Author |
Message |
Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Monday, May 16, 2005 - 3:13 pm
Congratulations, BigBoy!!!
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Herckleperckle
Member
11-20-2003
| Monday, May 16, 2005 - 4:17 pm
Way to go, Justin! How old is he, Dana?
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Danas15146
Member
03-31-2004
| Tuesday, May 17, 2005 - 7:07 am
Thanks guys! He just turned seven in March. His division 9 and under. We thought he would be competing only against other red belts - but it was all red belts - including those with stripes (they get four stripes before getting their black belts - which takes about two years).
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Zachsmom
Moderator
07-13-2000
| Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 10:40 pm
Today I had a conference for Zachary's IEP at school. At first I was a little intimadated as there was the Director of the School, his 2 teachers, his language/speech therapist and his psychologist then little ol me. I was very worried as every school that Zachary has been at has been such a negative experience. Today I learned that Zachary is doing excellent in school. He has made a friend (Zachary has never had a friend), he is reaching his goals, and as he was behind academically, they feel if he can get his 'focus' under control he will excel academically and possibly skip a grade. As I said, every place Zachary has ever been has been negative, these five praised Zachary at every point. They truly like Zachary (they say he is a "breath of fresh air") and are so glad to have him in the school. They are excited about working with him. The only 'negative' was Zachary does not like to be touched. He has a sensory disorder and does not like to be touched. The reason they say it's negative is because they want to give him a hug or a pat on the shoulder and he freezes or flinches when someone tries. He does hug his friend though so that is a good sign. I have seen a dramatic change in Zachary since starting this school. I have been praying for someplace that will love and accept Zachary as he is, to come to know the little boy that I love. I have finally found that place. I am very proud of Zachary as this school has them set goals. They are charted everyday. They have the ability to earn 6 stickers per day. Most of the kids average 3-4, Zachary is averaging 5 with at least 1 day per week he is earning 6. I am very proud of him. He is working very hard on his goals not only at school but at home too.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 10:52 pm
That is awesome, Zmom! It sounds like this school hasn't only been great for him, but for you as well.
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Citruscitygal
Member
08-07-2003
| Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 10:52 pm
Very happy news, Zmom.
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Zachsmom
Moderator
07-13-2000
| Tuesday, May 24, 2005 - 11:35 pm
Thanks! It has Wargod, it has. It's the first time that I don't have knots in my stomach when I drop him off or pick him up. It's a wonderful school! There will never be more than 10 children in any grade (this school goes through 12th grade) and always has 2 teachers. It's amazing.
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 12:25 am
It sounds perfect for him, at least looking at it from where I am. It's so good for him to like it, but that you do as well and feel so good about it is something he'll pick up on too which reinforces his good feelings.
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Skootz
Member
07-23-2003
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 3:38 am
How uplifting to read how Zachary is excelling at his new school. It sounds like such a wonderful school. It certainly was worth the wait to find it. Hope you are feeling better too Zmom.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 4:42 am
YAY!!! (Can you believe the amount of paperwork involved in IEPs?) Before was he in private preschools and now he is in public school? What is the difference? Whatever it is, I am so happy for you both. My son also has some sensory integration issues and gets OT and Speech therapy and has had an IEP for 3 years! (and he's only 5!)
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Kep421
Member
08-11-2001
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 4:51 am
Its amazing what the right school can do for a child!! Congrats to both Zach and Mommy!!!
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 6:30 am
zmommy, i have had tears reading your post. i had been there. i remember the knots in the stomach. scared to pick up my child at the end of the day to find out what had happened that day. what a wonderful place that you found for you and zachary. he's a very special little boy, and it sounds like they love him so much! we didn't discover holly's sensory problems until she was almost 12. she still to this day only likes to be touched when she initiates it. i have prayed for you and zachary, and hoped that you would find such a place for him. i'm so glad that you finally have! much love to both of you! landi
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 7:37 am
Zmom, I am so happy for both Zach and you. It sounds like you found just the right match for your boy, and it's great that this school goes all the way through to grade 12.
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Prisonerno6
Member
08-31-2002
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 8:02 am
quote:The reason they say it's negative is because they want to give him a hug or a pat on the shoulder and he freezes or flinches when someone tries.
What if they tried a "high five" approach? They could do a "Way to go, give me five!" and then Zachary could choose whether he wants to touch them. He gets the positive reinforcement, but on his terms. (It's the educational psychologist in me. I teach my faculty that positive reinforcement only works if the student thinks it's a positive...not everyone is motivated by M&Ms.)
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Zachsmom
Moderator
07-13-2000
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 2:34 pm
Thank you everyone! Julie, Zachary is in private school. It's a school that only has children with ADD/ADHD, Sensory Disorders, behavorial problems etc. They do not take special ed. children who have autism etc. I would never put my son in public school. I do not like nor trust the public school system (here in California...don't know about other states). Zachary's IEP is only for 1 year. Prisonerno6 - they do high fives with him, but they think he is so sweet they just want to hug him..lol. This school is big on positive (verbal) reinforcement. They do earn stickers, but they have heavy emphasis on verbal praise. What I really like about his school is their journaling. Everyday they write how is day went in a journal, every night I write how his evening goes. There is a lot of communication between parent and school.
