(This is the creative writing piece Jon did when Tami visited. He had just been playing his Toy Story computer game, which features a tic-tac-toe-type game where you have to get five characters (either toy soldiers or weebles; in Jon parlance, “guys”) in a row. In case you’re wondering, “grafe” means giraffe. —L)

I love going to play Tick Tac Tow. I am about to play with the snake and the grafe. Jake the snake has to get 5 gise in a row. Kaff the grafe has to get 5 difrint gise in a row. Kaff the grafe has to win Tick Tack Tow. Kaff feels happy when he wins. He says yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.

Jon

Jon’s teacher Tami has been out of class since before March Break with a severely hurt ankle and nerve damage. Poor Tami.

Jon has been keeping in touch with her a little by email and by phone:

Jon’s first initiated and dialed (with coaching) full-length phone call

But we have been seeing a slowdown in his learnin’. This can’t be helped: although the EA’s are doing a fabulous job of keeping the routine going, the qualities that make a star teacher great are, by definition, gone when she isn’t there.

So it came to pass that she was, well, if not in the neighbourhood; close to being in the neighbourhood on Sunday afternoon and dropped by. Jon was delighted; gobsmacked, but delighted. Tami visited for a while, then jumped in and had Jon read for her, show her his computer and do some creative writing. Three hours went by quickly. It was also educational for Tami to see how physical Jon is here: climbing the stairs, crawling, stepping with me holding his hands, standing at his computer (pushing with his belly when he wants to clap or wave his hands), sitting cross-legged. He portrays himself a little more porcelain-like at school.

Jon was in a sort of stunned delight for the rest of the evening; it was so social and motivating.

What a great opportunity seized!