Educational consultant for school placement

[Anonymous]

OP here: thanks for these posts - they are helping me to understand the issues. I am still struggling though. I see what you are saying that he will fall behind in terms of being able to transition and to manage himself if he is not forced to adjust to this earlier on. But I also wonder about self esteem and his confidence related to behavioral issues. I am pretty sure that if this child is forced to transition every 30/40 minutes, and to do what everyone else is doing, my child will have significant behavioral problems in school. He will go from being viewed as a normal kid with a particular personality to the "problem kid". He will always be in trouble and the teachers will be exasperated with him. What cost will this have for his self-esteem?

He will also space out, daydreaming, all day because he won't be interested in what the class as a whole is supposed to do.. At least now, he spends his days more-or-less productively because he chooses the things that he is able to focus on.

We really can't afford private school, especially the SN privates, but I doubt we would get much financial aid. We might be able to do it for a couple years (i.e. To address dyslexia) but not long term without endangering the child's and our family's financial future I actually find it weird that everyone in this board talks about them so much. Can everyone on this board afford those astronomical prices? I know there are a lot of wealthy people in DC but still...there must be lots of parents with SNs who have more run of the mill income levels....is financial aid more generous at SN privates?

The Montessori School is a public Montessori and they do provide some SN services.

[Anonymous]

I think the SN privates are discussed a lot on this board because a lot of people are in the initial stages of exploring their options, like you are. There are also some SN private schools that take public students (but these are discussed much less).

What is in his IEP now to address dyslexia? I don't know anything about public Montessori schools in DC-is it an elementary school that goes up through 6th grade?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks for these posts - they are helping me to understand the issues. I am still struggling though. I see what you are saying that he will fall behind in terms of being able to transition and to manage himself if he is not forced to adjust to this earlier on. But I also wonder about self esteem and his confidence related to behavioral issues. I am pretty sure that if this child is forced to transition every 30/40 minutes, and to do what everyone else is doing, my child will have significant behavioral problems in school. He will go from being viewed as a normal kid with a particular personality to the "problem kid". He will always be in trouble and the teachers will be exasperated with him. What cost will this have for his self-esteem?

He will also space out, daydreaming, all day because he won't be interested in what the class as a whole is supposed to do.. At least now, he spends his days more-or-less productively because he chooses the things that he is able to focus on.

We really can't afford private school, especially the SN privates, but I doubt we would get much financial aid. We might be able to do it for a couple years (i.e. To address dyslexia) but not long term without endangering the child's and our family's financial future I actually find it weird that everyone in this board talks about them so much. Can everyone on this board afford those astronomical prices? I know there are a lot of wealthy people in DC but still...there must be lots of parents with SNs who have more run of the mill income levels....is financial aid more generous at SN privates?

The Montessori School is a public Montessori and they do provide some SN services.

At public Montessori, as they get older, they can't simply choose their own work. The guides have to steer them toward doing all of the lessons, even ones they dislike because they have to be prepared for PARCC starting in 3rd grade. So you may find there are some struggles ahead.

However, my biggest concern is that most younger Montessori teachers have little to no background children who don't learn phonetically or for whom the montessori materials don't work (and most teachers at DC's public charter montessoris are very young). The schools themselves are relatively new (operating less than 10 years). You need to meet with the director and the IEP coordinator, and ask what specific instruction in reading is going to be available for your child from a learning specialist. Ask what the learning specialists' experience and credentials are, and how many students with dyslexia the school has had, and how they are dong

Those are going to be the most important 2-4 hours a week (if you can get that much in services) for your child, and you need to make sure it's on point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks for these posts - they are helping me to understand the issues. I am still struggling though. I see what you are saying that he will fall behind in terms of being able to transition and to manage himself if he is not forced to adjust to this earlier on. But I also wonder about self esteem and his confidence related to behavioral issues. I am pretty sure that if this child is forced to transition every 30/40 minutes, and to do what everyone else is doing, my child will have significant behavioral problems in school. He will go from being viewed as a normal kid with a particular personality to the "problem kid". He will always be in trouble and the teachers will be exasperated with him. What cost will this have for his self-esteem?

He will also space out, daydreaming, all day because he won't be interested in what the class as a whole is supposed to do.. At least now, he spends his days more-or-less productively because he chooses the things that he is able to focus on.

We really can't afford private school, especially the SN privates, but I doubt we would get much financial aid. We might be able to do it for a couple years (i.e. To address dyslexia) but not long term without endangering the child's and our family's financial future I actually find it weird that everyone in this board talks about them so much. Can everyone on this board afford those astronomical prices? I know there are a lot of wealthy people in DC but still...there must be lots of parents with SNs who have more run of the mill income levels....is financial aid more generous at SN privates?

The Montessori School is a public Montessori and they do provide some SN services.

I think most of the people on this board have their kids in regular public schools with IEPs and supplement with private supports as their budget/insurance allows. I didn't realize you were going to a public Montessori, maybe some others also missed that. Here in Maryland they don't even have charter schools at all.

If private is not really an option and you think he won't make it in a traditional public school setting, then you should be looking at special needs programs in DC public schools and charters with good special needs supports. Could be Montessori, or could be something else. Regular public schools usual offer some combination of general ed and special ed to meet your child's behavioral and academic needs. Whatever school you select will need to have experience working with an ADHD/dyslexic child and be able to implement it. If they have good special ed supports, he will get the education he needs without becoming the problem kid.

[Anonymous]

You asked for an educational consultant--they generally advise on privates. I think that's why you are getting these recs.

[Anonymous]

OP, There are consultants that specialize in giving advice about DC charters. Many of them know which ones are good with special needs and which ones are not and may a better use of money than the SN consultants. Creative Minds, Yu Ying and a few others are supposed to be great for special needs, for example.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You asked for an educational consultant--they generally advise on privates. I think that's why you are getting these recs.

False

[Anonymous]

OP - I'm the PP who lives in DC and worked with Suzie. Regardless of whether Montessori is a good fit for your child, because you are in DC, this may not be a choice you get to make without a protracted battle. You can't just say, "I want my child to go to (fill in the blank) school" unless it is your in-bounds public school and your child is entering kindergarten or older. Apologies if that is remedial information for you; I couldn't get a good sense from your posts of how familiar you are with how DC schools work.

Also, the feedback you're getting from the PPs about structure is spot-on. My DC struggles mightily with transitions and hyperfocuses, which is precisely why DC needs structure.

I'll be candid, we are at a disadvantage being in DC with a special needs child. It can be done, but I strongly recommend you work with a consultant who can help you navigate the system and advocate for you. If you decide to look at independent schools, a good consultant can help you narrow that down, too.

I know firsthand how overwhelming all of this is. Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks for all of these suggestions. The reason we are looking at Montessori schools is that DC has been in a Montessori school for three years and his teacher of three years, who has worked in both traditional and Montessori schools, believes that Montessori - or another alternative school like Waldorf - is what this child needs. I don't know how to relate that advice to what others say about Montessori/Waldorf not being good for a child with ADHD/dyslexia.

We don't have the details regarding his diagnoses yet. For the ADHD, it is inattentive ADHD and I don't know the severity but I think it is not very severe (although seems to be getting worse). He has trouble attending to work that is difficult for him, he prefers to choose his own activities and has trouble attending to those that others select, and he attends much better one on one than in a group setting. (Again, this would seem a plus of Montessori since there are one on one lessons). He is not hyper-active or disruptive in class.

Lots are mentioning the private schools specific to learning differences. I am not ruling those out but they have very high pricetags. At this poing, I was thinking more of traditional publics and privates, as well as charter schools in DC.

OP,

One you seem a little dim b/c Waldorf Schools will out price or keep with SN school tuitions.

The Montessori cannot address dyslexia period. 11:53 had the list to which to apply. These schools can also address ADHD. If you hire a consultant get one to hammer out an IEP and negotiate for you if you go public.

I thought that this was the 'nice' board where people were supportive? Anyway, I don't think that I am 'dim'. The Lab School ($46K) and Kingsbury seem to be significantly more expensive than run of the mill privates, which run $30K-$35K.

Naive then. Waldorf will run you about $25K or "run of the mill" privates more and not address any of the LDs. You're paying for a team of specialists at an SN school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks for all of these suggestions. The reason we are looking at Montessori schools is that DC has been in a Montessori school for three years and his teacher of three years, who has worked in both traditional and Montessori schools, believes that Montessori - or another alternative school like Waldorf - is what this child needs. I don't know how to relate that advice to what others say about Montessori/Waldorf not being good for a child with ADHD/dyslexia.

We don't have the details regarding his diagnoses yet. For the ADHD, it is inattentive ADHD and I don't know the severity but I think it is not very severe (although seems to be getting worse). He has trouble attending to work that is difficult for him, he prefers to choose his own activities and has trouble attending to those that others select, and he attends much better one on one than in a group setting. (Again, this would seem a plus of Montessori since there are one on one lessons). He is not hyper-active or disruptive in class.

Lots are mentioning the private schools specific to learning differences. I am not ruling those out but they have very high pricetags. At this poing, I was thinking more of traditional publics and privates, as well as charter schools in DC.

OP,

One you seem a little dim b/c Waldorf Schools will out price or keep with SN school tuitions.

The Montessori cannot address dyslexia period. 11:53 had the list to which to apply. These schools can also address ADHD. If you hire a consultant get one to hammer out an IEP and negotiate for you if you go public.

I thought that this was the 'nice' board where people were supportive? Anyway, I don't think that I am 'dim'. The Lab School ($46K) and Kingsbury seem to be significantly more expensive than run of the mill privates, which run $30K-$35K.

