Dance

We went to the school dance last week. It was very successful. the kids all enjoyed running around and playing with their friends in such an informal setting. The dance maestro was lots of fun too. I got to see the kids interact beautifully with Hannah and spoke with a number of teachers and other parents. It was a fun night.

Hannah's EI spec ed and our family 'coord' from our current support service visited the school and gave the kindy teacher lots of practical suggestions and activities to try for Hannah - to increase her motivation/concentrationa nd enhance her participation in groups. There was discussion about withdrawing ehr for some one on one but hte feeling from our support service is that it would be best to do so with a couple of her peers rather than one on one. I think that sounds ok as there are other kids there who would also benefit from some of the strategies that work for Hannah. Her kindy teacher as I have said before is fantastic and I know that she will do her best to implement the strategies discussed. Our family service coordinator also commented on how fantastically well Hannah had settled intot he school - how comfortable she is there and how lovely the other kids are towards her etc - things I knew but it is good ot have an objective observer make similar statements.
Hannah has been unwell - she had a febrile seizure yesterday and is still battling a nasty fever so she and I are home today - she is lying necxt to me but refusing to go to sleep the little bugger - she had a terrible night with fevers and phlegm...Kit is settling in too. I think he found it quite hard to be ina different class from Hannah especially as the rest of his 'reading group' are in her class as is a number of kids that he likes to play with. Poor darling is working hard at understanding what is going on. He got Star of the Week which he is proud of for 'always using nice/good words when talking about others' - now me - I know that hte star of the week can sometimes be used as a bit more of a motivator for a child that is struggling to do the right thing - I'll have to try and catch his kindy teacher to see how he is going I think. He and 2 others from his reading group will be reading a prayer of the faithful at the whole school mass soon - it makes me very proud of the little fellow - my baby has almost disappeared and in his place is this adorable young boy with barelya trace of babyhood in him... This morning as he went off to school by himself again he told me that he is a bit lonelly there without Hannah. Still he went - soemthing I know I'd have trouble getting her to do if their places were reversed.

Mid term update

I think it is time to start taking stock of how things are going - I have a meeting with the key parties at the school in a couple of weeks to consider how things are progressing for Hannah in kindy. My impression is that they are going great - it is very clear that we (meaning Hannah, her family and the teachers/staff at school) have been working diligently to make this experience successful - and it is. I guess we need to review some of the 'nuts and bolts' of classroom organisation and her behaviour and her academic progress. I learnt a long time ago tha there is a 'cost' to mainstreaming her - it is a reality that I think I can live with - her teachers are so hardworking - I think it is important for them to feel successful in their efforts - Hannah is making so much progress (more than I had initially hoped for or expected) but she is obviously different and the gap between herself and her peers is generally going to widen - we need to have things set up to cope with that.

I have volunteered in the classroom which I loved doing - those kindy kids are just delightful - there is such a range of stages in there - I don't know how the teachers do it year after year - but I can clearly see their competence and dedication in there. I got a chance to chat with Hannah's aids too which was nice - I don't like to approach them about it as I feel they have a lot of things to do and a number of kids they look out for - but both briefly chatted to me about how Han is going - and while she still requires coaxing and bribery to stay focussed and get some tasks done it is clear that these wonderfully patient women can see progress. They can see that her comprehension and potential are pretty good.

As the school prayer says - 'so many hearts make a school' and I see that every day - in the staff, the parents and the other children. There is still such a long way to go but we are now well underway and there are many tings that are working well - for that I am very releived and glad.

The members journal with the fantastic cover focuses on education - I have asked for an extra copy so that I can give it to the school for the staff to see and read.

Lovely things

Good things are continuing to happen for Hannah at school. She had to leave early on Fri as she has an ear infection and I had to take her to the drs for some antibiotics but she is coping very well. One night last week she was so tired when we got home that at one point I found her sitting on the floor in "Grandpa's room' staring vacantly at the bookshelves there. At least i know it wasn't another fit as she responded to me straight away and wasn't floppy or tired afterwards (well more than before anyways!!). It was the same day that her music teacher told me it was the first class where Hannah ahd stayed sitting with the rest of the class for the whole time - clearly she is taking in more of what is happening around her and so it is no wonder that she is stillg etting very tired. I gave her a nice warm bowl of soup for comfort but she still refused to go to sleep until 'normmal' bedtime - when she crashed.
Yesterday I went looking for her in the house and found ehr back in her grandfather's room (where I keep a lot of the educational games and activities we use) 'teaching' her doll Sally. She was testing her literacy skills - so cute. I printed off a copy to give to her teacher today - clearly she is inspiring Hannah.

Great - fears

Things are going so much better than they might have. I am more conscious - everyday - of the risk we took in enrolling the twins in a local, mainstream school. My hubbie refused to entertain the idea of homeschooling - and i knew in my heart it wasn't right for Kit - but for Hannah? Anyways - now I know that there is no way I could have given her what our local school has given her in the past 5 weeks. I'm not saying the teachers have a lot of confidence or that they know a lot about special education - but they are incredibly capable, dedicated to their students - hardworking and diligent, and they do know a lot about kindy kids. They have looked at Hannah as an individual, placed her in the context of all the other kids they have guided on this journey - that is something I cna't do - I only have Kit as my barometer - and he is a peculiar and gorgeous boy - but not necessarily 'regular' either (I wonder how many kids truly are 'garden variety' - maybe that's something we become over time?).

