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February 1996

 

This daily correspondence between schools she attended and us gives you a glimpse of our daily life. Most parents of typical children do not communicate on daily basis with the teachers. This gives a reader an insight to how important daily communication is for a child with autism.

Kat has attended school since she was 3 years old. These are school notes that were result of correspondence with her parents and her teachers. We have made comments at a later date reflecting back on the impact of these events. Kats School Notes Index

 

Date

Notes

Comments

1996-02-01

2/1

Danuta will be back tonight . Good long day o f therapy yesterday. So far this week has gone very good. She seems a little chatty this morning but hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come. Have a great day !

Tom

Good morning ! Kat is fine so far (9:30) & is working quietly . She got a little confused on one of the worksheets w/ the short "a " sound ,but I explained it to her& she was OK. I marked it w/ a *. Would it be OK If I copied some music from her "Piano Classics" book? It is a fabulous book!Do you remember where you bought it ? It has so much wonderful information in it, along w/ the musical pieces. She's been working quietly all AM & has earned a "walk" as her surprise . We're off to the library to choose a book . Remember to send in her library book tomorrow . It is "The Witch of Blackbird Pond ." I asked Kat & she told me ! ! Wow, what a girl ! ! A super day !

E.

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1996-02-02

2/2

Hi I'm back , although maybe Ishould go away since Kat seems tobe doing so well. The "Piano Classics" I thinkIbought in Borders Bookshop , but you're welcome to copy any part of it.

Thanks ! She 's a little chatty this AM but I'm sure will settle down . Another great day. What a fabulous week ! Have a great weekend !

E.

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1996-02-05

2/5

Hi, Did you have enough of snow ? Kat loves the snow but it was too cold to go outthere this weekend . Hope this week is as good or better as last. I'd like to stop in to observe art again if OK . When would be the best day to come?

Danuta

Hi ! Too cold for me ! ! Idon't mind the snow , though. Again, a little chatty in the beginning of the day, but I hope she'll settle down . (9:20) We're in gym & she's just fine . If you want to observe her in Art , we have it on Fri. @ 9:10 - 9:50 . She had a very good day ! ! I had her write what she's having for lunch even though she won't behere.

E.

* There was 1 math w/s that she handed backtome & said" NO do this ." Maybe it's too difficult for her to color in ? I didn't push it .

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1996-02-06

2/6

Hi, The worksheet involves coloring & that is not one of her favorite activities. Would Friday be too much since Melissa will be there already ? Wouldanother day be better ?

Danuta

Hi! Any dayis fine . Wed. is Music . That might be nice to see . Thursday is in the class & Fri is Art. Melissa 's not here until 10:00. Your choice, we'll be here waiting ! Did you find her library book "The Witch of Blackbird Pond ? " or did you send it in on Friday ? Let me know. She's having a wonderful morning ! She's working quietly, & she even sat & was quiet when the lights were turned off so Mrs. A. could use the overhead projector for about 10 mins . I gave her a set of math worksheets which she completed w/out any difficulty. Then to change the routine a little , I choose some pages from one ofthe other workbooks - cut &paste &less than . She seemed to enjoy doing the cut & paste . I'll look around for more& if you have any send them in . See you , whenever ! !

A great day ! ! !

E.

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1996-02-07

2/7

I am enclosing 3SD's for you to try with kids orother people . If these work out I will send more as you are willing to try them out

1. My birthday is_______.

My name is ________.

My sister's name is ________.

2/7

Thanks for the SD's. We tried them out today & she did beautifully . The kids enjoyed it immensely ! Please send in some more ! We saw an assembly this AM along w/the band . She sat quietly & listened w/ her reward being raisins. At 1st she self- stimmed because it was very noisy in there until everyone got settled down &the show began but after 2-3 reminders ,she stopped & was quiet . I'm sure it was hard for her to just sit & block out all that noise . But she did it w/ flying colors ! ! We won't be having Art on Fri. as the schedule is changed &we'll be having gym w/ another class. If you still want to come, you can, or perhaps you'd rather wait 'till next week when were back on track . Either way , let me know . Do you have any more Lang . or Skills pages for Kat ? There aren't any in her binder . Just Math & Extras . I gave her a few xtras in Lang . today &she "flew" through them ! Another super day ! !

E.

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1996-02-08

2/8

Hi, We looked for the book but couldnot find it . Can you check if she brought it back if not wewill look again. Iadded more cards. You do not need to correct her if the response makes sense. I will try for next week to observe.

Danuta

Good Morning ! Thanks for the S D cards ! I'll let the children choose 2 different ones each day & we'll go through them each week. Does that sound OK to you ? Let me know. She's very chatty today ; alot of silly talk . I haven't had to wipe off any smiley faces yet , just pointed.

