‘I am worried about going back to school Mummy’
It took half an hour of coaxing and teetering on the precipice of a meltdown to find out what was wrong with Boo.
Worried about going back to school.
‘I will go to school and when the teacher says I can go on the computer I will say NO!’
Oh.
Right.
Towards the end of term last year the teacher banned him from the computer as a punishment.
A not very well thought out punishment.
Considering that is his reward item. His calming item. The thing they use when Boo is overwhelmed and writing is just too hard.
The computer is a necessary tool for Boo to learn.
So not fucking cool, teacher.
Anyway, she realised her mistake the following day when Boo was out of control and they had nothing in their arsenal.
Another reason why I told them not to rely on JUST ONE THING.
*sigh*
But what do I know.
I am just a stupid parent.
ANYWAY.
Boo is worried about going back to school.
Boo is worried she will take away the computer again.
So, as is his way, he is taking control and banning the computer himself.
Which he knows means that he will not be able to calm, will not have a reward and will not be able to do his school work.
And now he has another emotion he can identify – anxious.
{ 19 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh fuck. It’s going to be interesting.
Amy doesn’t start until the 16th.
wow, that is late. Remind me, did she get funding? (stupid brain can’t remember shit… literally)
Standard Tassie start date. And yes! I don’t know how many hours yet (I was meant to get stuff in the mail and nada), but she has aide funding.
Crap 🙁
Let him pack at least one or two things into his schoolbag he can grab to sooth himself – like a Pokemon or a slinky or a noose for the dipshyte teacher…oops, did I say that outloud?
Talk to him about having something he has chosen to ‘ground’ himself, something he can hold, even in class that will help him focus and keep his head clear (no, he may not pack a kitchen knife).
Then write in his communication book about how you made this decision to facilitate Boo’s learning experience at school as he is now expressing the fact he is anxious about returning to school due to the decision the teacher made last year.
She may have put it behind her but Boo has not.
Anxiety is one of the worse feelings…
Yay for being able to identify another emotion/feeling.
I hope you and Boo can find a way to make things less anxious.
I hope the teacher gets it together for Boo’s sake – it is the same teacher ??
I hope Boo finds his calm !
Do you know who his new teacher is? Can you, Boo and she enter into a written contract detailing behaviours, punishments etc, and stating that she will not use the computer as a punishment? It wouldn’t have to be too detailed if that wouldn’t suit. It would depend on whether Boo can cope with the concept of a contract. But it might give him some control in a different way.
Excellent plan
Yay for being able to identify and emotion!!
I hate teachers that don’t listen to parents.
Poor Boo. Poor you. I hope things go well… and his teacher listens this year.
Yeah, in the States if you have a special needs child you’re supposed to do a semesterly (or quarterly, I don’t know how you guys break up your school year) IEP, wherein you specifically account for things like this. Specifying that the computer not be used as punishment or that more than one option for self soothing be used, etc.
I’m surprised you don’t have that there, or if you do, that it isn’t being followed by the teacher. Anyway, before he goes back to school maybe you can start working on some sort of personal item he can have in his desk to help calm himself in place of the computer?
fuck.
stupid bint.
Two steps forward, one step back… that’s crap. I hope you can get this teacher working with Boo and not against him.
bloody hell. you would *think* the teacher would know better. don’t get them sometimes…just..don’t..
Oh, jeez, c’mon teachers. This sucks all around.
Stupid teacher, but yay for Boo? maybe hmm not a cool emotion but at least its another for his list.
Crap! And this teacher is slowly learning to pay attention to good advice… Heh, too little, too late.
I made the mistake of showing one of my campers an emotion chart. The one he picked out? Jealous.
Now everything is “Molly. I feel jealous.”