Blessings

This week is the 3rd and final week of ESY (extended school year). Of all the ESY sessions my son has attended since starting ECSE (early childhood special education) in October 2005, this session has by far been the best. Most have been good. A few have been glorified day care. But this has been the best.

This past school year was not one of the best. It would rank close to the bottom. It wasn't good for various reasons. The good news is he will have a new team - sped teacher, gen ed teacher, & SLP - this next school year. He will have the same OT who we have known since ECSE evaluation time. I really, really, really want to be able to meet with this new team and not whine about last year. They had nothing to do with the situation. We need to start fresh.

The ESY sped teacher, SLP and para-professional have provided a super learning experience which will give us (the home school team) something positive to build off of for this coming school year. Every note sent home or email exchange with these ladies just puts a smile on my face. Just this summer he has shown that he does understand number concepts and he can learn sight words. He has also been effectively using his iPad for communication. Today's note home said he was easily picking a spoken word out of a field of three cards and had some struggles with a field of five. 

For the 2013 - 2104 school year his team will have a wide variety of experience. I know who the classroom teacher is, though neither of my girls had her. Word on the street is that her students love her and that she is strict in the classroom. When I told her this, her response was: I guess I'm strict, but I prefer to think I'm "structured." I have very high expectations and prefer to begin with high expectations and lower them, if necessary, rather than begin with low expectations. I find that most students will push themselves to reach higher standards and feel proud of themselves when they realize just how capable they really are. How perfect is that for someone with autism?! The sped teacher is straight out of school. She is taking the time to go and observe ESY. And she has experience working with people on the spectrum. I don't know anything yest about the SLP, but we will meet in a few weeks.

My son and I are very blessed to have to ESY sped teacher, SLP and para-professional.