Fallout from Things I say....

Loren* started in my program this year the first week of school as an extremely shy and timid second grader. A compact, sturdy little guy with glasses and a buzz cut and always-untied shoes, he had almost nothing to say to anyone.

I found out quickly on the first day that he likes Legos. And of course I just happen to have quite a collection of them. So a rug and a box of Legos and time to create? Perfect.

Getting him to communicate with me and offer more than tiny little monosyllabic answers? A little more effort required. :)

I don't push kids. I figured that the key to this one, as to so many others, was to just let him BE.

He came from a small, private school. There were 50 kids in the entire student body.
The first month or so he was very timid, quiet, and completely unsure of himself. He got lost a couple times, so until he was sure of the right hallway to head down in the morning, I coincidentally had to go to the copy room to make copies so I walked with him.

He's very gradually starting to communicate more. He has a quirky sense of humor, although since he's a seven year old boy, he thinks fart jokes are hysterical. He mostly speaks Lego, so there are only a few kids he talks to. He doesn't get lost in the building anymore, confidently going wherever he needs to be without looking unsure.

Loren has started to talk with me about Legos he's been working on at home, and to participate with other kids in activities that aren't always Legos.

He recently learned to tie his shoes, and although he doesn't tie them very well yet (they keep coming undone) he insists he can do it himself.

He's one of my morning kids, too. Thursdays are our busiest morning, with seven children, so that's the day we go to the gym and play for half an hour.

The kids invented a game. They throw foam dodgeballs and frisbees at each other, sit for 10 seconds and get up again. Similar to my 10 second dodgeball game.

Loren has gone from sitting on the sidelines watching quietly to being the ball boy. He runs around and gathers up the equipment and runs it to the other kids. He doesn't throw any of them himself... so he never has to put himself out there, if that makes sense.

Well, in the last couple weeks, he's stepped up his level of participation. He's JOINING in on Thursday mornings!

I get such a kick out of watching him, because I could see how much he wanted to play... and just couldn't quite make himself do it. But it's like a breakthrough.
:)

And on Thursday morning this week, he was working on a little fuzzball project. I brought in a bunch of little fuzzy pom poms and google eyes and just let them make stuff on Wednesday afternoon. He was so busy with Legos that he didn't want to take a break from them for a craft.

So when he asked on Thursday morning if he could make them, I got them out for him.

We don't head for the gym until all the kids have arrived, so we had a little time while waiting for our last guy to come in.

Rachelle* who is, well... bossy, said to him, "Loren! Put your stuff away, we're going to the gym soon."

He looked at her. Bent back over his project. Ignored her.
So she said it again.

And to prove that everything I say is actually listened to by someone there and that even children who aren't mine repeat the things I say, he cocked an eyebrow at her, and using my tone and inflection said, "Rachelle? Who are you responsible for?"

She was completely deflated.

And it made me smile that the little guy who was afraid to ask if he could go to the bathroom or have a second cup of juice just a couple months ago was willing to speak up on his own behalf.

Using my words.

I have to hide a smile or a laugh occasionally.
:)