To be completely honest, the biggest changes we see are behavioral rather than educational.
Before school started, Joshua was emotionally fragile and lacking self-worth. He would cry often. He expected to fail, thus often refused to try. He was becoming increasingly argumentative and lacked control over his words when he felt "cornered." We dreaded asking him to do anything, even a task as simple as taking out the trash, because a fit of some type would usually follow.
Changing schools has changed his entire outlook. He is much happier, calmer, and emotionally under-control. He is sleeping better. He is excited to go to school each day. When asked to do chores at home, he often complies with no complaint. And just the other day, he was REALLY upset with me - but he held his tongue. Where two months ago he would have used mean words, he simply stomped up the steps angrily and followed my instructions.
I am seeing MY CHILD again.
When I had the exit meeting at his former elementary school his teacher and I discussed the fact that if something did not change, he would be labeled ODD. Now I would be OK with him being labeled ODD if in fact he was ODD. However, I knew in my heart that he was not ODD. Rather he was deeply frustrated and completely afraid. The concrete-sequential, paper and pencil, remain in your desk for much of the day, and test-constantly type of learning that our public school teachers are forced to practice was draining the life from my son. (He had an awesome teacher! She understood exactly what he was going through. She made many adaptations for him, and she also had the courage to send me info about his new school because she wanted him to be himself. I am so grateful.)
When I had the exit meeting at his former elementary school his teacher and I discussed the fact that if something did not change, he would be labeled ODD. Now I would be OK with him being labeled ODD if in fact he was ODD. However, I knew in my heart that he was not ODD. Rather he was deeply frustrated and completely afraid. The concrete-sequential, paper and pencil, remain in your desk for much of the day, and test-constantly type of learning that our public school teachers are forced to practice was draining the life from my son. (He had an awesome teacher! She understood exactly what he was going through. She made many adaptations for him, and she also had the courage to send me info about his new school because she wanted him to be himself. I am so grateful.)
From an educational standpoint, we are beginning to see progress. He was so closed when school began that he didn't even want to read a menu and the idea of writing caused instant tears. It was not that he was completely incapable, he was testing just below grade level - but he was feeling incapable - totally, completely, terrifyingly incapable.
At this point, he is reading menus again. He will read a simple story to Mataya or a younger classmate. He adds to my grocery list if I leave it laying out, in hopes of me purchasing some of his favorite junk food. And one completely amazing morning, he read a really hard news article to me on the drive to school. . . voluntarily! SO - he's getting there.
It is my belief that as his self-worth continues to rise, his learning curve will follow. We have some educational "stuff" to figure out, but as his mind opens to his own potential that "stuff" will be much easier to navigate.
In the end, while educational stuff matters whole lot (I am an educator at heart and by degree), Joshua's heart matters most. I am grateful beyond words for the confidence and happiness I see in our son. Seeing Joshua be Joshua again is priceless.
