It's All Good

My plan for a Summer of "Homeschool-Lite" didn't pan out that well. It took a few weeks before we got our materials from school, and then it was difficult to establish routine. Once we got going, we were constantly interrupted by chaos of one sort or another. There were many visitors and camping trips, and the associated three month long state of packing and unpacking that ensued as it has for the last few years, from the last day of school into the first week of next academic year.

We had an IEP to kick off the school year, which went smoothly. We made no changes to the goals or services. FMO received an iPad on extended loan, loaded with academic and speech/language apps. and games.

This year, the first, second, and third grades are combined for a total of nine students. Since FMO is in first grade, he attends classes in the main school building now, instead of the Kinderhaus. His new teacher is so organized, and sets clear expectations and firm limits for the kids. It is obvious she is aware of her own behavior as modeling, as she always seems very conscious of her phrasing. I am so pleased with her, I almost wish it was a full-time on-site program. We opted to pull-out for online speech therapy at Spanish time. FMO is learning ASL as a second language and needs more practice of English without confusing matters with a bunch of Spanish.

The first day went well with a few rough patches. The second week, I was blown away by the maturity FMO was showing over last year. When he is not engaged in a movement activity, he sits quietly at his desk, and participates in everything, except discussion. Of course, I am by his side, interpreting and supplementing the information with ASL and demonstration, etc. So far, he has willingly attended to interactive tasks to the best of his understanding, such as tossing bean bags to classmates and calling their names. He is responding well to the structure on campus and at home with his independent study program. He seems less frustrated than last year, with a huge jump in receptive and expressive communication.

FMO has been horseback riding with the TRAIL program since mid-Summer, and he has progressed in just a few sessions to mounting the horse independently and holding the reins, instead of fearfully gripping the shoulder of the volunteer walking alongside. He has been attending music therapy for two years now, and continues to expand his relationship with his therapist and with music. Playing keyboard is still his most favored past-time at home.

MAO was asked to teach an Outdoor Adventure class to the upperclassmen. He is incorporating wilderness survival and preparedness skills with hunter-gatherer projects. So, we are all three very involved in the charter school this year. We are so thrilled with the support and accommodation by all the staff. It is such a pleasure to have consistently positive stories to report about FMO and school.