dysTalk Flip - Dealing With Teachers - Dyspraxia - Forum - dysTalk

To Sarah: HI, I am a teacher, and I get frustrated working with other teachers that don't know about dyslexia/dyspraxia etc. This is especially a problem in infant schools as the children haven't developed so much of a 'difference'.

The biggest problem for the teachers is actually lack of knowledge, and then lack of ability to apply this knowledge. So my advice is to ask the teacher what they know about dyspraxia, if they give you a fudged answer then educate them! Explain in simple term how life is for your son, explain about his need for rules to be kept, and discuss ways to help him develop himself for instance calming down through counting (a funny counting pattern will take his mind off the actual situation and help his body gain a normal level).

I do think the teacher should be grateful that he cries and not punches, or hurts others!

I imagine the problem isn't your son, children playing football is always tricky at that age because its unstructured and other children don't know how to pass the ball instead just want to run at the goal! I've watched them and stopped many a fight especially with little ones.

Also, the head teacher should be understanding, and there should by law be a SENco who knows about these things so speak to them.

If you want to do something even more positive, get involved with or just contact an organisation and if you have time start trying to increase awareness of special needs through them, you could ask an organisation (or do it yourself) to come and do staff training in the school.

Also for your son, does he go to a football club after school (separate from school)? This will help him stay enjoying the game.

I hope these ideas are of some help.

25/09/2011 08:44:00
George

Im doing a project for Grade 10 about becoming a teacher. I was looking around this site for advice on how to respond to special needs children. Since it seems as if people on this forum have children with special needs, is there any advice you can give me?

Thank you!

02/05/2010 21:36:53
Kate

Your son sounds like mine. I have found the best way to deal with unreasonable teachers is to talk to them calmly without being demanding. Explain what dyspraxia is and how it effects children's emotions. How they have a difficult time regulating their emotions, how your son's crying is the equivalent to another boy saying ''that's not fair'', but your son cannot easily get the words out and regulate his frustration, so it comes out as crying. He can't help it. Then ask their advice ''what do you recommend we do?''.

Usually when adults have all the information and are treated with respect they respond appropriately. The problem is they have to overcome their own personal biases, like ''7 year old boys shouldn't cry''. Yes, this is true, except when they are also dealing with a sensory processing disorder that is causing extreme internal frustration that you cannot see.

30/03/2010 14:03:33
Peter B

This would contravene the Disability Equality Duty (DED)policy which every school in the UK should have in place under the 2005 Disability Discrimination Act (DDA).

So you could ask the school to provide a copy of the Schools DED policy. Each school has to create their own DED policy based on the school facilities, and the needs of those disabled individuals or groups who will have access to those facilities. (this includes children teachers parents, etc) Most who require SEN support are usually described as having a disability by the UK Government guidelines for the DED policies

18/03/2010 14:57:00
dolfrog (Member)

My 7 year old son plays football at school yard time. Unfortunately they can make up their own rules and as would be expected of 7 year olds they run off with the ball or change the size of the goal etc. My son likes rules and gets very frustrated and cries. His teacher has said he is too old to behave like this and has banned him from playing for 2 days. I have asked her not to do this as I don't want to put him off football but now she has widened the ban to anyone who cries during the football matches.

Has anyone any advice or comments please.

PS

She is aware that he has dyspraxia and I think it was his resource teacher that came up with the idea.

16/03/2010 18:46:19
sarah (Member)