Leelo’s Team Meeting Minutes: 9/13/04

 

Today Leelo had his first day of this school year at Iron Gate Preschool, with Therapist F as his shadow, so we spent most of the meeting hearing from Therapist F about how it went.  In short- it was a WONDERFUL first day!

 

And now, some details.  The following is a summary of Therapist F’s notes, and some instructional directions/next steps suggested by her observations:

 

• With prompts from Therapist F/Squid, Leelo greeted his Teacher K, and also greeted at least 1 peer with language “Hi Noely”; he did not make eye contact during this greeting.  Continue greetings as a routine (e.g.: greet Teacher K upon arrival).  Try to greet 3 or 4 peers a day- start with the same peers each day for the first week or two, so that Leelo’s use of their names can become natural/fluid. Continue practicing greetings in home program- be sure Leelo is making eye contact.
• Leelo practiced “my turn” with Therapist F in the classroom. It is great to hear that Leelo is able to use his skills in the classroom, even if he requires prompting.  We will try to quickly get a clear idea of  what Leelo is able to do in the classroom, both independently and prompted, then we will plan to fade the prompting
• Leelo spent time watching other children play.  This is wonderful.  Are their any children he is especially interested in watching?  These may be good choices for creating small group activities with Leelo.  Therapist F suggested Noely and Tracy. 
• For much of the time Leelo played parallel to other children- that is, on the same equipment and/or with the same materials; or in close proximity to other children.  More great news.  Leelo does not seem disturbed by being with the other children. Rather, he is showing interest by engaging in the same activities, and by playing nearby. The next steps will be prompting toy exchanges (my turn), greeting peers, imitating peers.
• Some of Leelo’s favorite activities today were: kitchen, water play, and climbing on the structures both inside and outside.  Therapist F will continue to observe Leelo to discover his favorite activities.  Soon she can begin to create a small group with one or two other children and Leelo using these favorite activities, which are naturally reinforcing for Leelo.  For example, in the play kitchen, Leelo can take turns with materials, imitate peer toy play (actions w/objects), describe what he is doing (e.g. “I have eggs…”).
• Circle Time: Leelo participated in the large group “free dance”, and 3 songs. He sat on Therapist F’s lap, as some other children also sat on laps during the songs and story.  Leelo started fidgeting after about 5 minutes of sitting in circle, and then it was time to go home.  We will practice the Iron Gate songs and finger plays (keep a list in the Iron Gate section in our binder), and Therapist L will try some dance/music activities with Leelo’s structured play group. (free dance, freeze when music stops, dance with ribbons/scarves, etc).
• Behavior: Only one incident- Leelo seemed frustrated after snack had ended, and he was supposed to throw away his trash and put his cup back.  He lay down and hit his head on the floor. We will add a two step direction to Leelo’s home program “throw away garbage and put cup on counter”, to help Leelo to learn this more quickly, and prevent frustration around this.  Also, Therapist F will be quick to prompt “help me” or “I’m all done” as the situation may need.  It is critical for us to help Leelo to make simple requests instead of using problem behavior to meet his needs.
• Water play: Leelo loves water play, and plays with gusto.  Therapist F will help guide him to use the toys in the water table (turkey baster, boats, fish, water wheel), and to keep the “water in the table” and “splashing all done”.  We will support Leelo by doing some more structured water play at home. 
• Class meeting tomorrow night: the parents and school staff will meet tomorrow night, as part of their regular parent involvement and support program.  At this meeting, Squid and Teacher K will have a chance to introduce Leelo, and Therapist F, to the school community.

 

Other meeting notes:

 

• Continue doing gross motor imitation (one and two steps) in the mirror.  Leelo seems to be getting used to doing some work downstairs in the mirror, and may be starting to use this additional piece of visual information in his learning. 
• Toileting: continue 2 hours /day at home.  (for now, Leelo is wearing a diaper at Iron Gate).  Continue lots of reinforcement for dry pants during dry checks, save the more powerful reinforcers for peeing in the potty.  Also, while Leelo has mastered wet and dry for towels, diapers, it is not clear that he knows when his underpants are wet or dry.  Let’s try practicing wet and dry in consecutive trials like this:

ü     Have wet and dry towels, diapers, washcloths, etc. 

ü     Have Leelo label 3 or 4 items (mixing wet and dry)

ü     Then have Leelo look at and touch his own underpants, and label whether they are wet or dry.  (if he doesn’t look, hold the reinforcer down near his underpants so he will be prompted to look down. )

 

Next Meeting: Monday October 4 at 12:30.

 

CONGRATULATIONS TO LEELO FOR A WONDERFUL DAY!