David / Math Status

Something wonderful is happening in the Algebra II / with Trig course - David is starting to get it much better than before.

As not only his teacher, but his accommodation, I have done more hand holding than ALEKS recommended. This was done deliberately - and with the knowledge that it would have to change. This year, as David is coming up on times when he will have to test independently for various things, I have been using some of the ALEKS features - mostly quizzes but also Worksheets - to get him to do the math without the "crutch" of either Grandma or the online ALEKS environment. And I told him he would have to do his Assessments all on his own - no Grandma to interrupt with comments like, "Watch the signs!" or "you remember, we did that kind of problem - here is an example" during it.

His first Assessment result was --- less than stellar. He "lost" most of the pie pieces he'd earned since the last assessment. (David tends to rush through things and either skips problems or makes careless errors.) His quizzes were a tad bit better; I also have started giving "timed" quizzes - 5-10 quick problems with a 10 minute limit. The first of those he panicked about and did not do well.

"David," I admonished, "the purpose of the timed quizzes is to get you used to doing them and NOT worrying about the time. Next time, please take the time you need to do the problems RIGHT, and don't worry if you don't finish them all. These are just there to help you learn to take the tests."

I like ALEKS but in my book it does not really "force" the kids to understand the topic - it lets them learn the "pattern" of how to do it - for those of you who have gone through calculus, think of learning how to differentiate a function mechanically without understanding what's going on - so I have been stopping the online lessons, moving to the white board, and taking the time to help him understand what's happening (at least, I hope that's what I'm doing ...).

Over the past month or so,  he has improved immensely. His last three timed quizzes (10 problems) he has gotten 90%, 100% and 90%; his last "recent knowledge" quiz he got an 88%. In the past he was averaging a "D."

But better yet - he did his last Assessment this morning. As of his prior assessment, he had 77 pie pieces. During the Assessment - I was sitting nearby - I heard him talking to the work, and occassionally saying, "No, no, no .. it's NEGATIVE" and equivalent remarks.

Right before the Assessment started, he had 97 pie pieces. After the Assessment? he had 97 pie pieces!!! When  I looked at the detail, he had "lost" one piece on a section he'd covered - and gained one piece of something we have not "had" yet!! This is the first time he hasn't lost at least 1/4 of the pieces he'd earned during the learning sessions.

Wow!

Autism and love

"Don’t push, Mikey – Grandma will fall down the stairs. Do you want Grandma to fall down the stairs?”

“Yes!” he responds.

I should not have asked the question. It put the idea of falling down the stairs into his head. I don’t think it was a desire to hurt me: It was more his insatiable curiosity about The World and wanting to know how things work. He was having Yet Another Tantrum at bath time. These started a few weeks ago, and now – curses! – they seem to be part of his “routine.” We are working on breaking the routine.

Mikey is a mystery wrapped in an enigma. He is autistic. He is *very* intelligent. He – as all children do – has learned what it behooves him to learn, at least as far as he is able. Autism is a neurological disorder. They even know some of the parts of the brain that are affected. They don’t know what causes it. They know that, if you have a child with autism, and have another child, that child is likely to be “on the spectrum.” So genetics do play a role. Mikey is one of a pair of identical twins – and his brother David is high functioning.

There is no blood or other chemical test for autism. It is diagnosed behaviorally – and that is why someone can be on the “autism spectrum.” It includes a lack of social interaction and a lack of the ability to “read” other people. Autistic people have to be taught to recognize things that neuro-typical (NT) people “pick up” – like emotions, irony, and those indirect, kind things people say that mean “bug off” or “don’t call me.”

Treatment is behavioral. That is, they use a reward and withhold-reward system, rigorously repetitive, designed to get them to the highest possible level of communication (many autistics never talk, read or write) and to get the behaviors to a more socially acceptable level. There are attempts to “teach” emotions and recognition of emotions and things of that ilk.

Does Mikey love us? I am not sure. He trusts us. He knows he is “safe” with us. If you read the blog about camp, you know that Mom and I were nearly hysterical worrying about his being in a strange new environment for the first time. Mikey was not. I think he would have stayed forever, or at least until something did not go enough his way. (His camp counselor, Spencer, told him he had to stay in bed until 7 am and he did.)

