And I totally missed it! :(
Today, I had my last class of my 2nd course of my BCBA program so no free Ben & Jerry's for me.
My sessions with the kiddos went much smoother than I planned today. Thankfully, DA and CV were their behaved selves. CV did pull his usual, "Maestra, I'm hungry; do you have anything to eat?" but since he hasn't asked in a while, I thought I'd offer/introduce dried apricots to them. :D I figured it'd be okay since it's something relatively healthy (and I asked beforehand if they had any food allergies). They tried a few and DA said, "they're cool." Speaking of cool, they instructed me to watch "Rob and Big" on MTV. I know we have cable, but I don't know if we have MTV. Besides, do they think that I have the same interests as them, even though I'm more than twice their age and of a completely different ethnicity and gender? Who knows -- maybe MTV can bridge the gaps.
Oh, the sad news is that CV is pretty sure that he will move out of state after this school year. Actually, it is sad for me (and I am panicking about who I can group DA with next year! They work so well together!). He, on the other hand, is pretty excited b/c he heard that in the state that he will move to, they have snowed in days where students get to miss school due to weather conditions. Haha. I guess I'd look forward to that, too!
By lunch time, I was on the verge of my typical sleep-deprived final exam meltdown right before lunch, but then I went to my car and took a 25 minute catnap and woke up quite refreshed. I stayed up until 1 last night studying but after my lunchtime catnap, I pretty much entered the que sera sera phase.
Class was looong and exhausting but ended on a good note. (Oh, the instructor commented that only one person got a 100% on last week's quiz...and then he looked at yours truly! That would be twice this course that I was the only one that got a 100. :) Which is great news b/c this quarter, the quizzes are a lot more challenging/hard but more comparable to the Board exam...not like last quarter's silliness. Okay, I'm done bragging.) We will miss this instructor; the good news is that we may have him for our last or second to the last class.
Which reminds me, I need to pay for tuition again like right now. I'm drained.Hopefully tomorrow, I'll get 31 cent ice-cream at Baskin-Robbins after I help bro fix up their new place some more. :)
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Throwing in the Towel Update
Perhaps That Crazy Lady has regained an ounce of sanity since she decided on quitting. I have to give her props -- since she set her mind on leaving, her attitude and collaborative effort have been totally rad. She's truly achieved the "I quit" zen, where she just doesn't care any more...and that carefree spirit has really decreased her stress and anxiety level...to the point where it's benefiting me in so many ways! For one, I am hearing less crazy theories. Secondly, she has been on the ball when I need her support.
Today during group therapy (i.e., snack time), J320 was a mess. He didn't get much sleep the night before, so he was throwing a tantrum or on the verge of one pretty persistently through the morning. The moment he sat down for snack, he was fake crying and whining to an even louder extent. I prompted for quiet sitting, but he wasn't having it. So I said, "Okay, you're not ready," and turned to the next kiddo. He acted out even more (mini-extinction burst) so I looked at TCL, and she immediately took him away for a time-out. When she came back I told her that the second he demonstrates "quiet sitting" (whether he realizes it or not), run like crazy to bring him back to snack (differential reinforcement).
Mind you, his time-out area was at the other end of the classroom. I went about my ways with the rest of the kiddos, and then I noticed that it was quiet at the other end of the room. She saw me look at J320, and she immediately sprinted over to him and brought him back to snack.
He was a SAINT for the rest of snack!! High-five to TCL (and J320)! :D
Also a high-five to myself b/c I have gotten good at keeping snack time within 30 minutes. Not to mention both on Friday and today, N320 has needed less prompting for a louder voice for making his snack request to me.
Group therapy during snack time continues to rock!
Today during group therapy (i.e., snack time), J320 was a mess. He didn't get much sleep the night before, so he was throwing a tantrum or on the verge of one pretty persistently through the morning. The moment he sat down for snack, he was fake crying and whining to an even louder extent. I prompted for quiet sitting, but he wasn't having it. So I said, "Okay, you're not ready," and turned to the next kiddo. He acted out even more (mini-extinction burst) so I looked at TCL, and she immediately took him away for a time-out. When she came back I told her that the second he demonstrates "quiet sitting" (whether he realizes it or not), run like crazy to bring him back to snack (differential reinforcement).