On one of the worksheets, I marked it w/ a *, she got confused & I had to explain the directions to her. She did it OK, then she had questions on another one, the 1st was words ending w/ "n," & the next was short "e" words. See *'s for the ones she had difficulty with . On *4, I had her go back to it, & I pointed to each picture & asked whether it was cat, or cats, dogs or dogs , etc. She circled the picture & told me the correct answer , cats , dogs , van, etc . So she knows this , but gets confused w/ the way the pictures may be set up . I switched now to math , no problems there ! It's now 9:50 & I told her @ 10:00 we'll go for a walk . She smiled & checked her watch , checked the clock & checked her watch again ! Then went back to work . Actually ,her digital watch is 3 mins . slower than the room clock, & she keeps checking &looking ! I took her watch off to see if I could fix it , but I don't know how , so I held onto it until the room clock movedto 10:00 then gave it back to her. She worked very quietly during this time . We went to the library&she still has the bookat home -The Witch ofBlackbird Pond . She couldn't find a booktoborrow ,even after 15 mins. Any suggestions ? She hada great day !

E.

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1996-02-09

2/9

We'll be looking more for the book this weekend . At the library maybe show her the clock & say AT (5min later) we are going to (something fun ex drinkof water) . If that doesn't work you may need to go back to counting to 10 and leaving even though she does not have a book , (she may tantrum though) Imoved her watch to match the clock.

Hi ! I think it'sthe only copy we have in the library , but I'll ask. Again , she started off a little chatty, but settled down after a few minutes ,she settled down. I marked on the worksheets where she made some mistakes . There aren't any math worksheets in the folder ,except the "extras ." A schedule change again, NO Art today - only gym @ 11:00- 12:00 . She's doing just great ! ! The watch & the clock are "synchronized" & we're all set for the 10:00 surprise ! (walk).

* Remember to send in Valentines cards for the class, & the childrenalso are planninga surprise baby shower next Wed for Mrs. A. More info w/ follow. Also- where are the SD cards ? Havea great weekend!

E.

Hi The cards fell loose in her backpack. I am enclosing Kats invitations forthisweekend . Our first one seemed to go well . Kids had fun together. Are we meeting on the 16th ? Weare still looking for the book. Imay needto go through major spring cleaning tofind it . Canwe pay for the book or buy and replace it if we cannot find it ?

Is art thursday so Icould observe

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1996-02-12

2/12

Hi & good morning ! Passed out the invitations & they seemed happy. Mrs. A.'s surprise baby shower is this Wed 2/14 @ 2:30 PM. Maybe you could bring Kat back for that . Let me know . As far as Iknow , Friday's schedule is still the same & we will behaving art , so I'll see you then . Any changes & I'll let you know. As far as the book, I'll let Mrs. R. know & see what she wants to do . Kat is working fine (9:30) but seems a little distracted . She's very chatty & will often stop her work mid-stream, & stim . I just refocus her by either a "NO" or a hand onher shoulder& she continues her work. It's not disturbing anyone near her ,but I still stop it. Sometimes I'll just say "Keep working" when she stops & "stares". Other than that she's fine! NO gym today . A very good day . I took her in the office aspartof our walk & theywere showing pictures. When Iaskedher who it was , she answered "It is (a) bride!" & it was ! ! *Iput all her Valentines in her surprisebag . She may have gotten some candy!

E.

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1996-02-13

2/13

Hi Kat saw the "Jumanji" movie this weekend . She loved it , laughed through most of it. If you want her to laugh ask her to say "Pieceof cake" but wait until she is leaving because once you start her on it she has a tough time stopping. I will get a gift for Kat to pass onto C. at Lunchtime today. Sounds like she's in check with the way you are managing her behaviors. Any topics you want to address at the Friday Meeting ?

Danuta

Good morning! Well, I think we havea breakthrough ! Everyday when she does journal I have to prompt her w/ "write..." & she does. I even tried "what else ?" but she still will not write anything by herself except the date. Well, this AM she wrote the date , she wrote 'it is winter', & 'I will have . . . for lunch' all w/out my saying a single word ! Wow! ! Has she been doing this at home ? She seems to be getting distracted or bored w/ the math sheets as she'll start & stop on each page. She zips through each page w/out any effort , which is good, but you don't want her to become bored. On the skills sheets , I circled the ones she got wrong, but I went over them w/ her& she corrected herself. Also , she seems to be really motivated by time , i.e: @ 10:00 we'll go for a walk . She's working & working & every so often she'll turn around , look at the clock & smile. Her behavior has been excellent !

E.

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1996-02-14

2/14

Happy Valentines day ! , The Journal sounds great . At home she is stillworking on writing a paragraph . If you want to prompt her move you can use like a physical gesture. We'll keep our fingers crossed sothat the good behaviors continue but it sounds that the way you are handling it is really working well. I'll see you at 2:30 today.

