When I was teaching. Mikaela went to Child Development Center/Day Care (CDC) where we worked. They used ASL as primary communication mode but they do speaking (once a while). First two year, Mikaela loved going there. It was awesome because CDC and my office wasn't far. Actually, my office was on first floor and CDC was right above of my office (2nd floor).
Until I gave birth K. I stayed home. H and I agreed to have Mikaela stayed in CDC (Tues and Thurs) and going to other school where all hearing kids in her same age class (for speaking reason) Mon, Wed. and Fri. Last year fall, she went and she HATED it so much. We found out that most of her peers were gone! DC now have new charter schools that accepted 3 yrs old for free. Unfortunately, we lived in Maryland so Mikaela isn't qualified to go. It was only two kids - her and other kid. Other kid - sweet gal but doesn't know ABC's, doesn't write ABC's yet, just learned shapes and colors. Mikaela knows those stuffs. She was bored so her instructor decided to put her in next group once a while during the day - which is older 4 and 5 that couldn't go Kindergarten because of age cut off (has to be 5 before Sept. 30 to go Kindergarten). Her emotional stage is 3 yrs old and interact with older 4 and 5 years old. Once a while, she doesn't mind but all the time.
I'm not sure what the main reason why she doesn't want to continue. H and I had a long discussion and decided to pull her out from CDC and continue going other school 'BC'. That was the BEST decision we EVER made! 
BC - a school that we couldn't ask for a better school. She goes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays just for 2 hours a day. She learned so much more than what she learned at CDC. She always excited to go school. She wouldn't want to miss a day of school. (She would be mad if she has to miss for whatever reason that she has to miss).
BC - a school that we couldn't ask for a better school. She goes Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays just for 2 hours a day. She learned so much more than what she learned at CDC. She always excited to go school. She wouldn't want to miss a day of school. (She would be mad if she has to miss for whatever reason that she has to miss). The challenging that I have with BC. Teachers always said, "she's good" with thumb up. I was mad! I want more! They tell other parents more information about their child. I was furious and told H about it. She said, "we have to write a note and tell how we feel." We wrote a summary of how we felt and what we want to know about our child. Teachers were so kind and sweet! They kept apologized and said, "other deaf parents never bother to ask how their child is." Well We do! We wanted to know how our child doing and what our child needs to work on. We came up with a solution - a communication log book. Teachers will write what had happened in the class and how is she doing etc... Wow... MUCH BETTER!!! Now, I know my child better. I can more communicate with her than just thumb up :o)
BUT.... Mikaela's classmates' parents - urgh... Most of them tend to say hi and bye. Not what I want. I want to have some kind of conversation. Hopefully one of these days, the communication between kids' parents and us improve - some how...
I can speak but not as well as I would like. Some people think I speak well... Maybe in the past but now... dont think so.. Umm.... 
I found this picture comic in google and I think its funny.
I would like to add one more thing... often people asked me question -
Can you read my lip?
I answered, "No, I can't read your lip."
They often said, "Oh.. umm that's ok." or "Oh, I'm so sorry that you can not read my lip"
LMAO!!!!!
How did I understand his/her question first place?
5 comments:
If my child were in a class with another child who had a deaf parent, and they waved hi and by to me. I would make an effort to communicate with them as in notes or learning sign. whatever I needed to do. ;)
Glad that she likes school now.
She sounds like a smarty pants like my little Syd.
I think that's funny about the reading lips :)
I've said a few times in my life "READ MY LIPS.....H-E-L-L NO!"
I'm glad that the teachers are trying to make an effort. I think you are just going to have to be the one who takes the first step every time.
You need an interpreter to follow you every where you go....like Jody on the L-word :)
nailgirl24 - very much true. That's why I don't blame them. It's not their fault for behave like that. We might be weird to them at first. Once they get know us, things changes (hopefully). One of mikaela's classmates now started to send us email. (at least to start with).
KJ - Yes, Need an interpreter to follow me everywhere I go. ha ha :o)
Thanks for asking those questions. If you all have more questions or wondering, feel free to ask.
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the communication log is an excellent tool. in fact, this was the standard i used while teaching all my special ed classes.
as for the interaction with other parents...hmmm...it is unfortunate that people can be so afraid of situations that are "out of their comfort zone". most people react to uncomfortable situations by avoiding them altogether. i, personally, was always a "jump in headfirst" kind of a gal, but sadly the majority don't share my cavalier style. the most important thing is that mikaela is loving her new school, that she is flourishing, constantly learning and is happy. you just hang in there. with each opportunity to see you, the other parents will become more comfortable. just remember, humans can sometimes be ignorant. just know you have an added advantage over them...you're not. :)
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