2021-22 End of Year Assessment--Brother

 

When our school year began, Brother's behaviors were in a hard and fast decline.  He was having multiple breakdowns per day, several of which were so dangerous that he was approved by the state for residential care in a behavioral facility.  Though I had a delightful academic plan for him, that plan had to take a back seat to mental and physical survival.

In the long run, even though we found a bed for him at a terrific facility, it was denied him by a stranger in the higher echelons of the state foster/adopt system.  Just as we were in our deepest despair, we were able to see a psychiatrist who prescribed the medication cocktail that is still working today for our boy.  

God came through in the 11th hour--not as we expected, but as we needed!

We lived (and in many ways, are still living) on tenterhooks, but as we settled down to a degree of safety previously unknown, I introduced a couple of school subjects for Brother to work on--math and spelling.  Both because they are straightforward subjects that have clear beginning and ending marks, and there's only one right or wrong for each problem worked or word spelled.  Clear, precise work is just right for Brother.

Over time, he finished the 3rd grade Rod and Staff math text he'd started the year before.  His ABA therapists had recommended that, due to Brother's rigidity in how he understands the world, we change math programs and help him see that there is more than one way to learn.  After several weeks of research, keeping Brother's needs in mind, I settled on Christian Light Education Math 4 LightUnits.  Before the end of our school year, he finished the first two work texts and started the third.

Brother also completed Cursive Kickoff by HWT.  He loves being able to write in cursive!

He completed the first 2 units of Rod and Staff Grade 3 language arts.

And he completed Spectrum Spelling Grade 2 and Phonics Grade 2.

Brother's reading skills did not grow visibly this year.  He is still in the decoding stage of reading development, and this makes reading a chore instead of a joy for him.  He did complete the first of two books of Rod and Staff Grade 2 reading, and he started the second--alternately reading aloud to me and reading independently with a brief oral narration afterward.  He's been working on reading the first Fablehaven book since Christmas--just a few sentences at a time.  I'm honestly impressed to see him persevere this way with a task that is so very hard!  But unless the only activities available are staring at the ceiling or reading, he will not choose reading on his own . . . and sometimes he chooses staring at the ceiling!

Brother participated well in our Morning Meetings, Academy, and bedtime readings/discussions.  

He loves to build.  He has the mind of an engineer--constantly studying and figuring out how to make something himself.  He's been captivated in particular with steering mechanisms, and all of his Lego creations and the go-cart he's building all have steering wheels that work to turn the wheels.  Most recently, he's figured out how to build dump trucks with working dump trailers.

On the flip side, following directions to complete a pre-designed project is a decided weakness for Brother--probably due to his reading skills.  He received a 3-month subscription to Green Kids crafts, and he had to have help with every single project.  None of the projects were satisfying for him to complete either.  He prefers to build on his own . . . and I do not mind one bit.

Brother loves singing and dancing and making music any way he can.  He plays the piano by ear, picking out melodies and crafting accompaniment to match.  He loves to beat out rhythms with any and all parts of his body (we are often in conflict over this because thumping rhythms make me crazy).  Rehearsing and performing with our dance group is one of his great joys.

It's been bizarre to go back over the year's blog posts and read just how hard our year was.  On the one hand, we're having great days with no one afraid for their lives.  On the other hand, there have been flare-ups that have left us strained and exhausted, having PTSD-induced reactions to the breakdowns various kids have had.  When Brother is stable, he is the nicest kid you could ever meet.  His heart is tender; he cares about others; he's clever and kind.  I am beyond grateful that he did not have to leave our home this year, and I pray that his meds will continue to work.