Lions, Tigers, and AIR's, Oh My!

We have started a new communication log with Chelsea's teachers and I couldn't help but share.  I read about this from another blogger and loved the idea, so I took it and ran.  That's what we do as teachers - our best ideas are stolen!

There have been many nights Chelsea has come home singing a song to me, or trying to tell me a story or a sign, and I just don't understand her.  It's been frustrating for both of us, but her frustration has really been shining through lately.  She really truly wants to communicate!  I want nothing more than to be able to ask my baby girl what games she played at school, what she ate for lunch, or what book her teacher read that day.  Sometimes I'll guess what she's saying (even if I know it's not right) and she'll smile, nod her head, and agree with me.  Lately, she's been telling me no more often.

I'll ask, "you read a book?"
"No.  Mon. Nes."
"What?  You played on the monkey bars?"
"No, zeeeeelow."
?????

That can go on for quite some time at our house.  Eventually, I just move on and ask her about the train I hear in the distance, or the dark clouds in the sky.  Fortunately she still falls for that distraction method pretty well. 

In order to help alleviate some of the communication stress, we decided to use an innovative little piece of technology.  I have a love hate relationship with technology, but when it's used as an educational tool, I say go for it.  We purchased a refurbished 5th generation ipod nano.  It's got all kind of fancy features, but the most amazing is the little video camera.  See where I'm going with this?  Honestly I wondered at first how her teachers would feel about it - I can't say I would LOVE the idea of videotaping myself, or my voice throughout the day.  I'm sure I would do it though if I had a child who couldn't talk. Chelsea's teachers welcomed the idea with open arms!  They didn't even hesitate and even seemed excited to try something new.  We have been extremely lucky, both kids have had nothing but FABULOUS teachers.  (By the way, next week is teacher appreciation week, don't forgot to tell your child's teacher how special he or she is!)

Today was our third day exchanging this tiny device between home and school and I'm thrilled to report a huge success.  The last two nights have been chaotic, and I'll admit we didn't get to watch the videos until Chelsea was in bed.  Ideally we want to watch them with her, so we can talk about her day and actually have a conversation with her.  Today when Grandma dropped her off at my school, I immediately looked in her backpack and viewed her day on the 2 inch screen.  First up?  Miss P. - "Going on a Bear Hunt" ... hmmm, good to know, I've heard that song before. 

On the way home Chelsea was watching out her window when suddenly she started shouting, "oooh!  oooh!" while covering her cheeks as if she was surprised!  "Air, Air!"  ???  Then it clicked.  In just seconds, I realized exactly what she was telling me.  She saw a bear outside her window!  Before I could say anymore, she began patting her lap and dove into ... "I'm going on a bear hunt ..."  Okay, so it actually sounded more like, "go air un ..."  But who cares?!  I knew what she was telling me, I could ask her about it, and even sing along with her!  I think she was quite shocked that I understood her and knew the song myself. 

Priceless.  Kind of gives you that warm and fuzzy feeling inside, doesn't it?  I think I'm going to like this little ipod nano experiment.  Now if only we could find someone to follow Logan around with a video camera at school all day ...