Aspies For Freedom

it really depend what kind of class room and how old the student are i think. becuase 32 6-9 year olds  is deffrent than say 20-30 14-18 year olds, in the ways they act what and they'd tend to do with class periods. i my expesanace mean/in tolarant NT's would believe that sped means easier work and thus he might not be value grades  as highly.

(please keep in mind most of us are fairly jaded by a school like your #2. and those who arent  are very lucky)

Hi,

I am addressing Aspies who may be able to provide insight into which environment sounds best for my son, almost 6, who will be in 1st grade in the fall. He is leaving his Montessori school that ends at kindergarten.

So, in other words: if you could go back to grade school, where would you want your Mother to send you? Here are our choices:

(1) Montessori (free, charter) that goes up to 8th grade.

(2) Public school. 32 1st graders with one teacher.

(3) Twice Exceptional Gifted with Disability self contained classroom with children who tested as Gifted but also have something like Aspergers, ADHD, etc.

Please let me know what you think of these choices and if you could do school over again, where would you want your Mother to send you!!!??  Thanks!!!

What kind of school did you ultimately go with? Please share and how old is your son? Thanks!

Yes, what you are saying is Extremely helpful. I am so happy to have posted here! Everyone is so cool and helpful.

Regarding the Montessori. You know, everyone has the impression that Montessori is "not structured." Not so. In our experience, there are a LOT of rules and a LOT of emphasis on respect for others and respect for the classroom materials. It is very "community" minded --- this is your classroom and you are a part of making it work and keeping it beautiful. They actually empower children with a lot of responsibility --- they let children do things that most people wouldn't expect small children to be able to do. They are given a lot of respect and independence. But that independence also has to be earned --- by the child following the rules of the classroom. This includes respect for other children on the playground and personal space issues too b/c they have to walk around each others' rugs on the floor where someone's "work" could be laid out.

I think people have the impression that kids can just do whatever they want. That's not true.  The way I see it, it is actually very structured -- they are "prepared" classrooms with everything child-sized and VERY organized.

What is NOT structured is time. It's not like 9-9:30 is math. 10-10:45 is reading. Yes, there are requirements for math, language every day, etc but the philosophy/method is that if a child is interested in something, he should be able to explore it as long as he wants. But he has to do those other requirements and also has to have a lesson first on any new "works" he wants to try. They can't just rummage through the room. They have to "ask for a lesson." The teacher then will "give the lesson" and show the child how it's done. Then the child has to do it back for the teacher to show that they understand. Then the child may do that lesson any time he wants as long as he has had a lesson on it.

The other main philosophy is that you don't interrupt the child. They are allowed to explore and do something they like or are fascinated with as long as they like......a little scary for an Aspie or someone on the spectrum??!! But the point is, the teacher does not interrupt a child. This is supposed to develop concentration and you're not supposed to interrupt them while they are figuring things out.
So, let's say a child chooses to do "Plant Care" which is a small tray with a real live houseplant on the tray. The child takes the tray to his small desk. On the tray is a small spray water bottle and cotton balls and Q=Tips in a cup. The child puts on the accompanying apron, and is free to do Plant Care (as long as he has had a lesson on it). This involves spraying the plant with water, and wiping it clean with the cotton balls and Q-tips. The kid can do this for a freakin' half hour if he wants to. The point is, he is learning many things from this activity and is not being interrupted. (I witnessed my child doing this and it was awesome because he was so meticulous and careful (he is not so much at home!). Then when he is done, the child has to put back everything the way he found it. Folds the apron; puts everything back with great care.

That just gives you an example. Yes, it would be like: Math, what do you want to work on for math? There is required stuff, and then there is the "free to explore the classroom" time. THIS is where people I think get the wrong impression.

The other thing that is great in Montessori is that they use REAL materials. For example when children are learning about money, they use REAL money. They aren't given a worksheet with drawings of pennies or dimes. The work with real pennies and dimes, etc. It is rooted in the real world -- there is no pretend kitchen. They really cook. There is a kitchen right there in the school that the kids cook in. I saw one 4yr old child peeling potatoes - it was a lesson in March for St Patrick's Day. They do tons of cool stuff like that that are rooted in real life. And that's what that part of Montessori is called: "Practical Life"

I guess the danger with Montessori is that an obsessive type child could perseverate and do repetitive stuff but I don't think a good Montessori school would let that go on for long. To me the classrooms are just so cool and stimulating because a kid can do anything like wash windows, hammer small nails into clay, trace letters in sand, tons of geography manipulatives, rocks, minerals they can touch. YOu kind of have to see it in action.  It's true that too many choices could be bad for ADHD types, but at the same time it has that freedom of choice that keeps the love of learning on fire.

I don't know. He did go to the Open House with me and Hubby almost a month ago and loved the Montessori school. I think he would feel at home and he knows the routine. That's so funny what you said about the shirt!

But at the same time, I like the small class size and protectiveness of the Self Contained classroom. I feel like he would be safe there from teachers who don't understand him.

I really appreciate your thoughts regards the social aspect. The most important thing is the Emotional Quotient - I just want him to be happy. I don't care about the academics as long as he is happy. I don't want anyone messing with my kid's head! Peers or teachers. So I am really being careful about this because I want him to have a very positive school experience because he is so enthusiastic about learning, if he has a bad experience it's just going to put out that spark.

I'm really rambling. Thanks so much for your post. It helps tremendously. Everyone's input has been very helpful.