Into the Penetrable Walls of Miggy

28 November 2014

Pines Montessori Field Trip 2014

This school year's educational trip of Pines Montessori School: Trip to Pagasa Weather Station Baguio City, Philippine Military Academy (PMA) and Camp John Hay.

27 November 2014

Mosaic Art

This is the making of Miggy's combined project in Arts and Science using bird feed, rice grains, black beans, and crayon shavings.

15 November 2014

Miggy just keeps going back to this favorite activity, the look-and-find Where's Waldo. Notice at how naturally he pointed at Waldo. We all know that majority of children with autism are inherently incapable of pointing and sharing objects of interest. Already outgrown, yes! An added X on the autism checklist.

07 November 2014

Changing Fractions

This collage shows Miggy changing mixed fraction to improper fraction and improper to mixed but of course with the use of a calculator because it would take him ages without it. This is another accommodation by the school for special children's difficulties which all schools should consider and implement too.

06 November 2014

How to draw Baymax

This is how to draw Baymax, the robot character in the movie Big Hero 6 which we are about to watch today. Just the two of us... mother and son bonding.

03 November 2014

Cereal Box Activity

Not a time and chance for learning wasted. That's my Miggy, always busy.

Greetings to my online classmates in EDUC 101 and EDUC 106 subjects! Welcome to my blog. Meet Miggy, my twelve-year-old SPECIAL BOY.

26 October 2014

Top 7 in Class

This exceeded our expectations.

Everyday I teach Miggy lessons he did not do well in their class seatwork. And on weekends, we take home all his books and study in advance. My only intention is that he never repeats a grade (retention) or that he does not have to be on remedials. Wow! but this?! Miggy being TOP 7 in his grade 5 class sends us on cloud nine.

My deepest gratitude to all his teachers. They are the best - the real heroes here. I am only supplemental to Miggy's achievements.

25 October 2014

Sticks for Points

Nothing heavy today because they just had their 2nd periodical test last week. For today, we're just having a little fun. Easy exercises before he plays games on his tab.

He gets a stick for every correct answer; for incorrect I get one of his sticks.

*Tab games strictly on Saturdays and Sundays only; and strictly an hour or two.

21 October 2014

NLEX

Miggy: "Mommy, there's an accident in the NLEX!"

08 October 2014

Auditory Discrimination and a lot more

Speech therapy, Oct. 8, 2014. Teacher Justine (his longtime speech pathologist) wrote in Miggy's progress notebook: Miggy was generally cooperative today with minimal instances of distractibility. Good job!

Lessons covered: auditory discrimination, accuracy of interrogatives, correcting mistakes in sentences, understanding negatives, synonyms with stimulus words, using word pairs in sentences, following conditional verbal instructions, word riddles, and predicting outcomes.

His scores:

Auditory discrimination (rhyming) - 12/14
Accuracy of interrogatives (yes/no) - 9/15
Correcting mistakes in sentences - 12/14
Understanding negatives - 14/16
Synonyms of stimulus words - 9/12
Word pairs in sentences - 5/10
Following conditional verbal instructions - 80%
Word riddles - 90%
Predicting outcomes (familiar situations) - 90%

04 October 2014

His Rainbow and My Pot of Gold

I was in the other room reading my notes, he called on me, and led me to the window.

"Hey, mommy, look! There's a rainbow!" he pointed to the sky and stared me in the eye awaiting my reaction. And then he added, "I found it!"

He found his rainbow, I found my pot of gold.

One of autism's hallmarks:
A lack of spontaneous seeking to share enjoyment, interests, or achievements with the people around him. The child does not show, bring or point to object of interest.

Obviously, he has overcome that impairment.

21 September 2014

Science Project - Medicinal Plants

Grade 5 Science project: They were asked to make a scrapbook on medicinal plants.

And this was how Miggy did it (with my guidance, of course). I (mother) even included the first two collages at the back part of the book just so teacher will know he was really the one who made it.

