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Due to my kindergarten teacher having it in for me for reasons unknown, I was mistakenly placed in a special ed class in first grade. (Well, there was also a bona fide Special Ed class beneath that one, held in the back of the kindergarten building, that consisted of teen boys). I was switched to a normal level first grade class shortly after Halloween. I loved first grade better than any year of school, even that special ed class. It had its own bathroom inside it, unlike other classrooms that used the bathrooms in the hallway. We also had 2 teachers working side by side.
Okay, my question is this: Probably about once a week, or so, a handful of us from that class, myself included, had to go out to the hallway and walk on a balance beam. Not suspended up like gymnasts use, just the beam itself down on the floor. This wasn't part of phys ed, just a few minutes out in the hall, then back into the classroom with the others.
Is anyone familiar with this? What does this balance beam excercise have to do with special ed? How do they decide which students do this?
BTW, none of us were physically handicapped. Or even retarded. Just 'slow'.
You need to READ your IEP and understand what it says you will get --- accomodations, modifications, services, programs. If you do not know what ANYTHING means or why YOU need to ask for clarification.
What does "SLOW" mean? What category are you elgibile for SpEd services? This sounds like a PHYSICAL THERAPY activity addressing GROSS MOTOR SKILLS. It has to be written in your IEP for you to do this..
Learning Disabled...Cognatively Impaired? What is your FSIQ?
READ YOUR IEP and know what it says....The IEP is written to BENEFIT YOU. You and your parent / guardian directly control what the IEP does for you.
Last edited by toobusytoday; 01-17-2014 at 12:33 PM..
Reason: removed inappropriate language
How old are you? You can't be placed in a special education program by a teacher alone. It requires the input of an IEP team including parents/guardian, among other things. Need more details.
A low balance beam is typically used by occupational therapists in a school setting to help assess gross motor development, whether or not it's on track, or if therapy is warranted. Students with delays in gross motor skill acquisition may qualify for OT services. Motor skill assessments are generally run if there is some question of delayed development in this area.
How many years ago is this? You sound like this was 40, 50, or even 60 years ago.
Obviously you are an adult now, so any question like this is completely meaningless. I wouldn't be surprised if there weren't even IEPs when you were in school.
You need to READ your IEP and understand what it says you will get --- accomodations, modifications, services, programs. If you do not know what ANYTHING means or why YOU need to ask for clarification.
WTF does "SLOW" mean? What category are you elgibile for SpEd services? This sounds like a PHYSICAL THERAPY activity addressing GROSS MOTOR SKILLS. It has to be written in your IEP for you to do this..
Learning Disabled...Cognatively Impaired? What is your FSIQ?
READ YOUR IEP and know what it says....The IEP is written to BENEFIT YOU. You and your parent / guardian directly control what the IEP does for you.
I doubt the person ever had one; this likely was many, many years ago, before IDEA became law.
Due to my kindergarten teacher having it in for me for reasons unknown, I was mistakenly placed in a special ed class in first grade. (Well, there was also a bona fide Special Ed class beneath that one, held in the back of the kindergarten building, that consisted of teen boys). I was switched to a normal level first grade class shortly after Halloween. I loved first grade better than any year of school, even that special ed class. It had its own bathroom inside it, unlike other classrooms that used the bathrooms in the hallway. We also had 2 teachers working side by side.
Okay, my question is this: Probably about once a week, or so, a handful of us from that class, myself included, had to go out to the hallway and walk on a balance beam. Not suspended up like gymnasts use, just the beam itself down on the floor. This wasn't part of phys ed, just a few minutes out in the hall, then back into the classroom with the others.
Is anyone familiar with this? What does this balance beam excercise have to do with special ed? How do they decide which students do this?
BTW, none of us were physically handicapped. Or even retarded. Just 'slow'.
