Edwards' Family Field Trip
Tags:We were up and out early this morning for a tour of Simon's kindergarten.
WOW.Kindergarten. Can hardly believe that is coming up next.
Simon will be in a full-day kindergarten program at one of the local elementary schools (full day kindergarten is not the norm in Oregon - there are maybe three schools in our area that offer full day programs).
He will participate in the "regular" room with kids in the morning
(including the bulk of academics, lunch, recess, etc ) and then spend a
couple hours in the afternoon in a classroom focused on language,
social skills, etc. Full day around here is basically 8am to 1:30pm.
Simon was a superstar. He was excited once we got in the door - I think he could sense this was going to be an ok place (as soon as we clarified more than a couple times that he did not have to say "goodbye" to mommy and daddy at this school today). We met his special ed teacher and she showed us all around the school and told us more about the program: the schedule, the teachers, the classrooms, etc. We visited the kindergarten room, said hi to his teacher & the kids, checked out the cubbies, the tables, the globes ("earths"), the "storybooks,"etc. Much of it was set up just like his current classroom which will definitely help with the transition.
Simon was super chatty throughout the tour. He especially loved the blocks of color on the tile floor ("just like a rainbow"), the library, and a big fish tank in the lobby. When the teacher asked him if he wanted to see the lunch room he responded with a very enthusiastic "yeah."
My first impression of this school: it is ALIVE.
It has been years and years since I have been in an elementary school, but man, this place was full of color and kids and numbers and books and windows (and light) and LIFE. There were kids and teachers all over the place but it was not chaotic, nor was it closed off and sterile.
It felt progressive and open and inclusive and happy. And I like that.
As I walked through I was thinking to myself how very thankful I am for the early intervention services that Simon has received over the last few years. They have been instrumental in getting him ready to head to kindergarten. He understands the basics of a classroom and picture schedules and snack/lunch time and play time. And he is working hard everyday on interacting with the other kids (the social and the language are probably his two biggest issues).
I am so excited for him - especially after visiting the school today and seeing his response. I know it will be a big transition, but man, what a ride.
A couple other things on this Monday morning:
1. Have you seen Meet The Robinson's yet? When Paolo was here we took Simon and it was AWESOME. Great movie, great message. All about "keep moving forward." Totally an underrated, delightful gem for adults as well as kids.
2. Daily schedule update. After my post yesterday I worked on making one up for myself on a spreadsheet - talk about a TASK. Have you ever sat down and really written out everything you do every day (or things that come up each week) and tried to organize it into some sort of structured system? I realized just how long it has been since I wrote all my personal tasks (both life & work together on one document) - seeing it on my computer screen was a quite an awakening. I feel a bit more confident as I move forward today that I am setting myself up for success.
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52 comments
Good luck Simon! I know you'll rock the house!
Sounds like a great,bright,fun and happy place.
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Please do share your schedule spreadsheet - I dont even know where to begin...well, maybe...
5:30am make coffee, 5:35am check email, 5:40am pour a cup of joe & read my favorite blogs...starting with Ali Edwards! :-)
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I love that you say that you felt "life"...as you and I have talked...I am on the board of a preschool for "typical" and "special needs" kids. They are totally inclusive... it is BEAUTIFUL! sadly, this is my last year as my littlest one moves on....(may be asked to continue to serve on the board ... honored to stay).... ANYWAY... when I walked in the building for the first time 3 years ago...the feeling that came over me was...PEACE! I went with my heart's calling and soul... L O V E this school where peace speaks to me. YOU KNOW when the fit is right or NOT! go with your heart.
and CONGRATS to you, SIMON! GO take on the world... it is YOURS little man!
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cool new banner...
congrats to simon!
our older dd is starting k this fall...deep breath!
happy monday!
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Yaaaa hooo!
What a wonderful place that sounds like! I love elementary schools -- the vague smell of brownies & tator tots, little feet stomping in PE, finger paints and singing. Schools are magical places. It sounds like he will be going to an amazing place -- how awesome is is that!
I love your approach to scheduling & task management -- something I can always learn about.
