Sally is portrayed in an article under the heading "The Road Less Traveled"
http://projectchoices.org/resources/newsletters.aspx
A Family’s Perspective
Sally began her inclusion experience by attending Developmental Kindergarten in the morning, coming home by bus to eat lunch and then getting on a bus and going to her “home school” for the afternoon kindergarten class. She was age 5, turning 6 that September. She spoke no words. She made very little eye contact and was very content to stay in her own little world.
Our want for an “all-day” home school experience for Sally was met with some resistance. However, we continued to push and explained that if it didn’t work we would simply stop. It was the best decision we’ve made for Sally. Since we began, she has flourished. She has many friends and in third grade was actually voted Vice-President of the class.
Fast forward now to 5th grade: she has participated in every school project. She is now a Patrol after school and has been using a laptop computer furnished by the district. She speaks well enough to communicate her needs, though we are still pursuing speech mastery. Sally can carry on a conversation, she jokes and looks people in the eye. She absolutely loves school. Every year brings more growth. We know we still have a long way to go; Sally is probably 3-4 years behind her peers in her curriculum, but we still rejoice at all the progress she has made.
We are positive that her success is ALL about relationships and the teachers, aides, therapists who have come into her life. EVERYONE who has touched our lives has made a difference and we are very grateful for it. There have been stumbles along the way, but I don’t know of a journey that doesn’t have some of those. Overall, we have received many more positive results than negative.
By Kelly Davidek, Sally’s mom
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Easter With US
We had Easter here this year due to the timing of seeing the Follies. It was really nice. The kids got up a 4 A.M.!!!!! BUT - after finding the eggs and seeing the goodies that were left they hunkered down on the couch and fell asleep watching cartoons.
We had ham, potatoes, corn, rolls, dev. eggs and strawberries. It was a really easy going day. We played Jack's gross out card game and then we set up his gross out experiments. Aunt Jill gave him a "Gross Out" science experiments project/thing for Christmas and we made the gelatin, put it in the petri dish and then swabbed his underarms, toe jam and mouth and then rubbed it on the gelatin and now we're waiting to see what "grows". :-) Jack is in heaven. It's SUCH a boy thing to see what disgusting stuff could grow between your toes. :-)
We had ham, potatoes, corn, rolls, dev. eggs and strawberries. It was a really easy going day. We played Jack's gross out card game and then we set up his gross out experiments. Aunt Jill gave him a "Gross Out" science experiments project/thing for Christmas and we made the gelatin, put it in the petri dish and then swabbed his underarms, toe jam and mouth and then rubbed it on the gelatin and now we're waiting to see what "grows". :-) Jack is in heaven. It's SUCH a boy thing to see what disgusting stuff could grow between your toes. :-)
Sunday, April 04, 2010
Easter on the West Side
So we went to my brother's house for dinner last night. They have 3 kids - all who are grown and out of college. Jamie, the youngest, is student teaching right now and will graduate from UI in like 2 months. She was there and Jack had brought his report card to show off (mostly because he was SO surprised that he didn't have any B's = below district standards). On the comments of his report it said "tends to be a little chatty". I asked Jame if they teach that in Teacher Talk 101. Because the real world reads that as "this kid won't shut up". ;-)
She's going to make a good teacher - she's really excited and energized. Her "favorite" kid is someone who struggles SO hard, she says, but still has a great bubbly personality. It's cool how Jamie can see kids who don't "get it" so easy - when she was a kid who DID get it pretty easy. Good grades came easily for her than some and I think she's seeing it.
Dick and Laurena SWEAR they *miss* the bickering and the fighting (of which my kids gave out freely last night). I don't believe it. We had a really nice time. Even though my brother can't do chicken like my Dad (no one can) :-) It was pretty good. :-)
The FUNNIEST thing that happened was as all of us were sitting around the kitchen counter and the kids were playing Lego's in the living room, this HUGE black dog appeared at their back patio door. Then there appeared their neighbor. They opened the door and the dog went STORMING through the house - as if looking for something. When he came to the living room and saw the kids on the rug playing he "jumped" in surprise and barked. Come to find out - he was looking for Peyton. Peyton is my nephew's dog. I guess these two play together ALL the time - for hours! Peyton was just "visiting" last week because Peyton lives with Bob in Bloomington while Bob goes to school. (ISU) So when this dog encountered children on *their* play rug - he was just beside himself. It was SO funny! He was SERIOUSLY looking for Peyton and their neighbor had said that as they went for their walk - he had bounded out and come over - and he's so big she couldn't hold him. I can only imagine the fun those two must have.
