The Kindergarten Dance, Part 3

All my friends with special needs kids say that if you live in my city, public school is the best option for at least K-3, because our district schools provide services and understand special needs. And yesterday I toured my first public school, fully expecting a punch-in-the-gut experience. Maybe it was that I'm more experienced now. Maybe it's that I was expecting something that looked more like a children's prison than the cheerful, art-covered walls of this school. Maybe it was that a friend of mine is a super-involved parent there (and was one of the tour guides). Or maybe it was because the inclusion teacher was so nice. But I liked it.

Yes, it's huge compared to Isaac's current school. And support in the classroom, and class size, and omygod recess and lunch--the thought of him on that enormous playground, eating at a table with the other little savages--it's enough to make me cry just thinking about it. But we're looking at everything. And then we'll ask for what we need, and decide what we're going to do. Somehow. Whatever happens, it'll be a roll of the dice, since this is a lottery system.

So turn down the lights and pass the popcorn, my friends. It's gonna be a bumpy winter.

Comments

[Niksmom]

Wow, wasn't expecting this post so soon! Sounds like it was pretty positive today. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. BTW, I just emailed you back. :-)

[kristen]

How does this lottery work? Names in a hat, here's your school? Do you have any say at all?

I'm glad this went well today, sometimes public school is the best place. We've had pretty good luck going that route.

Fingers crossed you get what you want!

[Jordan]

You'll have to let me know which one you saw! I think you're right, Susan, about going for public. Because, honestly...privates *might* have smaller class sizes (sometimes) but you're paying for the school, still paying for all your therapies, AND constantly training your teachers about special needs because 99% of the time they have no idea. Not that public is smooth sailing all the time, but at least there are trained professionals and the teachers have experience with this stuff a lot more often.

[Rachel Norton]

You are going to make a great decision, whatever you decide! I am in awe of how mindful you are about all of this: it is incredibly hard, there are so many imperfect options to consider, and, oh, right: we're talking about who our kids might be A YEAR FROM NOW. I don't know who my kid is going to be three months from now, let alone a year.

[Jessica W]

Hi there, saw your blog and loved it. We blog about many of the same struggles. Thanks for sharing.

Jessica W

[Kathryn Johansen]

I was very nervous that the public school system would not offer what we needed, but we were so pleasantly surprised. I say keep the faith and you will land right where your son needs to be. And, sometimes, you also have to try things and just keep going until you find the right fit. But the thing is, you will!