kindergarten update... | Autism PDD
Nice to see you, Shell...
Yayy glad to hear they are doing so well - we atrted a post in the Hangout Session about Missing you
glad to see you 2 Shell - hope youa re doing okay
Glad you're back!especially with good news.
That's great!WOW!! Evie draws awesome! I have a kindergartener also this year---NT. She can't draw at all! She likes to, but it's really bad. Now, coloring----she's really "perfect" about it.
That's great the girls are doing so well! It's always so scarey wondering what's going to happen and how they will react these first few weeks!
Thanks - yeah, there are other kids having transition problems (mostly, cry because they don't want to leave mum kind of things), so she's definitely not the only one.
MJ - When on a chair, it's kneeling. I think she does it because she's just a little peanut and like being able to be above the table/desk. On the floor, she's a definite 'W' sitter. It's actually a good point about using it as a reason to get some PT or OT, as she definitely needs to eventually be able sit on her but!
Linda - This is what her papers are coming home like:
http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o192/batfish00/paper.jpg
I wish she'd spend as much time on the actual work than on the characters! I hope her teacher's getting a kick out of it.
Evie - is really good at doodling. You should think about art therapy...I loved it. It's not really therapy, but more of a art class that helps with thoughts and control of movement.Glad to hear the girls are doing so well with Kindergarten. I know you were really worried for them.
I loved her little doodles. When my kids were in K-1st grade the teachers actually encouraged drawing on the back of the paper if they finished early.[QUOTE=mamajot]Sounds good. Does Evie sit on her knees and shins like a letter "v" or "w"? I've read and heard that it is an OT issue due to weak trunk muscles and they should be encouraged to sit on their tushies. This may be a reason to get OT services from school.
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Yup W sitting compensates for core muscle weakness -- meaning they will not build up their abs or back! T does it -- bigtime.
Sounds just wonderful! Love to hear they are adjusting well...the beginning is the hardest and the rest of the year you should see some great improvements in social and language:) I agree that the teacher show no slack...our kids are smart and will get away with tons if you let them:) Keep on top of things and they will go far and do awesome..they already are:)Glad to see you around fred! I've been wondering where you are and was about to post a "Where's Fred?" thread. Hey, I rhymed!
I bet you're glad you mainstreamed the girls - it sounds like they are doing great! Make sure the teachers are watching for signs of stress/anxiety. The ASD teacher here noticed it in our ds the first week as he was perseverating on how much time is left in the day (it is all-day long and is almost 7 hours). So, she checks in on him and sometimes pulls him for a gross-motor break (10 minutes) making sure he doesn't miss any academics. He also finishes his lunch in her room during the class' rest time. They are expected to lay still and be completely quiet for 20 minutes during rest time. That to me, sounds like TORTURE! So, I can't imagine what it's like for him. Otherwise, things are going great for him and he really likes school. But boy, is he tired when he gets home! It's getting better and we're not hearing many complaints any more - thank goodness!
As most of you know, the girls started regular kindergarten a few weeks ago. This is just an update on how that's going.
We had a meeting with Abbigail's teacher today - the "problem" teacher, and the meeting was a good, productive clearing of the air, for their mom, especially. It sounds like Abigail is doing well, actually, and the problems that Melissa had with the teacher might have been lack of communication more than anything else. Abigail is participating in class, interacting with peers and adults, is happy and laughing when appropriate, and is, in general, adapting well to this long school day with typical kid expectations. She is having problems with yelling (if another kid accidently bumps her, or if she has some minor issue like a rock in her shoe, etc.) and some mild tantrumy behavior and her volume control is stuck on '10', but all in all, it sounds pretty good.
I actually liked the teacher. She has high expectations of self sufficiency and behavior and isn't cutting Abbie much slack, which is all good, in my opinion (and my opinion on how much support and special accomodations kids like mine need at school has been morphing over the past few weeks with input from my psychologist). The teacher thinks that with everything that Abbie has going on, she has made a very good transition, and none of these behaviors are insurmountable or require any additional intervention. She is not having problems with communication with Abbie (other than she has to make sure that Abbie has heard and understood instructions due to her tendency to not pay attention to people) and she feels that Abbie's language is pretty ok for now. SHe even said that the other kids in the class are not really avoiding her (because of her yelling tendency) because she's not the only one with these sorts of behaviors.
We're going to start a daily checkoff sheet of what Abbie's done during the day and we're having an IEP meeting for both girl's, ASAP.
Evie has had two+ weeks worth of smiley faces on her behavioral chart, notes home indicating that she is playing and interacting appropriately with her peers. She is bringing home worksheets that are properly completed (though often decorated with lots of character drawings on the borders), and is even able to tell us basic things that happened during the day, the names of the kids that she's played with, etc. Only minor concerns is that she's dilly dallying in the bathroom for some reason and won't sit on her bum (she likes to sit on her knees most of the time).
So far, this is going better than I could have expected. It was touch and go for the first week, when Melissa was having strong apprehenions with Abbie's teacher, but I think that things are going about as well as could be expected.
Excellent report, Fred!
That is what I like about LRE: Kids have the chance to rise to the occasion, and they can SO surprise you!
Also, T "decorates" the back of EVERY worksheet! So far the teacehrs are not complaining or correcting her though.
willing to work with you. That is not for granted. Your girls are also doing
really well. Almost all kindergardeners have some adjustment problems
and sometimes it is hard to seperate what is a 'normal' problem and what
is an asd issue. And of course (for most asd kids) there will be problems
and issues. It is not necessarily an indicator of a bad school but the
nature of having a kid that ticks different.
Sounds good. Does Evie sit on her knees and shins like a letter "v" or "w"? I've read and heard that it is an OT issue due to weak trunk muscles and they should be encouraged to sit on their tushies. This may be a reason to get OT services from school.
Thanks folks,
It's still early in the game, but in their past placements, the first several weeks to months were the worst, so hopefully, that trend continues and things get even better over the course of the year.
[QUOTE=marilyna]
If you don't mind my asking, were the girls in school at 3? What were they like then at school?
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They started school at 3.0 - a developmental preschool - 2.5 hours, in NH. They were awful in school at that age - esp. Abigail. Abbie needed a 1:1 aid in order to function at all, and even so, she tantrumed for 30-60 minutes several times/day. At that age, communication with her was very difficult, and she was extremely rigid, which is a bad combination. Evie was a little better, but she had her issues, too.
Glad everything is going wellYour signature says the girls are 4. Are they 5 now?
I am so happy for you! I think the reports are just fabulous! I will be thrilled if my son does that well in kindergarten (he's only 3 now).
If you don't mind my asking, were the girls in school at 3? What were they like then at school?
Fred,
So excited to hear that the girls are doing so well - and that YOU are doing so well too and are comfortable with the placement choices you made for them!
Keep the good new coming!!!!
Thats great that they are doing so well. It seems that they are adjusting
being without each other as well.Love the drawings...sounds like their comfy in their new school. GREAT!
Sandy
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