Naive then. Waldorf will run you about $25K or "run of the mill" privates more and not address any of the LDs. You're paying for a team of specialists at an SN school.

You are still being rude. And not following the thread. OP just explained she is looking at public Montessori schools in DC. So no cost to her, assuming it can meet her needs.

[Anonymous]

OP here: thanks very much for all of the useful the information that has been shared here.

07/05/2017 21:11. It's great that you have personal experience with a public Montessori school in DC. If you are still monitoring this thread, can I ask which public Montessori your child attended? If it is LAMB, I would love to talk with you further (offline). I can be reached at the following email address: [e-mail].

I am aware that it is hard to navigate the system in DC and that the choices are not always great. However, one thing we are considering is moving to the inbounds district of a highly regarded traditional public school that offers SN servcies. You all are convincing me more about the need for structure for this child which Montessori usually doesn't provide; however, I also have big doubts about whether a traditional public school will be able to handle this child without really hurting his self-esteem. Our public Montessori school is able to address kids with IEPs and they do have children with dyslexia and ADHD within the school. But I have my doubts, which you all have confirmed, about Montessori overall for this type of child.....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks very much for all of the useful the information that has been shared here.

07/05/2017 21:11. It's great that you have personal experience with a public Montessori school in DC. If you are still monitoring this thread, can I ask which public Montessori your child attended? If it is LAMB, I would love to talk with you further (offline). I can be reached at the following email address: [e-mail].

I am aware that it is hard to navigate the system in DC and that the choices are not always great. However, one thing we are considering is moving to the inbounds district of a highly regarded traditional public school that offers SN servcies. You all are convincing me more about the need for structure for this child which Montessori usually doesn't provide; however, I also have big doubts about whether a traditional public school will be able to handle this child without really hurting his self-esteem. Our public Montessori school is able to address kids with IEPs and they do have children with dyslexia and ADHD within the school. But I have my doubts, which you all have confirmed, about Montessori overall for this type of child.....

I'm 21:11. My child did attend LAMB but graduated 5th grade several years ago -- all of the staff DC worked with (special ed coordinator, learning specialists, OTs, psychologists, classroom teachers) are no longer there. Compared to some of the other Montessori charters it has a longer track record, which is good and they are not doctrinaire Montessorians -- they allow learning specialists in the classroom and did bring in certified reading specialists for kids who needed that. But it's also a dual language, so you definitely need think about whether achieving bi-literacy by 5th grade is an appropriate goal for a child with dyslexia.

For us it was a year to year decision; every December we'd re-evaluate whether we should stay or leave. If your only other option is to move, then take it year by year. But I would get an outside tutor and do outside testing on a regular basis to see what progress is, or isn't being made.

[Anonymous]

EV Downey is pretty good for this, particularly if you live on/near the Hill.

[Anonymous]

OP: what's your IB school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here: thanks for all of these suggestions. The reason we are looking at Montessori schools is that DC has been in a Montessori school for three years and his teacher of three years, who has worked in both traditional and Montessori schools, believes that Montessori - or another alternative school like Waldorf - is what this child needs. I don't know how to relate that advice to what others say about Montessori/Waldorf not being good for a child with ADHD/dyslexia.

We don't have the details regarding his diagnoses yet. For the ADHD, it is inattentive ADHD and I don't know the severity but I think it is not very severe (although seems to be getting worse). He has trouble attending to work that is difficult for him, he prefers to choose his own activities and has trouble attending to those that others select, and he attends much better one on one than in a group setting. (Again, this would seem a plus of Montessori since there are one on one lessons). He is not hyper-active or disruptive in class.

Lots are mentioning the private schools specific to learning differences. I am not ruling those out but they have very high pricetags. At this poing, I was thinking more of traditional publics and privates, as well as charter schools in DC.

OP,

One you seem a little dim b/c Waldorf Schools will out price or keep with SN school tuitions.

The Montessori cannot address dyslexia period. 11:53 had the list to which to apply. These schools can also address ADHD. If you hire a consultant get one to hammer out an IEP and negotiate for you if you go public.

Also, our Montessori is a public school and we can get an IEP and accommodations there. I didn't think any schools (public/private) can really address dyslexia except SN privates?

Most of the literature says that a student with dyslexia needs specific reading instruction in an Orton-Gillingham based program. That can be hard to get in any public school setting, and especially at a Montessori school unless they are willing to commit to pull out or push-in tutoring in a specific program to augment the standard curriculum.

The other way to go is to pick a school that works for your child in everything but reading, and do intensive tutoring at your own expensive after school or weekends, and during the summers.

My similar child was in a Montessori charter school, and they had a Wilson-trained reading specialist work with him 1:1 3 times a week per the IEP. It still wasn't enough, so we supplemented outside of school as well. The regular reading instruction in the classroom was basically worthless.

How did you get them to provide this service? 1:1 three times a week of a Wilson-trained specialist seems like a lot of time to receive....