Pre-K and my daughter with Integrated Sensory Disorder

by Christina Turner
(Temple, Texas, USA)

My child, Payton came home today with a report card. I have two older children that I didn't not send to Pre-K, but I thought this would be good for Payton due to her sensory issues. This Pre-K is only half a day, and I thought it would get her started into the routine of school for next year.




That was my first goal, and she has surprised me. Her teacher advises that she listens in class, uses her manners, and participates in class. And to be honest, Payton loves school. That in and of it self was our only goal for this year...just to acquaint ourselves in the world of school.

Now I get this report card that is showing me all these things that Payton is not doing, and now I am concerned. She doesn't recognize sounds, or rhymes, cannot identify the letter that a word starts with (although she knows the letter). She cannot create a simple pattern, complete a pattern of 3, or form a complex pattern. Her motor skills are behind; which this I entirely expected.

I had Payton in physical therapy and for the time we spent there, she has made leaps and bounds as far as social skills. I have also had her tested in speech. At the time she was a little behind, but they felt it could go either way as to whether she needed speech therapy.

Now, I'm sitting here wondering....should I put her back into therapy, or am I panicking over some silly Pre-K test results. I don't know if I should relax and see what happens, or if I should push her into therapies to make sure that she doesn't get/stay behind. But then again this is just Pre-K, right?

I don't know, and I just thought I would ask for some advice for this concerned mom that just wants what is best for her daughter.



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Jan 20, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		school vs. home
by: Nancy Peske

With sensory processing disorder (sensory integration dysfunction), there can be a world of difference between how a child performs in a classroom with kids bustling about and how she performs at home in a quiet, one-on-one situation. Why not try "testing" her on these tasks at home and see how she does? Then, ask to attend preK and simply observe. How different is her behavior? She may be using every ounce of energy to be polite and obedient and manage her sensory issues, and unavailable for learning or expressing what she knows.
--Nancy
www.sensorysmartnews.com
Jan 13, 2010
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starstarstarstarstar 		report cards
by: mo2g

It never hurts to have your child re-evaluated. Things change. That being said, it's important to understand the purpose of a report card in preschool, kindergarten and 1st and 2nd grade. I don't know what your state's standards are, but most preschoolers cannot "recognize sounds, or rhymes, cannot identify the letter that a word starts with (although she knows the letter). She cannot create a simple pattern, complete a pattern of 3, or form a complex pattern." Some can, some can't. At this age it's not that big of a deal. These are all pre-reading skills. Some kids read at 3. Some don't read until 8. It's ok so long as they get there. Contrary to popular belief, a child does not need to know all her letters and the sounds they make before going to kindergarten. That's what kindergarten is for--to teach that.

You put your child in preschool to acquaint her w/ the routines and rules of school. According to her teacher, she is doing very well in those areas. Good manners? Any kindergarten teacher worth her degree will tell you that manners and behavior (listening, following directions) are much more important than knowing letters and sounds. Be glad. Your kid is doing great.

A preschool report card may show skills that have not been covered yet. The purpose is to cover all the skills that kids this age might have. (Sort of a "What to expect" age 4-6.) Some pre-k kids might be reading, others might know all the colors or shapes, most but not all might be potty trained. The overall picture needs to be the focus. If the teacher isn't concerned, I wouldn't be either.

What I would do is schedule a conference w/ the teacher, voice your concerns and listen to the teacher's response. My 7yo has sensory issues. Her 1st grade teacher says, "Really?" There are some things on her report card that DD hasn't mastered. Unfortunately, this year they've changed the grading scale so that a "D" means "developing skill." There's nothing wrong w/ that, but my DD sees "D" and thinks she's done something wrong. lol I'm sure there have been many parents complaining.

I've gone on too long, but the point is to look at the overall picture and remember that not every "skill" must be mastered at this age. I know sometimes w/ all these therapists and docs and so on that we parents sometimes get caught up in what our kids "can't" do. It's even more important to celebrate what our kids "can" do.

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