During the process, I kept on reminding him: "It's alright to make mistakes. It's art. There are no mistakes in art. You can cut it any shape you want" and "You can paste it anywhere you want."

I modeled the first page, laid out the cut shapes and pictures, then asked him, "Can you do this, Miggy?" to which he replied, "Yes!"

And from there, he was able to design the other pages without my directions.

For the book, we used an old 2013 calendar.

18 September 2014

Golf Cart

We took advantage of this golf cart we saw this morning parked in our garage.
Miguel, come here. Ride this and I'll take your picture.
"No! I don't want to be late for school."
Okay, I will not buy you the Planes, Fire and Rescue dvd.

29 August 2014

Buwan ng Wika

Buwan ng Wika celebration at Pines Montessori School honors our Filipino language, culture and traditions.

To highlight the event, the teachers and students prepared different depictions of Filipino theme.

All class sections are now raising funds for the Christmas party. Pancit, turon-saging, banana cue, puto, biko, dinuguan, ginatan, chicharon-baboy and other pinoy foods lined on tables filled hungry stomachs and emptied pockets and purses of teachers, students and parents. The funny thing was just a few minutes after the food fair started, prices went down to half the price. Some were even on buy-two-take-one promos. So wise buyers (like me, of course) took advantage and happily came home with loads of "kakanin" at only a few pesos spent.

Miggy, along with other kids won Best In Filipino Costume.

Is it Buwan ng Wika (National Language Month), or Linggo ng Wika (National Language Week)?

The latest ruling in terms of assigning a National Language celebration in the country, Proclamation 1041, says we should have a month-long celebration.

Signed by President Fidel Ramos in 1997, the proclamation sets a Buwan ng Wikacelebration every August. This celebration is to coincide with the birth anniversary of former President Manuel Quezon, known as Ama ng Wikang Pambansa, who was born on August 19, 1878.

Before the 1997 proclamation, however, the celebration was limited to a week. For the longest time, the country celebrated Linggo ng Wika, which started August 13 and ended on August 19, Quezon's birthday.

In 1955, President Ramon Magsaysay signed Proclamation 186, which set Linggo ng Wika every August 13 to 19. He moved the celebration from the March-April schedule originally set by President Sergio Osmeña in 1946 and 1954.

Magsaysay moved the dates since the original celebration is a period "outside of the school year, thereby precluding the participation of schools in its celebration."

In 1988, President Corazon Aquino signed Proclamation 19, which ratified the celebration of the Linggo ng Wika every August 13 to 19. The week-long celebration was observed until Ramos extended it to a month starting 1997.

– Rappler.com

http://www.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/66090-buwan-ng-wika-linggo-ng-wika-celebration

27 August 2014

Miggy with classmates

The fifth graders of Pines Montessori:

Erin, Jersey, Lawrence, Shaun, Oden, Jerico, Lex, Danielle,

George, MJ, Ronan, Amiel, Xylee and Miggy.

This is upon the request of these wonderful kids, "Tita, post this on Walls of Miggy!"

Sorry, a little late 'though.

25 August 2014

My Parasol Boy

Photos taken when we visited Miggy's grandfather and aunt at the Eternal Gardens.

Watching Miggy marching and fooling around, waving, flipping, turning, and flying this umbrella was just priceless. Of course, the umbrella did not withstand the ordeal - one rib broken. I stood there watching, meters away from him, just clicking my cam and enjoying this wonderful display of innocence and carefree liberty and independence.

I waved at him and he came running back to me.

Today, I feel relaxed knowing I could now let go of his hand. I now know he'll come back to me. For a very long time, I dreaded his possible escapes.

Many autistic children have a tendency to wander off. Elopement, at one time or another, have been experienced by parents of children with autism. This makes for the parents' sleepless nights and stress. However, this elopement problem may not be permanent. Some children may outgrow it. An escaping child as he grows older may simply lose interest or his level of understanding of danger may increase.

