I found THE answer

[ohmama]

I've been out of town for the past week and away from my computer. Now that I'm back and connected again I need to tell you some exciting news.

I went to a meeting last night and discovered that the earth isn't flat, my child and I don't need to eat $*it any more, I don't have to fight with teachers and schools to educate them on brain disorders only to be disappointed to find out that they don't give a rip anyway. I don't have to worry about the teacher putting my boy in a restraining hold or him having an emotional breakdown from the classroom stress. He will never be told by his teacher that he isn't important or that there is nothing wrong with him, he just chooses to fail his day. All that and more is in the past!!

I signed my boy up for a virtual school program. It's one of the new charter schools in our state. Not home school. We will have a real teacher who keeps in contact with us once a week by phone, also constant email. The books and all materials are free. If you have an assignment for a science project, they send you the microscope and whatever you need, FREE. You just return it when your done. Free postage too.

They have a chess club, field trips every month with other kids in the area who also attend the charter school, they also have a bowling team and they compete against other charter schools in the area.

Life is good.

[vickilyn32]

What a great find. I am so happy for you. There were times I wish I could have found that for my son, but I am glad to say he finally got some good teachers last year, and I believe this year, so life does look good for us also. I will keep my fingers crossed that this is the answer you have so desperatly been looking for. Good luck.

[2pearl]

ohmama this sounds fabulous. I can tell just from your tone that you feel much "lighter"

I was just reading about this the other day while I was researching homeschooling. Can you tell us more? What will your day be like? And what state do you live in if you don't mind my asking?

2pearl

[Mayleng]

Ohmama, It's great that you managed to find an alternative that works for your family. Pls keep us updated on this virtual school as it may be a option for alot of other kids.

[Beverly]

Congratualations to you and your son. It sounds fabulous.

[brazos]

Congrats! Boy do I wish we had that here!

[VaMom]

Ohmama,

I am so happy for you and your ds!!!!!!!!!!

I knew you guys had some rough times with school, but I didn't know about that particular teacher.

How wonderful that you can just put it all in the rearview mirror now. happy*

[ohmama]

Thanks girls for all the encouragement!

Pearl,
I live in Oregon. These programs are showing up all over in most states. It will work well for us, much better than the behavior classroom. I know some parents have said that works for their child but the one in our area is a real joke and what I would even call abusive to the children. It just doesn't take into account or even recognize the neurological aspect of a child's behavior. Everything is looked at as a purposeful action and the kids are constantly punished, never encouragement or given any positive reinforcement.

With the virtual school, the teacher will partner with the parent to provide a personalized learning plan to meet the student's individual learning needs. It reminds me of an IEP without the stress. There is testing to determine what those needs are. Then the school will provide a quality instructional program, including curriculum, instructional materials, and a certified, well trained teaching staff.

The school will encourage the student's social interaction with other school students and families by supporting community coordinators in their efforts to organize various field trips and community events. This way the child is not isolated and gets the social interaction with other kids.

There are books, it's not all computer work so you get a good balance of hands on learning with different projects. The written work is mailed in to the home office and graded in addition to the instant computer feedback from the other daily projects.

They will work with your IEP that is in place to accommodate any special needs. You don't give anything up by being in this school it just gets better. They also have a science club and a photo club... two of the members have a back ground in photography and act as moderators/club leaders to help the students interested in photography gain further knowledge of all phases of photography. Students are given a topic to photograph every few weeks then, through the student site interface, they will be able to transfer their digital and scanned photos to the student site photo gallery where they will be able to share them with others. They have their own student site message board. There are many extra activities like this offered.

The best thing is that my boy is excited about doing this so I will have complete cooperation from him. I think it will build his self esteem and cut the stress/anxiety level in a big way.

Here's the website for more information about it.

www.connectionsacademy.com

[Mayleng]

Ohmama, do you have to do some of the teaching or is the teacher going to or do they sit in front of the computer and work through a lesson plan "virtually"?

[2pearl]

ohmama I just looked at the website and I am sooo excited for you and your ds. You have twins right? Are they both going to do it? I can't believe it's free!

[ohmama]

Mayleng,
I am considered a "learning coach" and will be helping him to understand the lessons. If it is something he does not get or I can't reach him on then the teacher is available via email, phone (toll free), or by communication with the teachers computer that has a camera on her so the student can actually see the teacher talking to them. I'm not sure of everything yet as I just signed up but they also have a message board for the learning coaches/parents that I'm looking forward to.

Alot of the work is not done on the computer so there is book work and assignments that need to be handed in via snail mail. I'm glad of this because I don't think it is good to sit at the computer all day. I'm sure I will be needed to keep him on task and exlain how to do things.

The school year is 180 days and can take up to 5 hours a day. This is very individual though and most students will spend less time on a daily basis depending on their level and ability of learning from what I understand. A special needs or even a gifted student will be able to learn at their own pace and excel appropriately without any disadvantages.

Pearl,
My other boy is doing ok in school and has made a few friends so he wants to stay in the regular school. I think once he sees the advantages to this virtual school he will want it also though. I told him it's his choice as I want him to decide for himself. That way I will have his cooperation. He tends to be the stubborn one.

[Gillian]

We also have a 'virtual school' - right in our neighborhood. My little guy is in a good therapeutic classroom now so I won't move him again but I'd definitely consider it. Ours has been up and running for about a year now and is doing well.

[Shandawn]

We have a "virtual school" in PA also. I checked it out & DD was interested, but I don't think it would work for my child. I could invision by the 2nd week she'd be trying to sleep in or get out of school work. Plus, she'd miss her friends.

[kc4braves]

That is great. I considered doing that for third grade when we were in CA. We ended up moving so we didn't get to enroll. It was also free and they would even provide a computer and connection if you needed. They use the K12 homeschooling program that alot of the homeschoolers I know use. I even consdiered purchasing the curriculum and just homeschooling becasue Iwould have had even more flexibility but we ended up deciding that we would see how things went in third grade. So far, we are doing ok and haven't considered homeschooling virtually or otherwise again...yet. It is a really awsome option that many school systems are providing. I know the k12 program that CA offerred was also available in several other states...free.

Good luck.

KAthy

[swmom]

Wow, ohmama. That's really interesting. You sound so relieved!

Keep us posted on how it's going. A word of warning...beware when he says he's "going to the bathroom." I know you're not homeschooling but the year I educated my dd at home, she said this all the time and I'd find her outside swinging!

[ohmama]

swmom,
That's too funny! I can see my boy doing the same thing. Sometimes if I blink my eyes both his brother and him are pulling something. Never a dull moment.

Thanks everyone for your support. I should clarify, my boy was never put in a restraining hold but he witnessed many of the other kids having this done to them and while the teacher was doing it he (the teacher) was making fun of the child. My boy was always afraid to tell me since he knew I would talk to the teacher about it and the teacher would take it out on him for saying anything. All this in a behavior class that's supposed to be "therapeutic". The really sad thing is that this is the best the school system has to offer.

Oh and get this, I just found out that one of the aids in that classroom was the school janitor before she was given the job of being an aid in that behavioral classroom. She has no experience with teaching special needs children other than last year volunteering as a part time aid!! How sick is that!

You bet I'm relieved.

[d]

Welcome to the wild whacky world of special ed where there are inconsistencies state to state and district to district within states. Where the caliber of special ed services can be *fantastic* to abysmal. Where the quality of services may largely be driven by smart special ed directors hiring people who have the motivation and intelligence to constantly develop professionally. Ok, I'll stop now, feel a rant coming on before my meds kick in... ;D

I'm glad you found something you feel will work better for your ds and your family.