Speaking of dogs. Mabel got to be outside while we were gone. She has to be on a chain but her chewed up cage is out on the deck and we put out some food and water and left her out (it was SO nice yesterday). She was HAPPY to see us return and she was TIRED - so some of that nice fresh air kind of tires her out *a little*.
Bill and I have been elected to be Little League coaches this year. He's head and I'm assistant. :-) We got our uniforms yesterday. We are the River Bandits. I've got a phone call in to Swisegood to tell him to make room on that "Winning est Coach in IL" trophy for my name! :-) We sat down and made out practice schedules and what we were doing at practices - and since we're concentrating much more on throwing and catching than on plays - we'll probably be in last place - BUT I DO think they will come out with GOOD habits and a lot of fun - and personally, I think that's what it's about.
Jack has shown he can get it over the plate pretty good. I'd really like for him to spend some time with my Dad and soak up some of his advice - but since Jack is Jack and life is crazy - that probably won't happen.
A big Happy Easter. Jack woke me at 3am to tell me what had been left in his basket and that the eggs were gone and hidden all around. We held him off till 4am when Sal got up and he told her all about it and so I got up and watched as they found all but 2 of the eggs and dove into their baskets. I kept thinking "there's NO way Dick and Laurena really MISS this!"
She's going to make a good teacher - she's really excited and energized. Her "favorite" kid is someone who struggles SO hard, she says, but still has a great bubbly personality. It's cool how Jamie can see kids who don't "get it" so easy - when she was a kid who DID get it pretty easy. Good grades came easily for her than some and I think she's seeing it.
Dick and Laurena SWEAR they *miss* the bickering and the fighting (of which my kids gave out freely last night). I don't believe it. We had a really nice time. Even though my brother can't do chicken like my Dad (no one can) :-) It was pretty good. :-)
The FUNNIEST thing that happened was as all of us were sitting around the kitchen counter and the kids were playing Lego's in the living room, this HUGE black dog appeared at their back patio door. Then there appeared their neighbor. They opened the door and the dog went STORMING through the house - as if looking for something. When he came to the living room and saw the kids on the rug playing he "jumped" in surprise and barked. Come to find out - he was looking for Peyton. Peyton is my nephew's dog. I guess these two play together ALL the time - for hours! Peyton was just "visiting" last week because Peyton lives with Bob in Bloomington while Bob goes to school. (ISU) So when this dog encountered children on *their* play rug - he was just beside himself. It was SO funny! He was SERIOUSLY looking for Peyton and their neighbor had said that as they went for their walk - he had bounded out and come over - and he's so big she couldn't hold him. I can only imagine the fun those two must have.
Speaking of dogs. Mabel got to be outside while we were gone. She has to be on a chain but her chewed up cage is out on the deck and we put out some food and water and left her out (it was SO nice yesterday). She was HAPPY to see us return and she was TIRED - so some of that nice fresh air kind of tires her out *a little*.
Bill and I have been elected to be Little League coaches this year. He's head and I'm assistant. :-) We got our uniforms yesterday. We are the River Bandits. I've got a phone call in to Swisegood to tell him to make room on that "Winning est Coach in IL" trophy for my name! :-) We sat down and made out practice schedules and what we were doing at practices - and since we're concentrating much more on throwing and catching than on plays - we'll probably be in last place - BUT I DO think they will come out with GOOD habits and a lot of fun - and personally, I think that's what it's about.
Jack has shown he can get it over the plate pretty good. I'd really like for him to spend some time with my Dad and soak up some of his advice - but since Jack is Jack and life is crazy - that probably won't happen.
A big Happy Easter. Jack woke me at 3am to tell me what had been left in his basket and that the eggs were gone and hidden all around. We held him off till 4am when Sal got up and he told her all about it and so I got up and watched as they found all but 2 of the eggs and dove into their baskets. I kept thinking "there's NO way Dick and Laurena really MISS this!"
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