Back to school routine Prying young adults out of bed in time to eat and be out the door, making sure the mornings are smooth for my own benefit. (a rocky start fixes my whole day with negative overtones) This may well be my last year of this, I'm not sure what I should be feeling now, I thought this stage of my life would go on forever just as when your a kid you think school will never end for you. Hmm.

I am hoping that Chris summer experiences will give him the discipline needed to do the work required to graduate. He is looking ahead to more courses during the school year with the reserves, he seems to have found his niche. I still have mixed feelings but I don't expect that will ever go away while we send soldiers away to war zones.

Laura will be back home soon she is in college locally (thank the lord). All in all I think it was a good learning experience for all my children. Money don't grow on trees and living on your own can be very expensive! She is still working part-time evenings, a tough job cleaning office buildings, some for manufacturers that get quite dirty. Its hard earned money perhaps enough to keep her in school and thinking about her future

Things are not good with Alex... he needs to have some positive experience soon.

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~The mind is like a parachute, It always works best when it's open~Edna Buchanan~

~Northern Spy~The Apple of my Pie~

~Audrey~

sending positive thoughts to Alex!

My boy absolutely loves grade 1 (so far).  We meet the teacher next week and we'll see if Mr gr1 has noticed the attention issues Mrs jk/sk did yet. Fingers crossed!

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Sing an unwritten song or repent for the deeds you left undone.- GBS
If curious means that you trade your routines for something free, the freedom you feel's the whole point of the deal so curious I'll be! - BNL
Priates over Ninjas!!

Carol you are good!

Alex got a job today!

and there will be peace in all the world, at least my world.

Thanks for all the positive thoughts, and don't stop now I would really like to see him right outa the bad slump

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~The mind is like a parachute, It always works best when it's open~Edna Buchanan~

~Northern Spy~The Apple of my Pie~

~Audrey~

more positive thoughts, then!   Out of a slump is usually uphill.

Met Mr. Gr1 and he is so much more laid back.  He and Mrs JK/SK are both experienced teacher but maybe the fact that Mr gr1 has four boys and a girl at home and Mrs JK/SK just one girl matters too.  At any rate, Mr. gr1 will be watching but let us know boy's behaviour is pretty normal, really, and that boy has a great attitude,etc.  Much more reassuring!!

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Sing an unwritten song or repent for the deeds you left undone.- GBS
If curious means that you trade your routines for something free, the freedom you feel's the whole point of the deal so curious I'll be! - BNL
Priates over Ninjas!!

Sometimes a Mr teacher is a better fit for a busy boy. They have often been in that seat and understand how it feels. Here's hoping for a very positive Gr1 year!

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~The mind is like a parachute, It always works best when it's open~Edna Buchanan~

~Northern Spy~The Apple of my Pie~

~Audrey~

OK- I've got an Aspergers question! One of my students has an AS diagnosis, but oppositional behaviors seem to be more his issue. Bright, but refuses to work, will sit and do nothing for hours, then finish the assignment when the pressure is on, even if it is just copyig. Avoidance behaviors include spitting water on the floor, throwing himself on the floor, barking and hopping around the room like a frog. He's been known to explain his actions by saying, "Well you know it is because I'm autistic" He's not medicated currently- parental choice, and I'm sensing parents don't always follow through discipline wise at home. My own AS son had some behavior issues at that age, but not the defiance. Any suggestions on ways to reach the kids, and let the parents know we want the kids to be successful, but it is a team approach, and sometimes we have to rethink our beliefs if it's best for the kid?

I can't really help you much but I do suggest you find some way to make it clear to the parents that he's using his disability as an excuse. He obviously knows better in those situations or else he wouldn't be countering with the autism excuse. You need not phrase it in the "excuse" way (because they'll come back defensive) but they need to know that he's only doing himself more harm by using autism as a crutch. Just because he has to go through life with a limp, doesn't necessarily mean he needs anything to help him walk.

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"I see you in the front row, bouncing up and down, you're ripped and ready for a night downtown." ~ Margarita
What's wrong with a little flirtation?

Monster Tee

Sorry for the double post but things have been nightmarish around here.

 I've finally given in. I just faxed a referal to the Learning Disability Clinic. As much as I didn't want to it was becoming scary. Year long wait because I can't afford private testing. Yes, it sucks to wait that long but I'm glad I'm not in the US where we couldn't afford medical bills at all. 

I have a photographic memory and it became obvious to me by the time she was 4, from the way Kaesye would talk about things, that she had one too. A really good one. When she went for her hearing test, the technician told me to have her do memory games because her short term memory was bad. I took her literally, as in the game Memory, and dismissed it. She kills at that game. I realized in May what I had been dismissing as her simply not listening (asking questions I just answered) was a memory problem. She can't remember anything that is not visual. She can't remember what I just said. She can't even remember what she just said. Figured it was time to mention it to the doctor in case it was something physical, like a brain tumor, instead of psychological.

First parent teacher interview is at the end of the month so I'll see what this year's teacher said. She certainly had no trouble keeping up last year. That being said, homework continues to be a nightmare. After 9 months of this I think the problem is now more me than her. I'm not short of patience, I have none AT ALL. (Trace, I have no idea how you and Binny home school.) I dread picking her up because then I have to bring her home and then I have to do homework. She still rolls up into a ball and screams she doesn't know (occasionally even throws herself on the floor) when she doesn't easily read a word. I tell her to sound it out, she screams louder and I end up giving her a time out. When everything calms down, she reads the word like nothing was wrong. She'll sound out a big long word in one sentence, then have a fit when the word is repeated in the next sentence as if it's a completely different word. She's perfectly capable of sounding out words she doesn't know but if she doesn't get it first try, it all spirals out of control. Each spiral worse than the previous.