Danuta

Hi ! Happy Valentines day toyou too! Kat looks so pretty today . Fine at music . Back in the room , no time for the journal ,instead they passed out valentines . When you come in this PM @ 230 - 2:35 - come to my room 1st - # 26 - as I'm not sure how they're getting Mrs. A. out of the room , OK ?

E.

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1996-02-15

2/15

Hi ! Did you hear from J.R. ? I put in a call to the CST but haven't heard yet (9:30) . She's getting a little fidgety now w/ the math work sheets as I mentioned before . Alot of stopping ,pencil waving , & hand waving , but no talking. I stop it as soon as I see it. She's fine w/ the other worksheets. I gave her some math worksheets from the back ofthe folder & she worked beautifully . She does not ! like to color . While coloring she blurted out " Old Yeller" . I wiped off a smiley face. She scribbled w/the crayons & I had her slow down & fix it. She rushes &holds her hand in the air while she colors & I'll show her how to rest her handon the desk &color slowly . I only hadher color 1 page ,the other math pages I just had her do the math work . I crossed out the coloring directions. Any luck w/ the library book ? Mrs. R. said it's only a few dollars & when you find it your money is returned. She borrowed " Coppelia".

A great day !

E.

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1996-02-19

2/19

E.,

We found library book and it is enclosed. Danuta will be on atrip Wed., Thurs. , & Fri. . She had a good long weekend . Yesterday she seemed a little under the weather. Three invitations are included for next weekend. Hope it's a good day.

Tom

Good Morning ! Glad tohear she hada good weekend . She seems fine today - no signs of illness. Oh ! Just a note:- we are having our " International Buffet " for lunch today . She will get to pick upa plate , walk around & get to choose foods from around the world . then allthe children take their food & eat in their classrooms . It's alot of fun ! ! She's working very slowly on her math . It's taking her all morning. She keeps stopping & staring into space & I have to keep reminding her to continue. When you mentioned she didn't feel well yesterday , did you give her any medication that might make her slow down ? She's also very quiet ! On Lang . WS # 26 ( I put a star on it ) she made 2 errors , corrected them herself which was wonderful, but stopped mid -way to stare off into space . After a few moments she continued working w/out my prompt . A quiet morning !

E.

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1996-02-21

2/21, 1996

No. Kat did not have any medicine over the weekend . Last night she was pretty talkative. We went out for dinner and she had episodes of silly talk but we were able to prompt her to stop. Hope today is a better day .

Tom

Hi ! She started off very chatty but settled down by about 9:15. Off to music. She was fine. Back in class she is working on her journal again w/ my prompts. She's doing some extra math W/S w/out any problems or sounds . A very good morning!

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1996-02-22

2/22

E.,

Kat had good day yesterday. Became upset over 1 new drill were working on. Other than that a great day !

Tom

Good morning ! She started out the morning just fine, although she's been yawning & yawning . I guess she'shaving a hard time getting started ! A quiet & uneventful morning. Just great ! ! She worked beautifully and w/out any extra "chatter". Havea good day.

E.

* I didn't realize this until after, but you had 2 sets of duplicate W/S in her Lang. section . I folded them over for you to see. Any new or different W/S or activity books at home for her to do here ? Let me know . Thanks .

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1996-02-23

2/23

Hi ! She 's doing great this AM . We wentto Art where we switched our seats. It went smoothly &she's now sitting w/ L. & La. ! Whew ! Oops spoke toosoon. Her new seat had her backto the wall , &she kept moving her chair around tothe side of the table so she could stretch her neck to see the clock! So we all moved around to the opposite sides of the table & now she faces the clock& appears to be very contented ! However in this position , she her back to the teacher & must turn her whole body around to see her . I don't know what to do . This way the girls can see theteacher but Kat can't. I think we'll switch back again & see what happens . It went OK -she still jumps up & looks at the time but I took away a smiley face, so we'll see how it goes. In art she'spainting ! Using complimentary colors , she made a pencil drawing of what she did last week -a castle w/ king & queen , adragon , etc. ( Thanks to Danuta - who prompted her to draw using the castle idea !) Her painting came out fabulous &she even did it slow ! I really think she enjoyed it even though when I asked her she said NO Paint ! Although whenI ask "are you having fun " she said "Yes ! " . Go figure ! Returned her library book but we weren't able to choose . Have a great weekend.

E.

Just a quick note - for the first time today . Kat read a letter in front of the class . Everyone clapped! She also participated in gym , jogging about 10 minutes very appropriately . She also practiced some new conversation with the class . They loved it . ( I used 5 conversation discussion Sds. - very familar ones ) Ihave never seenKat so quiet and appropriate in class . I also suspect that she is selectively listening to her teacher. She heard Mrs . A. say "Get abook and read " to the class. I sd. "What did Mrs. A.'s say ? " She immediately took out a book! OFF to Lunch !

