Educating the CALM way

Another busy day. Maths, spelling, science, chess and scouts. One of his old beaver leaders commented both on how tall he’s got and how much he’s better able to handle himself he is than when he was younger and appears very self-assured.

Today we went to watch one of his friends performing their first performance on a stage in the park. It was great to be able to support him and cato was very impressed with his confidence and ability.
This evening he’s done maths and English. Currently focussing on word endings but the spelling rules aren’t obvious and there are a lot of exception words

Yesterday we did maths and English then spent a lovely day at wicksteed park with friends. They wouldn’t give cato the queue jump wrist band unless we went up to the top ticket desk so he chose to try and queue. They queues weren’t massive and he kept his phone on him right up to the ride for comfort but did fantastically well. We won’t make that mistake again however.
In the evening we went to his first 4dx full length film and stayed in the whole time. The first 5 mins or so we touch and go but once he’s settled into it he enjoyed it. He’s said he’ll do again but next time won’t take food or drink in 😂

Super busy couple of days. Yesterday cato had the dentist appointment that he requested. It was a new dentist and he had a problem so not just a regular check up either. He allowed the dentist to do his checks and even agreed to the X-rays after quizzing him on radiation risk. He discussed the pros and cons of having the cavities filled and agreed to book an appointment for another day (next Thursday). It took a lot of time for him to relax afterwards.
We went to see a film in the evening with his friend and her mum and rather than sit in his usual spot on row E he sat at the back as his friend was using her wheelchair. This is the first time he’s agreed to sit outside of his usual seats!
In the evening he did maths and English

Today he went to his requested doctors appointment and discussed his potentially embarrassing concerns with him. He allowed the dr to do all his checks and has agreed to having a blood test (which I need to book) to rule some conditions out. Afterwards we went to B&Q to choose some new flooring for part of our house. Cato has always been very reluctant to any changes in the house so to get involved and actually come to an agreement on some flooring was a really big deal.
We then went into pets at home and somehow ended up discussing the pros and cons of getting the pet rats he’s decided he wants. If he gets them he’s decided he wants to get the albino ones as they are usually the last chosen as people think their red eyes are scary. Cato wants to love the ones that are deemed unlovable. There is still a lot to discuss as we have a ratting breed of dog, so would need to keep them apart and we aren’t sure yet if it’s doable.
We then went to M&S where cato picked up some higher fibre foods at the doctors suggestion.
This afternoon we went to an art class where the tutor didn’t turn up, cato handled this well and moved onto our next activity.
This evening he finished his maths work on probability and his science homework on acid rain that is due on Monday

The last few days have shown just how well he’s maturing and taking responsibility for his own life and making decisions for the betterment of that life.

C started a new home Ed group today which is went to without me supporting him so even more impressive. He went with a friend and her mum took them both, then took them out for lunch and then to the first trampolining lesson back where I met him. He found the changes to trampolining hard but have said he thinks it will be fine once he gets used to it. He also chatted to a new girl and her mum.
Coming home he did his handwriting practise, then asked to start coding in unity and done more help with division. Unfortunately we didn’t get into the coding as he made a mistake setting up his profile and despite his frustration he completed an impromptu unit award on how to set up a new email address (his current one has been set up for him), we then finished by doing sone division practise. Turns out one question was enough help but he continued to do more questions at my request.
Very impressed with his commitment to ‘school work’ atm

Lovely day spent at olney river with friends. Evening spent going through his maths test paper and planning the topics to cover this term now he’s decided to leave the maths group

Today cato finished off the human reproduction unit we’ve been working on and finished his maths practise paper that he’s been reluctant to finish since he decided he’s not entering for gcse maths for November as he simply cannot sit for the length of time required. Anyway, it’s finished, finally, so we’ll be looking through it once I’ve marked it.
We also took the dog on a walk round the park and bumped into another home Ed mum and her doggy which was nice 😊

First driving lesson today. The kid did superbly well. Drove in gears 1 and 2 up to 26mph and lots of start stop practise. Wants to go back. Huge success!
This evening he caught up on his science lesson on acids and alkalis

Busy weekend in st osyth with the grandparents. Aqua climb and a wake boarding lesson at curve water sports, trying various new foods from the balti house, walking the dog off lead, independently fishing with a new type of rod (gifted by a man in a nearby caravan). Plus jaywick beach, little men computer game, card game and two pub meals

On Thursday cato went rock climbing and reached the top of the stair way to heaven for the first time

Good first day back after his holiday. Maths and spelling done, he retaught himself how to read treble clef and has been using the pull up bar. We watched one of our favourite movies together.

Last Thursday cato did a mosaic class and a raccoon painting class and did a marvellous job in both imo

Yesterday he taught a friend how to play chess ♟️ they hadn’t played in years and deliberately questioned his teaching to ensure clarity. This was the final part of a chess unit award

As our cleaner is away for a couple of weeks it was the ideal time to teach him how to do some of the jobs she does around the house. Up first was cleaning the job, counter tops and sink. Fab job
He’s also done spelling and biology

Cato found this a frustrating process as he wanted to do several small and intricate designs, he nearly gave up several times but did finish his piece in the end. He settled on this one from the hades game he plays and hopefully it will fuse well. He is happier with art forms that produce exact designs like digital art than glass fusing

Yesterday cato did a marvellous job of cooking rice, hotdogs and peas 🫛 for himself, confirming what the scales on the job meant and what simmering meant. He also did some maths.
Today he has looked after his cousins and done some maths and science

Today cato has had a 2hr session at top jump, gone for a drink after with a friend then done maths and spelling practice.

Friend over this morning then Final trampolining lesson of the academic year. He did some maths, spelling and then completed an AQA chemistry unit with some easy sorting work as the trickier stuff had been done in previous sessions

Cato’s crest award certificate arrived in the post today. Proof he’s engaged in a science project

So impressed that cato has conquered the rubiks cube!

