No school for my kid

[Anonymous]

There is another thread like this on alternative schools. Sounds like he has some of that autism pda.

I would do one of those schools. Something with a smaller setting that feels kind of like a family and also has a lot of hands on activities to break up the academics. I know for older kids there is a four week on four week off school where they hike every other month.

There are also tons of private schools. Some of them have community extensions where you all do stuff together outside of school. That helps build trust and cooperation.

[Anonymous]

No personal experience but a friend toured Springwell and they seem like a school that would fit this profile.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is another thread like this on alternative schools. Sounds like he has some of that autism pda.

I would do one of those schools. Something with a smaller setting that feels kind of like a family and also has a lot of hands on activities to break up the academics. I know for older kids there is a four week on four week off school where they hike every other month.

There are also tons of private schools. Some of them have community extensions where you all do stuff together outside of school. That helps build trust and cooperation.

Not OP, but can you list a few of these private schools?

[Anonymous]

Diener
Ivymount
Katherine Thomas

[Anonymous]

I’m so sorry, OP. I also have a hard to fit kid who is in a not ideal placement. Have you worked with an advocate? Ours has been helpful in giving us a better sense of which schools might be a possibility and which ones wouldn’t be a better match for our kid.

It is so frustrating that there are so few options for our kids. As much as I don’t love our current placement, I know we’re lucky to have one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My friend with a son who is very, very bright but has ADHD and other issues that were causing him to act out is homeschooling after a truly terrible experience in FCPS that involved both classes way below his grade level and "jail." Socialization is through a (liberal) co-op and activities. Schools fail these kids way more than we would like to admit.

I agree with the posts that say you should home school for a year. I think you should hire a full time person to manage this. Can a tutor help your child with the virtual academy and then take them out for homeschool activities for socialization and physical movement?

Auburn used to be a place that would work for a child such as yours but I don't know what it's like now.

[Anonymous]

I disagree with homeschool recommendations. You need a supportive community of experts to help guide the education of this child. Try Katherine Thomas, Diener, or Ivymount. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is another thread like this on alternative schools. Sounds like he has some of that autism pda.

I would do one of those schools. Something with a smaller setting that feels kind of like a family and also has a lot of hands on activities to break up the academics. I know for older kids there is a four week on four week off school where they hike every other month.

There are also tons of private schools. Some of them have community extensions where you all do stuff together outside of school. That helps build trust and cooperation.

Stop trying to make PDA happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am heartbroken. My child fits no mold and is struggling with being successful in any setting. At school it is the demands that set him off so he leaves class. He went to PHP and was triggered by the kids who have outward behavior issues and had panic attacks. He gets overwhelmed at school and cries and cries. He is cognitively very bright but has ADHD and can be disruptive. Any corrective feedback he views as hostile and he feels attacked and cries and cries (loudly) and leaves class. What school can accommodate a sensitive kids with so many needs. He is also socially fine (when he is not upset) and cognitively gifted so he needs a social group. We are in MOCO. Where would you send him to school?

+1 we are in the same boat in MoCo. Struck out in public, private, and non-public.

There are no options for 2Es that seem to be working out for kids like ours. Non-public placements seem to be in two categories 1) for students below grade level 2) behavioral based and “jail” like.

Did you look at GT/LD, Connections, SESES, Bridges? MCPS actually has an unusual number of programs for diploma bounf SN kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If cost isn't a factor, I would think about hiring someone to be at home while he does virtual for 5th grade and then do Fusion in 6th

Why recommend isolating a child instead of exploring the IEP options?

They may need to work on some skills in isolation rather than a group. Things like leaving class following demands can be dealt with at home more easily than in school.

Absolutely not true at all, and contrary to any advice a professional would give.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If cost isn't a factor, I would think about hiring someone to be at home while he does virtual for 5th grade and then do Fusion in 6th

Why recommend isolating a child instead of exploring the IEP options?

Because if they are in burnout, a year at home can help them recover, so they can go back in person next yr.

It’s just advice from another experience, of course your experience may be different. We did 1 yr off with my DC, & now 3 yrs later, they are in school. It’s an option to explore.

Or you could end up like one child I know, whose well-meaning break to homeschool turned into a literal refusal to leave the house 3 years later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Diener
Ivymount
Katherine Thomas

How would you send a kid to Ivymount without first trying an MCPS program? OP come back and tell us what the IEP team says about placement.

[Anonymous]

Did you visit McLean? They can look beyond the behavior if they believe it is triggered due to the wrong fit.

[Anonymous]

Call Oneness and see if you can visit

[Anonymous]

Would a Micro School be a fit?
https://mysaschool.org/about/