Early Childhood Program Evaluation Form 3 Years-Kindergarten: Fill & Download for Free

Why Preschool MattersChildhood experts agree: Attending a high-quality program prepares kids for kindergarten and beyond. But finding the best option for your child takes time and research. To get you started, I've answered your biggest questions.The Importance of Preschool1. What's the difference between childcare and preschool?Childcare centers are generally an option for working parents who need their children to be taken care of during the day; centers accept babies as well as toddlers and are full-time, full-year programs. Preschool refers to an early-childhood educational class for 3- and 4-year-olds. Many offer a part-time schedule (for example, a few hours a day, two to five times a week) as well as full-day care, but only from September to May. Yet the terms are often used interchangeably. A childcare center with experienced, well-trained teachers and stimulating activities offers kids similar advantages to a preschool.2. How important is preschool?There's increasing evidence that children gain a lot from going to preschool, At preschool, they become exposed to numbers, letters, and shapes. And, more important, they learn how to socialize -- get along with other children, share, contribute to circle time.Statistics show that a majority of kids attend at least one year of preschool: According to the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), more than two-thirds of 4-year-olds and more than 40 percent of 3-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool in 2005. Children who attend high-quality preschool enter kindergarten with better pre-reading skills, richer vocabularies, and stronger basic math skills than those who do not.Every child should have some sort of group experience before he starts kindergarten. Music and gymnastics classes are great, but what preschools do that less formal classes don't is teach kids how to be students. Your child will learn how to raise his/her hand, take turns, and share the teacher's attention. What's more, he/she will learn how to separate from Mommy, who often stays in a music or gym class. All of this makes for an easier transition to kindergarten. Kindergarten teachers will tell you that the students who are ready to learn are those who come into school with good social and behaviour.In fact, educators have so recognized the importance of giving kids some form of quality early education that about 40 states now offer state-funded pre-K programs.3. What will my child learn?In addition to strengthening socialization skills -- how to compromise, be respectful of others, and problem-solve -- preschool provides a place where your child can gain a sense of self, explore, play with her peers, and build confidence. Kids in preschool discover that they are capable and can do things for themselves -- from small tasks like pouring their own juice and helping set snack tables to tackling bigger issues like making decisions about how to spend their free time. Plus, 4- and 5-year-olds have begun asking some wonderful questions about the world around them -- what happens to the water after the rain? Do birds play? Quality preschools help children find answers through exploration, experimentation, and conversation.4. But what about learning his ABCs?Young children can certainly learn letters and numbers, but to sit kids down and 'teach' them is the wrong way to do it. They learn best through doing the kinds of activities they find interesting -- storytime, talking to their teachers about stars, playing with blocks. To help kids learn language and strengthen pre-reading skills, for instance, teachers might play rhyming games and let kids tell stories. Keep in mind that for small children, school is all about having fun and acquiring social skills -- not achieving academic milestones. Kids need to be imaginative and to socialize -- that's what fosters creative, well-rounded people. It's not whether they can read by age 4 or multiply by 5. An ideal curriculum? Parading around in dress-up clothes, building forts, and being read to.Choosing the Right Preschool5. How old should my child be when he/she starts?Most preschools serve 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds, and many kids begin at age 4. (Some preschools will start accepting children at around 2 1/2, but that doesn't mean your child will be ready when he/she reaches that age.) You can choose from a part-time schedule or a full-time one. Your choice will depend on your family's situation -- working moms might prefer five days a week -- and on your child's temperament.Parents typically start investigating options about a year before they want their children to attend. But if you live in a big city, where competition for spots can be fierce, you'll want to start applying even earlier and to more than one place.6. How do I choose the right preschool?Research, research, research. First, decide on location (close to work or home?) and hours (half-day, two or three days a week, full-time?). There are programs at private schools, daycare centers, religious institutions (like synagogues and churches), state-funded schools, and cooperatives run by parents. Start by asking for recommendations from other moms. Next, check whether the schools are licensed, which ensures the facility meets safety requirements and has adequate staffing.The gold standard of approval is accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children. NAEYC carefully evaluates schools and childcare centers based on curriculum, teacher qualifications, class size, and health and safety standards. In addition, many preschools now have Web sites that you should visit.Call each school you're considering and ask about its fees, admission policy, and curriculum. Once you've narrowed down your choices, schedule visits. Most preschools run open houses during the winter. Also, meet with the director and spend time in a classroom to observe the teachers. Visit each school with your child and see how he/she