eSpecially Ben

New Yard Stick

2013-05-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

I started this post a thousand times in my head and it was always called, Acceptance. I was cleaning up a pile of papers and came across a note with the same word written on it - a reminder to myself to write a post about this topic. Then I was reading an emotionally laden fiction book about family and it talked about the stages of grief, but acceptance was introduced to me for the first time as reconciliation.

I thought about writing about the people around me who need to reconcile their thoughts and feelings about Ben - everyone from close family members to strangers we see on the street. Adding to the stress of having a son like Ben, is dealing with everyone else. But that's not fair - everyone is at their own place, on their own journey and try as I might judge other's level of acceptance, I am not in the position to do so.

After many rewrites, I decided to talk about my own journey through acceptance and reconciliation - whichever word feels more comfortable. In thinking about these words, I realized that every day we make a decision to accept changes and differences - they can be small, like having to shop at a different grocery store because your usual one is under renovation, they can be large - someone you care about is diagnosed with an illness. As I thought about this, it helped me see that as humans, we are reconciling and processing so much each day - some of it emotional, intellectual and physical.

When Ben was a baby and so much was unknown, I cried for the imagined losses he would have in life, these imagined losses being the ones I defined for him.

At nine years old, those imagined losses are meaningless. Ben's gains are so much more than some adults will ever achieve. I learned that I cannot use the same yard stick on Ben that I use on myself, and I ask that others do not do that either. Accept him for who he is right now. Reconcile your own thoughts and feelings by understanding that applying your imagined yard stick to his life will always make him come up short. Throw that one out and get a new one...something with the metric system...that may just fit the bill.

The "Not So Special" Special Olympics

2013-05-16T07:00:00.000-04:00

Two days after the opening ceremonies, Logan, Sean and I attended the actual county-wide Special Olympics. It was our fifth year as spectators and we had set expectations: cheering for the athletes, sitting outside at the stadium, watching athletes race by in walkers and wheelchairs and catching up with people we only see once a year.

This year proved different. It seemed that Ben was participating in several events that involved throwing, pushing or hitting a ball. We were inside, isolated in a gymnasium with nine stations. Athletes went through the stations alone (no competition) and needed to complete each one to receive a gold medal. Right from the beginning, Ben knew this was not for him*. It was a struggle to get him to participate.

He was less than enthused about the activities and was not cooperating with the high school volunteers. At one point, Logan was frustrated and whispered to me that Ben could do the event if he (Logan) was the one helping. I am not sure anyone could have gotten Ben to do it - it took all of us to keep him from making a run for the exit.

At the end of the morning, none of us were happy with the events chosen for Ben. They did not fit for him and the worst of it was there was no crowd to cheer him on. Ben is all about the glory. Next year, I will know better and we will request he be a part of the track and field events again, where there is a crowd and excitement.

* I understand that for some athletes, this atmosphere and activities work well.

The "Not to Be Missed" Opening Ceremonies

2013-05-14T07:00:00.000-04:00

Shamefully, this was my first time attending the opening ceremonies of our county's Special Olympics. I will not miss them again, and I will try to bring a crowd with me next year. Logan, Sean and I were probably 3 out of 20 spectators for over 1100 athletes.

They were spectacular. They did an excellent job of mimicking the noteworthy traditions of the opening ceremonies for the Olympic Games.

Larry Sprinkle, a local celebrity and television anchorman, hosted the event. Sir Purr (Carolina Panthers Football Team's Mascot) and Chubby Checkers (Charlotte Checkers Hockey Team's Mascot) made appearances. The band and choir from Charlotte Country Day School performed.

The pomp and circumstance that adds importance to an event was present. The spirit of the volunteers, teachers, speakers and athletes made it exciting and inspiring.

We heard the story of how 30 years ago, David Ball, a teacher, attended the spring games with his class and was so moved by the experience that he convinced the Special Olympics committee to move the games to Charlotte Country Day School. The games have been there ever since. At the ceremony, Mr. Ball was honored, and he immediately rededicated the award to the athletes. I have never seen that done. To him, it was all about the athletes, never about him.

As in the Olympics, it takes great effort to get the torch to the arena for the opening ceremonies. Like many states, the local police and fire departments are responsible for bringing the torch to the ceremony and handing it to a designated person. On this day, it was an older alum of our local special education school. With the help of many people, the torch made its way to the Flame of Hope. In the Olympics, no one can deny the significance of this special ceremony - it was no different on this day, at this event.

