Response to a Question via Twitter

Jacqueline Laurita of the Real Housewives of New Jersey posed a question on Twitter:
@JacLaurita: "If Autism is a social and communication disorder, Shouldn't social skills and functional language be a main focus taught in a schools curriculum?"

To that I answer:
Social skills are ONGOING starting with kinder-care! In the beginning; primary years are spent teaching functional language (abc's, numbers, sight-words, colors, shapes, etc.) The list could continue, but I'll stop there.
Parents, then, must work alongside teachers to reinforce social skills, functional language, as well as, further teach; etiquette, manners, and morals.

Around 1st grade, there may be some struggling students either observed by the teacher in comparison to student development among peers and/or parental observations. When this happens; those students that "struggle" are then evaluated for possible reasons why!

Learning disabilities, dyslexia, autism, etc. these aren't the first red flags or deductions! There are SEVERAL factors that play into a student diagnosis and evaluation and EACH student is quite different. Many students fall under the socially awkward umbrella, however; in time, they generally evolve from that to be adamant social climbers. For some it takes time, others it doesn't. Home-life, visual or hearing impairments, birth defects or complications, traumatic experiences, or circumstantial factors also play MAJOR roles in a child AND, for that matter, adults functionality!

Not everyone is autistic, just like not everyone is dyslexic or good at math, or a great speller, or avid readers, or an awesome artist, or able to keep a rhythm, or have perfect hand-writing, or capable of staying on-pitch! Programs are provided based on NEED especially in public schools!

As an educator, I often find my self thinking; if parents want personalized training and teaching for their one child, they really need to either place them into a special school! Not even private, but special. Because private schools tailor their curriculum to fit the needs of either, their student population and demographics or, they have a ready-made academia that they use.

There is no perfect way! But thank God for the infinite resources available to help meet the needs of all individual students! Thank God for educators that are personally invested in the welfare of your child in your absence for the four to eight hours a day, five days a week, and thank God for the supportive parents that understand by any means necessary your child can and WILL succeed BUT, you must do YOUR part in fostering education, reinforce social skills and relying on functionality to aid that success!

Yours Truly,
A Highly Qualified Educator

Last Thoughts of 2012

C.R.A.Z.Y!
Came and went! I barely remember any major, let alone minor details! The road hasn't been smooth, but it's been full of hidden blessings and more lessons learned! It was an awakening that's for sure... I'm wide awake and READY to LEAVE 2012!
I'm prepared and fully vested...Are you?!

Christmas 2012!!

Love, peace, and blessings to you All!!

Leaving It In 2012!

I'm LEAVING stupidity, weakness, fear, and resentment in 2012!

What about you? What are you willing and able to leave in 2012 as you plan and prepare for 2013?

Be reasonable! Be HONEST!

For me, as they say..RIP stupidity, weakness, fear and resentment! I have NO room for you in 2013!!

XOXO,
❤K Digga

What You Remember...

It's interesting what you remember about your childhood! I remember my great-grandmother, whom I called Lessie B. She passed away when I was about fifteen years old and at that time death, I want to say, was very surreal to me. I just really didn't understand it or think of losing people around me and never seeing them again (on this side for us believers) as a reality. Even at the age I am, knowing and surviving and understanding the things I do...sometimes it's still unfathomable! :-/
With that said, I don't want to place a damper on this entry because that's certainly not my intent...so I'll carry on to the exact point of it all.
In remembering my great-grandmother; I remember her house around the holidays! Just to be clear, she was a pack-rat! She always has whatever's all around her house: on tables, counters, cabinets...you name it! She always had food too, not food like snacks either, I'm talking full-course meals: hog, pig feet, pickled this or that, smoked this and that, coconut cakes, tea cake cookies...whatever!
But I distinctly remember during the holidays- from about September through February being her "peak" season for desserts! Lol! I especially remember on the holidays Gingerbread houses!!!
All types, large and small! They weren't the greatest to eat, in fact they tasted weird to me although they were edible! I remember thinking, "Let me stop sneaking to eat this house, you can't eat it...but it smells SO good!" The funniest part is that, there was absolutely no reason to sneak! They were there to eat, but I always thought of it as more of a display :-)
Lessie B! That was her thing and I remember those houses vividly! I don't see them when I visit people's houses anymore, I don't hear people talking about them anymore either... I wonder why that is?! Maybe I've outgrown them and so like on some of those movies, like... who remembers Drop Dead Fred?! Lol! Remember she got too "grown-up" to remember Fred and only when she got back "child-like" did she remember him ;-) Maybe that's it! I don't "see" the Gingerbread houses because I'm not really looking for them...subconsciously.

Merry Christmas!!!!

Christmas Eve is my night to be with my family and love!!! I watch my fav holiday movies, get tipsy off egg nog, sip cocoa, wrap gifts, bake cookies, bask in the beauty of the occasion and usually fall asleep some time thereafter❤

Santa Claus is coming to town!! So Merry Christmas to All and to All a GOOD night! ❌⭕❌⭕,

Worthy

You can be a whole lot of EVERYTHING and still not be enough. Don't allow someone else's issues to undermine your self-worth! You have value and those that truly love you see it even when you don't!
XOXO,