The twins are out of school today and tomorrow so that teachers can do the semi-annual home visits. This time around, Sawyer's teachers - Mrs. R, Ms. J and Mrs. S - came to visit and give us an update on how he's doing in the classroom.
The short answer is he's doing amazing. The progress from last year to this one is tremendous. He's more engaged in the classroom, listening and attending better to vocal prompts and requests, transitioning well and accepting changes much more easily, playing beside (and even sometimes with) other kids in the class, sitting still (at times) during story and circle time, showing emerging functional play instead of simply organizing and lining everything up.
There were so many positives, I can't remember them all. But the big thing is the engagement. He's actually paying attention to the world around him instead of trying to stay in his own safe, small world. He will actually look at you when you talk to him or say his name. He's following classroom rules and activities with less prompting (though still needing some when it's time to stop doing a preferred one). He's just more present.
Some other things of note include the fact that he's actually saying more sounds and even a few words here and there. "Bread" was the big one a few weeks back. Ms. J also gets him to count a little bit with her, saying certain numbers out loud when she's holding him up and letting him free fall back in her arms (a very favorite activity of his). He's often sounding out letters and the sounds that go with them (probably because Xander is obsessed). And he's even beginning to pedal the tricylce at recess (at home he still just "walks" it around), but actually attempting to use the pedals is big!
We still need to keep working with him on certain things. He's still not big on art or drawing, which is important for pre-writing skills. He, of course, prefers to line those types of things up rather than actually use them. He does like the dot paint, but not actually making strokes. So we'll keep trying. We also would like to see a little more sign language from him. He knows the basic ones, he absolutely understands them when the teachers use them, but he isn't particularly willing to use them himself. He still holds his hands out to you, wanting you to make the sign for him. Stubborn!
But all in all, he's doing great at Early Start. We love it. And so do his teachers. They are so encouraging and supportive, and do so much to help him succeed. We could not imagine a better place for him and feel so fortunate that he's going to spend three whole school years in the same place with the same people. And next year he will get even more help, as he is going to participate in the autism grant program as well!
And that's where we are right now, seeing lots of progress and also looking at areas where he still needs some help. Moving forward ...
