After coming so close a few months ago, Kai attained Level 4 at school this week.
My son’s public therapeutic school uses a level system. Students transfer to this school when they have behavioral challenges at their neighborhood school. When they first enter the therapeutic school, they are considered Level 1. As they pass progressively tougher standards of good behavior, they attain higher Levels. When they reach Level 5, they may start the process to transition back to their neighborhood school.
When Kai first started at the school in the middle of his kindergarten year, it was hard to imagine that he would make it to Level 2, let alone ever get to Level 4. We went through long periods where he had major incidents seemingly every day. If we had kept all of the shirts he bit and tore to shreds, we would have a dresser full of them.
But in the past year and a half, his incidents occurred less often and were less severe.
And so, in his last week of third grade, he was able to reach this notable milestone.
I still don’t see Kai returning to a mainstream environment anytime soon. He still requires a lot of support at school to help him keep from getting too angry or upset. His therapeutic school can provide that support; I doubt that his neighborhood school would be able to.
But we are very pleased to see the progress he is making.
Good job, Kai! We are very proud.
Step by step...as is in life...as in Kai's school. Good job Kai! Never give up...just keep adding up those small steps. You will, soon enough, look back upon these times as a great milestone in your life. You are moving forward. You will have some setbacks in the future. Just keep your vision forward...you will get back on track and moving forward once again...so long as you never give up.
ReplyDeleteSometimes we have to remind ourselves that we are moving forward, as in the midst of day-to-day struggles, it is not always apparent. But a milestone like this serves as a great reminder of the progress we are making. And I hope we will not lose sight of that in the months ahead.
DeleteIsn't that wonderful!?! I'm so proud, too! Yay! What a great way to end the school year!
ReplyDeleteYes, it's nice to finish the year on a high note! Thanks, Betsy.
DeleteThat is fantastic! Congratulations to both Kai and his parents. He has come a very long way and you should be proud of him.
ReplyDeleteMany new challenges await, old problems that you though you beat will pop their unwelcome heads up on occasion, and there will be excruciatingly difficult and taxing days, but life is a marathon, not a sprint, and the overall long-term trajectory of Kai's progress continues to rise. Hope you have a wonderful summer!
I"m sure there will be challenges ahead, and we must remember to keep proper perspective and not lose sight of the overall progress. Thanks, Erica!
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