Thirty plus years ago, I taught students who were mildly mentally retarded, they were frequently called "slow learners" at that time. I had a balance beam in the classroom which I used in a variety of ways. Some children were quite active (today they probably would have been labeled ADHD and put on medication) and I had them walk the beam slowly several times per day as it helped them slow down and helped them better control their actions. If they went too fast they would fall off.
Another child had poor balance and low muscle tone and once or twice a day I would walk with him, holding his hand, while he walked the beam. Over the next two years he learned how to walk the beam by himself. I believe that the physical therapist recommended this activity.
Some times the children would just walk the beam as a few minute gross motor break between academic subjects.
The next year I was transferred into a class room which was 1/3 the size (and more children) so the balance beam had to go.
You need to READ your IEP and understand what it says you will get --- accomodations, modifications, services, programs. If you do not know what ANYTHING means or why YOU need to ask for clarification.
WTF does "SLOW" mean? What category are you elgibile for SpEd services? This sounds like a PHYSICAL THERAPY activity addressing GROSS MOTOR SKILLS. It has to be written in your IEP for you to do this..
Learning Disabled...Cognatively Impaired? What is your FSIQ?
READ YOUR IEP and know what it says....The IEP is written to BENEFIT YOU. You and your parent / guardian directly control what the IEP does for you.
IEP? FSIQ? What does all this mean? Are you using too much jargon and abbreviations, or am I just slow?
Seriously, though, what the heck is IEP?
Thirty plus years ago, I taught students who were mildly mentally retarded, they were frequently called "slow learners" at that time. I had a balance beam in the classroom which I used in a variety of ways. Some children were quite active (today they probably would have been labeled ADHD and put on medication) and I had them walk the beam slowly several times per day as it helped them slow down and helped them better control their actions. If they went too fast they would fall off.
Another child had poor balance and low muscle tone and once or twice a day I would walk with him, holding his hand, while he walked the beam. Over the next two years he learned how to walk the beam by himself. I believe that the physical therapist recommended this activity.
Some times the children would just walk the beam as a few minute gross motor break between academic subjects.
The next year I was transferred into a class room which was 1/3 the size (and more children) so the balance beam had to go.
Thank you. This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you for not throwing around wierd abbreviations like IEP and stuff that I've never heard of. I was in first grade around the time you taught. I always wondered what the heck was up with that balance beam exercise. It made me feel different from the rest of the class (except for the few others that went out to the hall with me). To this day, my balance is kinda poor. I'm thinking of signing up for a free balance class in my neighborhood. Once I got moved to the normal first grade class, I never had to do the balance beam stuff, except in gym along with everyone else, when it was elevated and on mats. I always failed P.E. because I'm uncoordinated.
I'm not sure if they still do the balance beam for today's special ed students, but it was good to get some insight into what happened back then.
When my father sat me down a few years later to explain the error, he didn't mention the kindergarten teacher having anything to do with the decision, but it was just my suspicion. He said that at that time, it was kind of a trend for schools to overdiagnose and misdiagnose kids as having dyslexia and he thought that's what had happened to me.
IEP? FSIQ? What does all this mean? Are you using too much jargon and abbreviations, or am I just slow?
Seriously, though, what the heck is IEP?
(IEP) Individualized Education Plan---this is the ticket for Special Education classes. Without this, a student CANNOT be in SpEd classes.
(FSIQ) Full Scale IQ
You cannot be compelled to walk the plank, or be in a "slow" class unless there is an IEP.
Do you live in Russia or some other third world country? Where are your parents?
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Thank you. This is the type of answer I was looking for. Thank you for not throwing around wierd abbreviations like IEP and stuff that I've never heard of. I was in first grade around the time you taught. I always wondered what the heck was up with that balance beam exercise. It made me feel different from the rest of the class (except for the few others that went out to the hall with me). To this day, my balance is kinda poor. I'm thinking of signing up for a free balance class in my neighborhood. Once I got moved to the normal first grade class, I never had to do the balance beam stuff, except in gym along with everyone else, when it was elevated and on mats. I always failed P.E. because I'm uncoordinated.
