[Should schools do away with grade levels?]

I have always wondered the same thing...I think that a mixture of ability and age based would be best. There are times when a higher ability child can help to teach a lower ability child and it can help both of them like they do in Montessori schools. So mix and match things like history don't need to be ability tracked so all abilities could work together and then ability match for reading, writing, and math.

[SPD? or normal]

Thank you so much. I have taken in so much that has been said and will be pursuing this more firmly when I go to the doctor again in 2 weeks. It makes me feel better that I am not just a crazy mama looking for a disease but that there could be some needs that need to be addressed.

[State/Gov't Regulation of HS: Good or Bad?]

Please take time to read the rest of my posts, this isn't my central point but more of a by-the-way remark. Of course that fundamentally it's parents' responsibility, but...

 

In a nutshell, it's about ACADEMIC CREDIBILITY of the person who issues the grade and signs it. You can't call something Italian I and expect me to trust your word it really WAS Italian I - but if you get me an Italian professor's signature next to your grade as a guarantee of it the standards and the knowledge, it's a bit different situation. That's why I advocate getting our children tested by subject experts - or, at least, by giving them (by a third party, who will grade them too) grade-appropriate final yearly tests their school peers are getting to ensure the minimum of education was actually done and is comparable to what kids in gov't schools are getting. Otherwise, anyone can claim pretty much anything on their own transcript - and when somebody abuses the system, it's a problem for ALL of us because then we get all those generalizing talks about homeschoolers who do nothing.

 

The problem with this currently in the US is that we don't have tests that measure knowledge acquired about a subject but rather measure know compared to others that same grade. Thus nationally normed (meaning compared to others) as opposed to nationally standard, which the only state I know that does this is Utah. Even still they throw in nationally normed questions that are pulled for NCLB. Ester's thoughts are great if we had experts, if we tested standards not compared, and if everyone was held to the same standards...but sadly in the US we are not and I don't think it will change anytime soon so for now I want less government interference.

[Suppose you were on the wait list for adopting a child...]

Adoption is hard and the waiting is excruciating....we haven't even started the process for number 3 and yet every now and then we thinks we could go to Disney World instead of saving up to adopt (oh wait we did this after being approved 1 month with an agency known to have a 4 year wait ds was born 5 months later), or now the thought of what we would not be able to do if we had to pay the cost of another adoption....you don't even want to know what we did in the form of compensation before we were able to adopt dd (a love sac a huge need in our lives). A puppy may be just the thing to finish your family or help you get through this time until your child can enter your family...Enjoy him/or her!

[help with spd kid's thumb sucking]

In the kindest possible way Don't worry about it....my sister sucked her thumb until 12 (when she got spikes in her mouth) even with my mom doing the pepper polish, gloves and every other thumb sucking ending idea ever created...my DH sucked his thumb until he was at least 18 it is scarred from his thumb sucking. You could try things but I think the only way to truly get a person to stop is spikes or them deciding for themselves.

[Another K question. Favorite read alouds for ages 4-6?]

My 2.8 yr old LOVED charlottes web. Next on the list is the secret garden.

[Those of you participating in the Minute Million Family Challenge...]

We are fun family. Considering it just dh and I playing games and a dd who has decided not to go to sleep at night we are dng pretty good I think...about 1 game a night.

[Yes, it's about time, and yes, I must be addicted]

OMGoodness YES! I was trying every hour to see if it was back up yet....should I admit that :blush:

[SPD? or normal]

We got a mini trampoline, floor scooter and when we sit down to do school work my dd uses a ball chair. At first it took everything in me to not go stir crazy with her bouncing while doing school work. I am better and she is happy. I don't know how she does the bouncing and school work at the same time! She also has a weighted blanket wrap.

 

OT are wonderful if you are able to see one. The out-of-sync kid has fun is wonderful also. Lucy Miller Sensational kids is another good book.

 

Does she sleep well or toss and turn all night? My daughter never slept all night before. Weighted blankets are wonderful for night time and for wrapping them in when they fall apart. It seems to relax my daughter more than a regular blanket when I put her in a roll. http://www.weightedblanket.net/ This place also has a monthly drawing for a free one.