Melissa

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1996-02-26

2/26

Hi I'm back this week . Let me know if you need anything. Kat had fun with E.S. & A. this weekend .

Danuta

Good Morning ! Passed out the invitations ,however you wrote Sat. Feb. 24th. I changed it for March 2nd . Ihopethat's what you wanted . She's not saying the pledge or singing the anthem. When I ask her to sing she just says nonsense words. Maybe she forgot the words ! Also, someone asked her the date & she kept saying : "It is", "It is" & looking around. I prompted her but she got upset & yelled out"Cinderella," so I pointed to the smiley face & asked her again , What is today's date & she replied "it is Feburary," but then said, it is Tuesday . So I stopped , told her the correct date , asked her again & she repeated it but was very upset. I don't understand why this happened. Now in gym & is doing great ! ! We'll go for a short walk &then back to the class . She's now finishing writing her journal w/ many prompts & questions from me. She's having a hard time getting started this AM . When she chooses the crayons, she doesn't just pick a "green" . She checks the name on each crayon & keeps going until it just says "green" , not yellow - green , sea - green, green -yellow , etc . Do you think we have to take off the labels ? She went through 6 crayons , all similar in color & 2 reg . green before she looked& found one that said " green ". Does she do this at home too ? Is this confusingforher & I shouldn't be concerned ? Let me know . Havea great day !

E.

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1996-02-27

2/27

Hi , Thank you for changing the date. Anthem & Pledge , She knows them both I checked this morning . May need a stronger motivator. Point to smiley's and maybe she canget asmiley for each one when she does it.

Date : Did she already write in a journal. She might not remember it without calendar. I was thinking maybe we could printout her schedule in a calendar so that she could anticipate some events , forexample library, PE , art , Music . Are the times always same ? She is having allergies "sniffles' this morning . Isent some tissues in. Crayons - take paper soff.

Danuta

Hi ! Will try the smiley faces for the pledge & anthem . PE ,(Monday@ 9:10), Music(Wed 9:10) Library (Thurs 10:00), Art ( Friday 9:10 ) usually the same every wk. except if an assembly or special event . Also, usually go for a walk @ 10:00. Her behavior this AM is great I took the papers off the crayons & there was no problem w/her coloring . Ihad to remind her to color in the white spaces& slow down . She did a super job ! Agreat morning !

E.

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1996-02-28

2/28

E.,

Watch: I would like to send a watch forher to school &could you keep itthere. We keep forgetting to sendit in in the morning.

Art - could you keep us upto dateof what they are going to do next in art sothat we can work on it at home

Hi ! No problem w/ the watch . We can keepitin her desk NO one w/ touch it . Also - I'll find out today what she will be doing in art. - A still life w/ 5 objects, painting w/ tints & shade (white & black) - an apple w/ be red but there will be white & black for light & shadow. Practice ! She was good in music - they're watching "West SideStory" - She was stimming quite a bit during the dance number . We will probably watch most of the movie (in little bits)during each class . I've enclosed a menu for March . How do you want me to use the calendar you made ? Or is it for you to use @ home ? Let me know. A good day ! check her Lang . W/S. - she was confused on some ofthem.

E.

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1996-02-29

Hi 2/29

Calendar could you go over her day first thing with journal & maybe cross the day out when sheis finished .

For example : Today is (date) , you will have ____ at (time) , and a walkat 10:00 & youwilll go home at 10:30 . You will comeback at 12 for Lunch&recess.

Library book- lost again. Could you help us with the title or any description. Danuta

P.S. She made all her choices for lunches. She loves looking at the menu sheet. She almost kidnapped it yesterday.

Happy Leap Year ! I did the journal today as you suggested and there was a little opposition as I knew there would be. She didn't enjoy writing, however I persisted and she wrote a very nice journal story. I'll try and do that everyday. However, Sometimes we won't have time because of the special. This took about 10- 15 minutes. I have the "still life" and will take it to art tomorrow. I suppose you want her to copy it, right ? First the bowl with the fruit, Then the apple and then the pear ? Are you doing this at home ? If I'm wrong- Let me know. I'll demonstrate and draw along with her, (Oh, boy !) To show her want to do.

I know she likes to look at the lunch sheet. Your comment made me laugh ! She did some pages in her sticker math book. In fact, I think we finished all the stickers. anymore at home ? She like these. She especially liked the sticker that said "Hip Hip !"

Need to work on saying "Thank you" when she gets a compliment or someone says something nice to her. People commented on her pretty vest and she replies " I like vests do you like vests ? I prompted her with thank you and then she said "thank you." Let me know what I can do here.

E.

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