Looking for opinions on school related topic

Erin came home from preschool this week with a poster that she is to color in and I'm to complete with her. It is entitled "All About Me" and includes things like favorite color..food..toy, her friends names, what she wants to be when she grows up. In addition, each day next week, she is to be the "Star of the Week". So on Monday, she is to bring in her favorite toy and show it to the class during circle time; on Tuesday, she is to present her poster; on Weds, she is to bring in her favorite book and read it to the class (or have the teacher read it); on Thursday, I'm to go in and do something special with her and the class, like cook something special with her, do a song & dance or do a special craft.

NOW, Erin goes to a therapeutic preschool because she CAN'T DO ANY OF THOSE THINGS!!! She has a developmental delay, and functions pretty much as a 1 year old. Now the "Star of the Week" activity is totally appropriate for a typical 3 year old class, but not for one in which all the kids have special needs.

I'm so torn...is my DD that far behind all the other kids (is she really the only one in the class who can't do any of those things)? Or is the teacher just trying to run the class like a typical class? I don't want to do it. I don't want to underscore to the other kids in the class and maybe even to myself how deficient my DD is.

She is to be the first one "featured" so if they just begin their little project a week later, and skip Erin, nobody will even know.

I'm going in to the school tomorrow to talk to the teacher to find out if she is really the only one not capable of any of this; because if she is, then she is in the wrong place.

What would you do?

Re: Looking for opinions on school related topic

You are so correct. Either the teacher has selected activites that are too challenging for the level of the class or your DD is one of the lowest functioning in the class. The teachers in the public elementary school I work in do this activity with Kindergarten and 1 st grade students. It's a great activity because they could do it mostly independantly. Whats the point of starting that activity with special needs 3 year olds? I would definintely bring up your concerns with her teacher and request that the teacher send how developmentally appropriate activites for you to do with your child at home. If the classroom staff wants t get to know the kids better (their likes/dislikes etc...) they should be sending home a parent questionaire. Also if your DD is one of the olwest functioning in the class, they should be offering her modified work.

Re: Looking for opinions on school related topic

DS is in a self contained class. He is 3. Because it is the beginning of the school year, the theme of the month is all about me. A worksheet was sent home asking me to fill in his favorite foods, colors, things. Yesterday was the special event day. They started off with circle time where they (the teacher) read a book outloud and then we all did a craft. We decorated paper dolls. We glued clothes on. We glued googly eyes on. Feathers. Some kids were running around. Some kids needed an someone to put the glue on the paper. Every kid in some way required assistance but in the end every child had a hand in creating something special. This whole event lasted 20 minutes.

Re: Looking for opinions on school related topic

My son is 4 and in the same self-contained 6:1:3 class he was in last year. He has made great progress, but he is still far behind. They did Star of the Month since he only had 6 kids in his class. I had to make a board with pictures and facts and they hung it on the window outside of the class. All of the classes did this. I was invited in to do a craft and even though he needs hand over hand help, it was still enjoyable for both of us. When they have him bring something in for show and tell, I pick what he likes best because he cannot tell me, show him, and then his teacher helps him take it out of his bag and shows it to the class. He might not understand when I say go get me your favortire toy, but I hope that will come in time. I get good feedback from his teachers that he is happy there, so that is a great relief.

I want him to have the opportunities to do things like star of the month even if he is not capable of doing it fully on his own. That's why he has 1:1 help. It was also a great way for me to see him with the other kids in the class too. You will be able to tell if your DD is out of place in that enviromment. Good Luck

Re: Looking for opinions on school related topic

I think these sound like things that any child can participate in. The extent of how much is obviously variable. They probably aren't expecting too much other than for her to hold her poster up and show the class, bring in her favorite book, show her favorite toy and not really tell about it, etc.

I wouldn't make an issue of it to be honest

Re: Looking for opinions on school related topic

Message edited 9/28/2012 2:31:46 PM.

Re: Looking for opinions on school related topic

We did the All about Me Poster in school last week. I filled out what I knew my DS liked- I thought it was a good way to let the teacher know his interest. At his school most of the kids are at a similar level so the parents filled it all out. The teacher read through each person's poster each day and my DS got to wear a pin that he was the star of the day. They didn't do the other activities in his class that you mentioned.

My DS is in a self contained class and we are really happy there. There is a good mix of students that are talking and walking. I like that my DS is a role model for walking, but has other role models for eating and speech which are his lower level issues.

We are thrilled with his school this year and love the teachers and therapists. I know that you looked at UCP- if you are considering a change I would highly recommend them.

Re: Looking for opinions on school related topic

We had to do this too when cole was 3 and I also thought at the time it was pretty insensitive because he was non-verbal and couldnt answer any of those questions. However - I ended up filling it out with things I could tell were his favorites. Color blue because his gave blanket was blue, said he wanted to be an ice cream truck driver because he loved getting ice cream, etc. in the end I'm glad I did it because it brings back memories of what his likes and dislikes were then.