Preparing for first day of K-What to tell teachers

[Anonymous]

Hi there-

My middle ds, with Asperger Syndrome is starting K next week. We had a brief home visit today from the K teacher, and his Sp. Ed teacher (also the assistants, but when he saw all 4 he said "too many teachers" and hid under my desk. Thankfully, they adjusted right away, and just sent in the two teachers, who I got a wonderful first impression from.

They of course, have his IEP. His K teacher, was the K teacher on our IEP, so she has even more background, having sat through that last April.

I am thinking, for the Open house tomorrow of jotting up a very short note, maybe even bullet points of little things they might like to know. Things like
-do not ask ds if he needs to use the bathroom, he will likely hold it all day. Just act like it is time to go.
-Ds has a tendency to hold stools, and though he never wets his pants, he may lightly soil his pants, and need a clean pair. I will put extra underwear/wipes in his bag
-warning for transitions will be very helpful for ds

What I do not want to do is inundate them tomorrow. Perhaps a brief chat with the Special Ed. Teacher might be a better choice? I am assuming the K teacher will be indundated with parents/children?

Obviously, they will get to know him in time. I absolutely adored the way of the Special Ed. teacher today, so I think it will be a great fit. She already gave me her email as well.

Thoughts? It has been so long since the IEP, I feel like I am sending him in to the wolves.

[Anonymous]

There is probably very little that you an accomplish tomorrow. It's just the nature of the event. There are too many parents, all of whom wanypt the teacher to know something about their child. Then, there is the teacher's agenda, which may include getting a list of means od arrival and departure.

What I always do is to go and meet the teachers and introduce my son to his new classroom. Then over the weekend, I do a short e-mail with some key things that the teacher needs to know for success. Then I request a meeting during the first week of school. I also try to be very available during the first week of school in case anything gies wrong. Already this week, I've done the teacher meeting anfpd been to the school twice to deal with minor problems, but ones tat would have ruined the day, or more, had I not been available.

Good luck.

[Anonymous]

OP - don't have any great advice for you, but just wanted to say how great you sound. So respectful and appreciative of those people trying to help your child.

My friend is a teacher in NYC, and received a small gift basket from one of her student's parents. In the gift basket was a note saying how excited their child was for school, and they just wanted to let her know a few issues that she might come across. The child did not have an IEP but had some sensory problems and did not react well to change. My friend really appreciated that the parents let her know of the situation, but not in a jumping down her throat the first day of school type of way.

I think sending a little note with anything that the teacher needs to remember (especially the bathroom issues) along with maybe a small gift card somewhere, would be nice. I agree that the IEP was a while ago, and I'm sure the first week of school is so chaotic that she might forget some of the smaller issues.

[Anonymous]

At the open house there will probably be a sheet for you to give your email and the teacher to provide hers. This is exactly the sort of thing you want to email her and tell her -- believe me, she will want to know. Don't tell her at the open house because it won't stick. But do tell her. Ask for her email.

[Anonymous]

The advice of PPs is good. I usually give the note to the teacher(s) at the open house so they can read it before school starts. I don't expect them to remember anything I say at the Open House and it's just not the right place for a chat. In my note (which sometimes more than a page), I emphasize my kids strengths, what they enjoy, what type of delivery method for feedback is most effective, challenges they've had and where we are on the medication. I emphasize that I want to be communicative but not interfering and I let them know what the best way to contact me is. They seem to appreciate it additional information. An IEP really doesn't tell them much about the child and the note at least provides more of an introduction. HTH.

[Anonymous]

Thanks all, some great thoughts. Did not think to list strengths too, good thing to add. I am a former teacher, so I definitely to not plan to "chat" with the teacher at Open house The Special Ed. Teacher called me with the class assignment, and gave me her email on that phone call, and told me to email her anytime, so that might be a good first contact. Will give a note to teacher too, which she can read at her leisure. I felt today, at our home visit, in those few minutes they really tried to connect. He had made them pictures, and the Sp. ed teacher spent the time to ask him what each one was, and the K teacher made a point to "notice" that ds was really a great artist.

I have a 4th grader too, so have attended many open houses, and know the drill (in addition to an almost 4 year old) but, it is a bit easier to send them to school without worry, you know?

[Anonymous]

DS is going to third grade and has an IEP. We just sent a brief letter via email to his teachers and addressed various topics with a few sentences under each heading: academic strengths, academic challenges, interests/activities, medication, the summer, personality. They presumably know his IEP and we didn't address that. Our goal is to give the teachers a brief but broader sense of who he is and what we see are the main academic challenges, as well as some of the strengths. It gets the ball rolling. Not sure the teachers will see it before school starts next week but hope they do.

The goal of these letters should be providing a fuller picture of your child, without overwhelming the teachers. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Thanks all. I typed up a short note a list of bullets for Strengths, and one for Concerns that I gave them at Open House. The classroom teacher, and special ed.teacher were both grateful, and neither seemed overwhelmed (we went early, and it was not terribly busy). As of now, ds is in a class of 16, which I am thrilled with. They may lose one K class if they do not get a few more registrations though, in which case all the classes would be up 2-3 more. Feeling very positive about the start of school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DS is going to third grade and has an IEP. We just sent a brief letter via email to his teachers and addressed various topics with a few sentences under each heading: academic strengths, academic challenges, interests/activities, medication, the summer, personality. They presumably know his IEP and we didn't address that. Our goal is to give the teachers a brief but broader sense of who he is and what we see are the main academic challenges, as well as some of the strengths. It gets the ball rolling. Not sure the teachers will see it before school starts next week but hope they do.

The goal of these letters should be providing a fuller picture of your child, without overwhelming the teachers. Good luck!

We actually heard back from his teachers within a few hours and they were appreciative. It's a relief to us as parents because it hopefully makes it easier for the teachers to get the school year off to a good start with DS and saves us time in conferences from having to start from scratch.

[Anonymous]

14:53, that is great. Our special ed. teacher chatted a lot with me (it was quiet when we were there), assured me he will be fine, she will walk him through all the transitions, etc. The K teacher said she feels really happy that she was the K teacher who sat in on his IEP (we did not know at the time she would be his teacher) so that she has the insight of being there in person, beyond just reading it. So far so good!!