M-Minded Intervention Expert Needed x-post

[PaxMamma]

x-posted in special needs...

my son is on the spectrum and needs help. he attends the local M. and his directress is fabulous. i am the special ed teacher there. we're both working really hard to help him but feel we are missing something and need more help w/him. (for my part, i am too emotionally involved to be objective.) the local school district and special needs agencies just want us to implement behaviorist techniques, which i both personally and professionally seriously object to.

do any of you know or have experience working w/someone who is an expert in the autism field and yet is also an M-minded/AP soul? i will pay for consult services.

[mamalemon]

Our Montessori School has a program called Moondance, or MAPS (Montessori Autism Program/Services). Their website is currently down, but I can not speak highly enough of the director of the program. Robin is incredibly kind and I am sure that she wouldn't mind you contacting her if you would like to.

Here is an interview with our school's director where she talks about MAPS: http://www.truveo.com/Montessori-Mom...r/id/603509341

Their phone number is: [phone]

Best of luck!

[PaxMamma]

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! you have no idea....

[mamalemon]

Originally Posted by PaxMamma

THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! you have no idea....

You are very welcome! I hope it helps.

[Lillianna]

The Montessori Intervention Programs, Inc. (MIP) has a consultation service:

http://montessoriintervention.org/about.asp

[Rose-Roget]

What kind of questions did you have specifically?

I am more AP and am learning about M, and I work with autistic children regularly. The website sources sound impressive!

[MattBronsil]

You may also want to contact the Lane Montessori School for Autism:
http://www.tmsfa.com/home.htm

I have done a lot of reading and some working with children with Autism and I may be able to give ideas. Is there something specific you are having trouble with?

[nkm1968]

And check out the Sheldon School in Texas, a Montessori school with a good track record of serving children on the spectrum, plus children with attentional issues and learning differences. Pretty good powerpoint slides too if you give any inservices to other M schools...and if you do, PM me we are always looking for teachers with montessori and special education experience for our faculty!!

[nkm1968]

ooops I mean Shelton school!

www.shelton.org

[PaxMamma]

thank you all for your support and information. i'm sorry for not replying sooner, we had relatives come and then i got the flu

specifically, my son is the ultimate observer. he absorbs everything in the environment. he knows everything that all 20 children are doing, what they're wearing, who the teacher is talking to, who's breaking the rules, etc. this can be a strength in that he does a lot of his learning through observation, which is completely acceptable w/in the M. environment. however, there comes a point where he actually needs to do his own work. he begins kindergarden this year and the expectations for independence are much higher. the directress says that he has not sufficiently developed his work cycle. it takes him twice as long to complete work as his peers. i believe he is receiving the "just right" difficulty of work.

his stereotypic behavior manifests itself in pacing. he paces in circles. we are unsure as to how long to let him do it (as a sensory need) and when to interrupt and bring him back in to the environment.

also, he has social skills deficits, so engaging w/other peers has been difficult. we intro'd a language card which has helped, but he has yet to generalize it to more than one peer. he also doesn't ask for help appropriately, if at all. he will sit and wait and wait for the directress to notice he needs her or he will blurt out loudly "HELP!".

my family is purchasing a mini-trampoline for the classroom this year so that he can have vestibular/proprioceptive input to "wake up" his system before engaging in the environment.

b/c he is gifted and can perform well beyond his age range, it's difficult to know what he truly is capable of, but he has not made the progress dh & i had hoped. the majority of what he knows (academically), he learned prior to his M. experience here at home. however, we feel strongly that M. is the perfect fit for him as we have seen tremendous growth in other non-academic ways.

sorry so long, thanks for your input.

[MattBronsil]

I sooooo want to reply to this, but it's 3 AM here. I'm certain my reply will not be well thought out right now. I promise to revisit this in the next few days. (Tomorrow is really busy for me)

[Lillianna]

I know of a Montessorian and a therapist who have had success integrating the Bal-Vis-X activities in the Children's House. The child takes a break from work to perform one of the exercises and then returns to work with better focus and attention:

http://www.amazon.com/Bal-Vis-X-eXer.../dp/097080850X

There is a often an "explosion" in ability after the period of observation especially after the 2nd year in Casa. The longer the observation period is, the stronger the acquisition. Is your son on a three year cycle?
Also, the fact that your son paces demonstrates a need for activities that promote "synthetic movement" (activities that integrate mind and body). The practical life and art activities will be helpful to him. Lots of grace and courtesy can help him with social skills and appropriate ways to seek help (are you familiar with this?)

[PaxMamma]

i am not familiar w/ the bal-vix-x but will look into it. my son has completed one year of pre-primary and will move into K this year (in an age 3-6 class, so still same room, same directress). the school is based on the 3 yr cycle, but we didn't understand this about M. until we enrolled last year.

[Lillianna]

Originally Posted by PaxMamma

the school is based on the 3 yr cycle, but we didn't understand this about M. until we enrolled last year.

The reason I ask is because the first year is made up of largely practical life, art, sensorial and movement activities that help to strengthen concentration, independence and coordination. The Directress usually encourages higher level practical life activities with children who started around 4 years old. Depending on his age, you might even consider having him stay for the full 3 years.

You can do alot at home to strengthen the mind/body connection. Carrying water is an activity that demands attention. Try to work this challenge into your daily life, for example, have dc pour a glass of water in the kitchen and carry it into the dining room while setting the table. While reading books, encourage your dc to turn the pages from the upper right to the left (this causes him to cross-over the mid-line). Another activity for cross-over is: touching your hand to alternate raised knee and repeating x10. Do Grace and Courtesy like activities where you role-play appropriate social skills and give dc a chance to practice skills like asking for a turn, inviting someone to play and telling someone that you would like to be alone.

[PaxMamma]

lillianna,
thanks for all the tips. he actually is in OT Sensory Integration Therapy where he's getting a lot of the mid-line work, etc. he's showing great improvement. i am unfamiliar w/Grace & Courtesy, so will dig deeper into this. is something all M. students receive?

he's already well into 1st grade standards, so i don't think having him repeat a year in pre-primary will benefit him. his directress makes sure that, even in kindergarden, he receives practical life, art, and sensorial activities daily. that's what i love about M. it addresses the whole child.

i think we will really target his Sensory Diet this year in order to try to sustain a longer work cycle.

[wrzos]

All M students should be receiving grace & courtesy lessons. Things like being polite, role playing how to act, etc. I know before our formal holiday open house, the children spend a lot of time practicing how to offer food items to their parents, fill a punch glass and carry it to their seat and other random items.

Things like walking softly, not shouting in the classroom, etc. fall under this heading too I believe. Respect for self and others is another way to think of it.

I'll never forget hearing my SON (the same son who used to eat his boogers just to make me freak out over it) talking to a friend about closing your mouth when chewing. Cracked me up!: