Moondogs recent ABA seminar

[Penneyanne]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned but I have been away for a while -have done an advanced search and cant find anything- and was just wondering how the training day/seminar went etc? I was gutted I couldnt attend it but was wondering if anyone has fed back etc.

ooh yes! how did it go?

Well I enjoyed doing it along with my lovely colleague very much indeed.
You will have to ask those that attended for a brutally honest opinion on what they thought of it however. They might message you with the lowdown.
We had 10 MNers there.

We're all far to busy to post now, with 'to do' lists longer than the day and ideas and problem-solving tasks to organise in our heads and life.

There was a LOT to take in and I think most are simply recovering - Lol.

However it was fantastic to attend something where the expectations of the trainers were high of the delegates/parents and who understood that although the information presented was huge, we just don't have the time or resources to attend slower-paced drawn out courses!

Glad to hear it Star!
That's the key issue.
These children don't have the time for us to mull and 'reflect' (my most loathed term-endemic in public sector. We're not paid to reflect on our personal experiences. We're there to make changes in kids' lives.)
So, we have to get cracking, and get cracking fast!

I never let up with my own children.
They work on something with me every single day of the year,even if just for 5 mins.

I've just had an email from the school, from the SLT

She wants us to send some photos in on Monday that can be used to prompt the children to talk about their weekend. She has suggested if photos too difficult then a note would.

Yay! I see this as a teeny way into the interactive diary 3 questions so need to assess Ds and seize the opportunity. Hopefully the SLT will be clear by MY questions what Ds' difficulties are and may be more easily persuaded to reciprocate and turn it into a daily thing as this is a huge area of need for Ds.

Do you think I need to explain what and why or will she not like it? (my experience is that generally with previous schools, my ideas are not liked in case it might be ABA which is cruel and might trick them into being brainwashed like me).

Great!

A lot of places will use pictures to spark a conversation but the trouble is that this sort of intervention is not focussed enough or measurable.

What you know how to do is underpinned by specific aims which have come about through assessment on a nationally respected assessment which is part of the hugely popular s/lt ELKLAN package.

It can be construed as 'ABA' inasmuch as it is SMART. As far as I am concerned. ABA is simply smart practice.

You might like to say you have heard of a widespread project where it is used successfully and would like to give it a go. You can give the school a ring if you like or ask her to.

You might like to ask her to assess using the TALC and ask if you can be there.
I do this a lot with parents and they find the process very illuminating.

She's school-based and a member of the team. Provided she's convinced I doubt she'd have a problem getting it established. He's at a SALT school after all so SALTS take the lead.

Nearly all the SALTs have PGCEs too to fend off any criticism from 'educationalists'.

It's just convincing her and not frightening her I guess. I think the school as a whole are used to being the unquestioned experts with parents who can afford to pay for their children to go there and be fixed and who for many is the extent of their involvement in their child's education.

I just don't get that.
I love it when parents question and want meetings and are interested, with ideas of their own.

I was there :) I'm not v. good at giving feedback because I'm not sure what information will be useful for other people but I found the day extremely useful.

We've started using some of the activities we discussed already - Basic Skills Checklist to supplement the VB-MAPP, calendar (massive hit), SAFMEDS (with nt dd1 as well as ds1 & my 18yo sister is using them for her A level revision)), TALC assessment & have adapted the interactive diary format (there's no school part but dh does sequencing the day & questions with ds every night). We've had a trial with numicon & will be using it to supplement the maths programme we're already using & I am seeing my SALT on Monday to get hold of Language for Thinking. It gave me a well needed nudge to improve my task analysis & data collection which means I'm better organised.

What I'd really like now is a workshop about precision teaching the Big 6 ... I'm still ruminating on that & really want to focus on OT over the summer.

If there was enough interest in a Big 6 Precision Teaching workshop, I could probably organise it with the maestros in the field.
Glad to hear of how things are gonig Phlebas.
How is your sister using the SAFMEDS?

You did say you may have a DVD available for those who couldn't attend. Did this happen at all?

