I have to admit that when I first spoke to her (over 6 months ago), when we were trying to decide whether to enroll Chase in the Pre-K program at Glendale or not, I was a little skeptical. I had explained to her our circumstances: how we had just moved to Nashville, enrolled Chase in BCA-which was our main goal for his therapy, and wanted to know if she was open to working with the therapists at Brown, if need be. She said she was not comfortable with outside therapists coming in to the class, as it would be a distraction to the other children though. I understood, I guess?!
Over the last 6 months, since Chase has been in her class, she has really formed a bond with him as she has gotten to know him, and me (as I am always lingering around the class after drop off and before I take him home). I try to email her, along with the speech therapist and OT, Chase's weekly goals from Brown so that they know what he is working on and can implement the same goals when appropriate. Lately Chase has really been "generalizing" his goals at Glendale and with his teacher and she has mentioned several times lately how proud she is of him and how well he's doing at school!
These past 2 weeks Glendale has been on spring break. Before the break his teacher mentioned that she wanted to come observe Chase at BCA while they were out of school, so I sent her information to our BCA liaison and let them work out the details. Honestly, I wasn't really expecting her to coordinate anything to go observe, but I was pleasantly surprised when she emailed me today that she was going to watch Chase TODAY! :)
Then I received the sweetest emails from her...
Hi there Maggie,
Makenzie (the pre-k teacher across the hall) also came to observe too. I didn't think that you would mind. We loved seeing Chase in his therapy session. Chase did great! We observed on the computer in the observation room. I was so happy to see that we are doing some of the same things that Chase is doing in therapy. Chase worked hard the whole time. He really enjoyed getting the praise and the hugs more than the other rewards. I thought that was great! I am so glad that I got see what Chase was working on. He is really doing well with stringing beads, differentiating between letter sounds, sorting, identifying people in pictures, and making choices. He vocalized some thing but I couldn't really hear what it was . He did laugh out loud and got excited when he did well. I really appreciate you letting me observe Chase. He is a cutie and is such a good student and sweet little boy. I know that he is going to be very successful in the future. No worries there!!!
Sincerely, Lisa
Then another response to a later email I sent her...
Makenzie and I were both really impressed with the Brown Center and what all they were doing with Chase. She was really happy to get to go. We were both so impressed with how much Chase knows and how well he sat there and worked. He is really doing a lot for a three year old!!! I know that you are proud of him! Chase works really hard and it shows through all that he is able to do. I just cant wait for you to hear him say, "hi". It is so funny because he laughs like and gets really tickled, because we get so excited when he does it. It is precious! I know if I tried to video him doing it, he would get wise to us and wouldn't do it. He is pretty smart that way! Also, I saw the therapist do something with Chase that he asked for and enjoys...............the big pilates like ball. You probably have told me and I just forgot. He likes sitting on it and having the ABC song sang to him. He also asks for the Mickey Mouse video and a play barn. Our next "Read It Once Again" book for April is "The Big Red Barn". I was so happy to see the therapist having Chase use the farm animals with him. That is pre-teaching if I ever saw it!!! He was able to put the animals "on top of" the barn. Makenzie was most impressed that they make him responsible for himself by carrying his blue container and cleaning up after he is finished with a task. We have been making Chase carry his own lunchbox to the lunchroom. He doesn't mind at all. Well, I guess I could go on and on but I am so happy that you and his dad have him at the Brown Center. Such a wonderful learning place for him! I know you are a great mother and it's hard running around all day but I know it is paying off for Chase!!! Sincerely, Lisa
Once again, God has proven me wrong and put another AMAZING teacher in our lives to help us along this journey. And once again I learn to never doubt what God has in store for little Chase, and all of us, because it is much much bigger and better than we can ever imagine! Amen!
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