Hi,
My daughter, age 9, is in a self-conained class for reading/language arts/math, then mainstreamed for social studies and science. Her primary disability is central auditory processing, but she has many others as well. She is so so sweet, her emotional intelligence is high, she tries so hard…and can tell anyone who asks how hard it is to have LD.
Even though we are lucky to have fought (so hard) for this class, it feels like “affirmative action” must have felt back in the 70s. She always feels left out, social life/recess is so hard, gym is a nightmare, she is delayed PLUS the auditory issues, andthe teacher is of the old school that it’s “special treatment” to modify, etc.
We are seriously considering a private LD school, where she wouldnt always be struggling so hard, where she would be “mainstream”. I ‘ve heard such positive feedback from parents who send their kids to a good school like this for a few years to bring them forward, then return to mainstream later on, once self-esteem is restored.
I”m tired of the politics, and the constant fighting with the school for the most basic understanding. At the same time, am worried about leaving the neighborhood, having her start over somewhere 30 minutes away.
Does anyone have an opinion on this? Would appreciate a post and/or private email at [email protected].
Thanks,
nan
Re: public vs. LD school
I think it is a good idea if your daughter is feeling stressed about the public school. My son attended a special school for language delayed kids for pre-school and kindergarten. The school did not accept children with behavioral disorders. It was very small. It was the first time he really CONNECTED with friends. He was so happy. The parents were very involved. We moved to private Catholic School in 1st grade, but our experience in the specialized school was good. We may send our son back to a specialized school for 6th-8th grade if the academics get too hard for him at the private school.
The benefits will likely be:
1. The teachers will be especially nurturing
2. Learning materials and curriculum designed for your child’s needs
3. Smaller class with more indiv. attention (This is good and bad. Little things can get blown out of porportion. Every behavior seen as part of a disorder.)
4. Less hustle and bustle, red tape, and competition than in the big school.
5. Your daughter will be with the same group of kids all day where she can develop a good friend. (One good friend is ALL it takes.)
6. A parent network that is supportive. BIG PLUS!!!
7. Potential for therapies to be incorporated in to school setting. Our son received OT and Speech Therapy AT SCHOOL. It was great!
Things to watch out for…
1. How many kids have severe behavior problems? Kids will imitate their peers. One reason we moved back to regular classroom after two years was that our son needed role models for social skills. We chose a structured but very nuturing Catholic school for many reasons - no teasing, less social competition, kids rewarded for kind behavior, kids not labeled gifted or LD.
2. Do the parents and teachers have an OPTIMISTIC attitude about how the kids can succeed? Do they believe that the kids CAN MAINSTREAM BACK? Or does everybody feel sorry for the kids. Does the school want your child to graduate or stay in “LD land” forever. We saw some of this at our old school. Low expectations are unhealthy for everyone, IMHO.
3. Get ready to volunteer and do fund-raising. It is a small price to pay if your child is happy. But, be aware most small private schools need lots of parent involvement to raise funding each year. Don’t think the high price of tuition will foot the bill.
LAST…
I think it is great for kids to have different groups of friends who don’t know each other (neighborhood friends, school friends, sports team friends, club friends, etc…) If one group of friends is acting stinky, you’ve got others to play with. Your daughter could join a Girl Scouts troop in your neighborhood to stay connected there. Scouting is especially a good activity for LD kids to mainstream with regular ed kids. Help out with the troop if you can.
Good Luck! I know the agony of deciding to change school. I’ve been faced with the decision many times.
Rosie
Re: public vs. LD school
My son goes to school almost 30 minutes from where we live and it does take a child out of the community. But it places them in a different kind of community and that can be wonderful. Your daughter like my son with some help can maintain their friends in the neighborhood and if you check around you might not be the only parent who sends their child to other than neighborhood schools.
I assume you’ve visited the new school and like it. It must look like and feel like a good match for your child. If it does and you can afford it, I wouldn’t hesitate. You can always bring her back if you don’t like it.
30 minutes/1 hour a day isn’t really much time when you compare it to the length of a school day or the hours you put in to worrying about your daughter while she’s there.