 

It happens alot with people judging the parents and child when they can't see a physical problem. Sorry!:grouphug: I know its hard when they don't know the whole story or think that SPD is just and excuse.

 

That's the book Sensational Kids...my sister saw it at the book store and I was hoping that my hospital lending library would have it but they didn't :( so now I get to buy it but I couldn't remember the name.

 

Also I got her a weighted blanket today! From that site I really think it will help her especially to sleep at night and to calm during the day. Thank you so much for that site!

 

If your dr. is otherwise a good doc and you have confidence in him then I would give him one more chance to get this right, go in there and politely demand an OT referral.

 

You are going to need your Ped to trust you and you are going to need to trust him. As parents with sn kids we have a lot of battles to fight. You don't need an extra one with your Ped. Don't be afraid to question how much he knows about SPD. Chances are he has never heard of it or has very little understanding of it. It's not his area and it is ok to acknowledge that.

 

Because of our insurance, we had to go through a Developmental Pediatrician for get the OT referral. In our area DPs are few and far between. There was a 6 months wait. Of course, I filed a formal complaint and was seen 10 days later ;) I am always polite but I am not afraid of my child's medical chart indicating that her mother is a pitb. I will even tell doctors and scheduler that "I'm that annoyingly persistent parent". It seems to break the ice and they know where I stand right up front.

 

A DP is great btw. I love ours! Developmental Peds are like the generalist of the specialists. Basically, they specialize in developmental disorders and can distinguish things enough to know which specialist to send you to for treatment. Although they don't do treatment themselves, they can and do prescribe meds when necessary. They also have relationships with all of the specialists, OT, SLP, Audio, vision, ASD docs and all of that.

 

Mostly I no longer believe in conventional medicine :( so I don't expect my doctor to take us seriously (not to mention she is resident without a lot of experience so far). I love the idea of find a Developmental Ped that sound like what I could use and would be super helpful. How would I go about finding a Developmental Ped? I wish I could find a doctor I trust but after my daughter's experience with her milk allergy I don't know if I will be able to any time soon...Now I rely a lot on my mommy instinct and the internet which while not the most reliable source gives me a jumping off point.

[Distinguishing between b and d????]

Have a stick person that he can see. Draw the stck person with left hand on hip. Have child do it that's d. Draw stick person with right hand on hip. Have child do it that's b. Repeat ad nausem. It really help my kinethestic boys figure out b and d

[Tips needed for being a substitute teacher]

Have a discipline plan ready I always took in my own rain stick and quickly taught them to listen for it. Just dont make it a food reward system.

[SPD? or normal]

For us, discipline is one of the hardest aspects of SPD because often the bad behavior comes from sensory issues rather than a desire to rebel or disobey. When out of control behavior occurs, we (& our OT) have found that swinging, jumping on a mini-trampoline, linear movement (like rocking back and forth on an ottoman) or sometimes time away in his own space really helps ds calm down and recover. The OT also recommended crunchy foods like granola & baby carrots, blowing bubbles or chewing gum as a re-direction calm down strategy. For a younger child, sucking on something may also help. The oral stimulation really does wonders for the behavior of SPD kids. HTH!

 

You generally have to front-end load a ton of sensory input before the kidlets can wrap their brains around behavior/discipline. Trampoline work, swinging, turning them upside-down, spinning (Sit & Spin maybe?), joint compression, etc. Then when their sensory system is flooded, they can start to focus on other things and discipline becomes possible. IME.

 

Thanks that really helps me! Basically we need to get the SPD figured out before we can move into behaviors. Its been really hard to handle the behaviors especially with all the people who feel it is their right to judge us. I feel so bad because I truly feel she doesn't have the ability right now to do certain behaviors that are expected of her but the rest of the world expects her to behave a certain way or they label her and refuse to be around her.

 

ETA: Check out The Out-of-sync Child Has Fun for a TON of sensory activities/ideas.

We just checked that out from our hospital lending library. I am looking forward to reading it and starting the ideas.

[SPD? or normal]

Thanks so much! Your comments have really helped.

 

If you haven't read The Out of Sync Child, read it.

