Adam is graduating.

[Claire]

Well we we're going to hold Adam back one year. He is in Sr. Kindergaten and we didn't think he was ready for grade one. Well as it turns out, being from a small communitty, there will only be 9 kids in grade 1 next fall and 23 in a mixed Jr, and Sr. Kindergaten. So we will let him go to grade 1 next fall. The problem will be to get him to sit for longer periods of time. He is a very busy little noy. His EA is following him too and another EA from Adam's class who is working with a child with Autism. So the grade one will have 11 kids, one teacher and 2 EA's. They will let him go to Sr. Kindergaten for things he still needs to learn. This school has been behind us 100% in always doing what is best for Adam. I wonder if it's because he is the only child with DS in town or if it's because of the budget they get for him, but who cares he is getting what he needs. They even sent both teacher and EA 500 miles away for a week last fall to learn the PECS program are even getting him is own computer for school as he is not yet ready to write. So we are happy about the class being so small and it is all the kids from this year's Sr. Kindergaten class that he already knows. He started working with a computer this year and can now recognize and type 27 words, count to 30 and knows all his colors and shapes. The only problem is him printing, he hates writing, (always has even drawing) it's like the pencil burns his hands. He also has problems with cutting. Well actually anything that is fine motors. He has come so far in the last 2 years, he has surpassed what I even thought he could do. He went form not walking at 4 to running now, not speaking or communicating at all until this year and now you can't shut him up. ;D(Well at least I'm hoping he matures a bit next fall. Being in daycare with toddlers for so long then 2 years in Jr. Kindergaten with 4-5 year old has kind of kept him in the same mature levels. Well gotta get the party ready. I don't think we we're that excite when our 2 oldest graduated for college. ;D ;D Just joking of course, we we're very proud of our 2 older son's too. ;D

[jeannie]

that is wonderful news! way to go adam!

[rickismom]

Boy oh Boy do you have a nice school. I am green from envy! ENJOY!!!!!


By the way, for a 6 year old, your son is doing GREAT!

[jeannette]

This is great news! Glad he's doing so well. I have a ways to go before having to tackle school stuff.

Jeannette

[momofrussell]

Hey Claire, that is GREAT for ADAM! Congrats!!! Russell is 6 and we kept him in the 3-5 program an extra year because he is really delayed in lots of areas.. but Russell is moving on too! He will be in a K-2 Self Contained class.. so we can swap notes!!!! Let me know how Adam does!!!

Oh.. and by the way, I have a suggestion that might help Adam sit a bit longer. You may have used or heard of them.. but have you tried a lap weight??? At the new school where Russell will go, in the K-2 class, there are two kids that can't sit well in circle time, so they put these sand filled lap weights in their laps!!! They are shaped like TURTLES and are green!!! But really, you can make or buy one. Ask the school if they have any of them. If you have never tried this with Adam, I'd suggest it for the new school year. Weighted vests and lap pads can also provide comfort and focus too! Like Russell LOVES to be weighted down! When the kids are weighted down, they are less restless and usually are able to focus really well! Some autistic kids use them too!


It's worth a shot!

Oh.. and Russell doens't cut at all yet... so Adam is doing JUST fine in my book! heehee



A.

[Claire]

Thanks for all the encouragement, you guys are great. As for rickismom well Adam is doing great in some areas but like every one else poorly in others. He just has had this thing with letters and words since he was small. He knew his alphabet by the time he was 3 and shapes too. He is now recognizing any 4 letter words. But then he cannot read 3 or more letters. LOL. He takes a book with no pictures and follows the words on the page and pretends he's reading. It is so cute. The teacher said he was like Rain Man, but with words and letters instead of numbers. LOL.. Oh well at least if he loves to read he will get more knowledge. As for his school I think it's because like I said he is the first DS to attend a regular class in our communitty and once they saw what it was all about, and that it wasn't that bad, they we're really willing to motivate him. After all like I told them, if my son succeeds, they do too. His special needs supervisor said she has learn so much with Adam and what he can achieve that it really shocked her. Maybe he will open some eyes on what our children can learn and do. The sky is the limit.