My Week

Wednesday was a great day. Nevaeh is happy to be back in the pool with Sam and Alex. She squealed when Jackie picked up the life jacket from the sensory room. Nevaeh was echoing what was said to her.

At the pool Nevaeh had us all in fits of laughter. Out of nowhere, Nevaeh shouted out clearly ‘Shark Attack!” It was in context and she enjoyed hearing all of us chuckling. She loves it when she gets a positive reaction

We were pretty tired on Thursday. As always we enjoyed our music lesson with Marilyn. We will work on learning Chopsticks to integrate both hands when playing. When playing Nevaeh is mouthing the words and uttering sounds as she plays. We believe she is trying to sing along. This is so exciting.

RDA was cancelled because it was wet, so we had a quiet day in the sensory room listening to music and reading stories.

A Trip to the Library

It was another wet Thursday… Nevaeh started her day in class by amusing her peers with a constant stream of chatter, mainly “Stop the clock you are amazing.” The class supported her communication efforts by smiling and giggling.

so instead of RDA Alex and I took Nevaeh to the library. We arrived just in time for the end of Storytime. Nevaeh enjoyed listening to the session although a bit put out because someone else was sitting on the red chair.  Both Alex and I shared stories with Nevaeh and she chose a couple of books to bring back to school. A toddler wearing a bright jumper attracted Nevaeh’s attention. Nevaeh carefully watched as the toddler moved around the space. She was genuinely pleased when the child said hello.

We then did a message at the Possum Shop. Nevaeh enjoyed exploring the texture of the blue and red rabbit fur blankets. Interestingly she was not so keen on the texture of the possum fur, although it may have been just because it was not so brightly coloured. We made a selection to use in the sensory space at school.  Nevaeh will be able to explore these in her own time.

 

Yay! The sun is out.

The sun has arrived, and now we are back at school. It is the last term and it will go quickly.  Today we went riding for the first time in ages. Nevaeh hopped on Lexi like the pro she is and mimicked us saying “Hands on the saddle.” What a cheeky wee sparrow. Alex and I swapped sides, which went much better, she allowed me to hold her hand and tapped on her helmet.

We had music over the lunch break because Nevaeh was pretty exhausted. She may not be used to all the fresh air she has had this week. I was impressed with the lovely raised hand she showed while playing. You have taught her well Marilyn. Nevaeh played quite a large chunk of Ode to Joy by ear. You are a very talented young lady.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before heading out the door we had a fashion show. Jackie’s puffer jacket is Nevaeh’s newest favourite thing. It was funny to watch her preening in the mirror.


It was lovely to catch up with you today Nevaeh and let’s   hope the fine weather is here to stay.

 

Flick the Little Fire Engine

Ruma Tui has completed their fire safety learning. It ended with a visit from the Fire Brigade. After our fire safety talk with all the juniors, it was outside for a wonderful surprise. Nevaeh was so excited to see the fire engine at school. She had a close inspection of the hoses and pumps. Emergency vehicles have long been Nevaeh’s passion. We were worried she would not want to get out when she sat in the fire engine.

 

Then it was off to help firefighter Craig squirt the hose.

Nevaeh continues to excel with her music. She is using her left side more frequently and we are supporting her to play single notes with her left hand. Awesome work Nevaeh, you are a star.

Along with Andy, we are working on building Nevaeh’s vocabulary. As we walked yesterday lunchtime I asked Nevaeh if she enjoyed her music session with Marilyn. To our surprise, Nevaeh said “Yes.” She knows how to access this on her device, as well as no, and all finished. We added a child’s voiceover to make it more like Nevaeh’s voice.

A Wet Thursday

It has been a wet week at school. Yesterday we waited patiently for Marilyn to invite us into our music lesson. It is hard to sit but we are getting better at staying still until the door opens. Nevaeh waits patiently while Marilyn has her turn before echoing what she has heard on the piano. We hear Nevaeh singing as she is playing familiar tunes. ‘Pepeha’ is by far the favourite, but we get parts of ‘Ode to Joy’, ‘Jelly on a Plate’ and ‘Bingo’.

Together we had a quiet afternoon. Nevaeh rested in the bean bag and played with her balloon. She turned to reach behind her to get it, then tapped it on herself, enjoying the rhythm that she came up with. We then enjoyed some of the new resources that had been dropped off. We have some ‘Spot’ books and a new posting activity.