Then the party started. Really. Dance music was piped in and everyone danced, and my boys wiggled around a bit. Sean is an exuberant dancer and had me worried he was going to tip Ben over in his chair - it has happened before.

If you have not attended opening ceremonies like this, try it. Bring your kids, your parents and grandparents. Ask your friends, your aunts, your uncles and cousins. I cannot imagine that you would be disappointed.

I am sure cost of transportation is an issue, but I wish the children from a different school in our county could attend every year. They could make posters, banners and signs. Teachers could do a unit on the Special Olympics, differences, special education, community, service, leadership, importance of exercise...the educational aspects are terrific. It would be a learning experience for them and adding 300-600 children to the cheering section would help celebrate the accomplishments of these athletes.

Standing Tall

2013-05-12T07:00:00.000-04:00

Ryan and I marvel at how each of our sons are getting bigger, stronger and wiser. It usually hits us when one of them falls asleep on a couch and we have to carry them to their beds or they say or do something that catches us off guard.

At two years old, Logan stood up for Ben when their pediatrician did not offer Ben a sticker, the usual prize after finishing an appointment. I could hear the indignation in Logan's voice even then, "Ben needs a sticker too."

This theme of not leaving Ben out has carried through to this day: Ben has a morning "To Do" list, he gets daily Class DoJo points and he has a Reward system too. All of these were prompted by either Logan or Sean. If I do not include Ben, I am quickly reminded by one of the brothers with a "how dare you" attitude.

Logan and Sean take responsibility and ownership for how to get the best for Ben so that he can succeed. They are not afraid to speak up to adults and children. They take pride in showing others how Ben's NOVA Chat or another piece of equipment works. They are the first to tell Ben to do something they know he can do for himself.

At the YMCA, I overheard a boy comment to Logan about some kid at the pool in a special chair. Without missing a beat, Logan claimed Ben as his brother and launched into a discussion about him.

On his own initiative, Logan recently taught Ben to shake hands. Teaching this skill, which was successfully mastered, had not occurred to anyone else in Ben's life.

When someone says something about Ben around Sean, I hear him yell a little loud, a little annoyed, "He's a needs kid. He has special needs." Yah, we all have those and thankfully, Ben has two brothers to speak up about them.

* Disclaimer: All of the above is true; however; I feel it necessary to add that they are still brothers and they fight with Ben too. He gets on their nerves, invades their space and sometimes ruins their toys. He does it knowingly with a glint in his eye and a smirk on his face. He sometimes adds insult to injury by laughing about it too. I guess it is just as it should be. After all, Ben is the oldest brother.

Happy Mother's Day!

Ask the Advocate

2013-05-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

Wrights Law had a recent and worthy post about working with the school system: Ask the Advocate. A good read for any parents with kids in the school system.

Conversations

2013-05-08T07:00:00.000-04:00

We spent some impromptu time with one of my friend's boys a few weeks ago at the USNWC. Our boys did not know each other, but they made friends quickly and were running around and having fun before we knew it.

My friend's oldest son who is 11 years old came over to Ben several times. His approach was caring and open. I showed him Ben's NOVA Chat. He quickly understood how it worked and asked if he could make a button. With little help and certainly no input from me on what it needed to say, he added a button that said, "You are a good frend."

I was shocked and warmed by this child's thoughtful and loving way. Not wanting to shed tears at the whitewater center in front of this boy (and scare him off), I explained that this was so helpful because we wanted Ben to have conversations with his friends and family. This was a great start to that, and of course, a lot more too.

Bathroom Saga

2013-05-06T07:00:00.000-04:00

sa·ga

Noun
A long story of heroic achievement.
A long, involved story, account, or series of incidents.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Who will achieve heroic status in this saga?

Like any project, we have different approaches to the situation. I am of the "let's get 'er done" mentality while Ryan takes the "think about it, sleep on it, think some more and then wait" approach.

This will be a saga.

We met with an architect friend this week. He surprised us with some wonderful news - he is trying to get some of the materials we need donated. It seems that he has been successful already with a few of the items. He may have come up with some cost saving ideas as well.

Because we knew this meeting would require uninterrupted discussion, we had a sitter for the kids. I told them that they could not talk to us while we were meeting to talk about the bathroom. They all understood.

