She had told DS she needed to figure out how to use it first.
OK, seems like the typing is the first thing to tackle. Netbooks are availible around the 400$ mark. Can you get your hands on one? If not, schedule a meeting with the teacher and perhaps also the 504 counselor (or someother classroom teacher in the building who actually uses an alphasmart) to 'introduce' you to the alphasmart. You want to pretend that you want the teacher to teach you how to use it, so that if DS has any questions, you will be able to answer them. Then, while the teacher is 'teaching you' you can gently 'bumble' into 'Oh, this might be the on switch.' Basically, acting like an interested learner is probably the best way to get this teacher over her fear of the hardware. Have her show you how to start it, type something and upload or print. Make sure it all works together. Try to get the meeting to happen within the next 2 weeks.
Document that you have requested this meeting.
Next comes the desk. Just make Friday afternoon 'organization day' and go to school at the end of the school day and do it for your son. Take notes the first time you do it. (Or ask DS to take notes on the Alphasmart - LOL!) Change the notes into a computer printed out step by step chart that can be laminated and taped to the inside of the bottom of the desk. See if an accordian file is needed to keep papers from 'swirling around.' Slowly, change your job from 'doing it' to 'supporting your son to doing it' to 'checking to affirm that he did it.' This is worth taking time off from work if possible, or going in afterwork hours. Last year I got to know the janitorial staff of my son's school quite well from the monthly evening visits. It won't last forever.
As for 'speaking up' - is there a school psychologist who can be involved here? In 6th grade my son was assigned a support person who helped him learn to interact with the teachers in an appropriate way. She did a lot of coaching and it seemed to help. She also fed DS a lot of candy, so he liked her.
If you are sticking with this teacher, I would be sure to send her a love letter every week, saying how much your son enjoyed a particular activity. I'll bet that just a one minute weekly note would go a long way towards making this teacher like you and feel like you are on the same team. You have no idea how little support most people walk around getting. Really. 'I notice you choose to wear a pretty flower pin.' passes for deep recognition in most places. I tend to let perfectionism make me 'just not say anything.' In reality, saying anything is usually amazing. Then - after maybe 6 weeks of 'he sure enjoyed talking about sirrus cloud formations' you can start making requests.
You can see that I'm really 'experienced' with this 'Advocacy' thing. I need to tell you that in the end, none of this was enough to get my son his needed gradeskip, and I ended up sending him to a private school that had a school psychologist who 'got' my son (and probably had a son of her own 'just like him')and they saw the need for the gradeskip within a week. So I joke that I got the gradeskip 'the old fashioned way....I paid for it.'
Remember that you can do everthing right, and still not get what you need, but I totally matter that you tried. Good for you for seeing this as a co-learning opportunity!
Grinity