I did read this and it was AMAZING to "see" my child described when I just thought it was ADHD combined with spirited behavior. That book is what really led me to think that she is a sensory seeker. From that book I think she seek touch with some oral.

 

ADD, SPD, both, it's hard to say on the internet. I would be at the dr. asking for an OT referral for sure. OT is lots of fun for the kids and it can't hurt anything but your pocketbook. It's a first line of defense and it's pretty clear that she has sensory issues, even if there might be other issues as well.

 

For many of our kids, it isn't figuring out what one thing is going on, it is a processing of identifying and treating one or two things at a time. We are peeling the onion and take off one layer tends to reveal the next.

 

OT can do amazing things.

 

I made a list (typed, double spaced, and in triplicate) of developmental history and symptoms to bring to the dr. appointment. I also brought an extra adult to keep the little dear busy while I talked with dr. One copy for me, one for the dr., one I handed to the nurse for the file. This is the point where the dr. realized that not only did I mean business, but that I knew way more about the topic then she did. She had never heard of SPD but she wrote the referral - and she is still our Ped. (the previous, childless, young ped who tried to tell me that I "just needed to be consistent" found herself with one less client)

When I brought it up (with my dh there to child wrangle) my doc kind of brushed it off. This was the second time we mentioned the elbow/tongue thing...the first was when she was 2 and she did the same thing. So it made me less confident in my belief that there is more than just "naughty" 3 year old behavior. Thus this thread.

I think my next step is to get her evaluated through the school district and if they will not then I will push for an OT referral. I know our school district has a person who tests specifically for SPD because a friend's son was just diagnosed.

 

It's possible that this is SPD, but it could be something else on the AD spectrum as well. SPD kids do calm down with deep pressure - the blanket rolling is recommended. This behavior is not normal. It may even be a combination of SPD and an ADD spectrum issue. Can you list some other potentially sensory issues - reactions to light, sound, scratchy clothes, etc. Does she crave being swung on a swing or does she avoid it and dislike it? Does she hug you a lot?(seeking out deep touch) Not every SPD kid has every sensory issue.

 

She does not avoid ANYTHING basically she seeks sensory. She jumps everywhere on everything and nothing I do short of holding her down will stop her. She runs full speed into people (thus labeled aggressive at church nursery). I totally see her being the child in 1st grade who just falls out of her seat to see what it felt like. She hates shoes loves to be bare foot on the hot pavement. Oh and everything has to be HOT...hot bath water, hot food. She LOVES the swing and to be held tight and spun in a tight circle. She chews on all straws and sippy lids whenever she is drinking.

 

I really appreciate that I am not completely crazy in thinking my daughter's behaviors are not "normal" and now I need to start figuring out how to get her the help she needs.

 

Does anyone here now good discipline for a child who is a sensory seeker? She can't handle time out because when she is upset she seeks physical input (not separation) but I can't sit and hold her for an hour while she calms with a 1 year old baby that needs his mommy too.

[SPD? or normal]

My dd is not "normal" compared to the other children I see her age and that has led to us exploring things. One of our thoughts is SPD and we mentioned it to the doctor who kind of shrugged us off...so I am hoping that some of you mama's can help me before I call the school for an eval.

Here are a list of her behaviors:

1) Rubs elbows (or knees or other bony parts)...this is done when overwhelmed, upset, at bedtime, and just whenever. It is accompanied by tongue sucking. She is now getting to the point that she will reach up peoples shirts to get to an elbow and will do it with new acquaintances.

2) When she has a temper tantrum it will escalate until she is either held down completely (think arms wrapped around chest and arms and legs over her legs) she will continue to seek this after the fit is over for a time OR we have recently found that wrapping her tight in a blanket can help at times

3) Her energy level is above and beyond all other children that we know to the point that when she was one someone commented on the fact that she would play best with boy (rough and tumble) and that rather than stand still (like her child was) she would be climbing the rock wall that was across the way. She is highly active which in turn has led to high gross motor skills (far above her age level) but also causes issues at times when she is suppose to sit still (impossible for her).

4) She seeks sensations such as running in circles, spinning up high, rolling in a sand box, dropping like a log into a body of water.

