Be Yourself : Scrapbook Layout
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Today I wanted to share a layout with you that has been sitting on my table for weeks.
Actually it's the photo with the ruler ribbon that has been on my table for weeks. Originally I planned to do a second page with a divided page protector (for slides) and I had been collecting bits of scrapbook supplies and other pieces of life I had come across recently to do a layout celebrating Simon right now.
And then yesterday we had Simon's annual IEP meeting at school. An IEP is an Individualized Education Program. Lots of kids have them for a variety of different reasons who meet certain criteria for special education. Each year we meet with a group of people at his school, including teachers and his aide, to assess his progress, see where he's at with his goals for this year, and set new goals for next year.
He's got a variety of different goals written into his IEP - everything from asking for help, to weekly time with a speech therapist, to encouraging more social time with kids at recess, to specific goals for reading comprehension, writing, math, etc. It's always interesting to go in and chat with everyone and see how he's doing at school vs. what's happening at home. We catch up on conversations we've had on the phone or email and just generally talk about how he's doing in lots of different areas of development.
It was a good meeting.
One of my favorite parts of the meeting was hearing his second grade teacher & his aide talk about how hard he has been working.
For this layout I ended up writing a note to Simon from Chris and I telling him how proud we are of him and the work he is doing in school. I consciously decided to keep this note focused on the positive parts of the meeting. There's lots of areas where he's facing challenges; areas where we are all working to help him navigate the best possible route, and to make better choices (wanting to be first in line all the time, making his mean face to other kids & other social issues, being open to new seats in different situations, general attitude).
The point is, there's lots to celebrate about Simon every single day. And we do.
He is awesome.
Here's a close-up on that second page with the journaling. I used some of the very cute Dear Lizzy rub ons on top of an American Crafts chipboard tag to create the main accent.
JOURNALING :
My dear Simon, I wanted to take some time today to let you know that Daddy & I are very proud of you. We had a meeting with your teachers yesterday and they had such great things to say about how hard you are working in class. Lately when I ask you “What was your favorite part about school today?” you reply, “Working.” From what they tell us, you have been really trying hard. They also have lots of praise for your lovely, meticulous handwriting. Finding a way to enjoy your work, whatever sort of work you are doing, is an important part of growing up. At home you have also been working really hard on your homework and reading as well. It’s awesome to see you “connecting the dots” in math and spelling and starting to enjoy some chapter books. We have been proud of the ways you transition between homework, play, and back to homework again if needed. Your teachers said you are definitely ready for third grade! We are all going to do our best to help you enjoy and thrive in your classroom next year.
Keep up the great work Simon! Love, Mom & Dad
SUPPLIES
PATTERN PAPER : Basic Grey
from the Max & Whiskers collection
RUB ON : Dear Lizzy
CHIPBOARD TAG : American Crafts
RULER RIBBON : Unknown
LETTER STICKERS : Basic Grey
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53 comments
What a great layout! {Thanks} for sharing ;)
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As an inclusion teacher, I was so touched by your layout! It is once again a reminder to me of how important it is that we rejoice in a child's strengths rather than solely focusing on their needs. Thanks so much for sharing this idea---I look forward to sharing it with other parents.
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Love it! Congrats on a positive IEP...we know how that feels too! :)
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Congrats to Simon and the whole Edwards family! We are celebrating some positive news on the school front, too, after a very rough first 6 months of first grade. I've been trying to figure out how to document the roller coaster year we've had. Thank you for the inspiration.
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I think it is amazing, this "sisterhood" that is created when someone blogs about their life, their art, their story. We follow along, providing comment on occasion, sharing joys and sorrows, sending congratulations and encouragement, and more than anything feeling as though we are friends of sorts despite the fact that we have never met. Yours is one of those blogs that I review as often as I am able; inspired by your artistry; your creativity; your ability to be Mom and wife and working woman; and your ability to include us in and make us feel a part of your life. I have shared your link with friends (who are now as addicted as I am), and most recently with my sister who recently found out one of her sons had autism. Today's post touched my heart and I just wanted to let you know. Thank you.
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Ali,
Congratulations to all of you for Simon's achievements. You seem to surround with good energy daily. It's a testimony to your committment to him as a parent, and your own belief in your job as a parent. It isn't always easy. Thanks for sharing with us!
Anne-Liesse
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WTG Simon!!!
I really need to get busy and do some more of these 'real life' pages!
I have one on an IEP, I cried at the last meeting a couple of weeks ago, it wasn't a very good one.
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What a delightful photo of the two of you, Ali! And the journalling is amazing. I tend to do the same... focus on the positive stuff on my pages about Thomas, and any struggles end up being documented on pages about me and my journey in trying to help him navigate the often tricky waters of playing outside at recess when there's no organized activity or breaking a HUGE homework assignment down to doable chunks. Simon sounds a lot like my guy a couple of years ago... I'm sure third grade will be an amazing experience for him, and hopefully, he will continue to have these a-ha moments and the stuff that he finds challenging now will become second nature in due time.
xoxo Barb
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Lovely LO! You can certainly feel the love you have for Simon. What a beautiful family!
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So love your posts! What great goodies today. How do I ever decide which website to visit first. Thanks for taking the time to enlighten our lives and remind us of the things that matter most. Thank you and have a great weekend!
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Your page is awesome and I love that you added A letter to your son in it.
Mary
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Love this layout! My eyes must be playing tricks on me though, as it looks to me like the tag is punched out of the patterned paper, not added on top of it. I keep trying to see it as chipboard added, but my eyes won't let me, no matter how long I stare at it. It really gives it that "Wow, how did she do that?" quality.
As always, thanks for sharing. :)
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Your post, layout, and letter to Simon really touch me and all sounds very familiar. While the annual IEP meeting was completed a couple of months ago, we're gearing up for the transition meeting next month as my son's elementary are split into two campuses and third grade is in a whole other location next year. "Be Yourself" is such a wonderful concept to teach all of our children, but I think even more so for our kidlets who are a bit different. My son has been recognizing that he's different this year and it has been challenging for him. We, of course, never want him to think of himself as less, but that being himself is a really good thing. Thanks for sharing how you celebrate Simon's triumphs and challenges in life! :>
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