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 2:49 pm
Sounds like a great school! The communication sounds terrific!! I am lucky if I can get my son's teacher to send home a smileyface or a frownyface each day. I know she has 20 kids in her class, but one of my biggest concerns is how he interacts with other kids and if he follows directions. I've asked her to communicate to me how he does each day so I can reinforce stuff at home. To have a journal entry each day like Zachary gets is so great!
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Escapee
Member
06-15-2004
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 2:56 pm
Zmommy I have a cousin with Asperger's disorder. Is that anything like what Zach has?
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Teachmichigan
Member
07-22-2001
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 4:28 pm
WOOHOO!!! What happy news Zmom! It sounds like the perfect way to end a school year.
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Wednesday, May 25, 2005 - 5:53 pm
escapee, my daughter holly also has ADHD/Sensory Integration Disorder. Asperger's Disorder is a milder variant of Autistic Disorder. In Asperger's Disorder, affected individuals are characterized by social isolation and eccentric behavior in childhood. There are impairments in two-sided social interaction and non-verbal communication. Though grammatical, their speech is peculiar due to abnormalities of inflection and a repetitive pattern. Clumsiness is prominent both in their articulation and gross motor behavior. They usually have a circumscribed area of interest which usually leaves no space for more age appropriate, common interests. Some examples are cars, trains, French Literature, door knobs, hinges, cappucino, meteorology, astronomy or history. neither holly nor zachary is autistic. and i know holly does not have any of these symptoms. if you didn't know (and alot of people do not) you would never be able to guess (when she is medicated) that she is ADHD. and now that she is older, people aren't as touchy to her as when she was a young child. zachary is extremely similar to holly, and zmommy and i have had long talks about the two of them. hope that helps explain things! always glad to teach new people about the wonderful children we have.
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Zachsmom
Moderator
07-13-2000
| Thursday, May 26, 2005 - 8:40 pm
Whew, thanks Landi! I am not really familiar with Aspergers so I am glad that Landi answered! Zachary has a slew of learning/social disabilities. He's ADHD, impulsivity, oppositional defiant disorder, sensory integration disorder and possible dyslexia. He also has language comprehension problems. He has trouble with the "who, what, when, where, why". For example, you ask "What did you do at recess today?" he will respond "What?" and have a blank look on his face. If you show him a picture of someone wearing an orange sweater and ask "What is this person wearing?" (while pointing to sweater) He will say "Orange". He has trouble processing words. It's frustating to see because he is an incredibly bright little boy. Most people who have dealt with him in the past would get upset because they knew he was bright and thought he was purposely behaving this way. And a lot of people think that children who have the issues that Zachary does, are not intelligent, when the opposite it true. This is where the children are failed as they are often put in schools or classes for children who have lower IQ's or some form of mental retardation. All in all, I wouldn't change my son for the world. I think he's perfect in every way. If he didn't have these "issues" he wouldn't be Zachary. I love him more than anything/anyone in the world.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Monday, June 20, 2005 - 8:01 pm

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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Monday, June 20, 2005 - 8:14 pm
He looks irish!
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Spygirl
Moderator
04-23-2001
| Monday, June 20, 2005 - 8:15 pm
Congrats, Maris! He is a cutie with those freckles - he could be a part of my family without question 
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Julieboo
Member
02-05-2002
| Monday, June 20, 2005 - 8:15 pm
I was gonna say he looks like he belongs in my family!
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Spygirl
Moderator
04-23-2001
| Monday, June 20, 2005 - 8:22 pm
LOL - well, if Maris decides she's had enough, I'll fight ya for him! It seems he's smart as a whip, too 
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Wargod
Moderator
07-16-2001
| Monday, June 20, 2005 - 9:58 pm
With those freckles he could belong to my family too, lol. He's a cutie, Maris. Congrats to him for finishing one part of his education and starting on another! It sound like from what you've said previously he'll do well in high school.
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Juju2bigdog
Member
10-27-2000
| Monday, June 20, 2005 - 10:31 pm
Congrats to the cutie-pie graduate.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 3:10 am
Thank you all. Well War he will certainly be working his butt off. I suspect he may have a rough time of it in the beginning but will come through. He has already received his reading list from his high school, lol.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 4:52 am
Oh, those freckles just make me SQUEAL!! I love them. Maris your son is adorable. Congratulations on your graduate!!
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 5:34 am
By august his face will just be one freckle and he will have a great tan. lol.
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Goddessatlaw
Member
07-19-2002
| Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 5:37 am
I have an 11-year-old niece that will just be perfect for him in a few years, Maris. Make sure he knows his marriage has already been arranged so he doesn't need to bother with those high-school girls he can just concentrate on his studies.
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 5:52 am
What high school girls, I am one step ahead of you. He is going to an all boys school. The only girls he is going to meet will be the Marymount girls at the christmas dance. lol. Poor kid doesnt realize what I did to him yet.
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Egbok
Member
07-13-2000
| Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 7:22 am
Hi Maris, congratulations to your handsome graduate! High school already! Where does the time go??
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Maris
Member
03-28-2002
| Tuesday, June 21, 2005 - 8:01 am
Yep doesnt seem like that long ago when I had to wait for him to go to bed so I could watch the goings on in the Big Brother house, now he will be sneaking peaks when I am not around.
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