skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Well we arrived on Monday morning at the Institutes for Zoe's evaluation and she was an exhausted train wreck from the travel and 4 days of no naps. So I promptly announced, "Whatever you're going to evaluate for her intellectual program do it now because it's all downhill from here."
So our advocate Rosalind went right to work. I had to lug half a suitcase full of Zoe's Intel materials across the country with us so they could use them in her evaluation. They asked me to bring 2 books I'd made for her but she had NOT yet seen (pics above on NYC and Egypt).
Rosalind grabbed the 2 books and said, "I'm going to ask Zoe a crazy question. There's no reason she should know the answer because she hasn't seen these books, but I'm going to ask it anyway." Then she held up the title pages in front of Zoe and (without reading the titles aloud), "Zoe which book is about a city in the United States?" And Zoe looked, thought for a second and pointed to the book on New York.
Rosalind took me outside and said. "That's fantastic! I mean, even if she got the answer wrong, the fact that she's trying to deduce the answer is VERY advanced for her age." So we went through the book on NY and came up with some questions we could ask Zoe to see what she understands when she reads.
And back into the room we went to join Zoe, Jeff and Jeff's Mom. Ros asks Zoe more questions from books she has read. "Which one is a book about a mammal?" (holds up books on a dolphin and on Russia). Yeah - Zoe got that one right too. There were other questions I can't remember but she got them ALL correct.
Rosalind asks me to show Zoe the book on NYC but NOT to read the words aloud. She tells me to flip the pages as fast as I can because Zoe most likely can read faster than I can turn the pages. So I flash the pages and the first question is "How did Mom do with the speed of turning the pages?" And we gave her 3 choices on paper - great, ok and stinks. Answer - Stinks! Stinks! Stinks! Well, I was flustered and the pages were sticking together...
So then we asked Zoe questions related to content in the book and presented her with multiple choices on paper for her to point out her answer. How many boroughs are in New York? If we went on a boat into NY Harbor, what statue would we pass? etc., etc. Every question she answered correctly, EVERY QUESTION!
The reason this is so amazing is because it demonstrates that she can read (large print) independently AND she understands what she reads. She's two! Jeff and I watched the eval like hawks. We made sure the correct answers were randomized (sometimes it was on the left, sometimes on the right, sometimes the first option, sometimes the third or fourth) and that the correct choice was never positioned more favorably (closer or on a side she favors).
I can tell you, as a mom who spends a lot of time with this little girl, I can tell the difference between when she's guessing an answer, when she KNOWS an answer and when she's not in the mood so she points to any answer so you'll stop and go away. During the entire evaluation, she was thoughtfully engaged and she was choosing her answers on purpose. It was incredible, just incredible.
Then it was on to math. Rosalind tore off the answers from all the equations we brought with us then asked Zoe a bunch of math questions that no one else in the room could answer without a pencil and paper....and 2 minutes... and maybe a calculator. The ones that come to my mind - "Zoe, what is 1/7th of 84?" and my personal favorite, "Zoe, if 84 divided by X divided by 7 = 6, does X = 7 or does X = 2?"
Yah... go get your calculators. Whatever the answers were, it took Zoe about 1-2 seconds in her head to decide and point out the answers. Every answer she gave was correct. You just can't do any better than 100% - rock on little Z!
(Not the best hair day for either of us - but we don't care, we're happy!)
(Diva with matching headband)So Zoe was measured every which way and I'm happy to report that in the last 6 months, she's grown 2 inches taller - which is 200% of normal growth for a kid her age! She put on 2+ pounds and her chest growth was 167% of normal due to her respiratory program.
She's just over 20 pounds and we're patiently waiting for the 22 pound mark to bust out the big girl Alpha Omega car seat!
I'll admit, I've been spiking her turkey dish with extra olive oil, but she keeps burning up the calories....
(Swinging in Central Park)
So after Zoe's AMAZING Intellectual Evaluation a few days later we were in another meeting to go over Zoe's new Intel program. We were introduced to Facilitated Communication which is another way for kids with language delays or challenges to communicate with words. It basically involves a technique of providing backwards resistance to the arm of a child who "types" out what they want to say by pointing to letters on a cardboard (see pic).
I'll admit very honestly, Jeff and I were VERY skeptical that Zoe was ready for this. I mean... is a 2 year old really ready to start texting (kindof...and hope not)?
So the woman we were meeting with said to Z, "Zoe, we need to know this for your reading program. Do you prefer fiction, which are stories that are not true but are still fun to read or do you prefer nonfiction, which are stories that are true and full of facts?" And she sat Zoe in her lap and used this technique as I watched over her shoulder.
