SUMMER SUMMARY

In getting ready for the first day of school next week, I sent this summary to the boys' special education teacher:

We have had an amazing summer!  I really had a lot of fun with my two goofballs  I was a little worried the days would seem a bit overwhelming, but the Lord really blessed me in being able to see past some of their behavior stuff, and see them for the cute, funny, and bright little boys they are.  

Just a quick summary about where we are at:

Ben Positive:  Ben and I had some great bonding time in the mornings while Jonah was at our church's daycare in the mornings.  We also had some great one-on-one school time.  Ben impressed me with letter/number recognition, letter sounds, counting, simple addition, and reading! 

Ben Negative: Ben struggled with color recognition and handwriting (staying in the lines).  Socially, Ben didn't have much time playing with other kids besides Jonah so I am a bit worried about his transition back to recess time.

Jonah Positive: Jonah really enjoyed and connected with kids/staff at our church's daycare.  During our school time at home, Jonah also impressed me with letter/number recognition, letter sounds, counting, simple addition, and reading!  I also think Jonah's speech has improved a bit this summer.  Jonah also has done a great job staying dry for most of the day, although #2 bathroom is still a struggle with having it happen in the bathroom.  

Jonah Negative: While Jonah is staying dry most of the day, he refuses to use underwear for me.  So we have been in pullups for the summer and keeping those dry.  When in underwear, we have wetting (not a lot...) almost constantly.  The other negative I saw in Jonah, and may be a result of being in daycare, is Jonah is a little too hands one with kiddos that are younger than him.  I don't think it's him being mean, but it comes off a little rough.  

For both boys, I'm working through the book Teaching Your Child to Read in 20 Lessons.  I had better luck figuring out what I was suppose to do than the Edmark program so that is why I chose this book.  We are currently on Lesson 4-8.  Each lesson is about 20 pages and the boys can do about 1-2 pages at a time.  

Click HERE for Teaching Your Child to Read in 20 Lesssons

We also worked through a kindergarten Math workbook.  

Teacher Meet and Greet this afternoon!

SOCIAL SKILLS PART THREE: ACT APPROPRIATELY

1. Visual Reminder:

Because social situations make Ben nervous, his need for control really amps up when he is around people.  He sometimes has trouble with respecting personal space and hitting/pushing.  Also, when Ben is told to stop doing something, sometimes he reacts weird by licking his arm or leg or the wall or floor.  Ben also has a hard time sharing toys.  He often tries to do a "bait and switch" move.  He will come up to another child with toy.  Then he will grab the other child's toy away and quickly try to give the toy he brought over.  

2. Bible Verse: read and discuss Luke 6:31

3. Object Lesson: Show a boomerang or show a video about boomerangs.  Talk about how it comes back to you.  Talk about how we treat others often affects how we will be treated.  

4. Academic: 
a. Click HERE for Measuring Bugs Worksheet
b. Child can practice writing his name

5. Game: 

Click HERE for "Good Choice/Bad Choice" game

6. Songs: 

"Rules of the Classroom", "My Hippo Can't Keep His Hands to Himself", "The Personal Space Song", and "Sesame Street Sharing Song"

7. Modeling Videos: 
"Responding to Peers and Sharing Toys" and "Sharing"

8. Read Along Book: "Do Onto Otters"

9. Prayer: 

ask Jesus to help treat others how we would want to be treated.

SOCIAL SKILLS PART TWO: ANSWER APPROPRIATELY

1. Visual Reminders:

Ben has trouble answering people's questions in a way that is appropriate or makes sense.  When spoken to, Ben will often either try to get the person to talk instead to "Nonie" (Jonah), he will answer "cow" or "stinky foot", or he will just turn and look away.  Or, as we dealt with in Part One, he will growl or get very bossy.  

This behavior is often unintentionally reinforced if the person who approaches him laughs.  So Ben sometimes purposefully answers questions incorrectly because he sees it as a way to get attention.  

But I also think Ben gets very nervous when he is asked a question because probably for 6 years in the orphanage, there were not many times that someone asked Ben anything.  He was just one of many children, and it was easier to care for all those children if they were seen but not heard.  Ben also has a difficult time making a choice.  Again, I think this is because for 6 years, he was not given many choices.  