Mind you, his time-out area was at the other end of the classroom. I went about my ways with the rest of the kiddos, and then I noticed that it was quiet at the other end of the room. She saw me look at J320, and she immediately sprinted over to him and brought him back to snack.
He was a SAINT for the rest of snack!! High-five to TCL (and J320)! :D
Also a high-five to myself b/c I have gotten good at keeping snack time within 30 minutes. Not to mention both on Friday and today, N320 has needed less prompting for a louder voice for making his snack request to me.
Group therapy during snack time continues to rock!
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Demolition Day
Today was demolition day at future Chez B&B. I put in a lot of effort in managing my time and studies so that I could spare a few hours to help Bro and FBIL. (I was quite proud of how I did!)
On Friday night, I was 50% behind schedule. I only finished one journal article summary before I crashed. By Saturday noon, I finished the second one and hit the gym, which was also on my Saturday schedule. :) When I got back, I checked the mail and opened up a very thoughtful "good luck" card from BSILF! It also included a checklist of all of my studies and assignments to do by Tuesday. I was able to check off 3 out of the 6 items! Unfortunately, my own list had 7 items...since I've been putting off taking notes and reviewing the chapter that I was too sick to take a quiz on. However, I was determined to finish my reading and note-taking for the two chapters by Saturday night. I barely made it, but I did. Phew.
This morning, I went to church and then was so proud of myself for making it over to Bro's to help him out for a few hours. I was really reaching into my inner zen garden...I do NOT function well in weather that is 90 degrees or above! Again, I was determined to keep my whining to a minimum and help out. As long as I didn't faint, I was capable of working. :)
I helped bro wash and clean the outside first floor windows (and kind of learned a new thing -- using ammonium for window cleaning. I know some windex has ammonium, but I didn't think of using a water and ammonium mixture for glass). (BF says I got a little dark, too. Too bad I wasn't wearing shorts!)
Around noon, the new tenants arrived to sign papers. I really enjoyed meeting them. Although they could never replace dear Rose, I could definitely see a good friendship developing between the neighbors/landlord & tenant.
After they left, bro and I painted the main room of their unit while the two contractors continued to work on the downstairs unit. They had already demolished the downstairs kitchen counter and began working on both bro's and downstairs units' bathrooms. I definitely can't wait to see both finished products! Too bad bro couldn't get on a reality show like Flip My Triplex. That would have been soOOoOOo cool.
Again -- I can't wait for them to get a doggy! (Maybe by the time they get a doggy, I will have read Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog" -- ABA principles on behavior training...namely, doggy training.)
(Would you believe I am already creating a Summer To-Do list?)
I felt so bad leaving bro around 3, but I really had to come home and study. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten much studying done. I came home and took yet another nap (been taking a lot of them during the past 2 weeks! What's up with that?), woke up to have dinner, and then took about 30 minutes to get two concepts into my head.
Let's hope I can get a lot more in before I crash.
On Friday night, I was 50% behind schedule. I only finished one journal article summary before I crashed. By Saturday noon, I finished the second one and hit the gym, which was also on my Saturday schedule. :) When I got back, I checked the mail and opened up a very thoughtful "good luck" card from BSILF! It also included a checklist of all of my studies and assignments to do by Tuesday. I was able to check off 3 out of the 6 items! Unfortunately, my own list had 7 items...since I've been putting off taking notes and reviewing the chapter that I was too sick to take a quiz on. However, I was determined to finish my reading and note-taking for the two chapters by Saturday night. I barely made it, but I did. Phew.
This morning, I went to church and then was so proud of myself for making it over to Bro's to help him out for a few hours. I was really reaching into my inner zen garden...I do NOT function well in weather that is 90 degrees or above! Again, I was determined to keep my whining to a minimum and help out. As long as I didn't faint, I was capable of working. :)
I helped bro wash and clean the outside first floor windows (and kind of learned a new thing -- using ammonium for window cleaning. I know some windex has ammonium, but I didn't think of using a water and ammonium mixture for glass). (BF says I got a little dark, too. Too bad I wasn't wearing shorts!)