Now Zoe is a squirmy kid on the best of days so she was none too pleased about being confined. She didn't seem thrilled with the exercise either and issued a few noisy complaints too. And the woman kept letting Zoe's finger come down and press the board and encouraging her to keep going and to finish (as the complaints grew louder and louder).
As I watched over the shoulder I really couldn't make anything out. Then I caught her pointing to a few letters...ISM...and I thought to myself, "See that doesn't spell anything." And then I missed some more but then I saw Zoe hit...RITTT...and I knew this was just gibberish and she just wasn't ready yet.
A few moments later, the woman put Zoe down and said "Thank you Zoe, that answer really helps." Then she told us that not only did Zoe answer her, but she answered in a full sentence her very first (though unenthused and somewhat resistant) try. Then she told us Zoe just spelled out "Nonfiction IS My favoRITTTe".
My face hit the floor. Well blow my socks off, slap my face and call me Nancy! I knew she could read and I even knew nonfiction was her favorite...but I would NEVER have guessed she could spell out "nonfiction is my favorite!"
Holy guacamole! So we'll be doing Facilitated Communication with Zoe at home. We can expect some initial resistance - because she really wants to SAY her words (and typing really is more cumbersome than talking). But this is a bridge for more precise and open communication while her verbal language is catching up.
(Dad & Z on left, duck on right)
Two weeks before we returned to the Institutes for Zoe's eval, I completed the usual 70+ page progress report. One of the 'dream goals' for the previous period was for Zoe to take 4-5 steps independently. As I sent the report off, I noticed she came so close - she regularly took 2-3 steps by herself.
Of course as soon as the report was in the mail, she started taking 4-5 steps! I was excited but I didn't have high hopes for Zoe to demonstrate her new skills in Philly as she was sure to be jetlagged, new surroundings, schedule shot, yada-yada-yada. First day she was an exhausted mess but by the end of the week, Zoe was taking 6, 8, 10, 12 steps on her own! Their waiting room floor has special padding and Zoe kept getting more and more confidence. Back at home she now walks 5 feet independently so we'll keep building on that.
Now since Zoe was so focused on walking, talking took a backseat for awhile (which is true for almost every kid). Again, while we were in Philly, I asked Zoe to help me get her seat belt on and when she did, I said thank you and she replied, "thank you!" She also said "hi" to Jeff's Dad and when Jeff's Mom was leaving, Zoe shook her head no and said "Grandma with me!" Before we left Boston, she said "bye-bye". Today we were at the park and we showed her the ducks and she said "duck" when we got home.
(Zoe with her advocate from the Institutes, Rosalind Doman)
As usual, the new program is a doozie! It's a great program for Zoe's development - and we have no idea how we're going to get it all done (sigh). We've been really blessed with all the help we've gotten from our family and friends. We would never have been able to accomplish so much and get so far with Zoe's Intensive Treatment Program without our Assisting Angels. Here are some highlights of what's new in her program:
* Gymnastics Program - yup! Now our living room will be sporting tumbling mats for Zoe to do somersaults, log rolls and quad rolls. ("Where?" you may ask - don't know at all.) These activities will stimulate the vestibular area of her brain (parts in ears) that will help with her balance and coordination. Plus, it's fun!
* Greek and Latin word roots - now that we've taught her to read and begun introducing Spanish, it's time for something new in the mix. By showing her Greek and Latin word roots, she will begin to intuit words in foreign languages she doesn't yet know. Ooh and we get to do synonyms too!
* 6th Grade Math - I have no idea what's in a 6th grade math book, but I have to get one and start teaching Zoe. It might be square roots and geometry. No clue, but we shall go forth!
* CO2O2 Inhalations (mix of Carbon Dioxide and Oxygen) - part of Zoe's new respiratory program is to take brief inhalations from a mask hooked to a tank with CO2. This opens her blood vessels more, causes her to breathe more deeply and delivers more oxygen to her brain. This could make a tremendous impact on every area in her life! From sleeping, chewing, and swallowing to vision, physical endurance and talking. Plus, Jeff and I have tried it out - it gives you a nice little buzz so it could be fun for the whole family...
Plus, many of the old favorites are continuing as well - patterning, masking, walking under the ladder, 1 new homemade book EVERY DAY, 1 new set of Intel cards EVERY DAY, same healthy nutrition program, Spanish words/books, etc.
Thank you so much to everyone who has supported us. We've worked our asses off and it looks like we're not finished with that. So we love you and please forgive us if we've been out of touch, we've got lots to do. Lots love, Z Parents
