Ask An Obvious Question...

At our school, as in most all elementary schools around the state, we are getting into state testing season. Our school takes the state tests online, which are later this month. However, if we feel a student might be more successful taking the hard copy version of the test, they are pulled out of your room on specific days to take the test(s). Because so many certified adults are needed for this, it has impacted small pull-out groups, sometimes canceling them or displacing them. So the other day, Jason, my boy with Autism, felt the upset of these unique circumstances. It was about 10 minutes before Jason was to go to his small writing group, when some gal shows up to pull Jason. Even though I have seen her before, I do not know who she...I know she's not the speech gal, and I know she's not the OT/PT. But she is part of that crew...so Jason leaves. Ten minutes later, his writing teacher comes. She pops her head in the door, scans the room, and asks, "Where's Jason?" "He was pulled by someone about ten minutes ago," I answered. She sighed, complained, then told me to send Jason to the library when he got back. "They are testing in my portable, so I had to find somewhere else to go," she said. I said I would, and she left the room. Soon Jason returned. "Jason," I said. "You have to go to Mrs. Writing Teacher's group now." I forgot to say that the group would be in the library. Jason looked at the clock. "I'm late," he said. I told him that it was ok, and that his teacher was waiting for him. Then I promptly got busy and forgot all about it. Soon, Sandy came up to me. "Mrs. Fifth Grade Teacher," she said. "I think Jason is upset. He has his backpack on his head." I looked over, and sure enough, there was Jason, sitting on the floor with hs backpack on hs head. I went over to him. "Jason," I said. "What are you doing?" "I'm sitting here with my backpack on my head..." We'll, I did have to ask... "I see that, Jason. But why do you have your backpack on your head?" But I knew the answer. Jason doesn't like changes to his schedule. "I was nervous about going late to my group, then they weren't there..." Jason said. Oops. "Well, Jason," I said. "You don't have to go. Just stay here. Would you like that?" Yes, he would.