Grade One Continued

During those first few weeks of one we had quite a few things of concern.

When we were having to observe him in the playground, we found it very hard to differentiate him from the other children, as they were all dressed the same!  Our solution was to put him in brightly coloured shoes (not school uniform of course), but it was the only way to spot amongst the crowd!

An incident that didn't help during that first week of grade one, and saw us sign our first behavioural management plan, was a fire alarm.  This was not a drill, it was a real alarm, from a possible risk.  The children HAD to come out of the buildings!  I often picture this as a similar scene from the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Kindergarton Cop, where during the first drill, he ends up dragging kids out by their shirts with total pandemonium.  The thing is, it was new to all the grade ones, and it was real, not a drill, so NO ONE was prepared.  I think, from memory, they had to call the deputy principal at the time to come and carry him to the safety area.  But he didn't go without a fight!  I think it was very frightening for all involved.  After this incident, we signed permission for Michael to be carried on occassions when his or others personal safety was involved, and his first plan of action was put in place regarding future fire alarms.  There were drills quite regularly that first year just for the practise!

With the introduction of the aide in about week two, things started to improve.  Michael began to settle in school, and was always happy when I picked him up.  He still screamed and protested on the way in, but it was getting less time to that all important 'he's okay' phonecall.  He actually started learning his letters and numbers.  His teacher was one of those amazing people who was able to adjust the whole classes education system to suit my sons need, without any of the class loosing out.  She started an attitude of acceptance between Michael and his classmates that has continued to this day.  It is one of the things that I will always be grateful for from the school.

Michaels learning was slow, but he was beginning to read and talk more, and was accepted into the class and the whole school by all involved.