18 August 2014

Mobile Planetarium

The Andromeda Mobile Planetarium circulates in different schools all over the Cordillera Administrative Region. The planetarium intends to promote awareness and interest in astronomical science.

Today, the mobile planetarium sits on the grounds of Pines Montessori School. A display of heavenly bodies wowed the students. The universe that they merely see in books, on the net, and up in the sky millions of miles away is now within reach.

16 August 2014

To all readers:

Please click on "OLDER POSTS" after the last post to see more. For specific posts, click on the list of TOPICS on the left side bar.
Enjoy a tour of MIGGY'S WORLD and see what's beyond his WALLS.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
Miggy's Mom, Yolette

15 August 2014

Pronouns Tutorial and Spelling Practice

I made Miggy a PRONOUN GUIDE - singular and plural, first, second and third persons - because he scored only 12/30 in the pronoun exercises done in school, clearly meaning an SOS.
We studied the guide I made, with me all throughout giving names of familiar people for every pronoun. Then, I covered the previous answers and made him redo it. Again, a success!

The 3 pics on the right show how we practice spelling. He reads every word carefully, syllabicating very slowly, then rewriting the words 2-3 times. Next, I cover the list of words and dictate each word he will spell.

May this documentation of my son's journey through autism inspire all of you. Here, you will see not only my struggles to enter his world, but you will also witness his greatest efforts to fit into mine.

Be inspired with my prayers, hopes, perseverance and endurance in trying to recover my child.
How about you? Do you have stories to tell? You are free to leave your comments and suggestions here. I would love to hear from you.
Be my friend and join me as I break down the not-so-impenetrable-walls of my very special Miggy.

Surprising Autism Information You Need to Know

By Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com Guide

What Do You Really Know About Autism?:

There are plenty of myths about autism spectrum disorders out there. Some folks still believe, for example, that people with autism are all geniuses or mentally challenged. Others believe that people with autism are the result of poor parenting choices. These myths have been soundly debunked, both here and in many other places. But even those of us who are well-grounded in autism basics may be surprised by some of these facts, which are emerging from recent research.

Autism Is a Plural Noun:

Autism is not a single disorder. In fact, mainstream researchers agree that the autism spectrum is probably a collection of multiple disorders with multiple causes, prognoses, and appropriate treatments. Quite a bit of recent research has uncovered a number of distinct genetic differences (some inherited, some spontaneously mutated) that seem to be associated with various types of autism.

We Know What Causes Autism (Sometimes):

We do know what causes autism -- but only in about 20% of cases. Causes include genetic mutations, heredity, pre- and post-natal trauma or exposures to alcohol or drugs, and, in some cases, injury. In addition, some research suggests older parents, environmental pollution, and even pesticides.

Some Kids "Outgrow" Their Autism Diagnoses:

Quite a few children who are diagnosed with autism at a very young age are no longer diagnosable with autism by the time they’re school-aged. The reasons for this are controversial, and range from the possibility of misdiagnosis to ordinary maturation to claims of a cure through behavioral, developmental and/or biomedical interventions. Whatever the reasons, many children who are diagnosed with autism as toddlers will not be diagnosable by the time they're in fifth grade.

There's No Window of Opportunity for Treating Autism:

Early intervention (diagnosis and treatment prior to age three) is very helpful indeed, but there is no “window of opportunity” that slams shut at a certain age. Thus, even children who are diagnosed later or receive less early intervention may do quite well in the long run. The "now or never" approach to autism treatment is a result of media hype -- not research findings. Early intervention does, however, provide a now-or-never opportunity to allow non-verbal children to develop some kind of useful tool for communication (picture cards, signs, or even spelling boards).

Even a Cure May Not Be a Cure:

There is no official “cure” for autism. In fact, researchers like Dr. Susan Levy at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia argue that even when a young child is no longer diagnosable on the autism spectrum, he is probably still autistic. Issues that may not be of significance for a preschooler (e.g., executive functioning, picking up on complex social cues, etc.) may loom quite large as a child moves through the grades.

