We took a long hike in the trails behind our house. We started at Mill Road then took the orange trails to just before Upper Trails where the trail veers down to our street, which is not on the map. However, our street is on the map. :)
The only thing is that our dog, Sasha, wanted to know why we silly bipeds walk curvy paths and not just cut threw the woods in a straight line.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Memorial Day Weekend
Well, we are heading off to my in-law's (well, technically, my Mother-in-law & Stepfather-in-law) for the weekend. They live in Garden, Michigan. It is a quaint little village; they actually live outside of town close to Fayette State Park. Fayette is a neat place to visit in the Upper Peninsula, best around the 4th of July or in early August during Fayette Heritage Day . In the past they have had tall ships come into the harbor area. They always have an old fashioned baseball game, where interpreters dress up as 19th-century players, plus other historical events and interpretations going on. The organizers do a great job.
My in-laws got a puppy recently, a lab mix of some kind. The boys will enjoy playing with the puppy this weekend. They lost their dog a few years ago and were waiting for the "right" dog to come into their lives. I guess they finally found one. It will be interesting, because we are bringing our dog down to visit too (with in-law's approval, of course). Sasha is a social dog and I think will be a good leader for the puppy.
I must return to packing...have a good weekend. :)
My in-laws got a puppy recently, a lab mix of some kind. The boys will enjoy playing with the puppy this weekend. They lost their dog a few years ago and were waiting for the "right" dog to come into their lives. I guess they finally found one. It will be interesting, because we are bringing our dog down to visit too (with in-law's approval, of course). Sasha is a social dog and I think will be a good leader for the puppy.
I must return to packing...have a good weekend. :)
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Dumbfounded..no other way to describe...
I was completely dumbfounded today, when Andrew tells me that he couldn't finish an essay test that he had today. He had to write an essay (3 - 4 sentences) on explain what a leader is/and does for community, or some such nonsense. I wasn't dumbfounded that he couldn't, having HFA, conceptualize what being a leader is, because for him, and many others in the spectrum, that is a fairly abstract concept (ro
les in society, or many similar ideas, even though they've been "taught" these roles in conventional education, does NOT mean they understand them. Many societal aspects of our culture, including communicating are lost on people with autism...THEY DO NOT GET IT!!!Not to say they never will, but don't assume) ; I was dumbfounded with his teacher for not allowing Andrew to be pulled out for this type of assignment. And here is why: Mies and I just sat in a meeting last Thursday, with his teacher, the principal, the school psychologist, the school speech therapist AND the ISD's autistic coordinator, about Andrew and what the school can do to allow him to succeed. Some major terms that were placed in his revised 504 plan were that he have writing assignments modified, that he be allowed as use of a "scribe" (i.e. an aid who he can give answers to orally and that person write down or once he expressed his ideas out loud someone to assist with formulating his ideas into sentences.), AND to be pulled out of the classroom and allowed EXTRA time on these type of assignments. Did his teacher allow for ANY of these modifications for him.....NO! And what do I hear, from my son, the minute I pick him up from school..and trust me folks, Andrew doesn't share much with us...that he had a "bad day", that he failed a writing test, that he's stupid and dumb. Well, isn't that the best thing your child can say to you about his day. So, instead of allowing him some kind of modification in an area he struggles in, he is set up to fail.
Now I can here some nay-sayers telling me that in life we need to know failure in order to learn from it, but what if that is ALL he is learning. Where is the positive, why did I sit there in that meeting with those people, only to hear that today it's the SAME OLD SHIT! This infuriates me. I've explained to his teacher, until I'm blue in the face, that one of the deficits (for lake of a better word, it is 2:12 AM people) for people with autism is socialization, the rules of socialization, the roles of socialization. These are things that for most people are learned early on in our lives. We learn as infants watching people interact with one another. But for those with autism, these things are not learned norms of behavior they are abstract ideas. They CAN be learned, but individuals on the spectrum need to work at it. It's is like they have a social disability. So, why can't his teacher understand this?
