bluestar.blog

I’m gonna share the most precious thing I learned during this past school year. (2022/23)

🌾 As a behaviorist, when learning to understand a new student one of my favorite parts of the process is observation through play. It’s so interesting letting the little boo boos show you how their minds work with their little bodies. The job is to understand and identify behavior. Then I help the student understand appropriate classroom behavior and support them through the process so that their behavior is less disruptive.

The other part of that is to also help teachers and staff understand and identify the student’s behavior. That way the adults can respond in appropriate and supportive ways. The objective is to use punishment or negative reinforcement as a last resort if not at all. I lend myself as an advocate and a shield. ❤

So, I meet this kindergartener and I notice my little friend is really into the Legos. I’m giving him space and watching from my seat when my little friend yells, “Ms H, I’m alone!”

To which I reply “say less, friend. Scoot over.”

The look on his face when I sat down on the floor criss-cross-applesauce ready to play was priceless!

My Lego building game is pretty sweet so when he starts talking about trains, I lean into that. Our train was EPIC. It stretched from cabinet to wall. At that point, my little friend stands to his feet to start jumping up and down as high and as hard as he could. He runs across the classroom back and forth making loud joyful noises. He was happy.

For my little kinder friend that was the way those emotions moved through him, and even though I thought it was beautiful, you can imagine how disruptive that behavior would be during class. Cue my job.

🌾 What is so precious and valuable to me in maintaining that awareness is how much better you can love when given the chance. Happiness moves through everyone a little differently. Imagine being loved by someone that would take the time to learn how happy moves through you… it’s love. It’s everyday living and supporting a life with autism. 💙