Everything I Ever Needed to Learn . . .

Last updated on: October 28, 2011 at 9:18 am by Amy Julia Becker

Everything I Ever Needed to Learn . . . 2011-10-28T09:18:27-04:00 Amy Julia Becker

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

For those of you who read this blog regularly, you know that Penny started kindergarten two months ago, and you know that we couldn’t be more pleased with her situation. With that said, as I’ve also mentioned, Penny has had a tough time “controlling her hands” and following directions in school. Her teacher gave up one of her planning periods in order to help Penny on the playground. She broke the day down into ten minute segments, with Penny earning a sticker for every ten minutes that she kept quiet hands and prizes every so often within that structure. And we realized a few weeks ago that paying attention to the positive goes a long way. Penny came home one day and said, “Mom, I’ve got to show you something!” She proudly pulled out the worksheet that recorded her behavior for the day and pointed to each of the x’s, ready to tell me all of her infractions in detail.

I realized then that all of our careful and long conversations in which we had her explain what she had done wrong and how she could do it differently weren’t working. “Penny,” I said, “I’m not interested in your x’s. I am interested in your stickers. Tell me about those.”

It seems to be paying off. Penny’s had a week of “great days!” including one where her teacher escorted her to me and said, “You need to buy Penny some ice cream!” At least at this moment, no more pushing or hitting or running away or hiding under the table or rolling around on the rug or (the list goes on…).

I have a new post on her.meneutics (A Real Christian Education) about the gratitude I feel for Penny’s education, for her inclusion in this classroom, as well as my hopes that her presence there will be a blessing to her classmates and not only to her. It begins:

Our daughter Penny started kindergarten six weeks ago. At the end of her first day of school, she greeted me with, “Mom! I didn’t miss you!” She’s loved every moment since. I’m sure much of her experience is typical—she walks to school, she works on spelling and reading and basic math concepts, she plays on the playground at recess. And yet Penny’s experience also highlights significant changes in American education over the past few decades because Penny has Down syndrome and an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) and regular therapy sessions. Hers is an “integrated” classroom, with two teachers and a classroom aid. Forty years ago, she might not have been eligible to attend public school at all, much less in a classroom alongside her typically-developing peers.

To keep reading, click here.

Previous Post

October 26, 2011

What Down Syn Mean?

Next Post

October 31, 2011 I Don't Know How She Does It . . .

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Articles Books Disability Down Syndrome Faith family Perfectly Human Uncategorized

Select a Month February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 September 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 March 2010 February 2010 January 2010 December 2009 November 2009 October 2009 September 2009 August 2009 July 2009 June 2009 May 2009 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz