school / IEP ?!

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I want to go back to highschool.

First time I was there the principal basically told me I lacked the social skills to not fail and suggested an alternative school. I go there this is how a conversation went with all the teachers: "Uhm, I have a question..." "Look at me when you talk" "okay..." "Get your hand away from your mouth" "okay.." "Look at me when you talk!" So basically that drove me insane and they couldn't handle me so they made up some story that I was acting out to get me out of there. So I'm now home schooled but I don't like it because it isn't structured enough and basically is boring. I want to be normal and go back to a public school of some sort.

The only private school around here is religious, however, but my mom is looking into it regardless. But I'm probably not going to be able to attend (expensive, and I don't want to participate in anything religious). So that leaves the original highschool. My mother told me if I did go I'd have to be in an IEP program. What does that exactly mean? Am I going to have to have an aid, get into special ed classes or what? What does that even mean? What are your experiences with this??? She said it wouldn't be like last time I went there, however. But she really would rather me not go, so how can I convince her to let me attend?

Thank youuuuuu.

wow, I made lots of attempts to get out of high school and nothing worked. I skipped out after lunch and went home for nearly a month before anyone said anything, and they still let me stay in all the classes I missed for a month, tried forcing me back in. And even during that month my schedule was like this, Get in at like 7:40am, go to library, bell rings at 8:20 for class to start, i'd just get up and move into the corner of the library and sit there for the first 2 periods, the librarians never paid attention so didnt do/say anything. Then I went to architecture class 3rd, then 4th i'd go back into the library into a corner and then lunch 5th and left and went home.

Then finally someone noticed I was showing up for only 1 class a day and i had to have a big sit down. And I didnt get dropped from any class.


IEP is an individual education program. From what I remember it's not anything bad I dont think, just a little more customized.

IEP, we just got one in motion for my 8 year old.

The school will have you take some tests to find out your strengths and weaknesses. Based on those results they will decide what kind of special stuff needs to be given to you to keep you on track. An IEP can consist of taking tests in a more quiet smaller group, or even that you be allowed to use the rest room whenever you feel the need even if it's normally against the rules.

They check things like motor skills (fine and gross), vision, hearing, language, reasoning (kind of like if we give you a math problem how long does it take you to get to the answer and how do you go about figuring it out?) That kind of stuff.

They have, I think it was 30 days to do all of this (for my sons), and at the end your mom will be called in and asked her input and to sign for things.

My son gets 30 minutes 2 days a week with a speech teacher (he has problems with certain sounds), 30 minutes 3 days a week with a LD teacher who is working on writing paragraphs and social conduct. (what to say when someone says hello, what to do in this situation) He also get frequent breaks during tests and the ability to ASK to take his test in a quieter place.

It will be different for you, if you are distracted really easily then you might get a quiet room to take tests in and more time with breaks counted in. If you have huge issues with home work, they might cut the work load. You might get more assistance getting your things together if you have huge organizational issues.

There is this little boy at my sons school who has an aide, it's his aides job to poke him every couple seconds to remind him he is doing something with the class. (Or that is what it looked like her job was. haha)

Feel free to write a list of the things that are hardest for you and things you think would help you best, you are older than my 9 year old and I'm sure you can think of something that might help you out and also think of the areas you excel in as well. I suggest making a list of your strengths and weaknesses to take in with you, show them you mean business and that you plan to do your best. I would even tell them WHY you want to come back to school, let them know that you felt under challenged.

A list, okay. Asked my mother. Are these the type of things I should list?:

- I have to be specifically reminded when to turn in assignments each day (I couldn't count how many times I did the work just didn't turn them in)
- I need extra time and help on assignments (especially projects) because I have trouble starting them. I usually need someone to come over and remind me to start the assignment and go through the steps with me, (and not yell at me or accuse me of being lazy. ) I can never make choices, so free-writing of any sort never gets done because I just start crying.
- Presentations. I can't make any eye contact, so I always get a terrible grade on these. And having all those people stare at me make me a stuttering mess.
- I need someone to ask me periodically if I need help and if I understand things.
- Group projects, partners. I'm always just sitting there left out and then in trouble for not finding a partner-- it'd be nice if I could do these things on my own or if a teacher could pair me up with a partner each time.
- In-class work. I just can't do it. When (s)he says I have to write an essay and it has to be turned in at the end of the period, I completely panic and can't do it.
- I don't like people behind me. Sitting in the back or off to the side would be VERY nice.
- Getting a pass to go to the library instead of lunch, or some other accommodation of that sort. You can't leave the cafeteria, and there usually aren't enough tables for someone to sit alone at. And I feel really uncomfortable there, it's like a circus.
- I have to ask for clarification on what everyone says. I don't know why, I either have to repeat what everyone says or ask "What?" each time because all the noise distracts me, I suppose. Anyway, it annoys the teachers and they get angry.
- No social skills, obviously.
- Granted permission to use a computer for all assignments, or some other accommodation. I couldn't count how many times teachers refused to grade my work due to my handwriting (I have to write extremely small, if I don't it's all over the page) and I just absolutely dislike writing anything down due to this.
- I can't express what I'm feeling or make choices or know what to say, so everything is always "I don't know" and the teachers get angry, yet again.
- Breaks would be nice, or just going to a quiet place with no many people like the library when doing assignments and tests. But I'm probably asking for too much there. =/
- Gym. There's ususally at least 3 different classes going on in one gym, and it's terribly confusing. I don't like dressing out. I don't like baggy clothes. I like what I'm wearing. I don't want to dress out. I'm very bad at running (I look funny) and I don't want people to bother me about that. I also can't tie shoes (I might buy some non-tie ones soon). I have to wear a hoody/jacket all the time. I CAN NOT pull my hair back. It has to be in my face. I don't like all the yelling.

I think basically what I need is more patience and understanding from the teachers, possibly smaller classes if that could be arranged. But my mom said they probably wouldn't be able to do that for me and it wouldn't work out. Does this sound like a disaster and I should forget about it? I really want to go back though. Am I asking too much?

I would also like to mention that last time I went it got so bad I would refuse to go to school and my mom couldn't get me to go. But, I'm very willing to go back now if the teachers are willing to deal with me and not treat me like a trouble maker and get angry with me.