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 |
1994-12-01 |
12/1 Thurs - We went to the computer lab today & of course the were doing a library book search w/ the librarian . We sat at a computer & started our work . She became very silly & it was extremely difficult to remove her . We weren't able to do any computer games . She was very distracted &hadahardtime concentrating on her work . We finished a set of papers & left . Also when she started to write her she wrote "TRON " on worksheet 20-A . On the addition paper 21A- she zipped through this ! She knew 1+3 = 4 - she wrote 4 & then added the pictures . Wow ! Once back in the room , she was fine . We completed alot of work today . A good day .
E. |
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1994-12-02 |
12/2 Hello! The nurse is testing all the 3rd graders for vision , hearing , height & weight . Let me know what day you'll be in & we'll have her checked then . Also , what day would you like to meet w/ J.R. ? Kat had another super day ! We just zipped through all her work ! Bye !
E.
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1994-12-05 |
12/5 Hi, I will try and get in touch with J. today to set up the meeting for nextweek. I will try & stopin tomorrow if its ok.
I set up packages of 4 sheets. Ihad packages of 6 before . What is a good size package when you handthem to Kat.
Hope today is a good day it is " Monday " .
Danuta
12/5 Hi ! I combined the packages of sheets to make 8 pages . This number works well for her. She had difficulty at first writing today's date as she couldn't find " Monday " on your calendar . This started her whimpering. On some of the math pages , when she gives me the completed pile & I check it . I notice that there are some math problems she omits . I don't know why . A super day !
* We stopped by the music room & a class was singing 12 days of Xmas . So we stopped , went in & sang along too !
E.
Send in her library book |
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1994-12-06 |
12/06 Hi, I will see you at 9AM
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| 1994-12-07 |
12/7 We could not locate Kat's library book. Would you know the name of it? Thanks. Also her Calendar is missing . Is it in school? yes ! She was very silly today. I had to remove her from the room 3 times ! * I took away a happy face & she settled down . Also , I mentioned last week that the nurse is checking all the 3rd graders eyes, ears , ht. & wt. Do you want this done for Kat ? If so , will you come in with us when she gets tested ? Let me know when it's a goood time .
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| 1994-12-08 |
12/8 We went to the computer room 1st thing this morning . I put her into the touch typing program - " cycle words. " * 9:15 - 9:45 - A picture apppears on the screen & you have to type the correct word w/ 4 choices . Ex : apple, nut, ladder ,saddle. She has to identify "saddle " & type it . She had some moderate difficulty but I feel she enjoys the experience . Of course some of them were easy & she identified them right away . Ex : pool, fish, nail . When you come into school next, remind me &I'll show you the program . In fact , one of the pictures was xylophone & she got it! ! She's been chewing on her nails quite a bit today . Mostly her left thumb . When we left computers she had 3 happy faces however she was holding P.'s hand & ran & dragged P. along w/ her in the hall . I immed . took her away, & wiped off a smiley face&she had a fit ! NO ! NO ! We stayed in the hall until she clamed down . Then we very calmly walked down the hall & came into the room . I did the calendar w/ her & she started to whimper . Funny, one of the boys at her table said , " It's OK Kat , I don't like to do work either ! " I had her tell me the date & then she chose a sticker which she placed on the correct day . The rest of the morning was fine & she earned a handful of pretzels &a sticker . She also chose a new library book.
E.
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| 1994-12-09 |
12/9 What a fantastic day ! She just breezed through all her work and behaved beautifully ! She got a surprise from the treasure chest . Have agreat weekend !
E. |
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| 1994-12-12 |
12/12 Send in her library book tomorrow as she will exchange it for a different one . (The Black Hole) . While in the classroom she very politely asked, " Mrs. L., may I have a drink please ? " I gave her a smiley face for that .
See you tomorrow @8 : 30 .
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| 1994-12-13 |
12/13 Hi Ellen.
The teacher that works with Kat at home would like to come and observe the class room when Kat is there would 12/15 , 12/20, or or12/21 be good or would you rather wait until January?
