If you had told me that the oldest M would come home with an Honor Roll report card including 5 A's and 2 B's this quarter, I would have told you that you were out of your mind.

Not because he isn't capable.  Even with M's diagnosis of Autism, he is more than capable.  He's always been so close to making Honor Roll.  It was usually one very high C in Math that kept him from achieving it.

He has the ability, but he needs the right people and right resources to tap into that ability.  You may remember from many of my journals in September ...

Hallelujah chorus!
Oh, by the way ... I QUIT!
Do I see light through the maze of Middle School and Special Education?
A difference of night and day
"There never was a plan A"
Houston, we have a problem!
A little salt with those lemons?

... that I had no confidence in the staff of his new Middle School or his aide.  They had no clue how to work with the oldest M at first.  They had done no preparation, even though we had them observe M twice at the elementary school AND had them attend two transition meetings.

Then we were fortunate enough to have M's Middle School aide quit, and I begged his former aide from elementary school to come back to work with the #1 M&M.  Well, I didn't have to beg too hard.  Mr. B saw M struggling, and was as frustrated at the situation as we were.

Mr. B came back to work with M in October and it has made all the difference in the world.  M's teachers saw him open up both academically and socially.  M felt more confident, and participated more in class discussions.  His teachers got to see how Mr. B worked with M, and they learned what works and what doesn't.

Yesterday, Mr. B met me at the school entrance with M's report card in hand and an ear to ear grin.  He was so proud as he told me the news, and shared with me M's first two benchmarks in Math (M's least favorite subject).

We are so proud of our oldest M.  First time ever on Honor Roll!  :)

Tags: autism, special education, middle, school, problem, anger, frustration, salt, lemons, lemonade, happy, honor roll, proud

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