The teacher has been using the visuals - willing to put any self consciousness behind - in order to best help her student. She has gone out and shown intiative (and her own money according to the principal) in buying a 'mat' for Hannah -a strategy to get her to sit in a useful place during whole group activities. She has rung up Hannah's EI looking for advice and suggestions of direct teaching strategies that work with Hannah - and then she has tried to incorporate them into her classroom. I'm not saying she is a saint - but I do think it is clear - she is a professional. I am so impressed with her heart. I hope her lack of confidence doesn't mean she gets disheartened too soon - she is achieving amazing things - but Hannah is a typical special needs student - some things (many things really) are not going to bring immediate rewards. But she is getting 'it' She really is.

Hannah now is highly motivated to talk with her peers - her teachers have read Victoria's Day a couple of times and given the kids an opportunity to ask questions about DS (focusing on difference). Their parents have had a letter in Hannah's 'voice' and have had the cahnce to talk about inclusion with them. Little girls come up to her and say hello and talk with her - she so wants to extend their advances into friendship... I am trying to think about (and get up the courage) to approach one Mum to organise a play date - I've thought about what i'd say and how - and maybe giving them a chance to suggest another little girl that their daughter also likes - but i think in Hannah's own environment is important - otherwise Hannah in her nerrvousness tries to play like a boy - I saw her put her fists up like a superhero or Astroboy or her brother do today - that isn't what little girls want - maybe if they come over and get to play with her fantastic dolls house ...

She is learning - her reader is such a good choice for her - very well chosen and I am doing my my best to support their efforts by making and laminating flashcards - getting Han to go over things - showing her it is important ... school, like swimming isn't just about socialisaiton...Last Friday when I picked her up from her Nan and Pops she went through acomplete dance routine that she had learnt at school - how cool is that??

Kit says this morning 'every day is a good day Mummy' - yes he is loving it. He hasn't found his groove yet with his peers - he likes to run with the boys and is still looking for a place there. I feel that he is so capable - I wish he wasn't so aware of and motivated by his peers but he just is. At preschool he quickly foud a few boys he liked and heroworshipped one of them. At long day care - at 15 months- he had a 'best friend' - a freindship that expanded to include another littl eboy a bit later - friendships that continue to day. I think it is hard for him cos he wants a 'deeper' friendship - yet a motor driven, testosterone fuelled one... Yesterday and today - he acted out and got into trouble - in fact - his first 'sad face' from the teacher for throwing soemthing in his frustration during a concrete maths exercise and today for continuing with behaviours even after he had been asked to stop.

This morning at assembly a Mum asked me how things were going - I told her i thought they were going really well -a nd how impressed I was with the way the other children reach out to Hannah. She was pleased to hear this. She told me how when she read the 'letter' from Hannah she had talked to her daughter - apparently she has a niece with an intellectual disability - and she had explained to her daughter how she should play with Hannah just like she does with ... SMILE - AH - that is what I came here for - for Hannah to grow up in a community - cuddled by love. It is also my gift to them - for I truly believe that hte world is richer for having to slow down, for having to value things worth valuing - just as I have learned over the past 5 years...

Kit signed up for soccer on the weekend. He was so overwhelmed he cried and wouldn't say hello to the other boys in his team. Yet anohter new experience. Then to cap it all off a girl he knows from preschool - one who he doesn't lke and whom he thinks of as too rough and as 'hurting people' - she's on his team. We'll see how he goes...I hope he likes it - I think he will - time will tell.

At swimming Hannah is in a 'capped class' cos she isn't in the special nees program - waiting lists!!! but I wonder if the other 2 parents know how lucky their 'typical' kids are ... because of Hannah?

I spoke with the principal today. We are going to try and have a meeting later this term. She is absolutley fantastic. When we were looking to enrol - I wasn't sure I was reading ehr right... it was a little unlear (in part due to our paranoia). She knows exactlyw hatis happening in her kindy. She also knows just what her teachers are dealing with - now that is a good leader. I think she knows just how much hope we are placing on her - and she is progressive enough to appreciate that this huge ask - is possible - but it is a big ask. Inclusion - what should it look like in 2010? What does it look like?? This we are all grappling with - together. Cos it is worth grappling with.

Last weekend we went out with friends. The way Hannah wanted to participate in games and approach the other kids is such a testimony to her school - I wished that we were there - as there - the opportunity would not have been lost - lots of ground could have been covered. Maybe at the school dance?

Party invitation

This morning a little girl came up to Hannah and said "You're getting an invitation to my party Hannah". So there it is - her first regular party invite that is all her own.

Her teacher rang our old EI special Ed Teacher too this week - to touch base and check on a few things - I was pleased to hear it - Hannah is the first child with DS that they have taken on and they are certainly doing their very best to give her a good chance at success.

