First Day of School!!

And she's off!

I'm so big!

Enough of the pictures already! (click on the picture to get the full effect of the eye roll)

Benji started Kindergarten and Emily Started 2nd grade on Wednesday! Benji was very excited to go and Emily was a little nervous but both had a great 1st day! Emily has a new teacher (new to the school) this year and seems to really like her. She gets to sit by her best friend from 1st grade so that has made the transition much easier. I know she will have a great year!

Benji is in a regular kindergarten classroom! He is fully included (with the exception of speech therapy) which means he is with his same aged "typical" peers all day and not in a special education classroom. The curriculum is adapted for him when needed, mostly for reading and math but he stays in his classroom throughout this time with the help of an aide. We pushed for this because the 20+ years of research on Down syndrome inclusion has shown that kids with Down syndrome do better academically, socially, and communicatively when they are with their same aged peers and not secluded in a special ed. classroom. The research also shows that inclusion benefits the students without Down syndrome, making them more sensitive to people with disabilities and accepting them as being just like them. We also pushed for it because we have very high expectations for Benji and know that he can do this. Go Benji!!