The sitter took them to the park while we met. By the time they returned about an hour later, our friend had left. Sean looked around, "Where is our new bathroom?"

After explaining to him that this is a process that would take some time, he responded indignantly, "Well, we were at the park for a long time."

Like I said, this will be a saga.

Who Are the Lucky Ones?

2013-05-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

Many weeks ago, a friend's post on Facebook spoke about her daughter's extended visit at the hospital. Her daughter has had many surgeries, has multiple special needs and requires serious medical care. Several friends and family sent well wishes in the comment section. One person wrote, "Your daughter is so lucky to have you."

Of course this person was offering support to a friend, but my immediate reaction was, "No, you have it backwards. We are the lucky ones."

Random Acts of Kindness

2013-04-27T18:29:00.001-04:00

I read this just now and had to share it:

37 Random Acts of Kindness

This one just might inspire you to act.

Dynamic Stander

2013-04-26T10:41:00.002-04:00

The physical therapist at school started using the Dynamic Stander with Ben and he seems to enjoy being in it. If he chooses to, he can use his hands to roll the big wheels and move around the classroom. The operative word is "choose".

The staff will have Ben use the stander one hour in the morning, and eventually add another hour in the afternoon.

I am hoping we can borrow it for the summer.

Cool gizmo!

Hope Floats

2013-04-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

Kindermourn is a local organization that helps families through the grieving process by offering support groups and counseling. Hope Floats is their fundraiser, a duck race at the US National Whitewater Center. We attended the event last weekend.

15,000 ducks in a cage were lowered down from a crane and released into the water. The winning duck brings in $3500. The little yellow dots you see in the photos are the rubber duckies, think Ernie and Bert in rub-a-dub in a tub.

Not at all enthused by the ducks, Ben got a little love from the same dog we saw a few weeks ago at the whitewater center.

Acting Your Age

2013-04-24T07:00:00.000-04:00

Ben will be 10 years old this summer. He is getting taller, stronger and more independent. When I see him do something almost quite age appropriate, I am stopped in my tracks.

This day was one of them.

I never dreamed that Ben would sit at the table and eat his snack and drink without supervision and without swiping the drink and plate off the table.

If he looks a little proud in the photos, you are correct. He knew he was doing something so cool.

Finally

2013-04-23T07:00:00.000-04:00

We were fortunate to be given tickets to UNC Charlotte's first football scrimmage ever. This fall will mark the first official season of football at my Alma mater. The sport that has been cause for decades of controversy and elaborate, yet false legendary stories about why a team was not possible at the University.

Pay It Forward Day

2013-04-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

Thursday, April 25 is Pay It Forward Day

Pay it Forward Day is in its seventh year, and on Thursday, April 25th you and your family will have the opportunity to participate. Inspired by the book and movie, ‘Pay it Forward’ involves people doing random acts of kindness for others without expecting anything in return. Instead, recipients are instructed to ‘pay the kindness forward’ to others in need, essentially creating a positive ripple effect of giving.

Dental Plan

2013-04-21T20:52:00.001-04:00

Ben's visit to the dentist to show off his new 1/4 length front tooth proved informative and anticlimactic. After a quick look and an X-ray, it was determined that the root was fine. The dentist explained in a round-about story that included the Baseball Hall of Fame that kids have been cracking their teeth for as long as kids and teeth (and baseballs) have existed. Many do not ever get them fixed.

A bit confused about our options after that story, I still asked what the process would be for replacing the tooth. The bottom line was that with a bond or composite "glued" to Ben's tooth, it will most likely come off again in any number of scenarios. We agreed to try it in the near future, possibly this summer.

The procedure is done in the office, but Ben will have to stay still and that's why I will call in the big guns, a.k.a. Ryan. Eventually, a cap will be put on the tooth, but I believe Ben will have to be put out and based on the dentist's recommendations and comfort level, this will be done in the hospital at a much later date when we combine any other dental procedures.

I will file this in "Things to Look Forward to."

Chip in the Armour

2013-04-11T19:10:00.000-04:00

I had a leisurely after school time with Ben because Ryan was home and stress free having finished a couple of exams and feeling caught up on school work. He picked up Logan and Sean from school while I took Ben to physical therapy.

