The term is drawing to a close - only 2 days to go. Tomorrow I will be meeting at the school to evaluate how things have gone and what 'challenges' lie ahead.
From our perspective - so much has been positive. Hannah's socialisaitona nd transition to kindy has been very successful. I thought her academic progress might be hindered while she struggled to cope with everthing else - well her writing is noticably improving (very slowly - she has gone from writing wonky capital H to a wonky H and a straggly a, sometimes an n that doesn't look like an o). Her counting is going ok as is number identification - although we are still playing around in the up to 10s area. Her story writing book is empty - but that is no surprise - her maths and patternmaking books are full of fantastic activities.
So I am hoping tomorrows meeting is mostly positive. Here is what i think will need to be discussed further:
social skills - peer reactions - how to facilitate more positive interactions - they have been fantastic in 'mothering' Hannah, she needs some help in how to engage in constructive play with them (I have been reading Amanda's blog for some ideas on that one!). I worry that she 'pushes' (gently but still) at kids who come up to cuddle her - because she doens't know a more effective way to 'play'.
Balance - how to get Hannah working effectively in small groups so that the school resources are not overly stretched with one on one that could be done in small groups.
How to maintain Hannah's motivation and attention. I worry that her 'cranky' voice is getting more of a work out - at home I have started sayoing that if she uses it she has to go to her room for a minute. At the same time I need her to know that it is ok to be angry - that she has that right really - but not to use her 'cranky' voice which is usually a loud gutteral'no!' and very annoying!!!
What to do about her tiredness - I think that as we end the term - we can see that she is starting to get tired - what will it be like next term which is 11 weeks?
Resources haven't really been going to specialist teachers (I don't think) - perhaps that may come up?
From our perspective - I would really just like some feedback from her teacher on exactly how she is going. The communication book is mostly positive but not very specific - so I want to know if Hannah has met the goals we set for her last year - and if new ones are required now (for some I think that is the case). I also want to review communication strategies - are they interested in more signing now? Are the visuals workoing - is there a better way to incorporate these in the classroom - to encourage Hannah to initiate communications.
I also want to give the school a BIG thank you - Hannah loves going to school. She likes being independent. She is widely known and accepted by the school community - which is nice when I have been reading comments in the media about how irresponsible it is of a parent to continue a pregnancy if they know beforehand the child they carry will have a disability (!!).
Hopefully the National Disability Insurance Scheme will encourage the kids and adults once they are alive. But it won't help them if they're not alive!
ReplyDeleteAnd next term will be the winter term as well.
That's a good idea about going to the room for a minute. It helps you talk less to "nasty" behaviour.
Of course: they're invading her space!
I would want to know, too, if the goals were going up, down or sideways.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comments Adelaide - the meeting went very well. It looks to me like the goals are variously going up and sideways - no down - but then they set their expectations a bit low and are now increasing them.
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