2. Bible Verse: read and discuss Proverbs 18:13

3. Object Lesson: Go through the body parts involved in "Whole Body Listening"

4. Academic:

a. Reading Comprehension Worksheet

b. Name letters and/or numbers for child to either identify on a letter/number chart or have them write them down.

5. Game: Have child roll one or two dice and then answer that number question for you.

6. Songs:

"I am a Good Listener" and "Be a Whole Body Listener"

8. Modeling Videos: "How to Greet Someone at School", "Introductions and Greetings", and "Greeting Someone"

8. Read Along Book: "Being Rude"

9. Prayer: ask Jesus to help us be good listeners. 

SOCIAL SKILLS PART ONE: BE KIND

1. Visual Reminders:

Points A-D in the above visual are issues that Ben deals with specifically.  When someone comes up to Ben to talk to him, he often growls, looks away, and/or becomes very bossy and tries to tell the person where to go or what to do.  

2. Bible Verse: read and discuss Proverbs 16:24

3. Object Lesson: Have a teaspoon of honey and teaspoon of vinegar.  Talk about which tastes better.  Nice words "taste" better than unkind words.  Let child taste honey (or something else sweet) as a treat!

4. Academic:

a. Trace the words in the Bible verse and ask child to identify some of the letters.

b. Click HERE for Bee Themed Math worksheets

5. Easy Read Flashcards: "I Can Be Nice"

a. I can be helpful.

b. I can listen and obey.

c. I can open the door for someone.

d. I can help clean up.

e. I can cheer someone up.

f. I can encourage someone.

6. Game: click HERE for Feelings Bingo

7. Songs: 

"Be Kind to Everyone" and "Love One Another"

"Love One Another"

8. Modeling Videos: 

"Making Eye Contact" and "Think It or Say It?"

9. Read Along Book: "Try a Little Kindness"

10. Prayer: ask Jesus to help us be kind.

INTRODUCTION TO SOCIAL SKILLS CURRICULUM

One of the areas we struggle the most with Ben is in the area of interacting with people.  

If Ben initiates contact with someone, he is often quite nice and appropriate.  

However, if someone approaches Ben, he does not always handle the situation very nicely.  He can come off as rude, mean, or inappropriate.  

In preparation for school starting in 1 1/2 weeks, I want to do a crash course with Ben about social skills.  However, I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for so I decided to piece together my own 3 part curriculum.  I want to focus on the following areas:

1. Be Kind
2. Answer Appropriately
3. Act Appropriately

I am sharing what I put together in hopes that it might help someone else who is dealing with similar issues with his/her kiddo. 

WAS NOAH AFRAID OF THUNDER?

Interesting thought from my quiet time today.  

How did Noah react the next time it rained after the flood?  

In my opinion, he had three options:

1. Despair and dismay that a horrible flood is going to happen again.

2. Belief in God's promise that a flood will never happen again.  This is only a thunderstorm, and there is nothing to fear.

3. Trust God will take care of him no matter how severe the present storm ends up being. 

I never thought about Noah's reaction to a thunderstorm after his experience 

with the horrible flood.  

But isn't that something happens to us all the time in life?  We get through a very difficult situation and finally feel like we are on steady ground again.  We can catch our breath.  God restores and heals us.  

However, because we live in the midst of sinful world, something else comes along that will test our faith. 

Do we remember how faithful God was to us in the past?  Do we trust that God will be faithful to us again?  

Or are we always going to be afraid of the thunder?  

“To me this is like the days of Noah,

    when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.

So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,

    never to rebuke you again.

10 

Though the mountains be shaken

    and the hills be removed,

yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken

    nor my covenant of peace be removed,”

    says the Lord, who has compassion on you.  

Isaiah 54:9-10

"....the Lord promised to: Noah by an oath, that there would never be a deluge, and that this oath would perpetually remain in force. (Genesis 9:10) But for this, the good man might have trembled, and, at the approach of rain, might have dreaded a similar calamity, if the Lord had not sworn that this should never again happen. In like manner, when afflictions are at hand, we might dread that we should be ruined, if the Lord did not promise that the Church would be safe."   

Calvin's Commentary on the Bible

Isaiah 54

  

OBSERVATION OF THE DAY

I don't think revolving doors are the best idea for two little boys with Down syndrome...just saying.  

One walked into one of the glass panels trying to get in, and the other wouldn't get out.