[angelkisses0102]

(x-posted)

This will probably be long and rambling...but lots of thoughts running through my mind right now.

ESY...may be an option for DS this summer...but I am very uncertain if I even want to do this. DS is a young 5 (won't be 6 until July), completing Kindy in June and repeating Kindy again beginning in August...mainly to give him another year to mature. (I would not have had him in Kindy this year...but he had to be due to his IEP.) He is now in a high functioning special needs classroom setting full time (only lunch and after care with typically developing peers) and will be next year as well....at least to start. He is doing well academically but needs lots of direction to stay on task (easy to do in a class of 5 kids and two teachers.) We are redoing his IEP before the end of school...but the main qualifier is and will continue to be speech impairment. He has sensory issues and ADHD-like behaviors...we now realize some of his fine and gross motor skill delays (developmental delays were his other main qualifier for the current IEP) are directly related to his recently diagnosed arthritis. We also feel the pain he was in contributed to some of what we thought were sensory issues and some of the ADHD like behaviors. He just got glasses as well...he has terrible vision in one eye and not so great in the other...so some of his 'issues' were probably related to not being able to see. We hope to get the arthritis under control this summer as well.

It has been crazy the past two months (due to the JRA) and DS is stressed and was having nightmares...although he's been OK the past two nights. His self esteem is at an all time low and he just not himself...he is sad much more than normal. I think fear is playing a role in this...arthritis is hard to grasp when you are just a 5 year old little boy.

I have what I believe will be a good, fun summer camp planned for DS...with typically developing kids...which I feel is something he needs more of. A little 'normal' kid stuff would be great for his self-esteem as well.

But...isn't there always a but...I am fearful that he will lose some of the skills he's worked so hard on this school year...mainly his fine motor. We will work with him of course...but he will be in camp full time for most of the summer (we have no choice...we both work and we have no one else to watch the kids during the summer.) So we will not be doing as much as they would at the ESY classes. So...I am torn...usually my gut directs me...but not this time.

Anyone have experience with this...good, bad, or whatever???

Thanks!!!

[proudmommyof 2]

My opinion-no ESY. ESY is good for kids who are moving on to the next level so they don't regress in the summer. I wouldn't do it for a child who is repeating. Plus, with him having an IEP, they won't just jump on to the next skill until he's mastered prerequisite skills.

My opinion, let him play this summer, swim, keep working on attachment-maybe work a couple of days a week on letters or writing or something, but I wouldn't.

[TweetyMom04]

Double the ESY in this house.

Teacher & I conferenced and discussed 'where' the Boys are 'on-level' of learning, understanding. She states its not enough to hold them back, but enough that if they don't catch on in the areas they are weak, First Grade will be hard.

She knows I'll work with them over the Summer and has no concerns they'll be ready for First Grade.

Per their Teacher:
-DS-G needs lots of work in writing in math.
-DS-L needs work in reading and cleaning up his writing.

Homework in the morning, when they are alert, then fun stuff for afternoon.

[momraine]

I think it depends on the kid. Right now for ds with his RAD it would be a Godsend to be able to send him to school in the summer, even half days. Mainly because as we learned last summer he does not do well without structure. My other kids love having time without structure in the summer, but he falls apart. I know that back before I was married when I taught special ed in our summer program we had kids who missed a lot do to vacations and camps with thier families, they only came to school when they were in town. That worked well for those kids to get the best of both. Maybe the school would be open to something like that.

[SingleMama2B]

i would let him be a kid this Summer. You will probably be surprised on the maturing level by the end of summer. I know that your concerns are school wise, but I was in a similar spot several years ago. Though I wanted DD in ESY, the school put a kaboosh on it, saying that it was only for severly impaired children, and that she would end up helping them. I was P.O.'ed. At the end of each summer, she has been catching up on her social and maturing skills (so to speak). Her school work (with a FULL IEP) is still below grade average, but she remains a very happy kid. Since he is repeating "K", let him enjoy this summer! Just my 2cents.....

[angelkisses0102]

Thank you so much. I am now leaning toward a 'no school' summer based on your comments.

His teacher mentioned this as an option on Wednesday when we were doing his student led conference and said we could get it if I wanted it. I am calling the ESE director on Monday regarding his new IEP and we will be discussing this as well.

On a side note...and mama's gonna brag...DS did so well at his conference...it is shocking what is expected of our little ones these days. DS read me a book and a story he wrote, counted out three coins (of my choosing from a cup of dimes, nickels, and pennies), read about 50 sight words, read the calendar (today's date, yesterday's date, tomorrow's date) and did a simple math word problem (I read it, he wrote a number sentence and got the answer...5 + 4 = 9)...pretty darn impressive IMHO!!! Oh and he can tell time...on the hour and half hour already! So yes, he probably does deserve the summer 'off.'

Thanks again.

[jeannecr]

I guess you have already decided, but I wanted to say that I agree with your decision. Your son will have all next year to continue his academic progress. I think that emotionally it would be nice for him to have a low pressure summer. I do think it will help his self-esteem with the JRA to be active and having fun.

You sound like a wonderful mother!

[votemom]

i agree too. since he's repeating i don't think it's going to be a big deal at all that he just has fun and relaxes this summer.

[k8c]

Chiming in late. Especially since your reason for repeating K is maturity-based and not skill-based, I'd stay home this summer.

[amyfk]

I am not an education expert or therapist but wondered if you could find a day camp for kids with extra needs where they could do some academics but mostly outdoorsy fun activities as a camp would do?
If that isnt possible could your son go to regular day camp but maybe one night a week go for the extra tutoring, therapy to keep him up with his peers/up on school skills?
I think he's had a hard year, I think at his age he deserves to enjoy a bit and just be a kid. I wouldnt totally drop all of the educational stuff but I dont think Id make it the focus of his summer.
Amy K NJ

[momm2be]

AK,

From you are telling us, if I was in your shoes, I would arrange the summer off. Moreso since he will re-do Kindergarten (which I think is a brilliant plan for him knowing your/his history). You will be surprised at how much they grow during summer camp.

[KiraLin]

Also joining in late in the discussion but FWIW my dd is on ESY plan and our district has revamped that program so that it now consists of sending the K age kids (may be different for older kids not sure) to the town run summer camp program. Apparently some teachers come over and run some more academic and social skills parts of the camp but otherwise it is your basic fun summer camp at the town lake with swimming everyday. DD attended the preschool program that was just 12 hours a week the last two years but since she did an extra year of preschool she is old enough for the K summer program. I about fell over when I found out it is 35 hours a week! Since dd is not having "academic" issues in terms of learning (yet) I am fine with her having a more typical experience, in fact I am thrilled for her. Your DS will likely benefit from the things camp has to offer in terms of many of his challenges and have fun at the same time. Good luck!

[GCS]

I think if you were moving him up you would want to consider this, but in this case I would let him have a summer off. Next year is going to be a confidence building year since he's been through the class work already, and he's going through a lot of adjusting right now.

Just my thoughts!
Good luck!