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Had to comment on Meet the Robinsons and some of the comments here about the adoption community being "up in arms" over the portrayal of the adoption process....
OK, just my personal opinion, but y'all need to relax. It's a cartoon movie, for goodness sakes!
That said.... I have to be honest.... my personal situation is such that I was REALLY emotional over this movie. My DH and I have been unsuccessfully trying to have children for more than four years, now. Adoption has been this niggling little thing in the background of our lives for a while now. I'd go through another few months of not getting pregnant and invariably SOME PERSON in my life (upon trying to "help" me) would try to make me feel better by saying "Well, you could always adopt!"
Let me just say here: If you were blessed with an easy go of getting pregnant and know someone who hasn't had it so easy.... STOP saying stuff like that.... it doesn't help.
Anyhow, I digress.... this little cartoon movie truly OPENED my eyes.... and I've realized how "stuck" I've been.... choosing to stay mired in the muck of bitter disappoint, rather than making the best of a painful situation and MOVING FORWARD.
I've been touched by entertainment media before... heck, I can cry at the drop of a hat :) But, never before have I been MOVED into action. Here's what happened when I got home from seeing Meet the Robinsons:
I stayed up till three in the morning, playing with my Cricut and making signs from papers I loved (found in my ever-growing scrapbooking stash) and they all say "Keep Moving Forward" and they are all over my house. They are in little places here and there where DH and I see them in our everyday life. They have become our constant reminder to make lemonade from lemons, to see the glass half full, to look at each other, our home, our business and our two wonderful pooches and remember... WE ARE BLESSED.
Most importantly: I'm looking at adoption as a REAL option for the first time. We've begun an open and honest discourse about our feelings about it. We've begun researching what's involved.
I'm opening my heart and mind to the idea of it all for the very first time.... and it gives me HOPE.
So, sorry for the long comment... but, point I wanted to make was.... yeah, so the movie may not be the most accurate representation of the whole adoption process. So what? As intelligent people, we must realize that rarely is a movie ever completely accurate. Just knowing the PROFOUND effect it has had on us makes me wonder how many other people in the world will be similarly affected to start putting one foot in front of the other again.
KEEP MOVING FORWARD.... way to go, Simon!! Kindergarten is going to be AWESOME! :)
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Can't say enough wonderful things about Early Intervention. Our son, at age 2, said <10 words ever...no sound effects....no pretend play. Started EI w/40% speech delay. 14 months later, he talks so well, he will most likely be discharged this summer. But EI can only do so much -- YOU and CHRIS are major players in Simon's success, and such important reasons why he is doing so well! I just love to see his happy face in your colums, books, etc. He is a joy! He knows he matters! As a reader who does not know you all, I can tell he is loved/listened to/etc and that means so very much in a child's life. And you set such a wonderful example for other parents. ((HUGS))
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How blessed you are to have a school with such a great vibe being sent to a visitor.. imagine how the kids feel.
I have taught preschool special ed for a while and have seen these all day programs with the split.. be WONDERFUL for kids.. it really lets them have the best of 2 worlds and maximize their potential and posabilities. WAY TO GO!
good luck with all the wonderful changes that only Kindergarten can bring.
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I took my girls to see "Meet the Robinsons"...it was their first movie EVER -I never expected them to sit through it, but they surprised me (again). It is my hope that my kids will "mainstream" by the time they're in kindergarten - today I took them to visit their pre-school - so cool. I too am thankful for EI, and all its done for us - and thankful that we're aging out soon, as the "system" is rapidly changing in NY, and kids who need services just aren't getting the help they need. Kudos to you and Chris for being such awesome parents!
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SO happy that they are able to push-pull him! I teach full day K in Pdx, 9-3, with 28 kids in one room. No aide, 3 kids with speech/comm needs like Simon's, and I LONG for a chance for those guys to get more help, with less distractions, than I can provide them. It has been a theme of my school year that I feel like I am failing them. In fact, I am looking for a job in another district so I can do better by the next group of kids who have those needs ,. . . . . . good luck to you all in this transition. You got a good school!
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