Around noon, the new tenants arrived to sign papers. I really enjoyed meeting them. Although they could never replace dear Rose, I could definitely see a good friendship developing between the neighbors/landlord & tenant.
After they left, bro and I painted the main room of their unit while the two contractors continued to work on the downstairs unit. They had already demolished the downstairs kitchen counter and began working on both bro's and downstairs units' bathrooms. I definitely can't wait to see both finished products! Too bad bro couldn't get on a reality show like Flip My Triplex. That would have been soOOoOOo cool.
Again -- I can't wait for them to get a doggy! (Maybe by the time they get a doggy, I will have read Karen Pryor's "Don't Shoot the Dog" -- ABA principles on behavior training...namely, doggy training.)
(Would you believe I am already creating a Summer To-Do list?)
I felt so bad leaving bro around 3, but I really had to come home and study. Unfortunately, I haven't gotten much studying done. I came home and took yet another nap (been taking a lot of them during the past 2 weeks! What's up with that?), woke up to have dinner, and then took about 30 minutes to get two concepts into my head.
Let's hope I can get a lot more in before I crash.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Journal Article Summaries
I cannot believe that I am, once again, reviewing journal research articles, writing up a summary and critique, and having to present on them!
I keep forgetting that this BCBA program is "real" school. Don't get me wrong; it gets intense and stressful at times, and it's definitely time-consuming, but it's not like I'm getting a second Masters. I'm just getting a certificate. And hopefully in the short-long run, I'll pass the national board exam and get the hard-earned 4 extra letters after my name.
I'm currently reviewing an article on on-task and on-schedule behavior in children with autism. How ironic that I can't even stay on-task for 60 minutes...
I keep forgetting that this BCBA program is "real" school. Don't get me wrong; it gets intense and stressful at times, and it's definitely time-consuming, but it's not like I'm getting a second Masters. I'm just getting a certificate. And hopefully in the short-long run, I'll pass the national board exam and get the hard-earned 4 extra letters after my name.
I'm currently reviewing an article on on-task and on-schedule behavior in children with autism. How ironic that I can't even stay on-task for 60 minutes...
Another Stork Delivery
I got word from another friend today that her and new Husband are expecting in the Fall, too!
Karla and I met in grad school when we were in the post-bacc program. Our little group actually grew to about 4.5 people (I being the last 1.0; I was a total loner who had no inclination to meet anyone at that time) and the funny thing is that we didn't know that Karla was specializing in audiology, until our last quarter together! We didn't see too much of each other, except when the Auds and SLPs had a conjoined class on auditory processing disorders.
Then last November, her and hubby got married and had their reception at the beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. They honeymooned in the Dominican Republic after New Years...and now they are expecting in the Fall.
Congrats to Karla & hubby!
Karla and I met in grad school when we were in the post-bacc program. Our little group actually grew to about 4.5 people (I being the last 1.0; I was a total loner who had no inclination to meet anyone at that time) and the funny thing is that we didn't know that Karla was specializing in audiology, until our last quarter together! We didn't see too much of each other, except when the Auds and SLPs had a conjoined class on auditory processing disorders.
Then last November, her and hubby got married and had their reception at the beautiful Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in downtown Los Angeles. They honeymooned in the Dominican Republic after New Years...and now they are expecting in the Fall.
Congrats to Karla & hubby!
Now We Stop...Now We Stop
I had an exceptionally good speech day with the 320s. :) There was a class staff meeting and since J320's 1:1 was absent and he was being a bit too much for the aides in the meeting to watch on the side, they asked me to take J320 for speech instead of M320. I was nervous since the 320 consultant was watching and it could potentially be a bad transition, but thankfully, J320 made a super-easy transition. I did the usual first/then strategy (first speech, then take a walk) and the kiddo put his shoes on and then we walked over to the Speech Area.
