My SPD son will start Kindergarden next year

by Charlene White-Lowery
(Ohio)

When my son enters Kindergarten in the fall how do I help the teachers help him to learn and be more focused?



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Mar 17, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		SPD Son with School
by: Anonymous

My son was referred to our County program by our pediatrician. Fortunately the program provides services for infants to age 3 in which they are assessed and worked with at home with an OT and Speech therapist. He just turned 3 and graduated into the school system and continued to qualify for services. He goes to a PEP program which is a Pre-school Education Program.

My son was assessed with a board of specialists from the program and they build and IEP or individual education program. It will provide focus on areas of concern such as speech delay, social integration, etc. He was then placed into this program 4 days a week for 2.5 hours each day. He goes on the school bus that has an aid and a driver that is the same for each ride and built in car seats. The capacity is only 10 kids. We put him on and pick him up and he loves it.

In class he has a daily schedule of activities but the content changes. He seems now to be putting 3-4 word sentences together is is utilizing 2 syllable words the best he can. Instead of a lot of physical gestures and "showing" us, he is staring to tell us what he wants and things that happen. We have been so pleased with this program and he will continue in it until kindergarten. I believe there are some special school programs that help SPD kids adapt and learn. I'm not sure where they are available.

Mar 17, 2009
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starstarstarstarstar 		where to start
by: Anonymous

After going through this myself, here are a few tips:

Help your son by using a transition chart now. When you meet with the teacher at the beginning of the year figure out their daily schedule and either create/ask the teacher to create a chart that he can use in school. Figure out what sensory activity that helps center your son and suggest to the teacher how she can help him get focused. My son loves to work w/ his hands, so he has a little basket of small objects he uses to manipulate. If you can get the schedule ahead of time, you can help him by imitating that schedule in the summer somehow (even on Saturdays) so that he won't get lost in the sauce. Most of all communicate with the school about his needs.

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