Yesterday at alton towers cato did the following rides with friends including two new ones: wicker man, galactica (new), thirteen, the blade, the curse at alton manor (new), runaway mine train and spin jam.

Today cato has had a friend over to play, done some algebra, went for lunch with another friend, trampolining lesson, spelling practice and finished a chemistry unit on measuring temperature

Cato finished his handwriting workbook today. His writing may not be up to age standard yet but I think we can agree it has improved since he started this book in 2021.
Well done my boy, I know you find this work hard and tedious

Yesterday cato had a friend over, went to subway for lunch with another friend, did his trampoline lesson, ran some errands with me and did maths and English

Today we tried out a new location for river swimming (which would be good for paddle boarding) in Denford, then he’s done maths, English, physics and coding

Today cato had chess lesson and was taught the London method and then had a tour of sywell airport with scouts. He’s also done some maths

Yesterday we went to see muse with some friends at mk bowl.

Last Wednesday the teen group went river swimming in olney
On Thursday a few of them went to the board game cafe after maths lesson, then we went to the cinema with grandad to see the new spiderman film.
Friday night cato had his first sleepover at a friends house and it went so well that he stayed a second night.

Spent a busy couple of days in Brighton at his request, including staying in a hotel - without issue!
Sunday was getting to the hotel in the pouring rain, drying out and changing, getting pizza at Nuposto (would recommend) then seeing a youtuber he likes live at the Brighton centre.
Monday was sunny and began by getting donuts only for a seagull to take it out of his hand, biting his finger in the process of its crime! Sea life centre with 2 VR experiences of swimming with sharks and manta rays, beach time, arcade on the pier, fish and chips on the pier, fairground rides on the pier, collecting our suitcase then visiting King George |V holiday home (the royal pavilion) and gardens then getting the train back (the only bit he did not cope with and only as a result of missed connections and delays)
Lots of talk about future living goals and a great time spending quality time together.
Will certainly look into doing this again the next time a random you tuber is touring

And he’s finished his first maths practice paper. A massive achievement since the last time he attempted it and had several meltdowns in the process. He did it over several days noting the length of time he spent in it so we have a benchmark of evidence for his extra time and rest breaks but he’s back on his target with wanting to sit the exam sooner rather than later. This summers plan will be spent completing practise papers and going through them.
From what I can see flicking through it the maths itself is not wrong but I think there will be a lot of questions that he doesn’t get marks for because he’s not answered the actual question asked…a long running PDA issue in him.
But, forget all that…he’s achieved great things here by opening, writing on and going back to the paper until the end…so proud 🥳

Maths, handwriting and science done today before anything else after a “chat” the other night.
“oh I get why you want me to do my bookwork first now, you’ll let me do what I want after”
He then went to his friends house until cinema to see fast x 🚘
Stress free day when he just gets on with it!

Took cato to try Indian/African street food today cooked by a family friend. We discussed business strategies to help her increase her profit margins
He’s also done maths, handwriting and an unsuccessful attempt at a science experiment

After a few days with the lurgy cato finally felt well enough to do some maths and science today.
He also helped water the allotment whilst his grandparents are away

Today cato went to do ninja warrior with some friends, chess club and scouts

Day trip to Birmingham began with a 3hr car journey and still having to rush to make it to the theatre. Cato handled it calmly and took charge with the sat nav for directions. We saw “heathers the musical” for a friends birthday, which she kindly lent him her head phones during the gun scenes. then meeting the actors by the stage door afterwards followed by getting lost trying to find the car. On the way home his saw a Lamborghini shop and wanted to go look but everyone else was feeling frayed so he left it without too much trouble, it was shut anyway. Handwriting when he got in, and putting on his own washing ad he wanted something to wear sooner than it being wash day.
Hopefully a day to remember

Busy day yesterday. Piano lesson 🎹 followed by play date, then lunch with another friend, trampoline lesson, kickboxing lesson then maths and handwriting practise

Today cato had a chess lesson and then a wonderful time at scouts at irchester country park where they played games like rounders. He spoke to some scouts he’s not spoken to in a while and is planning on chatting to them more. It was so nice to hear him speaking so positively as he’s been having a tricky time there of late.
He also finally got around to folding his laundry 🧺
Other than that he had a chill out day as he’s had such a busy previous 4 days

Still tired from yesterday cato struggled this morning but we made it out to the country park to walk our dog with friends and their dogs. There were far more people, dogs and cars than when we usually go and cato was particularly stressed but he did really well, took Sherlock on a small walk, allowed him to interact with a few dogs and humans, put the lead down for a second and was very understanding when his friend started with a panic attack, and even though he was wanting to go home he waited patiently whilst she calmed herself.
He then went and chose gifts for his friend and we went to hers for a 13th birthday tea.
He has also done some maths this evening after watching a few episodes of young sheldon series 5.

What a star 🌟
Cato smashed it today, he did the 10km waendal walk with 3 other scouts alone, only checking in with the leaders at various checkpoints. He was almost adamant that he wouldn’t manage it but we put in place a plan so that he knew he could come home if he was finding it too tricky and he didn’t need to. Despite them being shattered afterwards they didn’t turn down a trip to waffles and shakes as a celebratory lunch for completing this challenge which will firm part of their gold award 🥇
He did have a teeny afternoon nap whilst he destressed and has then spent the evening with his grandad watching Eurovision, building Lego and beating him at chess ♟️

This evening cato attended a painting class. He used wet watercolour from tubes for the first time. He first did the highland cow, in which he realised hed not stopped soon enough and was using the paint more like acrylic then moved onto the fox which he is really chuffed with

He has also done science and trampolining today