We did a little lesson on Basic Concepts (hats), and I had him follow simple directions as we worked. It was my first time having him do this activity so it was comical to watch him choose a color crayon and then "color." All of the 320s "color" in their own crazy way. N320 draws one line at a time, and we have to keep prompting him to color more. D320 colors a whole object but doesn't stay within the lines; extremely thorough though. J320 colors with a vengeance...he was so enthusiastic that he started coloring the table. Afterwards, we reviewed function-match-ups, but I worked on expanding his utterances. Not too shabby. Lastly, we practiced Quiet Sitting. Considering I just read a chapter on shaping and created a Quiet Sitting Shaping diagram (that I thought we had to turn in but apparently not), I thought I'd give it a try and start with my first step, which is working at the first successive approximation of Quiet Sitting -- Quiet Feet. Prior, I'd prompt him on all three components -- quiet mouth, quiet hands, and quiet feet. I instructed that we would count to 60 and then we'd be all done with speech and go on his reward walk.
I was thrilled at the results! Usually, we quietly count to 10 while I prompt him every second or two to stop moving. Oh, when I say we count together, it's more like he attends and chimes in with a few numbers every so often. He also counts in chunks. Like I start counting slowly, "1...2... 3...." and he'll chime in, "456......9, 10." LOL So we started counting "together" and 1) I was amazed that he counted into the 50s; 2) I prompted him a total of 5 times for quiet feet during the 60 counts; 3) during the last ~20 counts, he had quiet feet with no prompts!! This was monstrous b/c this is a kiddo with extremely high sensory needs. It's hard for him to sit still!
Afterwards, we went on a walk around the track. Rewind: I am always trying to think of something functional to sing and I haven't been successful at creating nor recalling any good songs. During Christmas, I sang "Oh Christmas Tree" with him and he actually "sang" with me (chimed in a word here and there); very entertaining and fun for me, but nothing too functional. Today, I recalled a song/video that I saw on a website where children responded to a song sang to the tune of "Frere Jacques" -- Walking walking walking walking, hop hop hop, hop hop hop, running running running, running running running, now we stop, now we stop. I know I looked like a fewl b/c I was the only one acting out the whole song around the track b/c J320 moves on his own time and terms. I thought I could get him to act it out b/c a few minutes prior, I asked if he wanted to run and he actually started running (first time! Could've been a coincidence, I know). He also likes to jump when he needs a sensory break.
Oh snap! I should change the song from "hop hop hop" to "jump jump jump"! Maybe he'll respond to that part next time! (Imaginary high-5 to myself.)
Anywho, I was pleased, though b/c I only sang it once and the 2nd and 3rd time around, he actually "sang" a few words with me! Very nice. :) We went back in for group therapy (i.e., snack time) and my good speech therapist day continued.
I look forward to snack time with the kiddos, but it's also really hectic b/c 3 of the 5 have anywhere between 2-5 different snacks! The other two get class provided pretzels and/or popcorn. Sometimes, it's hard for me to keep track of whose snack is whose and then there's P320 who only wants his own snacks 50% of the time; the other 30% of the time, he wants one of J320 or N320's snacks; remaining 20% of the time he just sits there. Today, I worked on J320 communicating "no thank you" as opposed to "all done" (one of mom's requested IEP goals). He also demo'd much better quiet sitting. It was awesome.
Not only that but I started working on getting P320 so sign "more." He signs an approximation of "please" for "I want" so I wanted to expand that (I also talked to mom about incorporating more signs/gestures since he is so dependent on visual and gestural prompts as opposed to verbal prompts). After about 7 models from me, P320 clapped, and we took it as his successive approximation for signing "more." As in, we practically threw a 3-second party! (We cheered him so loud and I differentially reinforced by giving him not 1 but 3 gummies.) (Wow, I guess learning about shaping a behavior has really come in handy.) Even N320 was on the ball; I barely prompted him for a louder voice as opposed to the past weeks! Lastly, D320 surprised me during his speech time. D320 is extremely echolalic and often appears catatonic but aware of what's going on. During our activity, he responded to a few Wh-questions without any cues!
It was just too much excitement for me. By the time it was lunchtime, I was exhausted. I caught up with my grad student assistant for some good comic relief on how our kids are doing and then I rushed over to see the SDC kiddos. I guess the more appropriate label for those kids would be LC (Learning Center). Even though the school year is almost over, I'm still learning the difference between Special Day Class (SDC) and Learning Center (LC). I think I finally get it.