As I was getting Ben out of the car and chatting with the PT, I noticed that I could not see one of Ben's front teeth, the cute adult one that had grown in over the last year. I lifted his lip and 3/4 of it was missing. (I originally reported 1/2, but after Ryan's official inspection he reports the higher number).

Yikes! (I used a different choice word at the time, but "yikes" suffices for now.)

We have a dentist appointment for this coming week to discuss a plan. It seems that this happens often with kids. How come it is the first time I have heard of it? I am sure everyone will come out of the woodwork now with stories of broken teeth.

After speaking with Ben's teacher, she did say he fell on the playground while trying to go upstairs. She had not noticed anything and he gave no indication that he was hurt. Bored in a wheelchair or exploring the great outdoors with a broken tooth - we will take the broken tooth any day.

When we arrived home, I asked Ben if he knew when he hurt his tooth, he said "No" on the NOVA Chat. Then I asked if it hurt, again the same response. Skeptical if he was just answering to get me off his back, I asked if he wanted to watch a video. That answer was a resounding "Yes."

Sean and Logan came to see the broken tooth. Sean's reaction, "Now it is really sharp!" Hadn't thought of that, but he was right.

We will have to post warnings to all - Beware of the Tooth!

Family Portrait

2013-04-08T20:55:00.000-04:00

On Easter Sunday, I asked Mr. Terry, the boys' Sunday School teacher and the church's photographer extraordinaire, to take a family portrait. To no fault of his own, these are the results of that session:

Finally one without funny faces, hair pulling, kicking or hiding, but not nearly as fun.

I Won by Losing!

2013-04-07T21:03:00.000-04:00

I lost 4% of my body weight in 28 days through DietBet and won $43.

I started another one on April 3.

Care to join me?

Now that I have played I can share what I have learned:

1. A blogger named Beth started the March DietBet game. She set the bet at $25 - meaning if you wanted to join, you had to pay $25 into the pot. Everyone put in the same amount. It was open access, meaning anyone could join.

2. Everyone had the opportunity to win. If you lost 4% of your body weight in the 28 days, you received an equal share of the pot, minus DietBet's fee (5-15% depending on size of bet). For this DietBet, 199 people met their goal, that is almost 50% success rate. Over 2500 pounds were shed between 405 people over 28 days.

3. Dietbet has a simple way to keep participants honest. Send in 2 photos in the beginning of the contest and 2 photos at the end. Both photos are on the scale, one a closeup of the actual reading on the scale, the other a full body of you on the scale. You wear clothes, but no coat, shoes, jewelry, etc.

4. Everything is private - photos are never seen. Your weight can remain private unless you want it seen. Most people's weights are listed as XXX.

5. For March, our pot grew to over $10,000 with just over 400 players.

6. People shared recipes and asked for advice on the DietBet page. For this group, the talk back and forth was encouraging and helpful. It seemed like everyone wanted others to succeed. There was only one guy who tried to "call some people out" but no one responded to his jabs.

7. You can be anywhere to join - it is international!

8. I think it works for me because I am competitive with myself and others. It kept me motivated and I didn't want to lose my $25. It was fun - not a drag. There is no prescribed method to lose the weight - it is up to the individual.

9. Anyone can start their own DietBet and limit access to only friends and family or co-workers, or you can make it an open access game. The bet can be $25 - $500.

One night I researched the social dieting industry and read about the founder of DietBet just because that is the kind of geek I am. If you want to read more about DietBet from a business standpoint, here are some links:

Diet Bet Media Kit
Jamie Rosen
SeedInvest

Getting Just What I Asked For...

2013-04-04T20:51:00.002-04:00

You know that age old saying about be careful what you ask for...because you just might get it. I have been talking about building an accessible bathroom for Ben for a few years. Finally, it looks like it will happen. And now I am saying, ugh! It is a lot of work to make decisions that will have an impact now and for the future.

Currently, we have a 6'x8' bathroom with little to no room to maneuver. As Ben has grown taller and heavier, it has become increasingly hard for me to lift him onto his special toilet seat and get him in and out of the bathtub safely. We knew something would have to change, but we were unsure how it would. Then, our state implemented a program that provides services and support for individuals like Ben. I heard that we would be eligible for financial assistance to modify a bathroom, but I truly did not believe it would ever happen. Alas, it has!