In order to prevent this from happening in the future, I found some books that I may have to purchase for the school. One book is by Paula Kluth titled, "You're Going to Love This Kid!": Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom. I may even make a bib. of books and websites for next years teacher, so she can review them over the summer. I know teachers don't have much time during the school year, but hopefully she can review some of the items over the summer. I didn't do this for Andrew this year, because his teacher, who has worked with him before, as a long term sub, and with after-school and summer programs, claimed she knew how to help him succeed. But as the year has progressed, I think she has failed him. And I can almost guarantee that she is aware of this, most insightful teachers are, but I cannot ASSUME.
les in society, or many similar ideas, even though they've been "taught" these roles in conventional education, does NOT mean they understand them. Many societal aspects of our culture, including communicating are lost on people with autism...THEY DO NOT GET IT!!!Not to say they never will, but don't assume) ; I was dumbfounded with his teacher for not allowing Andrew to be pulled out for this type of assignment. And here is why: Mies and I just sat in a meeting last Thursday, with his teacher, the principal, the school psychologist, the school speech therapist AND the ISD's autistic coordinator, about Andrew and what the school can do to allow him to succeed. Some major terms that were placed in his revised 504 plan were that he have writing assignments modified, that he be allowed as use of a "scribe" (i.e. an aid who he can give answers to orally and that person write down or once he expressed his ideas out loud someone to assist with formulating his ideas into sentences.), AND to be pulled out of the classroom and allowed EXTRA time on these type of assignments. Did his teacher allow for ANY of these modifications for him.....NO! And what do I hear, from my son, the minute I pick him up from school..and trust me folks, Andrew doesn't share much with us...that he had a "bad day", that he failed a writing test, that he's stupid and dumb. Well, isn't that the best thing your child can say to you about his day. So, instead of allowing him some kind of modification in an area he struggles in, he is set up to fail.Now I can here some nay-sayers telling me that in life we need to know failure in order to learn from it, but what if that is ALL he is learning. Where is the positive, why did I sit there in that meeting with those people, only to hear that today it's the SAME OLD SHIT! This infuriates me. I've explained to his teacher, until I'm blue in the face, that one of the deficits (for lake of a better word, it is 2:12 AM people) for people with autism is socialization, the rules of socialization, the roles of socialization. These are things that for most people are learned early on in our lives. We learn as infants watching people interact with one another. But for those with autism, these things are not learned norms of behavior they are abstract ideas. They CAN be learned, but individuals on the spectrum need to work at it. It's is like they have a social disability. So, why can't his teacher understand this?
In order to prevent this from happening in the future, I found some books that I may have to purchase for the school. One book is by Paula Kluth titled, "You're Going to Love This Kid!": Teaching Students with Autism in the Inclusive Classroom. I may even make a bib. of books and websites for next years teacher, so she can review them over the summer. I know teachers don't have much time during the school year, but hopefully she can review some of the items over the summer. I didn't do this for Andrew this year, because his teacher, who has worked with him before, as a long term sub, and with after-school and summer programs, claimed she knew how to help him succeed. But as the year has progressed, I think she has failed him. And I can almost guarantee that she is aware of this, most insightful teachers are, but I cannot ASSUME.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mama..
I had a lovely Mother's Day this year. My hubby and the boys took me out for breakfast at the famous Suomi Restaurant in Houghton. Then we worked around the yard; planning our re-landscape for the summer. Lastly, it ended with a pint at the Keweenaw Brewing Company, then a dinner made by Mies. :)
I also applied for a part-time baker's assistant position at Suomi. I hope to get the job; I think it will be fun for a summer.
