Monday, August 16, 2010

A new teacher and some exciting signs of hope

Greg will be heading off to Kindergarten ("Alternative Academics"--self-contained) next week. So far, the teacher is the polar opposite of the woman he has had for the last two years. This wonderful teacher emailed and then snail-mailed a social story with photographs of the new school and his classmates. She sent home two long forms for me to fill out about how he learns, what he likes, etc. I actually feel teary thinking about this. I've sat in so many meetings trying to explain how he learns and what motivates him, and finally the teacher is actually interested, and even asking me for more detail.

We visited the school last week, and he skipped around taking in all the bulletin boards, alphabet displays, and so on. I almost had to physically drag him out of the library. When we got to the door of his room I told him, "This will be your classroom this year" and he quietly said, "Bye-bye". I think he was telling me I could go, but it might have been that he was ready for us both to leave. In any case, he was very interested in seeing the whole school and especially his room. Mrs. K., the new teacher, asked me all kinds of questions about him, and seemed entertained by him in the way that a proud, nervous mom wants a teacher to be.

So I'm cautiously optimistic... I'm sure the year will hold its challenges. But It's so good to be feeling a little hum of hope about school this time around.

5 comments:

kristen spina said...

Good luck!! All it takes is one teacher who gets it and cares... Sounds like you've got that one covered!

burgiboogie said...

Yeah!!! I so hope it all works out!!!! Will B be in there with him?

mjsuperfan said...

We are keeping B. in private ABA for the fall. Then we will probably switch him to public school, also. I think they will need another aide if we do that. They already have a class full of "runners".

Niksmom said...

That hum of excitement IS a good feeling! May it last all year! :)

KAL said...

It sure sounds like things are off to a fantastic start!