Weekday mornings in the Schulze household are dynamic, to say the least. Between breakfast, brushing teeth and buses, I have a few additional tasks. One of these tasks is writing in four, count them, four communication journals. Jillian and Ben each have two tucked in their backpacks ready for me to review and respond in the written word. Initially, we began with one journal each, then moved to two for Jillian and one for Ben. Now, my mornings include about 15 minutes of reporting, requesting, reinforcing, and reassuring my two youngest by way of pen and paper.
The green journals are used to supplement what communication my children engage in with their educators. It isn’t easy for either Jillian nor Ben to explain how they are feeling let alone why they feel that way. So whether it is Ben waking up at (ahem) four o’clock in the morning, Jillian finding her preteen “voice”, or emotional events happening around the two of them, I have a way to provide some background and warn of possible responses to life that may occur in the classroom.
Notes to My Children
The supplemental communication journal is meant to encourage my reader and pre-reader. This journal began to help Jillian with her reading, initially, as well as ease the transition between home and school. Ben’s is starting, hopefully, an interest in what he would know if he could make sense of those letters and spaces on that paper. What I have found, though, is that I can use these books for so much more. For instance, at first glance, one can see a date printed across the top of the page. I thought about just using the numbers along with slashes, dashes or dots to keep track of when these notes were written. I realized that through repetition, which benefits children with Down syndrome, the two will become more familiar with the appropriate order of the written date as well as the actual words that the numbers represent if I continue to us the long method.
Briefing Ben
Ben’s book began with random sentences written with sight words and as legible as possible. A great idea that got old quickly. Now his daily encouragement always starts with “Hi Ben.” Ben, has recognized his name for a while now, the repetition of the word “Hi” has helped in his sense of success and confidence in his abilities. The rest of his page will consist of three or four lines with a skipped line in between each. These lines will be used to encourage him, entice him, and enlist his burgeoning reading skills in as simple a language as I can use so his academic determination can grow.
Jotting to Jillian
Jillian’s second journal is now including her name in cursive as well as “Mom” in cursive too. This is so she can begin to recognize and read in more than just print. When I finish her paragraphs the actual writing is not as nice and neat as with Ben’s, again, to exercise the recognition of the written word. The content of Jillian’s daily note is much more mature than that of her brother. I use this opportunity to encourage autonomy and independence in her life. I remind my daughter to tell her general education teacher things or to turn in a note or paper. That way she is not depending on the other adults in her educational experience to do the work for her. Along with her blossoming self-sufficiency, Jillian has a tad bit of difficulty with change, (she is her father’s daughter). Consistency is the name of her game. Again, I use the communication journal to assist when our afternoon and evening are taking a turn for the “different” by preparing my daughter for the new events on the horizon.
Book Benefits
One of my favorite times of the day is to explore the goings-on in my kiddos’ school day. I love to get pictures and notes in return. Often, the writings from the teachers encourage conversation that otherwise would not have happened. Because of this we have discovered that Jillian can tell us all about the skeletal system, muscular system and about internal organs. The teachers have all changed how they view Jillian when it comes to these subjects also.
Usually, I try to slip a note of encouragement to the reader to help their day be a little brighter. Who doesn’t like to receive encouraging notes that put a smile on the beginning of what, potentially could be a loooong day.
Taking a few minutes out of my day to write has proven to be so beneficial. In that short amount of time I am able to educate, acclimate, instruct, inform, and encourage those who read my words. I have to say, it is time well spent.