5) She is a good child BUT she still seems "out of control" and doesn't seem to calm and really hates to sit although she has just (at 3 years of age) started to sit and watch a movie and she has always been able to listen to a story...but just 1 story never more.

Is this "normal" or SPD or ADD or ???? I am so unsure and can only compare (which I know is bad because each child develops at their own rate) but she is my first and it is leading to people not wanting to play with her and her being labeled aggressive at church.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

[Was this a mild allergic reaction?]

Do they??? Well that would explain why my DD always gets diarrhea after eating at McDs. I thought it was just the grease or cross contamination in the fryers. I don't think DD is going to be happy I learned this information.:glare:

Yep...think reconstituted mashed potatoes. So we have had to look up every fast food place we go and find out if their fries contain milk...and my dd's favorite food is french fries.

[Was this a mild allergic reaction?]

YES!!! My dd has that as a main reaction to milk...sometimes it is right away but usually it is a couple of hours after ingesting. One time it was 16 hours later when she woke up in the am said my tummy hurts and puked on the kitchen floor...come to find out the french fries at McD's have milk in them.

[DD 4 coughing at night--asthma?]

A night cough is a sign of asthma BUT it could be allergy induced. So something at your mom's house could be an allergen that is bothering, possibly upon removal of the allergy the cough will go away. My dd had an awful night cough for abt a year before we discovered her milk allergy (don't get me started on doctors that won't listen to parents) as soon as we removed milk her cough has disappeared and its now been a year.

[any fall tv shows you are looking forward to?]

I am looking forward to:

GLEE!!!!

Bones

Castle

Parenthood

Big Bang Theory

and Survivor

[College logistics: voting, driver's licenses....]

A lot depends on where your child wants to be a resident. Ie many student want to get instate tution at an out of state school, so they would want to change residency to the state of the college. Therefore they would want to vote, get a dl and register their car in the new state. If residency for college is not a problem then most students kept primary residency in their home state. That is until they married and then they had to change residency.

[Muscle Memory]

Odd thought but have you considered getting rid of the lines and putting a dot where to start on plain white paper at the top of the paper then once he is consistent at starting at the top switching to the lines.

[I have a Sunday School nursery question]

My dd is in a nursery that is ages 18 months to 3 years and even though she wonders during the lesson and singing time, she does come home and sing the songs and tell me about the lesson. So it is possible for them to learn it.

[Will you get the flu shot this year -]

Probably not getting the flu shot this year...I have never gotten it but did do my dd for the last 2 years but did not get H1N1...did not do baby boy (he was too young until way later in the year). I am no longer teaching so I am not so worried about bringing something home.

[What Is Happening In Your House Right Now?]

Naptime!!!!!

[Active member roll call....just say "Here!" :0)]

Here!

[knee surgery for teens]

So honestly, how brutal was the pain? The doctor pretty much said that the first 48 hours would be very painful. He also said that recovery would take 6 months. I know that everyone is different but what exactly does that mean. Would she not be able to do activity for 6 months. DD is in karate. She would hate to give it up for 6 months. Actually the doctor said that karate is very good for rehabilitation for I wasn't sure if he meant after the 6 months are over. Of course dd doesn't want to spend the rest of her life taped up and wearing braces. She does both for karate. I'm just wondering what kind of pain and recovery dd can expect.

 

DD is also homeschooling this year due to her severe insomnia. We were originally going to put her back into high school her freshman year but took her out after a few months due to the severe insomnia. We will keep her home her sophomore year and then play it by ear the year after that. I'm kind of thinking that if the surgery ends up being necessary that it would be better to do it next January rather then end up having to do it when she goes back to school or in college. Homeschooling is so much more flexible.

 

I did ok...although the day after I blacked out when I had to go to the bathroom. I know I had a pain med that I took daily but I did not take the other pain meds they gave me. I will say that the rehab did take a while. The bend to straightening of my knee took over 3 months to do without pain because they moved the track of my kneecap. But I was also back in school 6 days after my surgery on crutches and with a handicap parking pass so I didn't have to hike all the way across campus for each class.