In the past two weeks, I have met with two state-approved contractors. I gave them the big picture - my vision for a bathroom and then they asked the detailed questions that I was sorely unprepared to answer. In addition to the bathroom, we are adding an outside entrance with a ramp that will go out to the street. Tub or walk-in shower? Sink for wheelchairs? Low or high camode? Aluminum ramp or wooden one? What should the slope specification be? Wooden, metal or fiberglass door?

Unfortunately, Ryan is up to his eyeballs in junior year electrical engineering courses and his help in this is minimal. Since he is the one with over 20 years construction experience, I am feeling overwhelmed and under educated. I know I will be an expert on accessible bathrooms after this is over, and it will be valuable knowledge I can share with others. Right now, it just makes my brain hurt.

If you have gone through an accessible bathroom modification and willing to share your information, websites, photos, please send them my way. I will certainly share what I learn along the way.

Here are some sites I found:

Accessible Bathroom Sinks

Wood Ramp Design

Walk-In Tubs

There are also numerous YouTube Videos about accessible bathrooms.

ADA Regulations - This is a super document created by a company that sells bathroom equipment. Most everything is outlined for sinks, toilets and tubs or showers.

A Little Too Cozy with My Genes

2013-03-28T11:50:00.001-04:00

My business partner has a saying that he uses often in our team building and leadership activities with groups, "Trust the Process." Tracy usually shares this tidbit when the group is struggling through an activity or wondering how solving a puzzle will help the group form a more cohesive bond.

I am trying to keep this philosophy as we go through more tests to figure out what Ben's actual diagnosis may be. In my post, The Allusive Diagnosis, I mentioned that Ben's tests revealed a strange discovery - they located an abnormality on the X chromosome, one usually connected with Retts Syndrome. Last month at the geneticist's office, we learned that Ben's gene abnormality has never been seen before. I don't thing they mean, just in their office. I think they mean ever, anywhere.

This week, I was tested to see if I have the same abnormality. If I do, then "the waters are muddied," according to the doctor. It could mean that it is just an abnormality that has no significance. Or it could mean it affects him only. Hence the "muddied waters" analogy.

If I do not have this abnormality, then this finding could be significant. It could also lead to more tests.

There is an eight month wait for appointments with the pediatric geneticists in Charlotte. They saw us in one month and now we have another appointment in May. They also paid for my genetic testing because insurance denied the service. I think Ben may be an interesting case for the doctors.

I am trying to "Trust the Process", go slow and talk with Ryan through each discovery. It may lead nowhere or it could lead to something. We can stop the process at any point also. Just because a doctor suggests a test does not mean we have to follow-through with it. Weighing the benefits for Ben and our family and considering motives behind testing will come into play as we move ahead.

In any of these cases, we keep on doing what we are doing with Ben...make him work hard and love him lots.

Getting All The Glory

2013-03-23T07:17:00.000-04:00

Sean turned five this week. Birthday boys and girls are treated like royalty at our house. On the morning of Sean's birthday, Ryan woke him early and took him out for breakfast before school. Ryan is ridiculously busy with his own school and any alone time with him is treasured.

Next was my turn to treat the little king to birthday bliss. I spent the entire morning with Sean at school. I participated in a celebratory birthday ceremony in true Montessori style. After setting up the sun and calendar months in the center of a circle of classmates, Sean walked around five times while holding a globe. At the same time, I talked about his favorite things and showed baby photos he had chosen. For these few minutes he was the center of the universe.

That night, Sean chose Domino's Pizza for dinner. We sang "Happy Birthday" and ate cupcakes. At some point during dinner, I asked him what was the best thing that happened to him that day. Ryan and I amusingly glared at each other over the top of the boys' heads, each knowing Sean would pick the special time we had with him. Nope.

"Talking to Uncle Brian on the phone."

He said WWWWHHHHATTTT?

We cannot compete with cool Uncle Brian, the NYC Fireman, the one who wrestles and gets rowdy with the boys. 700 miles away, but with one phone call, all else is forgotten. Oh well!

The Luck of the Irish

2013-03-17T21:52:00.000-04:00

Logan was sure not to get pinched with this green face.

A family friend, BOB, invited us to a party held by the Irish Society of Charlotte. Ben loves him some BOB. I think they hugged for 10 minutes. Or maybe Ben wanted some beer.

As usual, Ben became a celebrity at the party and got to choose the winning raffle ticket. A young girl won $106!