She also interprets what she's reading. She knows what kind of word goes there and randomly choses one that makes sense but is wrong. In French each word is masculine or feminine, add to that plurals and there's so many mistakes to be made. In English there is no gender and you say "my" whether it's one book or 10. In French it's "ma" "mon" or "mes". She'll randomly pick one no matter how often I tell her to read what's written and not make up her own words. At least she's no longer reversing  "ou" and "on" in the middle of words.

On a brighter note, my nephew with Asperger's has adjusted just fine to main stream high school. He was put in a special school last year but this school only teaches the kids to get through life, doesn't offer a diploma. His year there doesn't count for anything so he's re-doing grade 7. He's made one good friend that he hangs around with even though they have none of the same classes otherwise, he'd spend breaks alone. He's started getting the attention of girls. One said he was funny and asked if he wanted to be friends. Another asked for help opening her locker. He ended up missing the school bus because of her. Could've lead to a melt down but he calmed down once he called his mother. First math test was on exponents. He not only got 14 out of 16 but only 3 people passed total. My SIL is breathing easier now. 

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"I see you in the front row, bouncing up and down, you're ripped and ready for a night downtown." ~ Margarita
What's wrong with a little flirtation?

Monster Tee

Been thinking of you Fran.  My boy gets so frustrated reading sometimes, and other times he'll do fine.  Again, he's telling the story from the pictures instead of reading the words, filling in words that start with the same letter, etc.

I got called in to talk to Mr Gr.1 last week and he told me there are still attention issues, even when the boy works in small groups.  He doesn't question the boy's intelligence and he doesn't think it's a distraction issue either.  The objective part of me has to agree.  He just can't stay on task.  The protective and proud mom doesn't want to see anything though.  Guess it's time to call the doctor (to get a SLP referral)...

He also is still really struggling with fine motor coordination.  He's never liked it. Never liked colouring, or small cars; wasn't into his Thomas the train set. I have no idea if those things are related or not though.

On the upside, we played a board game requiring simple math problems and played, one on one, for an hour on Saturday...He doesn't have behaviour issues at all, at least.  He seems so confused when he gets in trouble for taking forever to complete simple things.  He doesn't realise he's not on track and has to be constantly reminded of what he's supposed to be doing.

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Sing an unwritten song or repent for the deeds you left undone.- GBS
If curious means that you trade your routines for something free, the freedom you feel's the whole point of the deal so curious I'll be! - BNL
Priates over Ninjas!!

I'll keep it short because things have completely dissolved into a horrible nightmare around here and if I get started, there won't be anything to stop me.

Your son sounds a lot like my daughter (except for the lack of interest in colouring). She walks around in an eternal state of confusion/obliviousness, never seeing the trouble coming. The inability to stay on task is something that has only come up in the last 10 months along with the short term memory issues. Trying hard not to become the over-bearing mother version of a hypochondriac  but I'm starting to suspect Asperger's after a discussion with someone who teaches an adult with AS. Even if only mild, she's starting to exhibit traits that my nephew has. Spent the last week or so being VERY direct with her in the hopes she'll understand the words 'NO' and 'STOP' better than 'please don't' and "I don't think so'. It's not working.

She enjoys games too and I have very little trouble with her for that but I just don't feel like playing with her after a day of fighting. 

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"I see you in the front row, bouncing up and down, you're ripped and ready for a night downtown." ~ Margarita
What's wrong with a little flirtation?

Monster Tee

Fran and Carol; Keep faith things will one day be fine for you and yours. You are at the begining of a long journey, I am just here to let you know that it is possible to get through it I am living proof. Keep looking for answers until they feel right to you.

God Bless you.

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~The mind is like a parachute, It always works best when it's open~Edna Buchanan~

~Northern Spy~The Apple of my Pie~

~Audrey~

It's WAY controversial, but sometimes folks waiting in a long line for an evaluation will offer their perpetually distracted children "coffee milk" (more than half milk) in the morning and see if it helps.  Sometimes it does (although occasionally it puts them right back to sleep).

Love, Columbine (non-parent and avowed coffee lover, so there's my disclaimer)

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I can attst to the value of coffee to someone thought to be adhd. Often it works better than ritalin.

Anne

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And when the winds of change begin to blow,
I'll whisper, "You're my lighthouse" in case you didn't know.

Sons of Maxwell

visit my website!:
Anne's Philly Phan Site at http://www.gbsfanatic.com

I am adhd - have been since birth - coffee still works wonder in me.  It works in most truly adhd folks I know.  and honestly the few people it'd didn't work on, were not adhd or had other issues complicating things. It particularly works better in older kids who can't take Ritalin anymore.

 

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Draco Dormiens Nunquam Titillandus
"Take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented." E. Wiesel
OKP's Resident B****
Imprudens est draconem vivum de consiliis tuis omittere.
Steet team Leader for NYS, OH and Southern Ontario.

Coffee is an interesting idea.  My boy has always really liked coffee, my double doubles, not his dad's black.  I've made him little boy coffee (decaf) as a treat because he likes the taste so much.  He's only 6 and I thought the caffiene was a bad thing for him but maybe Monday I'll give him a "latte".  He's not hyperactive at all though.  All the teachers, camp leaders, etc. have always complimented his great attitude and respect for others, etc.  He's just in his own world alot.

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Sing an unwritten song or repent for the deeds you left undone.- GBS
If curious means that you trade your routines for something free, the freedom you feel's the whole point of the deal so curious I'll be! - BNL
Priates over Ninjas!!