School Year Teens 09-10 - Session 9

Hi, Parents:


Tonight went smoothly, and your kids really seemed to enjoy themselves. We started off by talking a little bit about what the evening would entail, and several of them responded with areas and questions that they were interested in having me bring up during the parent meeting. We also talked in general about what was happening in group, and the tone, interestingly, was different than in the kid group, as might be expected. Very few of the teens were actually looking at magazines; they were joking with one another; they were conversing; it was a really nice introduction to the group tonight. One of the teens (EF) was unhappy that we were going to be doing any kind of technology project, but when we reviewed when we had last done one, she acknowledged that it had been a while. The technology project, which occurred when they transitioned into the larger room, consisted of having them talk about something really great that had happened to them during the past year. We did a few retakes to help them with this, and I really thought of this as a blend of an executive function and pragmatic communication type of exercise.

Your kids had no problem talking to the camera, but some of them had difficulty initiating; some had difficulty staying focused during the suggested fifteen minute timeline, and some of them had trouble concluding and ending. These are all worth working on, and I will be writing these down to try and make their representations look as natural and effective as possible.

Shortly after we transitioned to Gelson’s, where they chose different things they wanted to eat, and had the meal outside family style, the parent meeting started at 6:00. Congratulations to MS’s parent, who was the only one there waiting. However, by 6:20, we actually had a very good turnout. Parents then asked many useful questions, and we talked about some of the different kinds of behaviors involving compulsions, effective socializing, the effects of a positive school environment on their children’s behaviors, and simply how they stay connected to peers.

Parents watched the movie that the kids had produced earlier in the evening, and we talked about the significance of it.

The evening ended with a raffle for your kids, and all of them had an opportunity to win something. With very few exceptions, counselors reported that this went smoothly.

All in all, a good evening. We will be looking forward to the parent dinner the second week in April, followed by the parent meeting in two months, then another parent dinner in June. There also will be two more community outings: one will likely be an extended trip to the nearby park, and one will be at a location yet to be determined, but likely something bowling or miniature golf.

Thanks very much, and email me if you have any questions.

School Year Teens 09-10 - Session 7

Hi, Parents!

Tonight's report on the teen group. I feel like I'm beginning to sound like a broken record. I swear, your kids were great tonight, and I really mean it!

First of all, as promised from last week, we went out for frozen yogurt nearby, near Office Depot. I have to tell you, I took pictures of all of them, and they got the most creative infant-sized yogurts (and you'd be amazed how large an infant size can be with toppings), and every single one of the eleven yogurts that they got looked different from the others. These were like little cupcake creations that they had.

Anyway, they sat around, they had nice conversations, and then we transitioned over to our dinner. During dinner, it was water only because water had already acted as a dessert, and they didn't need to have juice or soda as a second dessert. They ordered a variety of items and shared appetizers, and just seemed to enjoy conversing with another. So, it was a relaxed, I would say somewhat longer time at dinner. As has been the case with the teenage group of late, the counselors do not sit with them. We sit nearby and watch and pay attention to what we are going to give them tickets for afterwards.

We then transitioned back to the office, and at that point, we did a LUNCH Points raffle. JP was the big winner, and he won a $15 Bananagrams game. There were only four kids out of the eleven who had even one certificate. So, as a reminder to parents, just one certificate gets them into the raffle and gets them time with the Wii. If you computer is broken, you can use the new "vacation form," {LINK HERE} and report the points that way. Giving the tickets to the kids and talking in a little circle for a moment turned out to be really helpful. We do talk about their behaviors, and we don't keep it a secret. A couple of the newer kids wondered about that and felt a little bit "singled out," but the group was supportive. So, some kids earned Hero tickets, if they were extra nice, or practicing social skills to a greater extent. Everyone earned at least a couple of blue tickets, and it was explained why.

One teen, who has been making references of late (CP) had toned it down quite a bit tonight, and we talked about that and tried to keep it lighthearted, rather than making it like a lecture. My guess is that he responded positively to that. One of the things that we are trying to do with the tickets is to use it as a social learning opportunity. It's really not about rewards for a raffle that they are going to get a month from now, or something like that, but more the opportunity to discuss these things and for them to show some group cohesion and camaraderie. That occurred in spades tonight, and it was really nice to see.

So, the group ended with some of the kids playing the Wii, and we talked about how the certificates for LUNCH Points are only valid from the end of one group to the beginning of the next group. At that point, they expire. So, in order to earn extra points, please be sure that they do bring the certificates with them. We also reminded the teens that it is their responsibility to remember, not their parents' responsibility.

So, that's it for tonight. A nice time. See you all in two weeks. And, as they know, they'll be going for dinner to a private dining room at John O'Groats, which we've already arranged. Take care, and have a good beginning of the month. -- Bruce