Subject: RE: [MK8] selective mute... update!

I think everyone has given excellent advice. My best friend growing up =
was a selective mute (before the term was used!). I was her only friend, =
and the only one she would talk to at school. She told me that every =
time she said something in class and the teacher or classmates made a =
big deal out of it (Oh my gosh!! She talks!!), it would make it that =
much worse, and made her not want to talk anymore. So, yes, as has been =
suggested, maybe say something nice and quiet and subtle to her. Don't =
make it a big deal. Hopefully, it will get better and better! My friend =
didn't improve until high school where she met people who hadn't known =
her since Kindergarten as the one who never talked!

-----Original Message-----
From: mk8list@musick8.com [mailto:mk8list@musick8.com]On Behalf Of Paul
and Meredith Inserra
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 8:20 PM
To: mk8list
Subject: [MK8] selective mute... update!


An update: A few years ago I told y'all about a little boy I had who =
was a "selective mute." I had never heard of such a thing! It's an anxiety disorder. I read the diagnostic notes from his doctor in his cumulative =

folder and read all the strategies suggested for teachers. I tried the strategies all the way through his third grade year with no luck. I =
heard that he would speak to his classmates and at home. Then I heard he =
would occasionally speak in his classroom to his classroom teacher, but he wouldn't speak to ME or in MY room to me. He would shake his head, =
point, or communicate in other non-verbal ways though. He also participated in =

everything and was very well behaved. And he would sing along during =
group singing, so I didn't worry about it. This year he's in 4th grade and a couple of weeks ago he raised his hand, I called on him, and he =
responded to a question. Inside I was jumping up and down, but I tried not to let on =
how excited I was because I didn't want to embarrass him. Yesterday he came =
up to me to ask me a question while we were giving out materials for an activity. It's so great that he now feels comfortable enough to speak =
to me. I want to tell him how proud I am of him for speaking to me and how =

heartwarming it is to hear his voice, but I don't want to embarrass him. =

How would you tell him without making him feel uncomfortable, or would =
you leave it unsaid? I just wanna grab him and hug him!!!!!! But I'm =
afraid, as a 4th grade boy getting over an anxiety disorder, he'd be horrified =
at that kind of attention. LOL!

Meredith in NC
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