Shameless proud boast :)

[NewBlueCoat]

I have dd1's annual review next week , so have been plowing through paperwork in preparation.

Her school report is glowing, as always. Her tutors are all very impressed by her motivation, and the rate she is progressing.

She is working at NC level 3 in some areas . Admittedly not many, and a result of a seriously spiky profile as she is generally P7/8. But still, wow.

But most of all, she has 'got' reading, pretty much. It is all flowing a bit more, and she is decoding . And keen to practise

I took a video of her earlier which I will upload shortly - she's just doing so well, and I am very proud

Well done dd! I am having wow moments - maybe one day I will step back and be amazed. Must be a lovely feeling

Thank you

It has been quite a while coming - dd1 is 9, and it has been a long road. Sometimes, though -just sometimes - the light at the end of the tunnel seems a tiny little bit brighter.

I wish I could find the people who old me she would never learn, and force them to watch the video too. Thank god I didn't take any notice of them.

Thanks, Polter.

Another 'major' breakthrough is that she has just started tolerating a blanket over her while she sleeps. Such a tiny thing, but a huge step (and typically comes just as onsies become fashionable - have you any idea how hard it has been until this year to find affordable fleecy onsies for a 9 year old?!)

I love those "run your face in this!" Moments.

as promised, of dd1 reading.

apologies for the wonky camerawork, I was trying to stop ds hurling himself off the sofa -hence ds' added extra sound effects

That's really great. I wish there was a way to show the prophets of doom that they were wrong.

thanks

Hothead - how is ds1 doing? (am a NCer, in case you don't recognise dd1 from the video!)

drawing sounds good. it's all imitation, and perspective, and stuff, isn't it? dd1 still has little concept of it at all.

did you push for the move? (sorry, had a break for a bit, so no idea what anyone is up to).

relaxation is the key - it's only once dd1 really started relaxing that she started racing ahead with the learning. she's always been in ss, but it's only the last 12-18 months that she has embraced learning (she's year 5 now)

That's so lovely! And it's wonderful to see the way she looks at you to ask for help.

By the way, you were one of the people who gave me hope with your story 3 years ago, when everyone kept telling me that I should not expect anything from ds. (I think I know who you were)

thanks, trying.she is doing brilliantly, and yes, her ability to ask for help has increased hugely - and what's more, she doesn't get discouraged when she comes across something difficult (huge step forward, as her confidence has always been rock bottom)

could well have been me - nothing gets me more fired up than people being told not to expect anythign from their dc. how is ds doing now?

Ds doing well now. 3 years ago was reading only 25 words but in May this year, was assessed with reading age of around 8 years old (he is now 12). And today asked me why I always get to be in charge!

that sounds fab

dd1 is always asking me why it is my turn to choose what happens! and the 'why' questions. ooooh, the 'why' questions. it's like having a toddler around the place!

thanks, Polter. She does have lovely expression and phrasing. And she is indeed a star

NOw I just need to keep lining up the books - once she's read it once, she has it memorised, so can't test novel reading/decoding. Time to start hitting amazon

She's amazing. You must be so proud

I am

she has come so far. she has severe ASD, and a language disorder. she was entirely echolalic until she was about 5, everything was scripted and learned by rote.

we have conversations now (not very long ones ), about lots of different things.

and, crucially, if she doesn't understand something, she can ask for clarification. and equally crucially, if she explains something, and I don't understand it, she can try again, or expand on what she was saying.

it makes such a difference.

OMG.

Those of you on my facebook - have a look at what dd1 has managed to do now.

Stunned is not the word.

Dd1 has typed out a series of statements about what she did yesterday (including misdemeanours ). Just amazing.