responds to the classroom, the teachers, and the activities.7. What should I look for during a visit?Check out the basics: Is the facility clean and safe? Keep your eye out for smoke detectors and first-aid kits. Is there a well-kept outdoor play area? Are there plenty of art materials, age-appropriate toys, and books? Are they in good condition? Is the atmosphere friendly and fun? Student work should be displayed in the hallways and around the classroom, hung at kid-level. I tell parents to pay special attention to the artwork on the walls, Would you be able to pick out your child's artwork? If all the pictures look the same, then your child will learn to make a bunny just like everyone else's. That's not really the goal.The classroom should have a variety of activity areas -- a reading place, an art station with materials on shelves that kids can reach, a block corner, a puzzle area, and a place for naps. Children should not all be doing the same thing at the same time; they should be playing with toys or other kids but still well supervised.Finally, do you feel comfortable? You want to be confident that once you drop off your child, he/she will be happy and well taken care of.Making the Right Decision8. What makes a good teacher?Find out about the teachers' training and credentials. Ideally, head teachers should have a minimum of an associate's degree and formal training in early-childhood education. Research shows that teachers with college degrees and specialized early-childhood training have more positive interactions with children, provide richer language experiences, and are less detached, Also, consider teacher-child ratios. According to standards, there should be at least one teacher for every eight to ten 4- and 5-year-olds, and one adult for every six 2- and 3-year-olds. Low child-teacher ratios are very important, since they allow teachers to give ample attention to everyone. Talk to the teachers about how they work with the kids. Look for teachers who recognize the particular needs of different children, and who know how to adapt a curriculum for those who are ahead as well as for those who need additional help.Visit a class while it's going on. A good teacher talks with children, asking a lot of questions and patiently answering theirs. He/she makes kids feel welcome and fosters their self-confidence. Talk with the teacher about a typical day, and ways in which he/she will keep you informed about your child's progress. If he/she is responsive to your questions and you're happy with his/her answers and his/her classroom style, you've found a good fit.

This article aims to help students select their education dissertation topic so they can get started without any delays. Education dissertations cover a wide array of topics including public school education, holistic education, role of ethnicity, gender and class on academic achievements, adult education, pre-school and primary school education, college and university education, child development, distance learning, politics and policy in education, teacher education, and curriculum.It should be noted that the primary objective of a dissertation is to add to existing research in the chosen field of study. Although there are many areas of research for students of education, it is important for the author to be focused rather than wide ranging. This approach can help students to seek and achieve the desired outcome. A specific topic can further help to complete dissertationresearch in a timely manner and within the allocated budget. Setting clear and concise research questions, aims and objectives at an early stage can keep your research focused. In order to help you with the education dissertation topic selection process, we have listed topics in all areas of education.Education Research Topics for 2018A comparison of Wonderlic tests and standardized tests as means to assess academic performance.Purpose: Although there are many techniques and methods of assessing and evaluating academic performance, this research will be specifically focusing on the comparative analysis of Wonderlic tests and standardized. In the end, the research will conclude which approach is better in different situations of academic life.The theory and practice of educational games as a means to promote better learning.Purpose: Now days, many researches have been focusing on identifying different learning approaches in order to provide quality education. The purpose of this research is to analyze the concept of educational games for young children in order to promote and improvise learning mechanism.How the use of smart technology can impact the learning ability of a child: case study of Kindergarten studentsPurpose: With the emergence of new technological advancement, many organizations including the education institutes have started embracing high technological environment. The main purpose is to improvise business efficiency in the form service or product improvement. This research will be focusing on how the use of smart technology has improvised the learning ability of kindergarten students.Comparing and analyzing the teaching approach and mechanism of privately owned schools and public school: case of developing countriesPurpose: Due to the rise of capitalist economies, many institutions have developed unique mechanism to improve the business operations and sale. Same is the case of educational institutes. However, the teaching mechanism and approach for private schools have been more effective as compared with public schools. Therefore this research focuses on having a critical analysis of the teaching approach and mechanism of private owned schools and public schools.Analyzing the current curricular development of K12 students and how it can be linked with current economic issuesPurpose: It has been found out that curriculum development of majority of the educational institutes have become obsolete and monotonous. In other words, students are not being taught with the worldly matters of today’s times. Therefore, the main aim of this research will to analyze the current curricular development of K12 students and how it can be molded to reflect the true economic conditions and issues of the society.