We arrived home safely yesterday afternoon from our mini-vacation. Thanks to our guests who joined us. I especially appreciate you hanging in so long. My dad looked at our mini-vacation last night and said, "Boy that was long!"
Since you were such troopers, I thought I'd have mercy on you today and hopefully be brief.
A couple of weeks ago I received a letter from the school counselor. It was a form letter indicating "Jonathan has been recommended for a small group focusing on impulse control and decision making."
I did not think much about it, because I assumed it was related to his IEP (Individualized Educational Plan); however, I put the note aside to follow up at some point. Yesterday, I finally got around to emailing the counselor to confirm my assumptions. Surprisingly, she responded right away to my email. I say "surprisingly" because I sent it to the school email address and assumed I'd hear from her this week.
Well, you know the saying about assumptions. I was wrong on all counts. First, she responded to me on the weekend. Second, she said this was not part of the IEP. She did say that Jonathan's teacher recommended him for this six week skill group.
Now I'm waiting on her to explain to me why Jonathan's teacher recommended him. I also want to know what skill is covered in this group which is not already currently covered in his Speech and Language social skills group. I'm a little concerned about the timing of this since Jonathan is being pulled out of his class for special education services for speech and language and social skills. He is also being pulled out for re-evaluation of his need for special education services. This means his speech pathologist is removing him from class for both services and testing. The special education teacher and school psychologist are pulling him out for testing as well. Finally, he's part of the school chorus and misses instruction during the week in order to prepare for the Winter Concert.
More than anything else, I was shocked by how incredulous I was at the idea someone in the school thinks he has problems with impulse control and decision making. Why should I be incredulous? I've been fighting the school system for six years trying to get him services. Why should I be offended that someone else agrees? Doesn't this bode well for us when we come back together to reconsider his need for an IEP?
I don't have an answer. I'll have to meditate on this for awhile.
Do you, my friend, have any thoughts? I know I can be blind to my own faults. The same faults which are glaring to you. As you get to know me, I hope you realize I do appreciate constructive criticism. It's the only way I can grow.
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Comments (4)
My youngest was pulled out of class for a skills group that helped them understand their own impulses and how to deal with them. He was not the only one in the group. Did it help? The problem with that is we don't know how he would have been without it. I say if they want to give him support then take it. You and he has nothing to loose. Also if he is missing alot of instruction then the school needs to find a way to reteach him. It's not up to him or you to tthe each him the lesson.Remember though,the minute you say no to a support then it makes it all that much harder to get services in the longrun.
Why don't you like someone else pointing out your child's issues even though you have been advocating for help for him?Normal human reaction perhaps. it's also an acknowledgement by others that something really is not right and that too is psychologically hard to face. It's one thing for us to know, its another thing for it to be so apparent to the rest of the world.It's just the mommy-protective mode. Not to worry.Just get him the support he needs thats all.
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It sounds like they're doing the right thing for him. If he has problems with impulse control and decision-making, then that group seems like the right group for him.
If someone thinks he needs it (and you know he does) take the free help!