Late Talking is Not the End of the World:

Late talking is not an indication of a poor prognosis. Even if a child is not yet verbal at age three or four, she may still do very well in the long run.

Kids with Autism Aren't Always Visual Thinkers:

Children with autism may or may not be visual thinkers. Thus, school programs designed with visual thinking in mind may or may not be appropriate for any individual child with autism.

No One Knows Which Treatments Work for Which Kids:

After many years of research, we still don’t know which treatments are most effective for which children -- or whether one treatment is more effective than another. Behavioral interventions are the best-researched treatments for autism, but even top scientists acknowledge that developmental interventions may or may not be equally useful for any given child. Meanwhile, only two drugs -- Risperdal and Abilify -- have been approved for use with children on the autism spectrum, and neither addresses “core” issues of autism (social/communication deficits).

What Are the Different Names for Autism Spectrum Disorders?

By Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com Guide

Autism is a "spectrum disorder," meaning you can be a little autistic or very autistic. But the diagnoses within the autism spectrum aren't clearly named, nor are the symptoms always the same even within the same diagnosis. What's worse, terms like "severe autism," "mild autism" and "high functioning autism" aren't true diagnoses at all - they're just descriptive terms to help parents and teachers better understand a child's status on the autism spectrum.

What Is the Autism Spectrum?

The "autism spectrum" describes a set of developmental delays and disorders which affects social and communication skills and, to a greater or lesser degree, motor and language skills. It is such a broad diagnosis that it can include people with high IQ's and mental retardation - and people with autism can be chatty or silent, affectionate or cold, methodical or disorganized. "Autism Spectrum" is also another, less formal term to describe the Pervasive Developmental Disorders.

Official diagnoses within the autism spectrum are autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett Syndrome.

What Are Pervasive Developmental Disorders?

"Pervasive Developmental Disorder" is a formal term that means exactly the same thing as the less formal "autism spectrum disorder." As with the autism spectrum, the group of disorders described as pervasive developmental disorders includes autistic disorder, pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS), Asperger syndrome, Childhood Disintegrative Disorder and Rett Syndrome.

What Is Asperger Syndrome?

Asperger syndrome describes individuals at the highest-functioning end of the autism spectrum. Unlike other autism spectrum disorders, Asperger syndrome is often diagnosed in teens and adults. People with Asperger syndrome generally develop spoken language in the same way as typically developing children, but have a tough time with social communication. These difficulties that become more obvious as they get older and social expectations rise. Because people with Asperger syndrome are often very intelligent - but "quirky" - the disorder is sometimes nicknamed "geek syndrome" or "little professor syndrome."

What Is Mild Autism?

The term "mild autism" is not an official diagnosis. It's simply a more descriptive term than "Asperger syndrome" or "autism." Generally speaking, when people use the term mild autism they are referring to individuals whose symptoms fit an autism spectrum diagnosis, but who has strong verbal skills and few behavioral issues. Those individuals may, however, have significant problems with social communication. They may also have problems coping with too much sensory input (loud noise, bright lights, etc.).

What Is High Functioning Autism?

Like "mild" autism, high functioning autism (sometimes shortened to HFA) is a made-up term that's become more and more commonly used. HFA is a tricky term, because it can be hard to distinguish a person with HFA from a person with Asperger syndrome. The official distinction is that people with HFA had or have speech delays, while people with Asperger Syndrome have normal speech development. But there may also be very real differences in terms of social awareness, personality characteristics, and other traits. The jury is still debating the fine distinctions.

What Is PDD-NOS?

"Pervasive Developmental Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" is a mouthful of words that are often applied to people on the autism spectrum. It describes individuals who don't fully fit the criteria for other specific diagnoses, but are nevertheless autistic. Unfortunately, there is no easy way to define the symptoms of PDD-NOS, which may range from very mild to very severe. As a result, the term is rarely used outside of practioners' offices. Most parents, therapists and teachers prefer to use more descriptive (though less official) terms to describe their children, students and patients with PDD-NOS.

