Where to begin? I often write what I think. Most of the time I have no idea if it makes any sense to anyone else... somehow getting it down on paper works for me. Today is no different! We had a fantastic day at the institute today. We continued with the old and added some new. Noam worked with a new therapist today I was a little apprehensive when I looked at the weeks schedule and saw that he had some new therapists. My theory was that we had gotten through two really tough weeks, finally he was settling with the therapist he knows and now they go changing them on me! Well good thing they did. Not that I don't love the others because I do, but this lady was fantastic. She taught me a lot about following through. She worked on behaviour as well as cognitive abilities. We discussed Furensteins three stages of thinking.  There is the input and data gathering stage, the processing stage and  the output stage through intentional mediation Noam is able to restructure his thinking and in tern develop a greater skills in learning abilities.  She explained to me why Noam needs more input and how it will help his overall understanding as well as behaviour. She showed me the difference practically and once again it all just fell into place!

Today i discovered the importance of constantly doing things differently with Noam. Noam is a creature of habit if something is done one way once or twice then thats the way it will be forever! The therapist tried getting him to spell his name with letters.. She had his name on a pice of paper then had individual letters. He had to match them. He did because Noam knows his letters however placed them on top of his name rather than on the board. Noam is used to matching by placing on top! Today after three attempts he learnt a new skill!

Now for the best part of the day! Noam joined a group of five children at the institute. These sessions are run by OT's, Speech therapists, special Ed teachers and I am sure some others.. The idea was to leave him to give me a break! when i left he SCREAMED!! I cried like a baby!! When I came back i could hear Noam from out in the corridor. he was having fun! He came out of the room and was so excited to see me. One of the boys who also has DS a good few years older than Noam asked him if he would like to join them in the class room? the therapist translated for Noam and Noam said YES. Loud and clear YES YES.. he didn't even look back. He went with the boy to the class and sat with the five children.
He actively participated in the group session for 30 minutes. Dong everything all the kids did and interacting! The therapist to my amazement ran the class in english and hebrew!

I got some pictures of the group session but they are a little blurry because I had to hide!

reflections with a little play

The sole purpose for coming to Israel is for the intensive program the institute offers. Sadly their is no such place in Australia but we are working on it! I can't  help but ponder the thought of bringing Naish and the kids to Israel for a year or two so that Noam can work at the institute with these inspirational people for a longer period of time. I honestly believe it would change his life. Practically i know these thought are only dreams. Reality kicks in and well we all know what that means!

Most of you know that I have spent many years in Israel. I connect to the culture and the people and honestly I have always felt Israel to be my home away from home. I feel it even more now! This trip for me has been a very different experience, being here with Noam has shown me a side of Israel i never knew existed. For one i now know where all the parks are in Jerusalem not just the pubs!  It has been hard to move around and see people in our free time as Noam has really struggled with the change and has been finding it hard to settle. One thing he is enjoying is chatting to people as i wheel him around in the pram. Through the shooks (markets) and through the streets I am certain that he too is connecting to country that means so much to me! 

Today we went with my friend Aviv and her son Guy to Neve Tzedek in Telaviv.  As we walked around I was amazed at how much the city of Telaviv has changed. I have to admit I am falling more and more in love with the new Israel every day. 

Its was an amazing today today and it felt great to be free of the emotion that comes with our experiences in Jerusalem. It was amazing to spend time with my dear friend who herself is an inspiration to me!

tomorrow it's back to work and I am really looking forward to learning learning learning and more learning! 

It's been a short week at the institute. A shame but that's what you get in a country that celebrates.. We arrived back in Jerusalem on wednesday after the independence day celebrations. Noam was a little angry to leave Bilu (my families house) but was very excited to see the staff at the institute when we got there. He is still struggling a little to cooperate at the beginning of sessions but is coming around quicker than the past few weeks! Mediation is the key and golly it works! It seems that a few of the staff have tuned into what he likes. Most sessions now start with something to do with sheep, cars or trains. This is a great way to get him involved and interested! WE continued with counting, sorting, up and down lines and to my surprise Noam is starting to think more methodically... He too is very proud of himself. We are starting to see words like WOW and YEY disappear as he begins to embrace language and use phrases like "I DID IT".

One of the sessions we have had weekly is Yoga for children. Besides a tool used to calm and relax the session involves symbolic representation which will give Noam the skill to identify symbols and and relate them to every day experiences and objects. This time it was my turn to say WOW! the therapists showed him a card of a yoga pose, next to it she placed a card (picture) of an animal doing the same pose. Noam has to relate the two cards and then do the pose with his body. The first two session we have had with Ayelet he found it difficult to relate the two. Today he was a pro, achieving all the poses with ease and identifying the relation between the two. he really enjoying the experience at the same time! Video and pics to follow next week.

Next week Noam will participate in group sessions within a combined mainstream and special needs kinder program. This will give me some time to myself (which I soooo need) as well as give the therapists the opportunity to observe and work with Noam within a group session.

For now time to spell check and say goodbye!

SPELL CHECK

Okay this post is for Mum and Naish. I PROMISE TO SPELL CHECK from now on!
I have never been the best at spelling and grammar. When I type, I type fast without really thinking. I have so much in my head that it just comes out. I forget to check. Sorry to all.
A great day was had by all with family for Yom Ha-atsmaut. Back to work tomorrow!

xx

Yom Haatsmaut Sameach! (Happy Independence Day Israel)

                   A NIGHT IN BILU WITH FAMILY - NOAM, A ONE MAN SHOW!!!

BRILLIANT!

Today was the best day we have had since arriving at the institute. Noam seems to have settled and seems to be enjoying the staff and the environment! Thanks goodness as I was starting to really feel like I had put too much pressure on him by taking him aways from his environment and the people he loves!

All four sessions today were amazing.. It seems that I have this mediation technique down pat!! (well maybe not perfect) but I am defiantly on my way...

Today I came to some conclusions on my own about the Feurnstein approach.. I was proud of myself and at the same time fascinated with my discoveries and how they relate to 'Noam's life (of WOW). 
Sequencing and the importance it plays in every aspect of life... starting with numbers leading to language,, sequencing sets the tone for understanding. This understanding gives the child the tools to understand, discover accept and participate. Over the past week and a half at the institute each therapist has worked on a different level of sequencing . Today i discovered why!

Before we left Australia Noam's kinder teacher gave me two drawings that Noam had done. One was a pig and one was a sheep! Noam knew what they were but to the average eye they were not recognisable. This was the start of symbolic drawing. Today at the institute together with the OT they worked on drawing a person. In order to help Noam understanding of the meaning of what they were drawing the Ot called the person 'daddy' Noam was very excited but the idea and decided to take a piece of paper and a texta. Rather than draw a person, Noam drew an aeroplane! WOW!! all that talk about Daddy he wanted to go on the plane to see his daddy! AMAZING