haven't visited the school
I have researched Siena, Lab and Commonwealth. I think Siena is a perfect fit - on paper at least. Commonwealth as well. Lab I'm not sure about and not sure that McLean would be a fit? Also researched Echelon in Olney - that also seems like a perfect fit. |
Anonymous
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I would tour all of the schools you mentioned including Ivymount.
OP, have you requested a functional behavioral analysis for your DC? You may want to do this in order to pinpoint issues of why he is so distracted and suggested behavioral supports. You may also want to revisit medication to make sure that it is appropriate. You also need to be realistic. I have experience with most of the schools that you mention. If your kid is that distracted in a small group setting, only Ivymount would be able to address this. You also have to realize that many times the schools that deal with LDs don't have kids who read on grade level. It has nothing to do with intelligence. Also who told you that your son "should" be reading at a higher grade level? If that's simply your assessment, you may be way off. If a kid can't focus, they can't learn. Most of these schools have summer programs. The deadlines for this school year have past except those with rolling admissions. You may want to try a summer program after you tour the schools to see if they are a right fit for your kid. |
Anonymous
| Look at the Model Aspergers program at Ivymount. It's for kids of average to above average IQ who are on a college track. |
Anonymous
The class size for MAP is ~13 for elementary school. They combine 3, 4, 5th grades. Not that different from what OP is getting now and their specialty is social skills not learning disabilities. OP should visit and speak to the school, but the profile OP describes is not a good fit. |
Anonymous
I think you should at least look into McLean. They'll tell you if they don't think the fit is right, plus you won't know till you look. |
Anonymous
| I can highly recommend newton school. I have two there, and we love the school. It is a haul for us, but the small class sizes (4 per teacher), the movement based curriculum, and the individualization are unparalleled at anywhere else I have looked. Call Allison Abraham. She is a gem! |
Anonymous
I wonder if there are MD families that go to Newton - for carpool purposes? It would be a 30 mile drive one way :O But for the right school, we'll do it! |
Anonymous
DS is not on the spectrum, but for sure college-bound, and average IQ. Also, he has already had educational testing and it will be updated within the next few months. |
Anonymous
When OP said her DS's LDs are serious, I would not consider McLean. The website says mild to moderate learning differences. |
Anonymous
McLean told us that they can support up to about a year behind. If OP's son is in 4th grade and reading at a 3rd grade level, that sounds like something McLean could potentially work with. Certainly closer to McLean than Ivymount. |
Anonymous
+1 If the LD's are serious there is no way shape or form that Mclean would be a good fit. The OP said that the her child is having problems with a class size of 13-15 which is where most mclean class sizes would be. |
Anonymous
OP here - Yes I agree which is why I stated earlier that McLean probably would not be a good fit. McLean does not offer quite enough in the way of supports and Ivymount is more than he needs. Does anyone have feedback on Katherine Thomas School? |