So, if a child needs to see, let's say the speech teacher or the reading teacher or another specialist at their school, don't you think it's protocol and professional to send a note home to the parents informing them of this schedule?

Not only to keep the lines of communication open, but isn't it just the right thing to do; letting parents know their child is seeing this special teacher along with concerns, progress reports and objectives.

If I were the teacher, I certainly would send home my form letter and the game plan. Not only would I want to develop a rapport with my students' parents, but isn't it the professional thing to do???

Lisa

Yeah, that seems kinda minimal. Not only should they be letting you know WHO they are seeing, but WHY, so you know about the issues and can reinforce the extra learning at home. I would be MAD if my kid was getting pulled out and I didn't know about it.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Exactly! Let me know of the concerns so I can have little lessons at home.

It's just such a no brainer to me; to send home a letter informing parents of the plan. Simple as that.

Are you thinking a note to tell you the actual schedule of the child & specials? (As in MWF from 9AM - 9:20AM?) Or a note telling you your child is seeing these specialist to begin with? (As in "your child will be seeing a speech therapist?") Or both?

Deb
Son, 12
GGB, 10

Deb~

I was thinking the latter; "Your child will be seeing Mrs. Smith because she talks like Elmer Fudd" kind of note.

I really don't care when the class is, but rather the concerns and the objectives from the teacher. If anything, as a courtesy!

Lisa

I thought you would have to give consent for the testing to formally establish what the problem is.

Sheila
GGB 10/29/06 (33 weeks)

Are you saying they evaluated your child and didn't tell you? Then started therapy and didn't tell you? That is not how an IEP (Individual Education Plan) works in my state. A parent must be present and sign off on 2 million pieces of paper. I would ask for a conference immediately. Your child has all sort of legal rights regarding an IEP. I went through it with my singleton.

Michele
Sarah, Gregory, Amanda
born 1/22/04 at 35w1d

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Individualized_Education_Program

What did they refer your child for?

Michele
Sarah, Gregory, Amanda
born 1/22/04 at 35w1d

Our surprise baby Austin born 06/15/2005

www.fourtimesthefun.blogspot.com

I agree - I believe you have to sign a consent form for your child to even be evaluated.

Deb
Son, 12
GGB, 10

Well, conferences are next week, so hopefully I'll get some answers.

I thought paperwork and consent went along with this as well. There has been no info regarding IEP or anything. I don't even know the speech teacher's concerns other than the obvious: my DD pronounces the "R" sound like "A".

Michele - my friend's a teacher and she said as much as you. Heck, I'M A FORMER TEACHER! I should know this! I just kept waiting for some formal letter and more information before I requested a conference.

I am over the moon with this school, too. I love it. The kids love it. We've been having the best year. And now this is just ruining that awesome track record.

Thanks for the advice.

Lisa

Hi, Lisa. I just wanted to mention that our K program does extra pull-out work with kids who do not have IEPs. They just have helpers work on any weak areas for extra practice. I don't think they necessarily tell the parents about it since it can just be for a week or two until the child catches up on that particular skill. Maybe that is what is happening with your DD.

However, since it is speech therapy, I would also assume that it is more involved. In our state any IEP therapy requires parental involvement and written permission to even test. Are you kids in private or public school?

Marsha

Marsha
mom to Nick, Hannah and Paige born July 15, 2004

Marsha~

Maybe that's it. Since it's K, they just pull out certain kids from time to time to work on weak areas until some progress is made. Maybe a formal note isn't warranted?

And I really don't know what she's doing with the teacher; full blown speech therapy or little lessons to work on the "R" sounds.

They attend a private school so maybe that's the diff? I don't know?

Thanks for the info.

Lisa

>Marsha~
>
>Maybe that's it. Since it's K, they just pull out certain
>kids from time to time to work on weak areas until some
>progress is made. Maybe a formal note isn't warranted?
>
>And I really don't know what she's doing with the teacher;
>full blown speech therapy or little lessons to work on the "R"
>sounds.
>

I still think a note is warranted. Do you get a weekly class note telling you what they did (you know, "this week's theme was dinosaurs. We worked on the letter D by...")? My kids' teacher always scribbles random things like what you are talking about on the note. It's obviously done in a hurry, and I definitely don't get personal notes on every note for every kid every time. But anything out of the ordinary is noted, and her email address is always printed on the bottom of the note so it is easy to contact her if I have any questions.

