open house at son's school

[Guest guest]

Open house was actually fun! All of these people are doing a great job. We moved to NH in October of 2007 and started 5th grade here at the "Intermediate School". Our experiences there were so good. 5th grade was better than I expected and I didn't think there was any way the 6th grade staff could top it. Well, they did. Phenomenal. But this year had to move on to the middle school. I was quite nervous but also cautiously optimistic. I found out that the school has a resident asperger expert and she is a guidance counselor at the middle school. I've been in contact with her since last year and she has taken to calling me her "penpal". She knows her stuff, she really does. She has a great sense of humor and an extremely good grasp of how to choose battles and figure out

the functions of behavior. She already has a great rapport with . Mostly, this guidance counselor works with kids whose last names begin with letters M-L. Despite this rule was also placed with her and she is permanently his guidance counselor just because we wanted it.

has a para who is also an education major. He is kind and sensitive and firm when needed and very detail oriented about making sure we get 's homework assignments.

Everyone at the school seems to be great at problem solving and listen to me like they actually believe I have some brain cells which can be a tough thing in some places. I have, in the past, been treated like I was "the problem". I spoke to the math teacher and told her how I got to write out his work. I had him tell me what to write for the first few problems and then he decided he'd rather write them out himself. I think I write too slowly for him and he finds it more annoying than actually having to write. He gets overwhelmed with too much written work, but just a few minutes of writing things FOR him gets him back on track and feeling more comfortable. The math teacher said, "Oh what a great idea!"

A couple of days ago got it in his head he wanted this new DS game. At the same time my husband got it in HIS head that he was going to buy a tent. Anyway, at school one day got the idea that he should tell me that he didn't want the tent and he really wants the game instead. He perseverated all morning long and wanted to call me to tell me this. At lunch time his para decided to give me a call and I spoke to . I told him I'd tell dad what he said. Then he had a great day for the rest of the day. There is an agreement now that as long as it doesn't become a habit that an occasional call home would be okay.

Last week refused to change back into his regular clothes after gym/PE whatever. The para wrote a little note about it. They had speak to the guidance counselor and she asked him why he didn't want to change. He said it was because his clothes that he took off were inside out. He didn't want to struggle with that. I sent a note in saying maybe I should just send him in wearing PE stuff on PE days and then send regular clothes in his gym bag. Nobody saw my note. We're sort of getting accustomed to our notebooks and communication books and the system is sort of evolving. Anyway, the same day I got a note home suggesting I send in wearing PE clothes and regular clothes in his gym bag. Great Minds Think Alike!! Anyway, we got that worked out and I had a laugh over the small bit of confusion. Hey as long as we're all coming to the same conclusions I'm happy. So we did

that this week.

had a GREAT week. He didn't spend a lot of time with his head down on his desk and he was alert and participated.

I'm sort of rambling here. My husband and I went to open house and met all the teachers we hadn't already met. The science teacher and social studies and language arts and math teachers. I'd already met the LA and Math teachers. 's social studies teacher said soaks up info like a sponge! LOL. It's true and he's developed sudden interest in social studies in the last year. That happened after we started vision therapy. He started reading and seems to really like that information.

Anyway, I wish I could wave a wand and make all the schools on the planet really get these fabulous kids because really, I know they're hard to deal with, but they also have TONS to offer. They WANT to do the right things and they want to be accepted and in the right environment I think they can all do well. Schools could make such a difference. I've seen the very worst and the very best and a little bit of the in-between. is a happy kid even though he regularly asks, "Why do we get so much homework? Why do we have to do so many worksheets?" is learning and thriving despite being in a new and overwhelming school because the people around him understand. They might not always know how to help but they can be flexible until they figure it out.

One day had a meltdown because of a bad grade on a test. He laid on the floor and cried. Not typical behavior for a 7th grader. The guidance counselor told , "I'd like to help you, but really, I don't even know you so why don't you come to my office so I can get some history." calmed down and said, "Okay" and later requested seeing this guidance counselor once a week. It's an overwhelmingly happy feeling to know he's safe physically and emotionally at this school!

Miriam

Miriam Mim Mimmom

mimbanash@...

[Guest guest]

Miriam,

How wonderful! That's so great to have a school working with you, "getting" your son and willing to work when they "don't get it"! Yeah! Our little guy is in 1st and we're really blessed to have a school who is really trying their best. They respect me as an "expert" when it comes to my son and are working hard to help him function in class. Wish para's were an option here in VA, but I don't think they really are. My little guy would do so much better with help IN the class vs. being pulled out to an autism resource classroom...anyway just wanted to say yeah so glad to hear a great story!

www.cuddlebugkids.com

____________________________________________________________

Lose up to 20 lbs in one month with a new diet. Click here.

[Guest guest]

Thanks! I enjoy it so much when I can share something positive. I come here

for comfort when things are bad, but I feel like I need to tell people about the

good, too.

does get pulled to resource if he's having a really tough time and is

disruptive but he is able to stay in regular class more often with his para. In

Texas the one good school was in had something similar to what you have in

Va. It worked great but the 1:1 in class gives him opportunities to relate to

typical kids.

The kids here are mostly very good, too. A lot of them volunteer as buddies for

special olympics or challenger league baseball (little league for disabled

kids). So they see at these events, know he's a participant and get that

there is some REASON for his differences. That seems to put them at ease and

they give a chance to show how fun and interesting and funny he can be.

So far doesn't seem embarrassed to have a para. I hope he continues to be

okay with having a para because he really does need one.

Miriam

>

> Miriam,

> How wonderful! That's so great to have a school working with you, " getting "

> your son and willing to work when they " don't get it " ! Yeah! Our little

> guy is in 1st and we're really blessed to have a school who is really trying

> their best. They respect me as an " expert " when it comes to my son and are

> working hard to help him function in class. Wish para's were an option here

> in VA, but I don't think they really are. My little guy would do so much

> better with help IN the class vs. being pulled out to an autism resource

> classroom...anyway just wanted to say yeah so glad to hear a great story!

>

> www.cuddlebugkids.com

> ____________________________________________________________

> Lose up to 20 lbs in one month with a new diet. Click here.

>

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