The kids all line up for assembly in the playground in the morning. A prayer is said, some notices given out and then they walk into class. Hannah was squatting at her bag instead of standing up with the others so today I left her school bag on ehr bag - it is so big I figured it would stop her squatting - cos she'd end up like a turtle on her back and not be able to get up again!!lol. Anyways I was right - but it was obviously annoying her cos she started to bend over at the waist for some of the assembly instead. Not sure which is the best 'look' for her really!

Communication Book

I have heard various people talk about how useful these are - and our EI sped teacher suggested one for preschool last year - but it never happened - the twins went to preschool 2 days a week and it didn't seem to be something that I could really push for.

Now they are at school 5 days a week and learning ina more structured way - it definitely becomes a priority. We discussed it at our planning meeting last year and then this year after a week or so - I simply made a comment of 'that's the sort of thing that could go in the communication book when it starts' and this week - (when all the kids school books came home to be covered) the Day Book began. The first entry started off well with reading and listening activities and ended badly with scratching an older student(!!!) this is new territory for us and I was very upset about it. Her first entry - tehre it is in b/w. I know it was overeacting but I did feel very upset at Hannah. I am absolutely NOT saying there is any logic in my feelings - but I have to admit there is a part of me that feels that because Hannah 'stands out' as different then she can also be helpd under closer scrutiny than others - and you know - only recently there was a letter to the local parent/child free newspaper about how integration doesn't work - and how the letter writer's kids suffer because of the 'special needs kids' in the room - their neediness and their behaviour (the letter writer was an absolute tosser with lots of sweeping generalisations and flaws in their arguments - but that's another post)- and here was my hannah fulfilling those myths.

She got a good talking to and the next day - lots of statements reiterating the need to listen and follow instructions and keeping hands to self - no scratching!!! I also clipped her fingernails as a bit of insurance. She had a great day. I must confess I felt anxious all day and got tot he school to collect her early due to feeling uptight about how her day might have gone. Having said that I love the book - that is the sort of stuff I amy not want to hear - but definitely need to - and the teacher has reported more positive experiences than that one negative.

I became convinced at the value of the day book after reading the one Dan Drinker's parents had - not only was it good reading - i could so cleearly see the partnership between home and school - something that I hope will prove to be a secret of success - should we succeed!!

Progress

I picked Hannah up at lunch time again yesterday. I had a brief chat with her teachers - one asked me if I had any particular thoughts on whether to keep the twins together or seperate them - I don't really as I think they would manage although obviously they'd prefer to be together - I just said that I was happy to leave it up to them and their judgement based on the group dynamics - she did comment on how proud Kit was of Hannah which is nice.

That teacher is great - last year preschool had a problem arise where Hannah would refuse to come inside after recess - so her EI spec ed teacher put some visuals on a keychain - the aim being for social type visuals like can I play, I need the toilet or a drink etc. I don't think they were ever used that much at preschool because she was able to understand most instructions given. The kindy teacher has been really using them which is fantastic - in a busy classroom where there is lots of activity and noise it is really useful to develop skills in using the visuals - it will also, hopefully, exand to include the pecs folder I gave them - so that they can more accurately assess Hannah's learning and understanding. Anyhow the teacher was telling me how useful she finds it - and so I asked if there were any visuals not there that she would like - she was quick to say 'sit on floor' - she had looked and it wasn't in the ones I'd given them - so last night I hit Google and printed off the visual for sit on floor and hold hands.

This was a timely discussion as I had my first planning meeting with the school aged support service we are going to use. Mostly our family priorities are around accessing support and resources to assist Hannah settle into kindy and participate there independently. One of the things we'd talked about was how I was pleased to see that they were using her keychain visuals - and we then discussed asking them if there were other visuals that they felt they needed - so how good was that that that very afternoon - the teacher is ready with a request? I also took the opportunity to mention that when we start up a communication book - that is the sort of thing they could just include in a note - and if I can get it - I will!

Going back to my chat with the kindy teacher - they had played a game in the morning - the kids had to go stand on particular sounds/letters - they use the Ants in the Apple which is what Hannahs EI had used too - and I better quote cos it may not happen again: "Hannah was better than some of the others. She did very well" [happy dance!!] - the letters were a m i f t and s - they will move on to blends soon and that may prove more of a challenge for Hannah - but I was pleased because the teachers are clearly looking at what the cildren can do and I like them to see that Hannah has some strengths in this area.

Then after chatting to a little bevvy of kids (they are so cute the way they flock to an adult who looks like chatting to them - like seagulls around a hot chip!!) I said to Hannah - "It's time to go - you better say good bye to your friends" and off she went - she walked up to a few kids and waved and said 'bye' - they looked a bit confused and weren't overly responsive - I guess they were wondering why she was heading out partway through lunch. She is there all day today - let's see how she goes...

Oh and at the pickup in the afternoon - I saw and was chatting to one of the volunteers from Hannah's swimming club - it is a club for children with disabilities that Hannah just LOVES. This lady is lovely (naturally - I have a HUGE amount of respect for these vollies who give up their saturday afternoons). She also has a dance studio just around the corner from us - so I told her when she feels ready for a group around hannah's age - we'll be there - with bells on.