FINALLY!!!....Observation is scheduled!!...took.....how long???

....Monday....FiNaLLy!!!....it took so long to arrange an observation to see how BENSON is doing in his wonderful "inclusive" program at the elementary school he attends...

Did you know that it is up to the Prinipals to make or break a good observation on 'their campus?" Also did you know that it is written in the BROWARD TEACHERS UNION (BTU) policy detailing just HOW LONG a teacher has to allow anyone into their classroom that is NOT a school board employee? Did you also know that according to the BTU you can only observe for 30 MINUTES!!...and another 30 MINUTES to have a discussion with that teacher about what you observed!...How much do you really think anyone will really be able to observe in a very short 30 minutes of a 6 HOUR SCHOOL DAY?

I am going into BENSON'S school on Monday 12/7/09 to finally do an observation of how well he is being INCLUDED in his different classroom settings....all the wonderful 'things that were told to mom' on day she was enrolling him into that school.....mom has asked me to go do 'the observation' for her to see how her son is doing in school. Remember....this little guy can't really TELL his mom how school was for the day....his communication skills are hard to understand and mom says there isn't really any real communication coming home in his backpack to help her understand how his school day went for the day......she hasn't ever had an opportunity to even see any of his classrooms since he started attending school there 7 weeks AFTER the school year started.

I will post how the observation went....stay tuned.....

Can I observe my sons classroom and meet all his teachers?

Told at the meeting that at 'our school' we do this and we do that....we believe in inclusion for ALL students. I wanted to fall over when hearing this, almost sounded too good to be true. Could it really be that at least one school in Broward County really does do things right? Mom was skeptical, with every right to be so....she wants to see her son be happy in a classroom where he will grow and be happy.

.....but when we asked if we could see the classroom after our meeting...there was a look I won't forget....I want to believe this school is going to 'do the right thing' for this little kiddo, and that they really do provide inclusion for ALL. Not the 'be good and earn' gen. ed time, but really do provide lots of opportunity for all students to spend time in a regular education classroom.

It's been 20 days since his first day of school and mom still hasn't been able to see her son's Special Ed classroom or even meet his General Education teachers in the Gen. Ed classrooms we were told he is suppose to be part of everyday. Mom has yet to get any notes home letting her know what and how her son is doing while under their care. Mom wants to SEE and meet her son's teachers....all of them. She needs to SEE what her sons classrooms look like and have an opportunity to meet and have a little conversation with ALL of his teachers....that's not asking much...I think most parents absolutely would want to know WHERE their Childs classroom is and WHO their teacher/s are! What is wrong with this picture IF mom is not able to meet, talk, see for herself exactly where her son is during his entire school day? Open house happens at every school, parents attend to meet and greet their Childs teachers and see their classrooms...but how does that happen when her son started school SIX WEEKS after the beginning of the school year?

Do we really believe this school is providing inclusion for ALL students? I don't know, they certainly aren't providing inclusion of the parent wanting to just meet her sons teachers and to see all of the classrooms he participates in. As the parent advocate I have sent out my email requesting an ALL DAY observation to see how 'things really are' going for him throughout his entire school day. I haven't heard back from the ESE Specialist or the ESE Teacher that works with him all day. I am hoping 'they are doing the right thing' for this little guy....and I pray they open their doors for this mom...she has a right to know what her sons classroom LOOKS LIKE and she has a right to MEET ALL HIS TEACHERS and know exactly what his daily schedule really is. If none of these things happen...I would say there is some deception going on.....but would that surprise any of us...really?

What will mom do?....what would you do if you were in her shoes?

We just want to OBSERVE his educational environment....mom wants to make sure her son is happy and progresses, since so much time was wasted and he didn't get to start school till 6 weeks AFTER school started for the entire County!

This school needs to 'do the right thing'...and be parent friendly and allow this mom access to her sons teachers and let her see how he is doing being included in the general ed. Kindergarten classrooms.

If you have a comment to this posting...please post it and let's hear from you and your experiences pertaining to OBSERVING your Child's classroom/s.