It is the oddest thing. It just started, toys stacked, items in the yard etc. Steven is in the 4/5th grade. I had intended to keep him in elementary school one more year although his hormones are raging and his need to be around peers where he can see appropriate teen interactions will be best. This was a strong conversation topic in Hope Haven. It was many of their advice to move on to middle school. Knowing the troubles of inclusion I am having with Kaitlyn who has always been included this would still be in his best interest. When the Doctor tested Steven he assured me we have not even scratched the surface of Steven's ability to learn. He was clear about how misleading Steven is on the surface. That one would not expect much from him by his first impression. That he will give you only what he has to..So if you give up easy he will not give you all he knows. The speech person also commented that Steven need additional time to give answers. he has gotten into the habit of waiting out his listener so that the person will either move on or give the response therefore he doesn't have to..He said on more than one occasions during the test he waited it out with Steven looking at the correct answer but not saying it.. he said he got fidgety and when the same request was asked of him a second time and the wait time there he ended up responding with the correct answer although each time it was over a 1 minute lag. His body language showed he was use to "moving on" to the next with out having to respond. This needs to be worked on so Steven responds because he wants to... Right now his PCA is right on top of his initiated speech by giving him nickles when he starts conversations or greeting, when he answers when requested to with a non preferred area. It is working. Amazing when they are growing up the amount money becomes a motivator... Steven went to the store with his PCA yesterday to spend his $1.70 and she said he knew right what he wanted. He did the sprint to the candy isle picked up a box of Jr mints and with a HUGE smile on his face headed to the check out. She had to slow him down in eating them for fear he would throw up... lol When he got to the house he offered all of his siblings one..very sweet!
Steven is in Life Skills at school with a portion of his day in inclusion in the 4th grade classroom. This year and the last half of last years was really the first time Steven showed interest in learning. He before wanted to play through life. He was silly, acted on impulse and giggled when requested to do non preferred tasks. He today has a desire to learn, be grown up and seek approval from peers. He is into pictures of girls (trash magazines about Hollywood) If the cover has Brittney or some other hottie on it he is begging to take it home. I KNOW! we are there..just a little bit thus far... His new medication will curb it some the Doctor said. Hold it off a year or two?? I PRAY! lol He is only 12 (almost) Feb 20th he will be 12.
I will have Steven on my mind when deciding Kaitlyn because having six children in five different school is too much. I wish we had neighborhood schools although our district is not believing in it..I wish we could get a better handle on inclusive education (working correctly)
Steven has a PCA and the in home behavioral person which has been going on over a year so he is the most stable with supports out of the three. He has tested each setting when people put their guard down. Just last week he tricked his teacher while being the door holder, she took a phone call and he split. She said the bathroom appeared occupied so she "assumed" it was him in there and he tends to take extra time...after a time another teacher found him in the next building on the third floor...OUCH! He didn't want to discuss with the teacher where he was suppose to be and wanted to hug and rub her hair..She took him back to his teacher... He can be a manipulator if given an inch he will take a mile... I see that with new providers. He tests anyone new. He will try also new situations with me although he knows I have follow through and he doesn't want me to take away his pouring time in the sand. He loves to pour sand.
