I'm writing to report that there's not a whole lot to report. Which is good, I suppose.
We're back to four days a week at integrated pre-school ("integrated" meaning special needs and typical peers). As I have blogged, Brad is in a great program with a rich curriculum, including motor group and one-on-one speech. It wasn't all good news last year though. In last year's class, he had difficulty keeping up and tended to withdraw.
Over the summer, Brad had a good teacher, who REALLY REALLY understood Brad and appreciated him. (Well, technically, I think the summer program is camp, but it was at the same place.) Anyway, according to her, Brad came out of his shell during the course of the summer. Brad showed her that fullness of expression that we see around the house. She loved him. Well maybe she loves all of her students, but still, I was enjoying her Brad appreciation.
Anyway, out with the old and in with the new. His teacher for this year (September through May) has yet to bond with him on that level. But I'm hopeful they'll get there. And the class mix seems to be better for Brad, in terms of age and temperament and whatnot.
One thing new on the roster: they might add a twist to Brad's one-on-one speech pullouts. They suggested one-on-two, meaning one speech therapist for two children. To facilitate a friendship and administer therapy at the same time. Call me crazy, but I like that idea a lot.
5 comments:
You are so not crazy, that sounds like an awesome idea. I would love that for Egg. Th one to one I had to say no to as it doesn't work for him. All it does it piss him off.
xx
I think it is great to use therapies as social skills groups as well. Jack's OT does that, and I think it's done wonders for him.
I know what you mean about having those certain teachers and therapists who just connect. It is so very nice ...
Sounds like things are really going well though. I think your instincts are always really, really good.
Your blog really made me think ... why do we structure schools the way we do? I think it is so sad the way when we are little we make these wonderful bonds and then just like that it seems, we are just supposed to move on to someone new. I guess someone thinks that we gain some sort of wonderful efficiency from the expertise that we let these teachers develop by specializing in a particular grade level. But gosh. I'm wondering if I wouldn't rather give up that expertise in "first grade" if someone would develop an expertise in my son instead. What would it be like if our children could have the same teacher for the first several years? I don't think humans evolved to live this way.
I think one-on-two is a great idea for Brad. I hope he receives the same love and appreciation from his new teacher as he did with his old. I've no doubt he's an easy one to love and fun to teach.
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