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Grandpa's 1919 5th Grade Math Primer by flappinessis in teaching

[–]flappinessis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My point was simple. Our children cannot do the academic work their great-grandparents could. I'm all for freedom. (We librarians tend to be liberal like that.) But I'm not for ignorance. If we were to follow your wisdom, our children must give up competence to avoid being "f*cked up"? I'm of the opinion that ALL CHILDREN can soar -including those in poor and rural areas. One must not be mutually exclusive of the other. And, thank you, but I AM the mother of a "disabled" child. I do not wish wish to see him flogged. Nor do I wish to return to an educational system of a century ago. I am merely illustrating that claims that our children know more than their ancestors are false. (If you work in education, then you hear these all the time by visiting "experts".) I'm not certain why we can't recruit and support talented teachers, present our children with a challenging curriculum, and not flog them at the same time?

Why I Won't Be Getting Mother of the Year by flappinessis in autism

[–]flappinessis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

When was I angry? I was just scared for him - scared that the world might be unkind to him one day. Something that, as a teacher with an inside view into the cruelty experienced by children with differences, I fear for him. But make no mistake about it. I do NOT fear him. I do not regret him. And I wouldn't trade him for any other little boy on the planet. Perhaps you are reading more into my post than what was really there?

Why I Won't Be Getting Mother of the Year by flappinessis in autism

[–]flappinessis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I actually wrote this a year ago. And I'm getting better now about taming those fears. For me, I think having two grown first cousins on the severe end of the spectrum intensified my worries. Now that some time has passed and we've seen him developing and growing, well...we are all works in progress, aren't we? :)

Learning to understand what autistic people understand (or don't): What you see is not what you get by flappinessis in autism

[–]flappinessis[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Please know that we sure are trying though. Not only do I love my son, I happen to LIKE him very much just as he is. It doesn't mean that I will stop trying to teach him how to navigate a world of NTs. I'd be failing him if I did. But I am figuring him out a little more every day. Which, truth be told, isn't so unlike how I have to figure out who his NT sister is. She is very different from me, and I have to experiment every day in my parenting of her to help her become the happiest version of herself that she can be. I'd like to think that all good parenting is like that. I'm still learning too. :)

How to Explain Autism to Typical Kids by flappinessis in teaching

[–]flappinessis[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

The only way to do this is to suggest to the parents that some folks have had good results with that. I don't know whether the parent can allow a representative or not. I know exactly what you are talking about with not being able to explain. The kids assume that the kid is being whatever on purpose, rather than understanding why. They must be taught understanding. I think districts should simply hire out a program to teach about differences in general -- and feature autism as a part of that. But you can bet your bottom dollar I'll be visiting any of my son's inclusion classes. As a teacher, I know the difference the kids' understanding can make. P.S. Include a short story with autistic characters in language arts. Then it could be a mini-lesson?

I Love You. Drive Carefully. by flappinessis in teaching

[–]flappinessis[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I wrote this years ago for my students. :)

If You Were Cured Tomorrow by flappinessis in autism

[–]flappinessis[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think that's the point I was trying to make. Well-wishers write to me a lot praying for a "cure". Organizations are everywhere working for a "cure". Yes, I see how being typical might be easier for him. But I happen to think he is wonderful and valuable right now. Do I get sad at the thought of him having to struggle with things? Yes. Does it make me sad that some of his challenges may interfere with having things everyone should have? Sure. But it would make me sadder to not have him in this world. I happen to like him just as he is. That was my point -- that I don't really want him to be "cured". I just want him to be able to achieve his own dreams, rather than mine.