Virtual Update

It occurs to me that I haven’t commented recently on our distanced learning experience. For Taylor, Liv, and Ava, I would say that we have settled into a good grove. For the most part, these three are independently attending their classes every day online and completing their work. Jon and I get messages about overdue work, and we ask about assignments, but not much more than we would have done with them in live school. Ava has run into some difficulty understanding some of her work and organizing herself. It is actually better at this point than it was last year, and her in class participation has been awesome. I think we are having more success in virtual learning at keeping her distractions to a minimum. We met with her teacher during office hours and she did nothing but rave about how well Ava is doing. Which makes us feel like we are doing something well.

Our parent teacher conferences (who is the parent that is not the teacher?)…are coming up in 2 weeks already. I reviewed the grades that are posted (in all fairness about half of them are not posted at all) but right now, all of my kids are straight A students! Party! I take what I can get!

Meanwhile, a very perky lady from the school district came to our house today to drop off the items in the picture above. Yup, you saw that right, a 4 inch binder filled with double sided worksheets for Wes! I wonder what army they are sending to get him to do it?

They also sent what looks like an abacus. She called it a manipulative… he can count much higher than ten, so I’m really not sure what he is supposed to do with it. She excitedly told me that he could play with it, and she would be back next week to pick it up and drop off something new. I know that I should be grateful and happy to have perky caring individuals willing to risk their lives to drop off “fun” things for my kid, but Wes already knows that there is nothing fun in that binder. And the abacus thing lost its appeal as soon as it was put together (assembly was required)!

Wes’ work cubbie.

Wes works at the island in the kitchen. It’s not ideal as he is highly distract-able. Every time someone fills their water cup, uses the bathroom, or otherwise presents their presence in any room downstairs, he gets distracted. Keaton, his PSW is our angel. She makes virtual school something that even though it’s hard, is doable. We got word today that a new ABA therapist is ready to start as soon as the insurance plan approves the “plan”. This will give Keaton a much needed break. I am curious to see if they have success working through Wes’ new binder-o-fun.

So that is the virtual update, virtually.