I also applied for a part-time baker's assistant position at Suomi. I hope to get the job; I think it will be fun for a summer.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Meeting
As Mies and I are preparing for Andrew's new 504 Plan meeting, I keep coming across information to use for the meeting. We want to stress that Andrew is an intelligent young man, however he perceives the world differently then the "average" student and learns differently as well. I came across this quote from Jim Sinclair, from his article Don't Mourn for Us, way back in 1993 that is still a great guide today. Sinclair is describing what Mies and I feel to be true about our son, and what so many people miss when they speak of a "cure" for autism.
Here is the quote, "Autism isn't something a person has, or a "shell" that a person is trapped inside. There's no normal child hidden behind the autism. Autism is a way of being. It is pervasive; it colors every experience, every sensation, perception, thought, emotion, and encounter, every aspect of existence. It is not possible to separate the autism from the person--and if it were possible, the person you'd have left would not be the same person you started with."
As a parent I did struggle with this for a long time. I did mourn not having a "normal" child, but really, in my heart, I couldn't love Andrew any better if he were "normal". He brings new meaning to my life and through him I've learned to look at things differently. He has broadened my view on the world and I cannot wait to watch him grow and change over the years, just as he is, as Andrew, my son.
Here is the quote, "Autism isn't something a person has, or a "shell" that a person is trapped inside. There's no normal child hidden behind the autism. Autism is a way of being. It is pervasive; it colors every experience, every sensation, perception, thought, emotion, and encounter, every aspect of existence. It is not possible to separate the autism from the person--and if it were possible, the person you'd have left would not be the same person you started with."
As a parent I did struggle with this for a long time. I did mourn not having a "normal" child, but really, in my heart, I couldn't love Andrew any better if he were "normal". He brings new meaning to my life and through him I've learned to look at things differently. He has broadened my view on the world and I cannot wait to watch him grow and change over the years, just as he is, as Andrew, my son.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
5 Foster's left
Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends
My kids are upset to learn that there are only 5 episodes of Fosters. Here is the link to my favorite episode! Because I am Franki and Mac in one, but my kids are Bloo and Cheese.
http://bububear.multiply.com/video/item/42/Fosters_Home_For_Imaginary_Friends_-_Mac_Daddy_Pt._1 (this part is jumbled)
http://bububear.multiply.com/video/item/43/Fosters_Home_For_Imaginary_Friends_-_Mac_Daddy_Pt._2 (this portion really reminds me of my boys) :)
The last portion, which also reminds me of my boys on some level. http://bububear.multiply.com/video/item/44
My kids are upset to learn that there are only 5 episodes of Fosters. Here is the link to my favorite episode! Because I am Franki and Mac in one, but my kids are Bloo and Cheese.
http://bububear.multiply.com/video/item/42/Fosters_Home_For_Imaginary_Friends_-_Mac_Daddy_Pt._1 (this part is jumbled)
http://bububear.multiply.com/video/item/43/Fosters_Home_For_Imaginary_Friends_-_Mac_Daddy_Pt._2 (this portion really reminds me of my boys) :)
The last portion, which also reminds me of my boys on some level. http://bububear.multiply.com/video/item/44
Friday, May 1, 2009
Last Day
Well, it is my last day at Finlandia University for FY 2008/2009. Now I'm "unemployed" until the end of August. I'm trying to find a summer job here in the Keweenaw and hopefully I can find something close to home and with a decent wage. So far, I've applied at three places.
It is hard since I'm competing with college kids who are coming home for the summer and also looking for work. I'll try econo-foods and Walmart (that one makes me shutter) next. And lastly, I'll look into BHK's Great Exploration Summer Program at Houghton Elementary, maybe I can help in some capacity--the only bad part of that job, is that my salary may be eaten up by childcare costs. *Sigh*
It is hard since I'm competing with college kids who are coming home for the summer and also looking for work. I'll try econo-foods and Walmart (that one makes me shutter) next. And lastly, I'll look into BHK's Great Exploration Summer Program at Houghton Elementary, maybe I can help in some capacity--the only bad part of that job, is that my salary may be eaten up by childcare costs. *Sigh*
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