If you have a SN kid in Waldorf school ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do the teachers integrate your kid into the classroom and make sure your kid interacts with the peers throughout the day?

My son has autism, with strong academics but needs help with social skills. He was in gen ed private school but for the next school year, we're considering to place him in the mixed-age Waldorf kinder (4-6 yr old), which seems to emphasize on socio-emotional growth of a child (which my son is really lacking).
To most people, he seems like a happy, friendly kid, talking and playing creatively. However, the reality is, he likes to play by himself or with adults.
I'm curious to know whether parents have seen Waldorf teachers work with kids who needs to be taught social skills more explicitly.

Yes, but remember, they are emphasizing socio-emotional grown of typical 4-6 yr old children. My child was at a progressive school at that age and they had the same emphasis and a lot of it is on conflict resolution skills for kids that age. There was a presumption that kids could easily articulate their ideas and feelings and they just needed guidance on working conflicts out among themselves.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How do the teachers integrate your kid into the classroom and make sure your kid interacts with the peers throughout the day?

My son has autism, with strong academics but needs help with social skills. He was in gen ed private school but for the next school year, we're considering to place him in the mixed-age Waldorf kinder (4-6 yr old), which seems to emphasize on socio-emotional growth of a child (which my son is really lacking).
To most people, he seems like a happy, friendly kid, talking and playing creatively. However, the reality is, he likes to play by himself or with adults.
I'm curious to know whether parents have seen Waldorf teachers work with kids who needs to be taught social skills more explicitly.

Yes, but remember, they are emphasizing socio-emotional grown of typical 4-6 yr old children. My child was at a progressive school at that age and they had the same emphasis and a lot of it is on conflict resolution skills for kids that age. There was a presumption that kids could easily articulate their ideas and feelings and they just needed guidance on working conflicts out among themselves.

+1. Our elementary school uses the responsive classroom model.

http://www.responsiveclassroom.org/about-responsive-classroom

My DS with ASD still requires an IEP with social skills classes and social supports for his deficits. A program geared toward the socio-emotional growth of NT kids is not enough.