Mikey very seldom acknowledges anything you do for him. On those rare occasions when he says, “Thank you” or some equivalent, we are astounded and elated. But they are rare. While most relationships have a coinage, even if unspoken (I do this for you; you do this for me – if there were not some exchange of giving, the relationship would not exist), what we do for Mikey is done with almost no “return.” We feel for him. He does not feel for us.

What Am I?

My grandson, David, declared that I am "neutral good" most of the time; but when I am his math teacher, I am "lawful evil." Just thought you would want to know.

Hidden Mickeys

Those of you familiar with Disneyland (or other Disney theme parks) are already familiar with "hidden Mickeys" - three-circle mouse-face icons that can be found if you look for them at the parks.
A couple of weeks ago, I made chocolate chip cookies. After lunch, each of the boys got 4 cookies. Mikey ate one, then paused. He looked at the three remaining cookies on his plate, and arranged them in the iconic Mikey shape.
"Hidden Mikey," he announced, them proceeded to finish off his cookies.

Mikey at Camp: Redux

Well, if anyone was wondering: Did Mikey enjoy camp:

On Saturday, we had the boys over "as usual." The day went fine. At the end of the day, after Grandpa helped him shave and he was prepped for his shower, he had a total meltdown. "Camp." "Camp!"  "CAMP! CAMP! CAMP!"

He wanted, he demanded, to go back to camp. It took us 15 minutes to get him calm. We tried to equate camp with "birthday" and "Christmas" which he understands happens once a year. He did sleep the night; was fine Sunday; and went back to school this morning.

Mikey at Camp: Part VII - The Journey Home

This is it - Mikey and I travel home today. I'm trying to stay calm. Thunderstorms have delayed flights - "our" flight, yesterday, took off 3 hours late. There are continuing delays at DEN. Frontier cancelled flights due to hail damage. Today's forecast is for afternoon possible thunderstorms - mornings are much drier. Assuming we do camp next year, I am planning to schedule the 1 pm flight (if the flights stay the same). We'll miss the "awards" and slideshow, but we'll be more likely to get home. I have reserved a room at an airport hotel "just in case." It's sunny now - the pattern is AFTERNOON showers. Wish I'd found that out sooner. Stay tuned ....

Addendum #1 - We made it more or less on time. Will update blog early in the week with the details. Summary: Mikey did extraordinarily well, considering what all he had to deal with. Week at camp was a big success too!

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SO I drove to camp and parked - got there about 9:30 (a bit early) and started to walk up the hill. And there were Mikey and Spenser! Got a hug and Mikey said, "Can I go home, please?"

I said, "Not yet. We have to get luggage."

I had to repack a bit - the sleeping bag was not in a suitcase - and the laundry was wet as well. (I had sent plastic trash bags, in anticipation; but obviously wasn't clear in my instructions as to what I wanted.) I hooked up with Amy, who had the "stories" to go with the trip home and the *gasp* possible delay. They started some of the closing activity - it was loud, group activities - sing along kinds of things. Mikey wasn't having any - Spenser volunteered to take him for a walk. Long story short: Although I appreciate what they are doing, I don't think I'll stay for the "show" next year. For a number of reasons.

Spenser helped us get to the car, and put the luggage in, and we got Mikey loaded up. I gave him the Going-Home-Steps story. He barely glanced at it; I picked it up periodically and checked things off. I had researched the rental car return location and found a place to get gas. We stopped for gas; then he wanted KFC for lunch again. We did that. And he wanted "airport." It was so early!

I curb-checked the luggage, again; and got instructions on getting to security. Security took a little while, and (lucky me) I got dinged for the "random search of baggage." They wanted to pull me aside, and I said, "This child is autistic and he is coming with me." The guy sized up the situation and said, "How about if I just take your laptop?" He had it back before I had finished getting everything together.

Of course, Mikey wanted the airplane right away. I had to explain - again - "Airplane at 4:30." This was really hard for him. Fortunately DIA has wi-fi, and he occupied himself with YouTube - for about 20 minutes. THEN he wanted airplane again. I got him up and told him we would get ice cream - I got him some ice cream. That took another 10-15 minutes. I took him to the bathroom (family) - He started to scream. I was afraid someone would send security in - but they didn't. Got him calmed. Talked about 4:30 again. Gave him second clonodine.  Left bathroom.