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| 1994-12-14 |
12/14 Hi ! The 20 th , or 21 st would be fine . We're looking forward to it . She was very distracted during her 1st packet. I had to keep prompting her to stay on task & to be quiet . I tried to move away , but at this point she just became sillier . SoI moved back . She whimpered alot also while she worked today . When she finished the 1stpacket I gave her 2 happy faces & then had her sit quietly for a minute w/ out doing anything . She did , &then I praised her& gave her her book to read . After a minute or 2 ,I gave hyer the 2nd packet . Oh, by the way - wait till you hear this ! I had to fill in for someone's outside duty so one of the secretaries took Kat off the bus & she waited for me in the office . I came back around 9:00 & she was sitting in a chair. I went over to her , knelt down & touched her knees & smiled . I didn't say anything . After a moment , she looked up into my smiling face , then she smiled at me & said " Hi Mrs . L. ! " Wow ! Then I said Hi Kat , Good morning . and hugged her !
During the 2nd packet we stopped & watched a video about their reading series . She sat for the whole thing ! She sat for the whole thing ! She was at her desk & fidigted ,but she was quiet . I did see her watching the TV occasionally . ( 10 mins) . We then went to the library & exchanged her book .
12/14 I will come over with her teacher on the 21st
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| 1994-12-15 |
12/15 The children watched a video this AM & she was able to sit quietly for 15 mins . It had cartoons, animation &music . She did watch parts of it because I saw her looking at the TV . However she started blurting out nonsense words after 15mins so we left . When we came back we went to work & she was fine . She initiated asking me for things 3 times ; drink ,bathroom & another drink. Progress! A good day !
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| 1994-12-16 |
12/16 We were working on her saying " Hi " only . If you get a chance to writethe script for sitting Example : Walkin the classroom , take back pack off , put back pack nextto chair . etc . . .
You may want to ask Kat at the end of the day " What kind of pie do ghosts like to eat?" I said at the end of the day because she gets silly afterwards .
Danuta
12/16 Hi Danuta ,
E. is out today and I am filling in . We stayed in Mrs. Br.'s class until 9:35 with appropriate behavior - including a fire drill. We had some fidgeting and silly talk and laughing during seat work in Mrs. C.'s - had to do exercises once . Otherwise, it was a good day !
Have a great weekend .
T.
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| 1994-12-19 |
12/19 E. , please read my note from 12/16. We put a lot of new worksheets in for Kat. you may need to watch her closer today when she does them . Let me know how she makes out.
Danuta
12/19 Hi Danuta ,
It's me again. E. is not in today . Another nice day .
T.
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| 1994-12-20 |
12/20 Me Again! Another fine day .
T.
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1994-12-21 |
12/21 Hi T.,
Since E. has not been in I will wait with teachers visit until after new years. When is E. coming back ?
Danuta
PS What is Mrs. C.'s class . Kat has been with Mrs. Br. for the whole period last week ?
12/21 Hi again !
I hear E. should be back tomorrow. She's feeling much better.
I took Kat to Mrs. Ca.'s room yesterday at 9:30 after she became upset over time page and was calling out "help me". Mrs. Br.'s class was working on a quiet assignment and I didn't want to disrupt them .
It's now 10:10 - we just finished packet 3 - in Mrs. Br.'s class . -all's going well .
Now 10:25 -packet 4 complete - we had a great day!
Hi Danuta ,
Yes , E.'s still not feeling great. I think I'll make her some chicken soup! She sent in a gift for Kat. Kat's friends gathered around while she unwrapped it . Er. said " I wonder how Mrs. L. knows Kat likes books"!
Kat had difficulty with " Different" worksheet in packet 3 , also 2 min materials TIME packet 4. otherwise all went well .
Another fine day !
T. |
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1994-12-23 |
12/23 Hi,
She does have problems sometimes with some hours of the clock we are working on those and keep testing how she's doing. Hope you all have a nice holiday
Danuta
12/23 Me again !
We went to an assembly today so not much was accomplished in terms of seatwork . The show was quite enjoyable. Have a wonderful holiday !
T.
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