“Our expert dissertation writers can help you with all stages of the dissertation writing process including topic research and selection, dissertation plan, dissertation proposal, methodology, statistical analysis, primary and secondary research, findings and analysis and complete dissertation writing. Learn more about Research Prospect dissertation writing services. “Early Childhood Education Dissertation TopicsEarly childhood education in the UK and many other countries refers to any form of education that children between the ages of 2 years and 6 years obtain. Some early childhood education dissertation topics are listed below:Investing in pre-school education and care: The impact of quality on inequalityThe effectiveness and implementation of early childhood education curriculum interventionsLinking theory to practice and back again: The use of collaborative enquiry and video documentation to facilitate critical thinking in preservice teacher educationHow integrated technology can be used in an early literacy healthy eating kindergarten programmeImproving early childhood literacy development and English education through the use of multiple media toolsSupporting emergent literacy at pre-school level through the use of technologyMerging multimodality, technology and literacy in era of kindergarten digital storytellingComputer-based reading program with at-risk pre-kindergarten studentsPre-school educational settings and the nature of children’s leadershipHow urban students’ academic accomplishments can be influenced by a school district’s pre-school education policiesInvestigating the relationship between kindergarten achievement and classroom qualityCreating efficient learning environments to facilitate the process of early childhood educationElementary Education Dissertation TopicsIn the United Kingdom and other developed regions of the world, elementary education is the first level of compulsory education that children between the ages of 6 and 13 years obtain to achieve basic numeracy and literacy. Primary or elementary education further helps to establish foundations in history, geography, mathematics, science and other social sciences. In some countries, pupils attending elementary school are also required to receive basic sexual education. Some important primary education issues to explore are listed below:Establishing the factors inhibiting and enhancing elementary school children’s creativityDeveloping life skills in elementary school pupils in the United Kingdom (or any other country of your choice)Monitoring and evaluating instruction in private elementary schools in China from the perspective of head teachers and teachers.Including children with special educational needs in a mainstream elementary educational institute – A Case study of any elementary schoolImplementing inclusive education in elementary/primary schools in Australia – The challenges and opportunitiesEmotional coherence in educational leadership: the importance of the personal in interpreting and sustaining primary school headshipShould learning be more self-guided in conventional primary schools?Classroom evaluation in England – Teachers’ practices and perceptions in MathsIntegrating outdoor learning activities with elementary curriculum in the United KingdomInvestigating the use of technology in elementary school physical educationInvestigating the impact of the age of information on current courses taught in primary schoolShould primary schools allow their students to study more independently to achieve improved performance?“Complete this short online form and provide as much information as possible to receive instant quotes from our writers specialising in your area of research.”Secondary Education Dissertation TopicsSecondary school education primarily covers the formal education obtained by pupils between the ages of 13 years to 18 years. It may be followed by higher education or vocational training. Secondary education is considered to be as compulsory in most countries including the United Kingdom, and it may be taught in the form of Ordinary Levels, Advanced Levels, and SSC and HSC exams. There is a wide array of research areas to be explored under this field of study, and any of the following research topics could be selected for your education dissertation.Investigating the impact of teacher education on secondary education in European UnionInvestigating the impact of secondary school dual enrolment course participation on pupils’ academic accomplishmentsThe role of sustainability in learning and teaching in secondary schools to transform the soul of educationInvestigating secondary school teachers’ thinking in a professional development projectTo examine the influence of family on first generation college students’ academic ambitionsBetraying the college dream: How student aspirations are undermined by the disconnected postsecondary and K-12 education systemsAnalysing supply & demand in light of rising cost of secondary educationTo study the use of instructional and information technologies in teacher training in secondary schools and colleges in the United KingdomShould secondary school teachers emphasize more on today’s demanding issues such as energy conservation, sustainability and environment protection?How religious and racial tolerance can be increased among pupils by reintroducing religious education in secondary schooling system?To investigate the benefits of teaching business management and entrepreneurship related courses to secondary school students over social science courses?Higher Education Dissertation TopicsHigher education or college/university education covers the formal education available to college, undergraduate and post graduate students. Some interesting higher education dissertation topics are listed below.International mobility of graduate and undergraduate students of