1 -1 support

[sugarbabe]

Ive just started a new job supporting a child with dyspraxia and aspergers.
I thought about getting him a home book so his parents can see what we're doing at school (don't suppose he'd tell her ;)) and so he can practise with them as well to support his learning...
I wondered if any of your children have a home book and do you find them useful.. what else gets written in them?
Also is there any other ideas you can give me, I mean what have you found really helpful for your child...
The child is wonderful the school is great and I just want to do my best for them...

Thanks

[pagwatch]

My son has a home book and it is fantastic.
It can help explain a lot of things either way.
My Ds gets thrown by changes at home so I let them know if , for example, daddy is away or if his sister is in hospital or stuff like that.
I am also able to hear about things he has done that he wouldn't tell me - like helping out in assembly or if he particularly enjoyed the results of food tech

[Peachy]

Two of mine have a home-school link book and its fantastic, ds3 is barely verbal so without it we'd know nothing at all about school.

DS1 is as / HFA and possibly dyspraxic (school think, I agree with dyslexic but not dyspraxic) so possible similarities there?

The opportunity to ask questions about incidents which sadlya re often made up or more accurately misunderstood by ds1 is useful. And ooh yes what we'd really like for ds1.

A great big box in school where he could pt his schopol bags, coats etc and not lose them- that costs us a fortune! And a way of ensuring things like homework notes get back to us as well, he ahs a bag but he doesn't tke things out or put them in unless asked.

[sugarbabe]

Thanks.. keep them coming...
Do the school supply things like pen grips or tripod pencils for your children or do you.. My Boy doesn't have a good tripod grip and I have suggested a pen grip or big tripod pencil.. think I may buy a selection and let him use mine... maybe this will encourage him to write more ;)...
what about writing... do you think its important for them to learn joined up writting in year 1, or does it just confuse them.. (think I probably know the answer to this one)

[Peachy]

I think joined up wiring is pointless at anys atge tbh, but then Is pent my entire school years in detention for bad handwriting!

DS1 supplies his own pencil grips (Early LEarning had some animal ones he really liked), they helped a lot.

[Hecate]

Yes, both of my kids have got a communication book. I love reading about what they've done. It is great way to have a conversation with them. If I ask them what they've done that day, ds1 will probably try to tell me (he's getting really good at giving information), or he might decide to say "BEEEEEEEEEE..b'b'b'b'" instead , and ds2 will usually say "two" or "so" or "poopoopoopoopoo" . It keeps things interesting, certainly, but it doesn't make for good conversation.

If the book says they worked on symmetry and played hopscotch at break, I can natter away about that. It makes me feel involved.

My kids LSAs just jot a few bits about what they're working on atm, plus any funny things that have happened, any social stuff - like they played with someone, or came out with a really good sentence or something. Plus they alert me to all the little school bits and bobs that other kids tell their parents, like something they are supposed to bring in to school etc etc.

Basically, it's all the stuff I need to know, all the stuff my kids would tell me about if they could and all the stuff I want to know cos I'm nosey!!

[sugarbabe]

great... I only started on Monday, will suggest it next week....

[Peachy]

Oh goodness yes- the stuff they're suposed to bring in! WHY do poeple assume AS kids will pass messages on, or even newsletters? It SO doesn't happen , and because he amkes stuff up I never know whether to beleive what eh does say (eg non-uniform) so end up taking him in civvies with uniform in a bag JIC

[daisy5678]

Couldn't be without it...I would never know what's going on otherwise!