Messaged you Alison.

Can you message me too Moondog? I wanted to come but I just started my new job that week and I'm travelling back and forth to London and just couldn't manage it.

But I'd love to hear about a dvd or another day.

Is there a DVD? Sorry, I went off the radar just before due to a mahoosive school bit of nonsense, literally could not cope with anything else than that and had a bit of a shut down (where does DS get it from?) so wasn't around much.

Is there a DVD moondog? Please pm me too.

I'd be interested in the DVD/ couldnt make the day but wanted to.

I wasn't able to organise a dvd-time and cost constraints were the biggest issues and I felt that one of the most valuable aspects was for us to be together in person. The MNers who came all know now each other in RL and I think will continue to be of great support to each other.

I am mindful of not using MN to advertise myself freely ( I paid for an advert on the SN forum last time) and would consider doing one again (which I would advertise on MN again) if there was enough interest. Several people have asked me to do one in the SE using same format (ie book a hotel, include lunch and refreshments).

It wouldn't be until at least September thoguh. I have two big conferences coming up, then a summer abroad. Also the small issue of the f/t job and the family!

Just wanted to say that it was very useful but beware - I came back with so many ideas and a HUGE list of things to do. Children loved the calender and fight over it. Am trying to write an email to school wrt the interactive diary and assessment. Although I had the little set of Numicon for home use, I came back and ordered the £35 set and have used it to great effect, etc.

Was very inspired at the end of the day and came back with great ideas.

Moondog,

If you run another my DH will attend, especially if in the SE somewhere. A number of parents at my DS' school have shown interest but were too caught up in tribunals this term.

BTW, do you have any PT strategies for pencil grip?

My dh would also want to come if you have another one, I also have an ABA tutor (just graduating in psych) who is interested.

My sister is using SAFMEDS for biology/chemistry/maths for definitions & formulae and also for English - I think she had a great idea here - her exams are open book for the set texts but she would save masses of time if she knew where the quote she needs are in the books so she's made cards where the SD is the quote & the response the page number e.g. "Darcy's proposal" "page 23". She's got about 60 of them & started with 13 correct, this morning she got 58 :)

It was GREAT.

I was in a corner, name beginning with A.

What's been most interesting for me to find out is what my DS actually does know. He can't do the most basic stuff - still struggles with responding to name, looking, copying basic movements using 'do this' etc.

But weirdly, when you add a bit of language, he picks it up quickly. For example learns to respond to 'hands on head' quickly, but STILL can't respond correctly to 'do this'. He can point to specific pictures on a table with about 6 choices 'point to the rabbit'

It turns out he's a very clever boy and he was 4 yesterday and enjoyed his cake a lot.

Yes - I'd love to send DH too if you do another.

I attended and thought it was fantastic. I have implemented the interactive diary and bought some numicon which ds loves. I have been using safmeds with DS1 for maths and he loves them. Still have loads to go through implement further. I sat next to you phlebas. Glad your ds enjoyed his cake.

Oh how lovely to hear from you all!
Schobe, I am glad you are posting so keep posting. A belated happy birthday to your clever little lad. Phlebas, great to hear of that application. I have a meting with my uni mates tomorrow so will bring that one up. Diet, great to hear how you are getting on too.

OK, after Seattle ABA conference over (I am leaving in 8 days!) I will think about planning another and finding out what most people want and where they want it.

Star, you have to think about how to make writing itself reinforcing for a start.
Havbe you?
My kids started to enjoy writing when I let them plan our w/ends on the OM calendar ('You write it and we'll do it). Also writing shopping lists, packing lists, wish lists, Christmas present lists. This combined with continuous practice of using the diaries has meant they now love to write.

Yesterday ds freezeframed final credits of one of the Pirates of the Caribbean films and wrote out names of all the characters and the acotrs playing them.

He has also written out all the titles of Scooby Doo dvds advertised on a dvd he already has as I told him we would buy two of them from Amazon if he gave me a list of what he wanted.