mathematics, engineering, technology and science; Push and Pull FactorsInternational graduate students and their decisions to stay or leave the US; The decisive factorsThe role of religious background on spiritual engagement of students entering higher education institutesAligning higher education to labour market requirements in the UKInternationalisation drivers, obstacles and rationales: A case study of any higher education institute in the UKAn investigation into the governance systems of academic planning in both private and public sector higher education institutesTurning higher education green from the inside out: A qualitative analysis of universities and colleges that “Made Green Happen”Evaluating teaching quality in higher education schools from students’ perspectiveIdentify the factors affecting student mobility in Europe – The quality aspectInvestigating the need to abolish mandatory retirement rule for professors in higher education systemDo university graduates perform better than those who do obtain formal education but have practical work experience?Teaching Method Dissertation TopicsThe role of primary, secondary or higher education teachers is highly important, particularly considering the ever increasing need to provide growth-oriented academic environment to students. Some interesting teaching methods dissertation research topics are listed below.The influence of teaching methods on students’ academic success and achievementsA transactional method to learning and teaching in an English language arts methodologies conferenceHow algebraic understanding of primary and secondary school students can be largely influenced by the effect of constructivist teaching methodsStudent learning of DNA and the effect of teaching methodsTeaching English through conventional and direct approaches – A qualitative studyInvestigating the relationships of teachers’ pedagogical beliefs, knowledge and efficiency: A multimethod approachExploring the benefits of employing the Socratic methodology as an approach to learningThe benefits of introducing a mathematics software such to higher education mathematics teachersTeaching towards equity in MathematicsThe increasing importance of teachers training taking into consideration various threats to students such as weapons and drugsAre the teachers more prone to violence at the hands of their students as compared to the past: How the profession of teaching has evolved over the last twenty yearsEducation Leadership and Policy Studies Dissertation TopicsThe role of leadership, politics and policies cannot be overlooked. Education leadership and policy studies has two main roots including the organisational theory and political science. This may be an interesting area of research for your educational dissertation.Implementing educational change in failing middle schools through examination of one’s fundamental leadership procedures and processesThe internationalisation in students affairs of higher education institutes in the United Kingdom from 1990-2015Historical background and development of co-curricular transcriptsEvaluating the self-efficiency of high performing first generation university studentsThe influence of spiritual growth on leadership development of college and university studentsExamining Chinese students’ perception of academic success in UK universitiesThe peril and power of globalisation: The Higher education, the World Bank, and the Global Knowledge EconomyThe self-reported impact of instructional coaching on middle school teachers’ practicesAn investigation into the policies designed to address bullying in schools of the UK: The beliefs, opinions and perceptions of teachers and principalsInvestigating the causes to under-representation of black students in advancement placement courses in the USALecture note taking skills of adolescents with and without learning disabilitiesA qualitative study to evaluate the 14-19 educational policies in the UKAn empirical investigation on “Decentralisation and Education”Not Sure Which Dissertation Topic to Choose?Use Our Topic Planning ServiceGET A FREE QUOTE NOWAdult Education Dissertation TopicsVocation-based or professional, adult education has gained tremendously popularity in the academia world over the last couple of decades. There is a wide range of research topics within this field of study to base your dissertation on. Some interesting topics are listed below.Investing social and personal benefits and costs of basic adult education from students’ perspectiveExploring rural students’ experiences at the Open University of the United KingdomThe perception of adult learners regarding their satisfaction of their educational experiencesUse of bounded agency approach to promote participation in adult education programmesA psychoanalytic investigation to explore adult teaching and learning theoryComparing perception of adult learners in face to face and online coursesUse of Hatcher-Assagioli Synthesis to analyse practices, principles and gaols for community based adult educationA review of the UK government spending on adult education over the last two decadesDo specialist job related courses actually help students to secure jobs in their preferred fields?The relationship between unemployment and government funding for adult education – A quantitative analysisEnhancing existing skills and developing news ones to improve employment prospectsThe impact of entrepreneurship, wealth building and personal finance related courses in adult educationFrequent career changes over working life and increasing importance of adult education in today’s worldPrivate School Education Dissertation TopicsPrivate schools have become a large profit making industry in both the developed and developing world. More and more parents want to send their children to private schools even though the expenses associated with private education are constantly on the rise. Following are some suggestions for your education dissertation research:Evaluating the effectiveness of management in private schools in the UAEInvestigating