When reading ‘Lunch for Greedy Cat’ Nevaeh  spontaneously said: “Here you are.” She turns the page at the appropriate time, know when you have read the last line on the page. You have a great memory Nevaeh.

We’re out on the town

Hey, ho it is off to town we go. What an exciting trip!

First up was the town library, Nevaeh loves her stories, so the library is always exciting. It is great to see Nevaeh accessing the furniture and being able to sit and enjoy a story. She is extending the time she can sit quietly and now sits long enough to enjoy a story, or two.

 

After the library, it was off to the Stafford Street Store. Having different locations to navigate is important. Nevaeh can easily access the supermarket but the store offers an opportunity to explore closer spaces. She walked unassisted and resisted the temptation to touch things on the shelves. Well done!

There was a passing visit to the Ambulance Station next door and the Fire Station in the next block. The bright yellow ambulance could be viewed through the doors. A fire engine was parked outside on the driveway so there was an opportunity to get up close.  The Fire Service will visit the class, as part of the Firewise programme. This will allow Nevaeh to meet the firefighters in their uniforms.

Part of our community visit programme includes emergency organisation visits. Our goal is to build awareness and familiarity with people who help us.

                                   

It is obvious by the look on Nevaeh’s face she had a great time.

Learning new skills

Nikki from St Johns visited the school this week. Nevaeh went with her class to the lesson in Kotuku. She was very interested in what was going on. Nevaeh showed her curiosity by standing close to her peers to observe.

Here she is helping with the tucking of the bandage. Aren’t you just the cleverest girl.

Nevaeh has also learnt a new song this week and can sing “Stop the clock you are amazing…” and you certainly are.

In class we have been trailling HelpKidzLearn. This is a web based activity. It has a incredible number of activities that we can use to develop an understanding of what Nevaeh knows and can extend and develop her language.

In her music lessons Nevaeh is accessing her left hand more. With Marilyn’s support she is spreading her fingers to hit single notes. Nevaeh is confident playing Hot Cross Buns with her right hand. We all enjoy her steady beats and improvised rhythms.

You are an amazing young lady.

Music is our happy place

Yay! It’s Thursday again. This is Nevaeh’s happy day. After our morning routine in class, saying morena to Mrs Fearn and Go Noodle  Nevaeh has music with Marilyn. Nevaeh recognises tunes she has played before, and ones she has heard on other apps. She is playing these with Marilyn’s guidance. Nevaeh can add her own rhythmic sense to these songs.

Nevaeh played: Ode to Joy, Rain Rain go away. Twinkle and  Pepeha. She then improvised her own tunes. Marilyn echoed these to support Nevaeh’s attempts.

We are reminding Nevaeh to use her left hand, with her right hand. She is spreading her fingers on her right hand to play single notes.

There was no riding today because it was so wet.

After Andy’s visit on Tuesday, we are super happy with Nevaeh’s progress with her communication device. Nevaeh is stringing words together, mimicking those words on the device. She reacted positively when we modelled ‘I like’ after she had given us a hug. Nevaeh can find ‘finished’ on her board to tell us she wants to move on.  As her support, we must be consistent when Nevaeh is frustrated by insisting she uses her ‘words’, rather than anticipating what Nevaeh may like. You are amazing Nevaeh.

 

A Good Day

What a fantastic lunchtime today. Nevaeh was listening to ‘Pepeha’, by Six 60, as she bounced on the peanut ball. The song finished. As it did Nevaeh turned to me and said, “It’s finished”. Nevaeh has been saying this in class, Olivia and Jackie were wondering who ‘Phyllis’ was. She repeated this and then moved on to the next song, listening to ‘Don’t’. The video continued. As the song ‘Perfect’ played she repeated “Perfect” several times, at one point she looked in the mirror. How cool, Nevaeh thinks she is perfect, as we all know she is.

Nevaeh’s receptive language continues to improve. You can tell Nevaeh we are going to class for lunch, during our break time. She heads back to her chair in the classroom and gets herself ready for her lunch. She will wait quietly while the I-pad and headphones are organised. Nevaeh will raise her left arm for the backpack strap, and then her right arm when asked.  There is no protesting as we organise this for her.

Here is a video of Jackie and Nevaeh having fun with the balloon.