They taught us a jig - that's me with the jeans on. It was a fast paced dance, and it was fun. Ben was invited up with the band to help keep the beat. They under-estimated him and he almost took down the mics, speakers and music in one swift pull. Luckily I am fast on my feet while doing the jig.

The band.

The real dancers. Unbelievable.

We visited the US National Whitewater Center to see if the water really did turn green on St. Patty's Day.

We saw a giant Leprechaun and I swear I saw a tiny one riding a moped...but no photo to prove it.

LUCKY MEETING YOU

At the Irish party, two different sets of parents introduced themselves to me. They have adult children with special needs and wanted to meet Ben. Always great to talk with parents who have been up, down, over and through the woods. Their perspective is like looking through a viewfinder with a completely different lens.

While at the USNWC, Ben wanted to walk around. There were probably over 10,000 people at this event and who did we see as Ben made his way over to the hill...his physical therapist from school. Nice way to show off his stuff!

Sean's final words of the day, "I love St. Patty's Day. And I did not get pinched once!"

Game Changer

2013-03-13T21:32:00.002-04:00

This post could have been written many weeks ago, but I have not been able to get my head wrapped around it. I have gone through emotions ranging from disbelief, shock, guilt, optimism and then shock all over again. I was hesitant to share the news if it was untrue. But there have been enough people involved in this process that I think it okay to make it public.

Ben can read.

I mean really read - sight words, sentences and short paragraphs. We have not tested further than that yet, but I am certainly determined to see just how much he knows.

It started again with the NOVA Chat (I swear I am not a paid endorser) and testing Ben on sight words. It appeared that he knew them all, even when I added ones that I used with Sean. The speech and occupational therapists asked Ben questions based on books and videos. A couple of times, he answered without anyone reading the question to him. A fluke, right? It happens a few times and you say, "What the hay, let's give him a sentence to read on his own."

So I typed out: The man wore a red hat. Then we showed the screen to him, asking him to read it.

We asked Ben what color the hat was and gave him four answers to choose from. The answers only had the words, no pictures to go along with them. He got the answer correct. Again, it could be coincidence, after all there is a 25% chance of getting the right answer.

Each night, we made the sentences more difficult and added another question. I even used some of Logan's 2nd grade lessons as samples. Ben continued to answer them correctly at 75-100% accuracy.

We have a wonderful group of people working with Ben, and I think they have made it a personal challenge to come up with tougher sentences and paragraphs for Ben to read. They have not stumped him yet.

Today, the occupational therapist worked on sight words, months of the year, body parts and then moved to actual spelling words out. He demonstrated his ability to read and spell.

To Ben's teachers over the last 7 years - Ms. Edwards, Ms. Davis, Ms. Hoard and Ms. Christenbury: Ben has been taking in everything you have taught him. Your hard work, determination, love and caring has made a huge difference in his life now and will have an incredible impact on his future. Your belief in his ability to learn and understand has made his world larger. If this is not an example of a true teacher, I am not sure what is. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for not only teaching my son, but me as well.

Multi-Sensory Room

2013-03-11T21:40:00.002-04:00

Ben's former physical therapist sent this article about a new Multi-Sensory Room opening in Charlotte. It is connected with Easter Seals/UCP and will be available to children who have sensory issues. There will be a fee to use the room.

We may have to bring Ben here to check it out. I will write more about it then.

Class Dojo

2013-03-05T11:39:00.003-05:00

Logan came home a few weeks ago talking about a Class Dojo and I had no idea what he was talking about. He kept asking, "Can we do it for us - me, Sean and Ben?" He mumbled on and on about points and jobs. I shook my head a few times, mumbled back and hoped it would go away.

While volunteering in Logan's class yesterday, I was able to see the Class Dojo in play and asked the teacher how to find it.

Basically, it is a point system on the computer with cool looking monsters. Each child gets a funny looking avatar. Depending on what jobs, tasks or areas the teacher or parent puts in the system, a child can get points for doing something, displaying a certain behavior, etc. A reward for gaining a certain amount of points in a specific amount of time can be put in place. For Logan's class, when he reaches 20 points in one week, they get to do two less "works" (Montessori system) on the Tuesday following.

Points may also be taken away. I am not sure how that works. I do get a report from Logan about who in his class is in the negative.

We now have our own Class Dojo. It is free, easy to setup and even has an app for the phone. Perhaps you too want a Dojo in your life...