Last Friday, the Little Guy and I (and his TSS) went down to our neighborhood elementary school to register him for kindergarten for this fall.
Some background–he actually turned five in March 2007, but we decided to delay kindergarten in favor of another year of Preschool Early Intervention. He had attended an autism support preschool program for two years and made incredible progress, but still needed to develop his fine motor skills, social communication and self-regulation before the school district felt comfortable with a regular ed placement. So this year he is in a typical preschool environment with an inclusion consultant who visits twice a month and goes to a weekly playgroup where he receives Speech and Occupational Therapy. His teacher last year was against this decision because he was cognitively ready for the kindergarten curriculum, and she felt we were holding him back (although all the professionals in his life outside the EI system agreed he should wait a year to start school). One comment I made to the teacher was that neither she nor I had taught him to read, but he was reading, so there really was nothing stopping him from learning what he was motivated to learn.
This year I have a real peace about starting kindergarten and have had good feedback from the school staff we met at a program they had for incoming students earlier this month. Even so, I was very surprised when the school psychologist and speech therapist took me aside during registration and asked what I would think about starting him directly into first grade!! They would like to give him the language and math screenings that they give new students who are 1st grade age and recommend the placement if he does well on them (which he most likely would). I asked about the social/emotional aspects, and they felt that the structure and challenge of first grade would probably help him and that he might have behavior issues in kindergarten due to being bored. I also mentioned the fine motor skills, which are coming along but slowly, and was told it would be okay because he would be receiving support for that (probably meaning 45 min/wk of OT).
As you can imagine, my thoughts have been all over the place as I try to process this idea and figure out what to do or say next. I don’t want to dismiss it out of hand, but I don’t even know the right questions to ask to make sure that his needs are met in every area whichever way we go with it. All brainstorming (and all prayers) are welcome!
I'm a mom with Asperger's raising an amazing son with autism, which means I'm basically the case manager/advocate/cheerleader/chauffeur. The rest of the time, you can usually find me with my nose in a book!
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hey, Trish–
You know either way you go, you are not stuck with that decision–changes can always be made. I’ve helped in our kids’ first grade and kindergarten classroom, and I would definitely say that first grade classrooms are more orderly, quiet, and “school-like”. It may be easier for the Little Guy in that setting especially if what he’s learning will be interesting, and he’s very academically-oriented.
On the other hand, kindergarten accepts farther deviations from any standard. Kids come in from every area–barely knowing color names vs. kids reading “Magic Tree House.”
I think kindergarteners and first graders are both pretty open socially. I’m betting third grade is where social differences would come into play more.
Praying for you guys as you make this decision.
–Rachel B.
Our neighbors ran into this type of situation. The boy was not autistic… he did have some psychiatric issues and they had held him back a bit (I think he has a July birthday). So as soon as I started reading your post, I knew where it was headed.
But wow, what a curve-ball for you! I don’t think I’m qualified to give any advice in the matter. I guess it might solve your day-care dilemma, but I’m sure that’s no reason to go with it!
I can really identify with this post. You’re a little bit ahead of me in the process. My 4.5 year old daughter is in a private preschool this year, but instead of going to public kindergarten next year she’s going to be headed towards a special program, which one remains to be seen but some kind of high functioning special ed program. With an October birthday she too is encouraged to stay in kg for 2 years, after which we’re really hoping that she’ll be ready to be mainstreamed back into the regular system.
M is not autistic, her issues are more psychological and sensory, but she does share many of the spectrum traits and so is facing many of the same issues your son is. I know how difficult these decisions can be, especially when it’s the teacher speaking against your own views and the views of all the other experts.
I wish your son much success, in school and otherwise, and will be here to cheer him on as he goes.
PS Very spiffy blogroll.
Thank you so much for your comments, I’m sure I will be talking more about this and really appreciate getting some different perspectives on things.
I’m walking down that road with you. Michael starts kindy this year. Even though he has a late birthday, his developmental ped wants him going ahead with kindy. He needs the academic challenge, and the environment where he can get services.
The question for us is if he will be going to an older level math class. He’s been doing addition for a while, and is starting on multiplication. He may be bored in kindy math.
But at the same time, he would probably get eaten alive by the older kids due to his social defecits.
Still in the IEP process here, so we’ll see what happens. But glad to know we’re not the only ones walking this road.
Woah. I should have read this post before commenting on your other. If you want (this is what we did for said other student) you can ask to have him in K but merge into higher grades for reading and math time. That way he gets some higher academics, but spends most of the day with kids that are more at his emotional level.