Oh! On my way over to the Learning Center class, one of my high-functioning autism kiddo (the one that actually said, "I don't want to socialize! I hate socializing!") bum rushed passed me and said hello to me! I was very pleased as he was one of the 3 that didn't fulfill their speech assignment carried over from last week. Woohoo! Point for HFA-D!
I know I vow every time to never see 8 of the LC kids together, but I still do from time to time when I have to make-up sessions. It is uber-drop-dead exhausting to do that b/c of how much attention half of them need!
~ ~ ~
BF was going to bring me out to dinner tonight but he had a lot of work so instead, I came home and instantly hopped into bed for a 1.5 hour nap. It's going to be a busy weekend of ABA reading, research article reviewing, and hopefully helping bro and FBIL out with some moving.
Oh, last bit of news -- it's confirmed for now that N320 will not transfer. Phooey. I wouldn't mind so much if I didn't have to see him 4 x a week!
We did a little lesson on Basic Concepts (hats), and I had him follow simple directions as we worked. It was my first time having him do this activity so it was comical to watch him choose a color crayon and then "color." All of the 320s "color" in their own crazy way. N320 draws one line at a time, and we have to keep prompting him to color more. D320 colors a whole object but doesn't stay within the lines; extremely thorough though. J320 colors with a vengeance...he was so enthusiastic that he started coloring the table. Afterwards, we reviewed function-match-ups, but I worked on expanding his utterances. Not too shabby. Lastly, we practiced Quiet Sitting. Considering I just read a chapter on shaping and created a Quiet Sitting Shaping diagram (that I thought we had to turn in but apparently not), I thought I'd give it a try and start with my first step, which is working at the first successive approximation of Quiet Sitting -- Quiet Feet. Prior, I'd prompt him on all three components -- quiet mouth, quiet hands, and quiet feet. I instructed that we would count to 60 and then we'd be all done with speech and go on his reward walk.
I was thrilled at the results! Usually, we quietly count to 10 while I prompt him every second or two to stop moving. Oh, when I say we count together, it's more like he attends and chimes in with a few numbers every so often. He also counts in chunks. Like I start counting slowly, "1...2... 3...." and he'll chime in, "456......9, 10." LOL So we started counting "together" and 1) I was amazed that he counted into the 50s; 2) I prompted him a total of 5 times for quiet feet during the 60 counts; 3) during the last ~20 counts, he had quiet feet with no prompts!! This was monstrous b/c this is a kiddo with extremely high sensory needs. It's hard for him to sit still!
Afterwards, we went on a walk around the track. Rewind: I am always trying to think of something functional to sing and I haven't been successful at creating nor recalling any good songs. During Christmas, I sang "Oh Christmas Tree" with him and he actually "sang" with me (chimed in a word here and there); very entertaining and fun for me, but nothing too functional. Today, I recalled a song/video that I saw on a website where children responded to a song sang to the tune of "Frere Jacques" -- Walking walking walking walking, hop hop hop, hop hop hop, running running running, running running running, now we stop, now we stop. I know I looked like a fewl b/c I was the only one acting out the whole song around the track b/c J320 moves on his own time and terms. I thought I could get him to act it out b/c a few minutes prior, I asked if he wanted to run and he actually started running (first time! Could've been a coincidence, I know). He also likes to jump when he needs a sensory break.
Oh snap! I should change the song from "hop hop hop" to "jump jump jump"! Maybe he'll respond to that part next time! (Imaginary high-5 to myself.)
Anywho, I was pleased, though b/c I only sang it once and the 2nd and 3rd time around, he actually "sang" a few words with me! Very nice. :) We went back in for group therapy (i.e., snack time) and my good speech therapist day continued.
I look forward to snack time with the kiddos, but it's also really hectic b/c 3 of the 5 have anywhere between 2-5 different snacks! The other two get class provided pretzels and/or popcorn. Sometimes, it's hard for me to keep track of whose snack is whose and then there's P320 who only wants his own snacks 50% of the time; the other 30% of the time, he wants one of J320 or N320's snacks; remaining 20% of the time he just sits there. Today, I worked on J320 communicating "no thank you" as opposed to "all done" (one of mom's requested IEP goals). He also demo'd much better quiet sitting. It was awesome.
Not only that but I started working on getting P320 so sign "more." He signs an approximation of "please" for "I want" so I wanted to expand that (I also talked to mom about incorporating more signs/gestures since he is so dependent on visual and gestural prompts as opposed to verbal prompts). After about 7 models from me, P320 clapped, and we took it as his successive approximation for signing "more." As in, we practically threw a 3-second party! (We cheered him so loud and I differentially reinforced by giving him not 1 but 3 gummies.) (Wow, I guess learning about shaping a behavior has really come in handy.) Even N320 was on the ball; I barely prompted him for a louder voice as opposed to the past weeks! Lastly, D320 surprised me during his speech time. D320 is extremely echolalic and often appears catatonic but aware of what's going on. During our activity, he responded to a few Wh-questions without any cues!
It was just too much excitement for me. By the time it was lunchtime, I was exhausted. I caught up with my grad student assistant for some good comic relief on how our kids are doing and then I rushed over to see the SDC kiddos. I guess the more appropriate label for those kids would be LC (Learning Center). Even though the school year is almost over, I'm still learning the difference between Special Day Class (SDC) and Learning Center (LC). I think I finally get it.
Oh! On my way over to the Learning Center class, one of my high-functioning autism kiddo (the one that actually said, "I don't want to socialize! I hate socializing!") bum rushed passed me and said hello to me! I was very pleased as he was one of the 3 that didn't fulfill their speech assignment carried over from last week. Woohoo! Point for HFA-D!
I know I vow every time to never see 8 of the LC kids together, but I still do from time to time when I have to make-up sessions. It is uber-drop-dead exhausting to do that b/c of how much attention half of them need!
- Barrettes Girl (turned into Beads Girl) picks on everyone (she is such a bully! Both physically and verbally!) and she gets all up in everyone's business. For a week now, she has come in at least 3x to ask if I've been seeing one of the other girls.
- I'm-Not-Programmed-To-Lose Boy who draws the craziest things for me (he'll hand me like 10 drawings every time he sees me) always looks like he's about to cry b/c he feels like everyone yells at him. His group mates kind of do b/c he doesn't keep up with where we are so when it's his turn, all 7 of the girls yell his name out to get his attention and 3 of them will point to his paper and/or flip it over to tell him where we are. So we had have a "time-out" from the current activity and I had to do a mini-social-skills-crisis intervention.
- The talkative girl cuts everyone off so it makes the quiet girls feel less confident about talking so I have to cajole the quietest two to talk (thankfully, they flanked me today).
- The quietest gets so upset when she actually has the courage to ask a question or respond and the talkative one cuts her off to steal the spotlight. This one is also on the autism spectrum.
~ ~ ~
BF was going to bring me out to dinner tonight but he had a lot of work so instead, I came home and instantly hopped into bed for a 1.5 hour nap. It's going to be a busy weekend of ABA reading, research article reviewing, and hopefully helping bro and FBIL out with some moving.
Oh, last bit of news -- it's confirmed for now that N320 will not transfer. Phooey. I wouldn't mind so much if I didn't have to see him 4 x a week!
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Rock of Hope
Rewinding back to Saturday, I picked up a few cool items from my bro's moving sale. I got an ecko hoodie (too bad I can't wear it to school b/c whenever I dress down, I get mistaken for a kid...at least from a distance!). I also quickly snagged a tabletop zen fountain before it hit the selling floor. I thought it would be really nice to have in the Speech Room...just to create an aura of zen in the midst of all the craziness.