We walked around. DIA has a couple of levels, connected with escalators. We went up; walked around; went down; then went down to the lower level, just past our gate. It was almost empty down there - I got him back on the computer. I also tried some of the toys I'd brought - coloring book & crayons - no; dinosaur book - a little. He didn't want to watch the DVD. BUT - the plastic dinosaur pieces did engage him. He played with them for a while (I got online; and, thank GOD - the weather improved! The expected thundershowers were now expected at 8 pm - long after we should be taking off.)

Mikey got "done" with the dinosaurs, and wanted the computer again. I gave it to him. I bit later, he wanted up again. We went up one level, and he plopped down, right across from the gate. He stayed on the computer for quite some time - I even got a family to watch him for a sec while I checked on the flight - it was going to be about 20 minutes late; when I checked, they said the craft was 5 minutes from landing.

I got Mikey, took him over to the Schlotzky's Deli stand, and ordered a sandwich for him We went back to the gate. We passed the window, and I said, "Mikey - there is our plane!"

He was going to stand; I said, "Mikey, see those people? They are coming off the plane. We can't get on until they get off. Would you like to sit down?" He did!

A short while later, we got on the plane (no upgrade this time). He got on and sat and ate half his sandwich. We had the usual anxious-to-get-going but nothing extraordinary. BUT - about half-way through the flight, he started to get antzy. Finally he asked for the bathroom - just as we got up, a woman with a small girl beat us to the one toilet. We went back - Mikey tried to get in the door and I had to stop him.

In the last row of the plane, there was a young girl (10-12) sitting alone; Mikey asked to sit. I said OK. Then he said, "Seat Belt."

"Ok, Mikey, but you'll have to take it off again in a second."

Then he said, "Grandma to seat," and he groped for the little girl - I had to grab him and hold his hands.

Finally, the woman finished; and Mikey went in. He stayed in a long time. I finally opened the door (Mikey doesn't know how to lock the airline lavatory door) and - OMG he was naked. I said in a heavy whisper, "Mikey, put your clothes on!" He did and we went back to our seats.

He was pretty good the rest of the flight, with the expected antzy-ness near the end.

However - I had asked Grandpa  to be there IN the luggage area, and he forgot. The luggage took a long time to get down. Mikey was getting harder and harder to handle. I finally spent the $5 on a luggage cart and had him push THAT around with me until the luggage came - it and Grandpa arrived at the same time.

"Where did you park?"
"I got a good spot, 2 rows back just across the street."
"Good. You take Mikey and load the car, and I'm going to the bathroom!!!!!!!"

Anyhow, it was smooth sailing from there.

Mikey at Camp: Part VI: Still good!

I slept the whole night - and no calls from camp. Wow. This is great.

I'm going to call up there today and ask them to go over the schedule with Mikey, and remind him that tomorrow is the day to go home. I'm also going to ask if I'm supposed to be there for the activity labeled, "Pack Up."

I am a tad apprehensive about tomorrow, because of the timing. The outbound flights that were available were at 1 pm and 4:20 pm, so I picked 4:20 pm. This will certainly allow us all the time we need to return the rental car, get lunch, etc.; however, it means we'll be flying late in the day. After some long, and not-very-much-fun, stuff. So today, I'll spend a little time putting together a suggested "story" and email it to camp, after I talk to them.

I'm also headed to Walmart today, to pick up some snacks and maybe find something "interesting" to occupy Mikey - maybe a new video or something like that. Also, I have a nose bleed and am going to pick up some Afrin and extra sudafed.

Wish us luck!

Addendum @ 9:13 a.m. - Spoke with Amy - Mikey has been sleeping just fine and is doing well...
Addendum @ 11:46 a.m. - Went to the nearest "full" shopping area (22 miles away) and got for the return trip: snacks, a DVD, some Things I Hope Will Engage Mikey. Will concentrate on packing up today - have to organize it all now for what gets checked and what goes on-board.