In one of my posts from October 1st, 2009 “It’s not only the time that is falling back” I spoke about a new strategy that we were using in order to help Sydney understand that there is only a certain amount of time in which to complete her school work. What was happening was that she waited and waited until the very last minute to start her work and it would end up having to come home. Now considering she is on an IEP it seems a little overwhelming to be in school for almost 7 hours a day and then have to come home to sometimes 2 hours worth of homework. It wasn’t working for anyone. So in an order to help her along with the challenge the teacher put 1-2-3 stickers on her desk. She would let the class know that it was time to do the work and if after a couple minutes Sydney hadn’t pick up her pencil and started the number 1 would be taken away. She would go away and after a few minutes the number 2 would be taken away if nothing was done. Then after a few more minutes the number 3 would be taken away and in the end the unfinished work would come home. It was a small reminder to Sydney that she had to at least try.

At home this strategy was met with a lot of encouragement that she just needed to try. Her biggest hurdle was thinking that everything had to be done perfectly and correctly. As well, she was rewarded for a day of “NO homework”. We started with a little treasure box full of neat little dollar store items. Of course this then prompted her bigger brother to wonder why he doesn’t get a treasure box. Each day she would come home with no homework she would get a little treat and lots of hugs and kisses.

Well, I have a follow up to the whole 1-2-3 idea. I’ve had some people comment that this tactic seems more discouraging than encouraging. In the end it worked and the best part is it was Sydney who started the ball rolling. I’d like to share with you the email correspondance that I’ve had with the teacher because it is just downright AMAZING. This is what can happen when we have educators that are willing to work with children who just need that extra little bit of support. My hat goes off to our teacher because she recognizes just how valueable this step is in Sydney’s life.

Good afternoon,

This afternoon, during DEAR period 5, Sydney came over to my desk and told me that she didn’t need her 1,2,3 reminder on her desk anymore. I was so surprised that she came to tell me out of the blue that we immediately ripped it off – Sydney ripping most of it off and put it in the garbage! Sydney threw it out and everything and on her way to the garbage she told a classmate that it was on her desk and she didn’t need it anymore! I had thought we were done with it before Christmas but kept it so that in case of a relapse, we would have it to fall back on. I had just not gotten around to taking it away but I am glad that I left it and Sydney felt that it should go herself!!

Just thought you should know!

To make this event that much better I did not discover this via the teacher, oh no in fact Sydney herself was the one to share the news and this is how it went.

My response to the teacher’s email:

Sydney told me all about it after school before I even got your email. I was so proud of her and boy oh boy was she ever proud of herself. The best was that one of the children I watch before and after school were over yesterday and the two of them were sitting at the kitchen table playing a game. Sydney said out of the blue, “I can’t believe I don’t have the 1-2-3 on my desk anymore!” The little guy responded, “What’s a 1-2-3?” Sydney went into full explanation of what it was, “Well before I was shy and I had trouble doing my work so my teacher put three stickers on my desk the 1-2-3 stickers. It helped me figure out how much time I had left to do my work. So my teacher would put the work on my desk and walk away for a little bit. She would come back and if I didn’t start anything she would take the one away. Then go back to her desk and after a couple minutes she would come back and if I didn’t start yet she’d take the 2 away. Then if she came back again and I wasn’t started she would take the three away and then I’d have to do it at home for homework. I decided that I should at least try and do it and maybe even if I got it wrong she would still be happy with me. I am so happy that I don’t have it on my desk anymore. We threw it in the garbage for good.” The little boy just looked at her and said, “Wow, that’s really cool”. The pride on her face was just wonderful. Yeh! I told her as well, “Mommy and Daddy are super proud of you. We knew you could do it, we know you have it within you to do anything you put your mind too. But beyond that are you proud of yourself because you are the one that matters the most?” She looked at me and smiled the most heartfelt, warm, beaming smile and said, “Yes, I am so proud of myself”.