Thinking of pulling ds out of school.. need advice.

[lil_stinkyfeet]

Please tell me it will be ok? Right now I want to cry about it, but I feel like it is necessary.

Ds has a ASD diagnosis but I am also thinking he might be ADD.. I'm not sure. Either way Kindergarten is not going well for him at all. He can't stay in his chair, can't keep his hands to himself, can't follow directions. He is in trouble all day everyday pretty much. He has an IEP and gets time in the resource room as well as ST/PT/OT and has extra help with math so I feel we have really covered our basis as far as that goes.

They just started a new behavioral chart for him and he did ok at the begining of the day but then got into trouble for throwing a rock at recess and for taking food off of someone's plate. So I don't want to admit to myself that he isn't ready but he isn't ready

Everyone thinks he just needs more time but I know my son and time is not going to change his behavior as far as this year goes. He wants to do well, he wants to listen but he just isn't able to.

Me on the other hand I am very afriad of pulling him out, We clash pretty bad at home and I have 2 other kids at home and just found out I am pregnant so I am exahusted. I don't feel like I have the time to devote to him but honestly the public school is so overpacked with kids that they don't have the time either. They are just trying to manage him the best they can to make it through the day and he isn't actually learning anything.

Anyways.. I guess I just need some reassurance.. I feel like I am going to fail misearably at homeschooling, and I thought maybe you ladies would have some advice.

[phathui5]

Could you talk to the school about setting it up so that he goes to school part of the day to receive services and then comes home for the academics?

My five year old gets speech at the local public school but doesn't attend there for kindergarten.

I don't think that you will fail miserably at homeschooling, especially with him only being five. Honestly, there's just not a lot that you need to cover academically at this age.

[Sneezykids]

<He wants to do well, he wants to listen but he just isn't able to>

First, from the May Due Date board! My son (9) has an ADHD dx and has quite a lot of autistic "traits" though so far, we don't have an ASD dx (and I don't know that we'll continue to try for one). He did his first full year in ps last year, 3rd, and it didn't go as well as we'd hoped. I agree with what you said about your son, my son wanted very much to DO well...but he just isn't wired to fit into the mold that schools want kids (mostly him sitting down and when he does to be 'present' not checked out the way he was most of the time) And that's okay, he is who he IS.

I decided to try to HS him again this year. My oldest is in school and I'm also expecting, so I'm tired and not feeling my best. I've already second guessed myself a thousand times about keeping him home, so I can certainly empathize with your sitation. That is, it's not easy, but the way I look at it, having him home is easier than having him in school (he also has severe food allergies, which make going to school a PITA)

It sounds like he is getting alot of services. K is not a big deal, don't worry that at this age he isn't sitting in his seat paying attention. I'd maybe check the IEP and write into it the need to move around the classroom...another wonderful idea that my friend got her school to do with her ASD son was to use an excersize ball in lieu of a chair at the desk.

Best of luck in your decision.

[lil_stinkyfeet]

Thanks for the replies

I think we made a plan.. his last day of PS will be Friday and I think I am going to unoficially homeschool him for K, and try K again next year. As long as I don't have him enrolled in K he can go back to his old school and get his pt/ot/st 2 days per week for 2hrs. I am waiting for a call back from his teacher but I think this will be the best option for him... Now I just need to find a cirriculum of some sort!

[4evermom]

Originally Posted by lil_stinkyfeet

Thanks for the replies

I think we made a plan.. his last day of PS will be Friday and I think I am going to unoficially homeschool him for K, and try K again next year. As long as I don't have him enrolled in K he can go back to his old school and get his pt/ot/st 2 days per week for 2hrs. I am waiting for a call back from his teacher but I think this will be the best option for him... Now I just need to find a cirriculum of some sort!

That sounds good. Nice he can keep going to therapy. I wouldn't bother with a curriculum, personally (and not just because we unschool). I think focusing on therapy and letting ds mature another year is going to be enough combined with whatever he learns in regular life, especially social skills. Not having a formal curriculum and just doing child led stuff, or gently guided activities, might keep him more open to learning so he's more ready for kindergarten next year.

Maybe your ds isn't as sensitive to adult agendas as mine but my guy gets resistant to unasked for instruction easily. It was pretty shocking to me how quickly he shut down during his brief pre-k experience so I like to suggest people tread lightly with curriculums and younger kids. Also, most of what that age learns is readily available as activity suggestions online so I hate the idea of people spending money on them.

[Sneezykids]

One reason I think my ds has trouble with the structure and demands of school is his age, he just turned 9 and would be in 4th this fall...we didn't give him an extra year (like his sp/ed preschool teacher suggested...I was okay with it, but dh was not...so I homeschooled!) of pre K so he could mature. And, I think that is esp. important with boys, and more so for ones on the spectrum.

I agree with 4evermom about the curriculum. Play games with him, read, explore...starfall.com is wonderful for that age.