SS's Teacher Letter

As you all may know, I had to fill out a "get to know my child" form for JJ recently. I am going to replicate that for SS this year in hopes that the teacher, whom is new to her, will get a better understanding of her as well. Here is the opportunity for you all to get to know a little about how different my two children are and more about them.

1. What do you feel are your child's greatest needs in school?
I believe that SS needs, above all, acceptance and understanding. She is a very sensitive little girl and often misunderstood. She often gets overwhelmed when too many things are going on, due to her being on the autism spectrum. She was originally diagnosed with PDD-NOS, but is currently undergoing an updated diagnoses. Loud noises or chaos can often cause her to have a difficulty with understanding. In particular, her audio processing causes her to hear, or not hear, things in a distorted manner. When she becomes overwhelmed, she will cry. Often she needs a little reassuring and space to gather herself back from the meltdown. She will do better at the front of the class. She is a generally happy child, but she tends to fall prey to bullies. She will not tell you, for fear of losing any friends she might make. It is why she is attending your school this year. She has a very difficult time sitting or standing still. She stims almost constantly. She hums almost all the time, though is not aware of it. It is her way of dealing with a possibly overwhelming situation. She is a solitary player, though will interact with other students, but almost never the same ones. She does not make lasting friendships.

2.What do you feel needs to be emphasized the most for your child during the class this year?
SS loves science. She will be intent on learning and you should have no trouble engaging her in this subject. Writing is more difficult for her. I don't know if you got her state testing results for last year, but her reading fluency is above a 5th grade level. However, her writing composition is far below standard. She has difficulty, both with handwriting and with composition in general. Even giving an oral story, she tends to lose track of where she was at and needs to start over. Having to write it out, is much harder for her. She self edits and is very fearful of being considered "stupid', though we are not sure whether that is her own fear or a result of the extensive bullying she endured last year. She will definitely need help with her writing skills.

3. After looking at your child's school work and observing him/her at work at home, what suggestions do you have for your child's work habits?
SS does not have a current IEP in place, though we are intent on pursuing one. If possible, the ability to move while learning will help. Not walking around, but an exercise ball to sit on, or something to keep her in constant motion. She does need repetition in her daily work. She is a hands on child. She learns better with visual aids. If she starts to get overwhelmed with too much information, she will often claim she does not feel well or that she is tired. These are avoidance techniques to draw attention away from the fact that she may not understand what you are meaning. She needs clear and concise instructions. She has trouble with multiple step instructions unless given a list or schedule. She does not do well with sudden change without warning.

4. Are there particular interests, strengths, or weaknesses that I should be sensitive to in designing a program for your child?
Interests or strengths:
SS is a very loving child. She seeks and craves positive attention. She will strive to do her best while in class. She will try her hardest to make friendships, though due to her multiple neurological differences, she will most likely struggle with it. She has a craving for knowledge and will ask many questions. She is a child that will question and seek answers.
Weaknesses:
SS has trouble with writing, as stated above. She gets frustrated with herself if she cannot do something correctly, especially if she has tried numerous times. She has trouble with letters, numbers, spelling, and handwriting. She will not stand up for herself, for the most part, in peer conflict. She does tend to play independently, often in a manner that is not considered typical for a child her age. She is very smart, but her emotional age ranges from 4-7 on a normal basis. Though she strives to be a good student, and mostly succeeds, she finds herself on the outside of social circles. Other than writing, she does not hold many academic weaknesses. We will know more when her full evaluation is done.

5. Is there anything that you would like for me to know about your child that is not covered in the other questions?
As stated, she does have a form of high functioning autism. She is normally an easy going child, but if she should begin to cry uncontrollably and is inconsolable, please do not hesitate to call or email me. As of this moment, we are waiting for several medical appointments and evaluations. I don't have all the answers, but I am seeking them for her. I find that keeping an open and honest relationship with her teacher makes it easier for her in the long run. It allows her to have her education addressed from both home and school. It also helps to collaborate so that, should a situation arise, we are better able to understand her needs. Until an IEP is in place, we are all she has.

Well, folks. There you go. There is how her letter will go in. She is harder for me because we don't really know what is going on with her. Hopefully, one day we will, but until then, we need to make sure the pathway to communication is open. We need to be communicating and doing all we can, in collaboration with the teachers.