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Isaiah's World: Speech Therapy
and Beyond
Graduation
Day
June 25, 2005
Each
year the Pre-K class at Tutor
Time participates in a graduation
program. The kids wear caps
and gowns and have active parts
in the program, which is held
at a local church.
My
mother and sister came into
town for the graduation. We
invited Karen, Isaiah's speech
therapist. Harold had a custom
graduation stole made in Ghana
for Isaiah to wear. We were
all very excited, but did not
really know quite what to expect.
The Pre-K class had been practicing
twice a week for several weeks
prior to graduation day. But
Isaiah has never had to stand
in front of an audience.
When we arrived at the church,
Isaiah was a little bit hesitant
about the new surroundings.
At first he did not want to
go with his teacher, Miss Cindy,
to the room where the class
was getting ready. After a little
encouragement, he eventually
let go of my hand and left with
Miss Cindy. We were a little
worried as to whether Isaiah
would be too overwhelmed by
the unfamiliar surroundings
and the audience to participate
appropriately in the program.
The graduates walked out wearing
alternately blue and red gowns.
There were so cute!! Isaiah
was in the front row standing
next to his good friend, Nicole.
Isaiah smiled brightly and waved
to us. The graduates sang songs,
recited poems and used sign
language to demonstrate things
they learned over the year in
preparation for Kindergarten.
Isaiah even had a special part
where he had to present a gift
to his teacher. Isaiah did everything
perfectly.
Both Harold and I were in tears.
Both of us thought about the
tiny baby in the Special Care
Nursery, weighing less than
2 pounds, with tubes and wires
attached to him. We thought
about that fact that he had
a speech delay and that it was
not too long ago when he was
communicating primarily with
sign language. We thought about
the conflicting diagnoses and
a teacher who insisted that
Isaiah was never compliant (we
knew that he just did not like
her!). We observed at the ceremony
a beautiful, smart little boy,
singing, speaking perfectly,
following directions, proudly
holding his little diploma.
We saw a little boy who had
developed strong social relationships
with his classmates and could
interact appropriately with
them.
I look forward to attending
more graduations: 8th grade,
high school, college and so
on. But I know that this graduation--
Pre-K graduation, will always
be the most special to me.
Stacey
editor@celebratingchildren.com
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