What Is Severe Autism (Autistic Disorder)?

Severe autism is officially termed autistic disorder. It goes by many other names, though, including profound autism, low functioning autism, or classic autism. People with autistic disorder are often non-verbal and intellectually disabled, and may have very challenging behaviors.

What Is Rett Syndrome?

Rett syndrome is a genetic disorder that affects only girls. It is the only one of the autism spectrum disorders that can be diagnosed medically (so far). Girls with Rett syndrome develop severe symptoms including the hallmark social communication challenges of autism. In addition, Rett syndrome can profoundly impair girls' ability to use their hands usefully.

Top 10 Treatments for Autism

By Lisa Jo Rudy, About.com Guide

As you start to dig deeply into the literature on autism treatments, you'll find dozens of available options. Which are the "best" treatments? As the professionals will tell you over and over again, every child's needs are different. The treatments described in this article are among the best known, best researched, and most likely to produce positive results.

1. Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)is the oldest and most fully researched treatment specifically developed for autism. ABA is a very intensive system of reward-based training which focuses on teaching particular skills. If any autism-specific therapy is offered by your school and/or covered by your insurance, this will probably be the one.

2. Speech Therapy

Almost all people with autism have issues with speech and language. Sometimes these issues are obvious; many people with autism are non-verbal or use speech very poorly. Sometimes the issues relate not to articulation or grammar but to "speech pragmatics" (the use of speech to build social relationships). Across the board, though, speech and language therapy is likely to be helpful for people with autism.

3. Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy focuses on building daily living skills. Since many people with autism have delays in fine motor skills, occupational therapy can be very important. Occupational therapists may also have training in sensory integration therapy - a technique which may help autistic people manage hypersensitivity to sound, light, and touch.

4. Social Skills Therapy

One of autism's "core deficits" is a lack of social and communication skills. Many children with autism need help in building the skills they need to hold a conversation, connect with a new friend, or even navigate the playground. Social skills therapists can help out setting up and facilitating peer-based social interaction.

5. Physical Therapy

Autism is a "pervasive developmental delay." Many autistic people have gross motor delays, and some have low muscle tone (they're unusually weak). Physical therapy can build up strength, coordination, and basic sports skills.

6. Play Therapy

Strange as it may sound, children with autism need help learning to play. And play can also serve as a tool for building speech, communication, and social skills. Play therapists may have training in particular therapeutic techniques such as Floortime or The Play Project - or they may incorporate play therapy into speech, occupational or physical therapy.

7. Behavior Therapy

Children with autism are often frustrated. They are misunderstood, have a tough time communicating their needs, suffer from hypersensitivities to sound, light and touch ... no wonder they sometimes act out! Behavior therapists are trained to figure out just what lies behind negative behaviors, and to recommend changes to the environment and routines to improve behavior.

8. Developmental Therapies

Floortime, Son-rise, and Relationship Development Intervention (RDI) are all considered to be "developmental treatments." This means that they build from a child's own interests, strengths and developmental level to increase emotional, social and intellectual abilities. Developmental therapies are often contrasted to behavioral therapies, which are best used to teach specific skills such as shoe tying, tooth brushing, etc.

9. Visually-Based Therapies

Many people with autism are visual thinkers. Some do very well with picture-based communication systems such as PECS (Picture Exchange Communication). Video modeling, video games and electronic communication systems also tap into autistic people's visual strength to build skills and communication.

10. Biomedical Therapies

Biomedical treatments may include pharmaceuticals, but most often biomedical treatments for autism are based on the Defeat Autism Now! (DAN!) approach to autism therapy. Doctors trained in the DAN! "protocol" prescribe special diets, supplements, and alternative treatments. None of these treatments have been approved by the FDA or CDC, but there are many anecdotal stories of positive outcomes.