I am also in the classroom one day a week, and make a point to stand by the teacher and make small talk during downtime (like when we walk in and are waiting for all the kids to get a drink & go to the bathroom). I commonly ask "are all my kids doing OK, or is there anything you need me to work on with them at home?" That gives her the opportunity to tell me about anything from behavior to academic to fine motor things she wants to bring up. Do you have any opportunities like that when you could informally speak with her on a regular basis?

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

Megan~

Yes, we get a weekly note updating us on all of the highlights of the week. I've been totally pleased with the classroom teacher communication. Everything has gone smoothly since day one.

And like you, I'm in the classroom once a week and have a great rapport with the teachers and nothing has been brought up about the speech classes.

And honestly. I'm happy the school is on top of these things. I really do feel catered to and grateful that they're addressing issues they feel are important; I just want to know the game plan, KWIM?

Lisa

>Hi, Lisa. I just wanted to mention that our K program does
>extra pull-out work with kids who do not have IEPs. They just
>have helpers work on any weak areas for extra practice. I
>don't think they necessarily tell the parents about it since
>it can just be for a week or two until the child catches up on
>that particular skill. Maybe that is what is happening with
>your DD.
>

Ditto at our school with the non-professionals. I volunteer in the classroom weekly, and they often have me off to the side with one kid trying to help her learn to cut or lace or whatever. But not out of the classroom or oversight of the teacher obviously.

But for regular, ongoing professional therapy sessions, you should have been informed.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

The r sound is a 7 year old skill. She wouldn't qualify for an IEP just for that in kindy. It sounds like they are being proactive.

Kelly
Ben, Jack & Drew 05/28/02
Charlie 07/06/06
Aunt to: Liam, Aidan & Connor 03/05/08
www.outnumberedmommy.blogspot.com

>I agree - I believe you have to sign a consent form for your
>child to even be evaluated.

You may have already signed one unintentionally. I had to sign a standard form at registration (eight months before school started) giving the school permission to test for anything the teacher deemed necessary. It said something like "I give permission for my child to be evaluated for services that may include speech, reading, etc. as deemed necessary by school personnel". Obviously they didn't use all those permission slips and evaluate every kid for everything - it was just a blanket form. I think checking vision, hearing, checks by the dental bus, etc. was all on that same form.

BGG born 4/25/05 at 31w1d




New baby girl born 9/19/06

If your child does not have an IEP, it is probably just an on-the-side thing. I totally agree that it is difficult to not know everything that is going on and I would definitely talk to the teacher about things you can do at home if your child is behind. But, to me, it actually sounds like the school is doing a good thing. If your son or daughter isn't delayed enough to need an IEP for reading, or speech, but is still receiving services because a therapist is available...great! Our school operates so differently than when I was in school. Someone is always being pulled out of the classroom for something. Some kids are too smart and need extra challenges, some kids need therapy, some kids just need a bit of extra help, and then with the small groups and guided reading groups, it is like a revolving door in the classroom. But, it really is great that they really try to accomodate all of the kids at whatever level they are at.

So, my point is to talk to the teacher and find out where they are at, but I wouldn't be mad about not getting notified that they are getting pulled out. Seriously, if your school operates anything like our school, the teachers would be sending notes home every day for each kid. Talk to the teacher, get a good idea of how your child is doing, make sure that they wouldn't need or qualify for a formal IEP, find out what you can do at home and then let them work it out their way at school, with updates every so often, of course.

Good luck!!

Kelly
Ben, Jack & Drew 05/28/02
Charlie 07/06/06
Aunt to: Liam, Aidan & Connor 03/05/08
www.outnumberedmommy.blogspot.com

In our district it is called RTI, response to interaction. And that part of it I know about because I work in the district! They do not have to tell the parents, it is not a law they HAVE to tell parents. They can, but they don't have to. Basically what it is is they try to get to the kids that have a problem early so it does not become an IEP issue later. My son was getting pulled out for reading and I only found out because HE told me. So then I asked and was told they pull out if someone needs extra help. He is now reading at grade level, so it did work for him.

And yes I agree, a note should be sent home, but one wasn't with me either. But ask at conference. I'll bet that's it.

Ann

BBG born 7/7/03
33 weeks 3 days

Our school counselor has a packet for parents of children receiving services that outlines when the specialist HAVE to make contact (IEP meeting, report cards, conferences). You might want to ask if there is such a thing in your school and make it known that you expect the teacher/counselor/teacher to follow those guidelines for communication. There are so many parents out there who could not care less, maybe she slacked off.

On top of that my son in speech brings home a weekly folder with a note and something to work on from his teacher.
Jack, 8 1/2
Abraham, Dylan and Zane 6 1/2
and now . . . . Tobias, new last June!