Will had a great day at his new preschool. This was also his first bus ride! I missed him, but I’m glad he likes it there.

The CPSE meeting was great! We discussed in depth all of the areas of concern for William. His cognitive assessment scores were in the average range. Thankfully, there is no academic criteria to qualify as a special education student at the preschool level. Will was approved for enrollment in a SCIS (special class in an integrated setting) under an IEP. This was largely due to the behavioral and social issues we ran into when he attended preschool in a conventional setting. He will have a qualified staff working with him, and they will implement a visual schedule. He will also have OT. Bus transportation is provided (he is so excited about that)! It looks like he will be able to start in about two weeks.

Early intervention is so important for Will’s education. I am confident that we will not have the same battle to obtain services for him in the future (as we did with Molly) because we were able to identify the concerns at an early stage. I have a feeling that he will thrive in this environment. Once he has adapted to routines at school and learns to transition smoothly, he will be prepared for kindergarten. We will have a springtime meeting to check on his progress, and determine whether he will be eligible for an extended school year.

This was the best possible outcome from Will’s evaluation. We are so happy!

“Blessed is the one
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.” Psalm 32:1

Micah wanted me to post a photo of these perfect pancakes. He has been tweaking the recipe. He even added a little eggnog! My hat’s off to him, because I don’t have the patience to cook new things these days.

The preliminary meeting at Molly’s school went well. We now know what to expect at the IEP meeting.

Molly’s score Wechsler Intelligence Scale scores were average (and above average in some areas, such as perceptual reasoning). Her academic performance has been improving since the start of the school year. She is inching closer to grade level. The overall test scores were average, and no one who tested Molly could recommend that she should receive academic services. This means she could not get approved for an IEP. She will continue to receive AIS services for reading and math. We will need to monitor her progress very carefully. Her struggles with abstract problem solving may become an issue when she enters third grade, but we can request to have her evaluated again for an IEP in the future. It was comforting to know that no one is completely closing the door on her.

There was no argument regarding Molly’s qualification for occupational therapy. Her motor coordination score reflected that of a child who is 4 years, 0 months old. In other areas, she was in the 5 – 5 1/2 year range. The occupational therapist is eager to devise a plan for her. This is what we really demanded from this process. Her Sensory Processing Disorder was our greatest concern. We knew she desperately needed OT, and she will be approved for it under a 504. That is progress! Molly has a great teacher who understands and accommodates her needs in the classroom. We will need to take this one step at a time, but I am confident that we are headed in the right direction.

Lily has been walking everywhere. We are so proud of her. So far, her record is 21 steps. Here’s a tiny peek at the cuteness:

My handsome little man went to school today!

I was so nervous. I thought I would cry when I dropped him off, and then I remembered he would only be there for 2 1/2 hours! He had a lot of fun. The teachers said he followed instructions and behaved. There is another William in the class. I figured I would label his coat etc. with “William S.”, but the other boy has the same initials! They became friends over matchbox cars. It will be confusing if they ever have a playdate!

I am so glad everything went well!

William is enrolled in preschool! I found a brochure on my way out of the library for a program with Christian-based teaching. It was affordable, and they had one opening left! We went there today and filled out his paperwork. He starts on Monday! He is so excited!