parents’ perspectives of private schools in LebanonTo study the level of cooperation between home schools, public schools and private schools in the United KingdomA qualitative analysis to determine the causes to why parents choose to send their children to private schools in south Asian countriesInvestigating the policies concerning the fee structure of private schools in ShanghaiAn empirical analysis of the impacts of the universal primary education policies on educational performances in South AsiaUse of information technology and teaching tools in private schools in the UKSchooling for money – The impact of profit motive on Swiss educational reformChallenges and experiences of children with disabilities in private schools of IndiaWhy do private school students are considered to have an edge over public schools – A qualitative studyEmphasis on personality formation and character in private schools – Are private school students more competitive than public school students?Public School Education Dissertation TopicsMost schools in the developed worlds are publicly funded schools offering elementary, secondary and higher education. There is a wide array of topics of research under this field of study. Some interesting topics for your public school education dissertation are suggested below:To study the level of cooperation between home schools, public schools and private schools in the United KingdomInvestigating the impact of teacher leadership in public schools in the UKIs it true that public schools are better able to prepare their students to face the challenges of the real world as compared to the private schoolsCan publicly funded religious schools help to counter radicalisation and terrorism?Encouraging values and morals in the younger generation by reintroducing religious education in public schools in the UKHealthy eating habits and the role of public schools offering courses such as meal choice, cooking and home economicsHow public school students can be encouraged to participate in sporting activities?The perception of special education administrators on the use of paraprofessionals in the education of students with disabilitiesEducating students with disabilities and the beliefs of public school principalsUsing advanced teaching tools in public school classroomsHome Schooling Dissertation TopicsHome schooling is a highly growing educational phenomenon in the developed countries. Any form of education that children obtain within their home setting under their supervision of their parents/adults can be classified as home schooling. Some interesting home school dissertation topics are suggested below:A qualitative study to understand the significance of the role of information technology in home schoolingThe advantages and disadvantages of home schooling – Doe home children perform with the top private and public school students?A qualitative analysis on socialisation and academic accomplishments among home schooled university studentsFactors motivating students to choose home schooling over conventional schooling systemsA qualitative study to understand parental motivation to home schoolingAre partnerships available in home schooling?A qualitative analysis to understand the educational beliefs of home schooled pupils and their parentsA qualitative analysis on the relationship between financial literacy and home schoolingThe duties and responsibilities of parents concerning the home schooling of their childrenIs it true that home school children perform superior to those who attend conventional schools?More Education Dissertation TopicsSome more education dissertation topics are listed below:Role of ethnicity, gender and class on academic achievementsA qualitative study to investigate the extent to which self-fulfilling prophecy of gender differentiation influence classroom interactions in elementary schools in the UKShould religious education be made compulsory in primary schools in the UK to provide central support services to children from religious minorities?The intersection of race, class, and gender in higher education: Implications for discrimination and policyInvestigating the educational experiences of Caribbean and African boys in the USAShould importance placed on math and language studies be lowered in order to help student keep up with the curriculum?Should secondary school teachers emphasize more on today’s demanding issues such as energy conservation, sustainability and environment protection?Use of information technology for teaching science and maths: A qualitative studyCurriculumShould importance placed on math and language studies be lowered in order to help student keep up with the curriculum?Should secondary school teachers emphasize more on today’s demanding issues such as energy conservation, sustainability and environment protection?Use of information technology for teaching science and maths: A qualitative studyStructuring Your Education DissertationYour dissertation must consist of an Executive Summary/ Abstract, Introduction, Literature Review, Research Design and Methodology, Findings and Discussions, References, and/or AppendicesThe Abstract/Executive Summary section of the dissertation provides a summary of the research rationale, aims and objectives, research design and methodology, and findings.Literature Review chapter provides a thorough review of the relevant and up to date literature including academic articles, journals and text books as well the review of potential importance of the findings.Introduction chapter of the paper typically presents the research rationale, research background, key aims and objectives, and the dissertation structureMethodology chapter consists of the research design, primary and secondary data collection and analysis methods, research limitations, ethics and philosophy.All major findings of your research are presented and discussed in detail under the Findings and Discussions chapter of the dissertationList of all academic sources used are provided in alphabetical order in the References section.

