Comments on: Role of the classroom aide: To help the child toward independence http://readerswithautism.com/2009/09/role-of-the-classroom-aide-to-help-the-child-toward-independence/ Help for struggling readers on the autism spectrum Tue, 29 Jun 2010 01:07:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc By: Richard Finegan http://readerswithautism.com/2009/09/role-of-the-classroom-aide-to-help-the-child-toward-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-162 Richard Finegan Fri, 12 Feb 2010 15:06:47 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=463#comment-162 Amy: When I find myself hovering close to the child I'm assigned to help, I'll literally cross the room and look for another child I can assist. We do not want our kids to think we are there to lead them by the hand through every assignment or to eliminate all obstacles for them. That does nothing to promote the independence we want for them. There is definitely a place for special day classes. Sara's is a special day class. But not all special day class teachers are as demanding as they should be. Special day class should not be "dumbed down" versions of general ed. Alternatively, general ed classes are not ideal for every student if the necessary supports (special ed resource teacher, classroom aides) are not being provided there. Making sure your child gets what they need is a constant concern, and from year to year you may have to fight the same fights all over again. Hang in there. You may also want to visit our sister website: www.thedemandingclassroom.com. Richard Amy:

When I find myself hovering close to the child I’m assigned to help, I’ll literally cross the room and look for another child I can assist. We do not want our kids to think we are there to lead them by the hand through every assignment or to eliminate all obstacles for them. That does nothing to promote the independence we want for them.

There is definitely a place for special day classes. Sara’s is a special day class. But not all special day class teachers are as demanding as they should be. Special day class should not be “dumbed down” versions of general ed. Alternatively, general ed classes are not ideal for every student if the necessary supports (special ed resource teacher, classroom aides) are not being provided there.

Making sure your child gets what they need is a constant concern, and from year to year you may have to fight the same fights all over again. Hang in there.

You may also want to visit our sister website: http://www.thedemandingclassroom.com.

Richard

]]> By: Amy Leader http://readerswithautism.com/2009/09/role-of-the-classroom-aide-to-help-the-child-toward-independence/comment-page-1/#comment-161 Amy Leader Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:14:52 +0000 http://readerswithautism.com/?p=463#comment-161 Thank you for this information and insight. I am currently dealing with a struggle to get the right help for my child's teacher at a Waldorf Methods Charter school in Sonoma CA. My child was born with spin bifida which has so many complications attached to it. One complication which in itself has complications is hydracephalus. He has a VP shunt and of late has had several revisions and one of those was due to an infection. I am sure anaphoric cuing is a large reason as to why he struggles with both written and verbal material. He does his best work when there is visual demonstration such as science labs, painting, etc. I have been volunteering in the class for pre algebra this year to be an anchor for my child. I found that helping any child that needs help is the best practice in being an aide to my child and helpful to the teacher. Due to the infection my son was out of school for over a month and upon re-entry the classroom teacher asked at the IEP meeting that a "special day class" be considered. I was outraged. I had to literally bite my lip to keep from yelling. Fortunate for me the special ed. teacher from UCSF who worked with us during the month he was there set the teacher straight. She clearly spoke that socially my child is best served in a regular ed classroom, and while he needs extra support to stay on task and grasp instruction etc. he is very able to learn and give "output". Thank goodness for this angel who agreed that a classroom aide for at least the morning lesson would be best. It is sad that a teacher with only 15 students in his class feels that he cannot give my child what he needs. I feel if that is the case then it is true that none of the children can be taught by this teacher. I think that your practice of leading a child to being independent is so very important. Special ed or regular ed this is the goal of a solid education is for any child. Thank you for this information and insight. I am currently dealing with a struggle to get the right help for my child’s teacher at a Waldorf Methods Charter school in Sonoma CA. My child was born with spin bifida which has so many complications attached to it. One complication which in itself has complications is hydracephalus. He has a VP shunt and of late has had several revisions and one of those was due to an infection. I am sure anaphoric cuing is a large reason as to why he struggles with both written and verbal material. He does his best work when there is visual demonstration such as science labs, painting, etc.
I have been volunteering in the class for pre algebra this year to be an anchor for my child. I found that helping any child that needs help is the best practice in being an aide to my child and helpful to the teacher.
Due to the infection my son was out of school for over a month and upon re-entry the classroom teacher asked at the IEP meeting that a “special day class” be considered. I was outraged. I had to literally bite my lip to keep from yelling.
Fortunate for me the special ed. teacher from UCSF who worked with us during the month he was there set the teacher straight. She clearly spoke that socially my child is best served in a regular ed classroom, and while he needs extra support to stay on task and grasp instruction etc. he is very able to learn and give “output”. Thank goodness for this angel who agreed that a classroom aide for at least the morning lesson would be best.
It is sad that a teacher with only 15 students in his class feels that he cannot give my child what he needs. I feel if that is the case then it is true that none of the children can be taught by this teacher.
I think that your practice of leading a child to being independent is so very important. Special ed or regular ed this is the goal of a solid education is for any child.

]]>