Yesterday, I called my High-Functioning Autism Group in. I'm just now working on social skill training now that I have an inkling of an idea on what to do. The session began pretty well; when HFA-V and HFA-R came in at separate times, they greeted me immediately and enthusiastically. It was pretty funny (and awesome); I think they made it a loud point because last week, I told them that I expected them to greet me and their group mates properly, when they walked in. They settled down and then I put all of them on the spot except TD (the only non-autism kid in the group). All 3 of the HFAs "failed" their one-week assignment -- to greet me outside of the Speech Room. I was bummed b/c I know that I saw 2 of them; two of them looked at me out of the corner of their eye during their lunch break! I asked them, "Are you afraid of me or something?" They said defensively, "No! I'm not afraid! I was just [enter excuse -- 'busy,' 'doing homework,' etc.]." So we spent a few minutes setting up a reward system ("Can you buy us a video game or give us money?!" NO!), and then I extended the assignment but also broadened it; they could greet each other, a peer, or a teacher outside of a classroom. They liked that idea. Of course they had to ask, "Well, can't I just say hello to my sister/brother? That's easy!" "No! The idea is for you to work on socializing." HFA-D actually said, "But I don't want to socialize! I hate socializing!" Poor guys. It's so agonizing for them.
The funny/sad thing is that these kids are perfectly fine talking up a storm with their SLPs, but when it comes to peers, they're totally off of it. What does that say about me???
Anywho, we did our activity of reading and demonstrating body language, facial expressions, intonations, and gestures and then the HFAs left. I had TD stay until the end of the period. He noticed my zen fountain and commented, "cool thingy!" I said, "yeah, I call it a fountain. What would you call it?"
TD: I think it's more like a rock.
Me: Well, it's more like a fountain b/c even though it's made of rocks, there's water trickling down so it's more like a fountain...It's kind of peaceful. It's like a fountain of peace.
TD totally disregarding my logic: I think you should call it the Rock.
Me: Um, how about the Fountain of Peace?
TD: How about Rock of Peace? No! The Rock of Hope!
I think our conversation was never settled. He is dead set on calling it the Rock of Hope despite my many prompts to keep it as the Fountain of Peace.
Oh well. Can't win every semantic war.
Yesterday, I called my High-Functioning Autism Group in. I'm just now working on social skill training now that I have an inkling of an idea on what to do. The session began pretty well; when HFA-V and HFA-R came in at separate times, they greeted me immediately and enthusiastically. It was pretty funny (and awesome); I think they made it a loud point because last week, I told them that I expected them to greet me and their group mates properly, when they walked in. They settled down and then I put all of them on the spot except TD (the only non-autism kid in the group). All 3 of the HFAs "failed" their one-week assignment -- to greet me outside of the Speech Room. I was bummed b/c I know that I saw 2 of them; two of them looked at me out of the corner of their eye during their lunch break! I asked them, "Are you afraid of me or something?" They said defensively, "No! I'm not afraid! I was just [enter excuse -- 'busy,' 'doing homework,' etc.]." So we spent a few minutes setting up a reward system ("Can you buy us a video game or give us money?!" NO!), and then I extended the assignment but also broadened it; they could greet each other, a peer, or a teacher outside of a classroom. They liked that idea. Of course they had to ask, "Well, can't I just say hello to my sister/brother? That's easy!" "No! The idea is for you to work on socializing." HFA-D actually said, "But I don't want to socialize! I hate socializing!" Poor guys. It's so agonizing for them.
The funny/sad thing is that these kids are perfectly fine talking up a storm with their SLPs, but when it comes to peers, they're totally off of it. What does that say about me???
Anywho, we did our activity of reading and demonstrating body language, facial expressions, intonations, and gestures and then the HFAs left. I had TD stay until the end of the period. He noticed my zen fountain and commented, "cool thingy!" I said, "yeah, I call it a fountain. What would you call it?"
TD: I think it's more like a rock.
Me: Well, it's more like a fountain b/c even though it's made of rocks, there's water trickling down so it's more like a fountain...It's kind of peaceful. It's like a fountain of peace.
TD totally disregarding my logic: I think you should call it the Rock.
Me: Um, how about the Fountain of Peace?
TD: How about Rock of Peace? No! The Rock of Hope!
I think our conversation was never settled. He is dead set on calling it the Rock of Hope despite my many prompts to keep it as the Fountain of Peace.
Oh well. Can't win every semantic war.
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