Observation and testing (usually in the form of behavioral questionnaires), usually done by experts (though as the parent, you will be the one filling out those questionnaires). Sorry, this might get a little bit winded.I could tell something was off with my son when he was just a little guy, but I didn’t know exactly what. In the beginning, I was only aware that he had a speech delay, but when I was first told (by the pediatrician’s office) that a speech delay was suspected, I waived it off, because he was just 15 months and I didn’t think it was all that unusual that he wasn’t talking. 3 months later and his (new) daycare voiced their concerns and recommended that he be seen by Early Childhood Intervention. That’s when I started to take things seriously. So from them, he received speech therapy (as well as some occupational therapy) from 21 months until the age of 3.At 3, he went into Head Start, the speech therapy continued of course. We (the teachers and I) started noticing other things, various sounds would bother him, too many people near him would bother him, a change in routine would bother him. It was all a major sensory overload for him. We started to suspect autism, so I got a referral from his pediatrician and took him to a child psychologist who diagnosed him (in this case, it was just by observation). Took the findings back to Head Start, an evaluation was done by the school district’s autism committee (done over a 1–3 week period—it’s been so long, I don’t remember exactly) and their determination was that although something was wrong with him, it wasn’t autism (remember this). They were not equipped to deal with him at Head Start, so he was placed instead in PPCD (Preschool Programs for Children with Disabilities). He continued with speech therapy, and additional therapies were given. He had finally started to speak in sentences at 3 1/2 (before he left Head Start) though he still had a lot of trouble with enunciating. Academically, he was thriving (though he struggled with writing his letters/numbers and coloring), but all of the sensory issues were still there and he had difficulty coping. Though they believed that he was ready to begin Kindergarten on time, I felt that he needed to spend the next school year, focusing on therapies. I wasn’t able to keep him in daycare any longer because they couldn’t control him, so I had to quit my job. I home-schooled him that year (thanks to a friend who helped set up a curriculum) and had therapy twice a week at a local center that specializes in special needs children.Sometime during this period, I had my son evaluated again for autism, I would say 3 different places. It wasn’t for overkill or anything, it was just trying to find the best therapy place for him. They all determined they had autism. Evaluation done once again by the school district, they said he didn’t.1st grade, I decided it was time to send him back to school. The therapy had helped some and he had learned some coping skills. It wasn’t perfect, but I knew that I didn’t have the ability (or patience) to teach him. The first few weeks were hard for him and he was still having major sensory episodes, but the teachers, staff and other students were very patient with him. Now in his school (as is custom in most US elementary schools I think), they did the color chart system, for behavior. In PPCD, he was frequently on orange or red, which was the worst you could get. He had the sensory issues, he was hyper, he could not stay on task, he could not settle down, etc. This continued in 1st grade. I was kind of mind-blown when they determined that he didn’t have autism. Well, these marks wore heavily on him, I would pick him up from school and he would be so sad. These were things that he couldn’t control (even his teachers knew this) and it was so heartbreaking to see. I never punished him for it because I knew it was out of his control. All I told him was to do the best that he could. By this time, after a conversation with a friend on Facebook, I started to suspect something called Dyspraxia (rather than doing a terrible job of explaining what it is, I’ll let you read about it here: Dyspraxia Foundation USA —mind you, it’s recognized more in the UK than it is here in the US, so the UK sites will probably have more information). He matched up the criteria in so many ways. At the same time, I also suspected ADHD, but here, they won’t test for it until the age of 6 (he was 5). I made an appointment with a developmental pediatrician (which we had to travel out of town for), who concurred with my suspicion of Dyspraxia. Thankfully, my son already had an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) due to his need for speech therapy, because my state does not recognize Dyspraxia as a qualification for an IEP (not even under “other”), so he could at least still receive in-school therapy (and we also continued with the therapy center). A few months later, after he turned 6, I was able to take him back to the developmental pediatrician who officially diagnosed him with ADHD. Although it wasn’t an easy decision, we decided it was best to go ahead and start him on medication. I can’t say what’s right for others, but for us, it turned out to be one of the best decisions we made. It took a couple of tries to get the exact medication right, but he was finally able to thrive. He could concentrate (for the most part, though it will never be perfect), he was no longer constantly getting the orange and red marks (we were seeing more green and blue, which were the highest) and he was much much happier. The therapy was helping and didn’t struggle as much with sensory issues.About every 2 years, he was evaluated by the school district for autism. It was always a no, until he reached 4th grade, additional criteria was now available (due to his age) and he finally received the educational diagnoses for autism. I do not know their reasoning, but a medical diagnoses of autism just wasn’t enough.Last week, my son just finished up his last distance learning assignment for 7th grade. You would never know that he once struggled with speech and that he had trouble enunciating his words. He speaks in a crisp, clear voice and in 4th grade, he took 2nd place in the district UIL Oral Reading competition. He had come such a long way!On the downside of all of this, he became self-aware around the age of 10 or 11 and started realizing that he is different from other kids. He became aware of what it meant to have his issues and that other kids (and people in general) are not always accepting. Yes, he’s smart as a whip, but he has his own little quirks (which I personally adore, but that’s the mama in me) and there are some things that he still struggles with and it makes it very hard for him to deal with his peers. He has lost his willingness and ability to trust people, which I guess can be both good and bad.