Behaviors of a five year old.....????

Question

There is a boy in Kindergarten at the school I teach first grade in (my first year as a 1st gd. teacher)...he seems to be out of control. I know the teacher has tried to get the parents to open their eyes, but they refuse. (we teach at a private school w/ no spec. ed services). However, I have noticed that he will not make eye contact, has a very strange voice (as well as limited vocabulary), throws horrendous temper tantrums, mimics/copies what is told to him in very robotic voice, as well as run away from you if you call his name and he knows he is doing something he isn't supposed to. I have never seen a behavior like this, so I am interested if anyone has encountered this type of behavior, and if so, how did you deal?? I will have him in my class next year, and I want both of us to have a good school year. Please help :)

Answer 1

I have met two children with autism and this sounds like the same behaviors they showed.  The kids I knew repeated ,one ran if you tried to go to him ,and they never want there ideas interrupted.  Can you speak to the principal about a possible intervention because if he is autistic he needs special schooling to help him cope with the disease and with life in general ?

Answer 2

Plain and simple he is autistic.

Answer 3

if you are in the states then when he enters the first grade then you will be able to get him tested for special services but with what you have here its hard to say whether he is autistic or not. of course you know your tredding on dangerous labeling ground you say that work around the parents. parents dont want thier child to have a label.

but what you can do is get some picture icons from boardmaker for help in his vocabulary and it may help cut down on his tantrums if he is able to communicate what he wants with you.

learn some sign lang. and get some training in pecs (picture communication)

you will have to have a STRICT routine that doesnt change in your room and dont be out more than you have to.

as far as behavior then he will have to a consequence following the action immediatly. none of this sitting out on the play time for something done that morning.

these tactics no matter the diagnosis will help a lot.

and when bringing this up to the parents dont start with i think he is or that. get some copies of milestones and normal behavior for kids his age and keep notes of his days so that you have some proof that your not just picking on him. maybe record his play time to show back at a parent conference and say your concerned and would like to have him evaluated for an IEP. but it doesnt sound like he will need to be moved to another school just some things adjusted for him.

good luck