Re: public vs. LD school
We placed our 9 y/o dd in a private LD school in November, after a very difficult time in the public school system. She has thrived — both academically and socially. Our school is quite small, she is one of only a handful of girls, and is the youngest in the school. We have kept her active in soccer, and she has maintianed close friendships with several girls from the public school, so hasn’t felt totally isolated in the private school. Her friends in the LD school have totally embraced her — with the older boys even teaching her how to play basketball! Academically, she has done wonderfully — achieving a minimum of 1.3 growth in all areas! We are returning this year, and then are considering a transition year at a different private school that is not LD, but has a strong orton-gillingham program as a component.
Re: public vs. LD school
My daughter goes to an LD school that is about 45 minutes from our house. This will be her 3rd year there, she will be in the 9th grade. We gladly drive the 45 minutes after seeing her blossom into such a wonderfully grounded young lady. She never made As in public school but was one of two this past year to make straight As all year long. It sometimes took us all to get her through her homework, and I sometimes felt like there should be a family award given during the awards assembly at the end of school, but we are so very proud of her. Her school does not accept behavior problems and does not hesitate to ask a child to leave if they become a behavior problem. On the other hand, there are kids there that have some emotional baggage to deal with and it does spill over into all our lives being at such a small school. We have learned to deal with whatever comes up, but you know—we have only been tardy several times (usually due to traffic) since we started there. Good luck to you in whatever you decide to do.
Re: public vs. LD school
I was fortunate enough to have found a wonderful LD school for my son. The private school was the best thing that ever happened for him. Before he felt he was stupid and the public school tended to reinforce his belief. He has an above average IQ but is dyslexic. He now no longer considers himself stupid. He is happy to tell anyone that he is smart and dyslexic and that he just learns different ways to do things. He made outstanding academic growth in just one school year improving his reading level 2.5 years and his math by 3 years. We are going to try public school again, but at the first sign of trouble we will be back in private school. Private school can be expensive but almost all offer finacial aid or scholarships. Good luck to you.
Kathy
Re: public vs. LD school
mia,
would you please e-mail me so that i could get some information from you or maybe some help on where to go to get the information regarding my daughter who will be a junior in high school this fall and the rights of her and what the school needs to do and what they are not required to do.
[email protected]
thanks
Re: public vs. LD school
Yes, I have a strong opinion of this!
If you have the money or can fight for it through due process,
do it! It is ALWAYS the better choice as opposed to fighting
for half&^*&^*& programs in public.
Our two sons, now 14 and 15.5, were in public through 4th grade.
Both were pulled for lack of REAL progress in 5th grade through
7th/8th (respectively) and placed in a nonld school that had many of the ld methods (og, hands on activities, caring teachers). They did well in this school but it still wasn’t the total answer.
Now they’ve been in an all boys school for one year and will graduate from it (GOW). My observations have been this. Firstly, their sense of self has improved by being with other dyslexics. Finally, they see there are other kids like them…they are in a community just like themselves. Some are more severe, some are less but it is something that has done much for them. They are no longer the odd man out…the misfit that
needs fixing…they learn differently and now get those methods.
Secondly, you don’t need to train these teachers (much parental
relief and a lot less stress).
Thirdly, classes are smaller and students are usually taken back
to the beginning to learn everything so those wholes in the towering of learning are filled in so it doesn’t topple.
Fourthly, the learning provided at these schools will truely prepare your child for his educational future.
Best of luck in your decision.
Donna
I am an advocate for children with learning disabilities, I am an adult with learning disabilities, I have two children with Learning disabilities. If I had the option of a school for my children spiciffically for LD that was with in driving distance I would place them there.
Many of the families I work with have done this and have been very happy with the schools and the results. unfortunatly the nearest such school to me is over an hour and a half from my husbands job, and an hour from mine. There are also boarding schools specially designed for children with LD but I would miss them too much. So I did the next best thing, I took a job as an advocate for a large organization and now my district plays much nicer when working with myself and my children.