Sue Gregg's Blender Batter Waffles (GFCFSF version)

We tried Sue Gregg's blender batter waffles a couple of nights ago. I made the batter with whole grains in the blender in the morning and let it set on the counter all day so we could have waffles at suppertime.

I used rice milk soured w/ apple cider vinegar, gluten free oats, and brown rice with olive oil, vanilla flavoring and ground flax seed. (See link, above, for the complete recipe.) They were light and tasty, quite a bit darker than "regular" waffles, and we use warm pure maple syrup on them. They stuck to my new waffle iron, oddly, and I managed to salvage part of one for a photograph. (Maybe they needed more oil?)

I'm waiting for Sue Gregg's Whole Foods Cookbook to arrive as part of TOS Homeschool Crew Review.

Review and Giveaway: The Autism Checklist by Paula Kluth, Ph.D. with John Shouse

I have spent a great deal of my time and energy the past 8.5 years learning about autism. I know so much about it that I have trouble condensing information for people who don't eat, breathe and sleep with autism the way I do. We constantly interact with people who interact with my daughter but know little to nothing about autism, from the figure skating coach to babysitters to Sunday School Teachers. I, like most parents in my situation, need a resource, something we can give to or recommend to teachers, coaches, church volunteers, even friends, family and neighbors.

One book that many of us buy in bulk to give away is, "You're Going to Love This Kid," by Paula Kluth PhD. It's about inclusion in a school setting.

I've seen Dr. Kluth present three times, and she always amazes me! Kluth is one of the most understanding professionals in terms of understanding the blessings and the challenges that come with autism and describing those characteristics to people who teach or live with an individual on the autism spectrum. She can step into the shoes of a student on the autism spectrum and understand behaviors that other professionals label as "non-compliant" or "maladaptive" or "manipulative", interpret the behaviors for the rest of us. She is able to teach us about what she sees through their eyes so that we can be better parents and teachers to our kids.

She creatively addresses challenges and supports students on the autism spectrum and shares her successes with the world.

I've known of John Shouse for several years, having "met" him (online) when I was a chapter leader for my local ASA chapter. He has a child on the autism spectrum and is an incredible resource and advocate for families like mine in Tennessee.

Kluth and Shouse have teamed up to write, "The Autism Checklist: Practical References for Parents and Teachers" and when I read about the book before it was released, my expectations were high.

I was not disappointed. (Two thumbs up!) You'll need a highlighter and your sticky notes to mark pages, if you're like me. This is one you're going to want to order in bulk, so you have one to keep and some to loan or give to teachers, church staff, coaches, and others who interact with your family member who is on the autism spectrum. You might even make it required reading for anyone who interacts with your child!

What's inside? The book is filled with practical tips and strategies that can be implemented immediately. Do's, don't's, some answers to "why does he do that?", with idea after idea for setting an individual up for success.

The book is organized for easy access to specific information, offering five broad categories (Basic Info, Parents, Teachers, Helpful Strategies for Home and School, Resources) and within each category are short sections that are simple to search in terms of finding specific information and that are easily read in a few minutes. The table of contents is here if you'd like to take a peek; some chapter excerpts are available here. Most of the classroom tips and strategies are applicable to homeschoolers. I like the fact that Kluth and Shouse include a lot of information on sensory challenges and movement differences in autism, two topics that are sometimes shortchanged in books about autism.

The resource section is impressive. There are products, organizations and web sites that are new to me (and I thought I knew them all!).

The book is definitely one to recommend or to own to loan to individuals who work with your child, especially those who are brand new to autism.

Here's ordering info:

The Autism Checklist: A Practical Reference for Parents and Teachers ($15.95)
Paula Kluth
ISBN: 978-0-470-43408-6
Paperback
256 pages
September 2009, Jossey-Bass

GIVEAWAY for US Readers: I have one copy of The Autism Checklist: A Practical Reference for Parents and Teachers to give away to a reader. Leave a comment on this post indicating you'd like to enter. I'll do the drawing Friday, 18 Sep 09. Be sure to leave me a way to contact you. ;)

I'M DOING IT!

She and Coach were back in the blue rink today on brand new not-frozen-enough ice, so new that no magic markers were allowed on the ice. (The blue rink has been a bicycle store and hockey store in recent weeks.) The rink was loud with music and someone sawing in the corner, and there were four adults on the ice with them today.

Check out the pumping and the one and two foot glides!

I apologize for the blurry video clip.

My favorite part is her excitement.

Listen for,

"I'M DOING IT! I'M DOING IT!"

"WOO HOO!"

This clip shows something significant. She can't hear the instructions (the music is too loud) and she tells Coach, "I can't hear you!" Meaning broke down and she was able to recognize it and work for a repair.

New products to review!

I thought I'd take a minute to let you know what new products have landed on my front porch or inbox in case you hadn't noticed my "Penny's '09/'10 TOS Crew Participants & Reviews" sidebar.

Guardian Angel Publishing sent us several e-books, and I have to tell you, I really do like the story that spotlights parts of speech in different colors. Stay tuned -- we have five e-books to tell you about.

Studypod sent us a book holder, something I wish I'd had many years ago in high school and college.

Sue Patrick's Workbox System e-book arrived in the inbox today, and I am challenged to implement a system aimed at more student independence during a time when our priority is interdependence.

Nature Friend Magazine and Nutrition 101 Choose Life have been here a little while. Expect reviews soon.

ALEKS: A TOS Homeschool Crew Review

Last fall, I had an opportunity to try ALEKS (Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces) as part of TOS Homeschool Crew, and was pleased to see ALEKS on the review list again this year. The company has been making changes for parents and teachers since we used the program. (Last year's review is here.)

Returning First Mates were given a short trial period to review the new features for parents and teachers:

New Master Account features:
Create a custom Quiz for your students
Review your student's Attendance Report
Receive our new Progress Report via e-mail

The web site explains that ALEKS is a research based on-line math program where on-line access is unlimited and no textbook is required. The User's Guide for Parents explains that "ALEKS provides individualized, one-on-one instruction that fits your child’s schedule. It is available wherever you access the Web. ALEKS was developed with support from the National Science Foundation. It is based on a field of Mathematical Cognitive Science called “Knowledge Spaces.” The purpose of research in Knowledge Spaces is to model human knowledge of any subject for quick, precise assessment and efficient guided learning in interactive computer programs."

While I didn't think the web site was difficult to navigate last year, the site is more user friendly to me this time around. The slight facelift and additions to the Master Account make my job easier and provide me more information about my students.

My favorite new feature is the ability to create a custom quiz for my children. I can go directly to an area of study within their ability and and experience and assign quiz problems to them in different categories, as many or as few as I choose. You may choose to have a student retake a recent quiz, (duplicating content but not the questions) and ALEKS gives you the option to allow ALEKS to create a recent knowledge quiz based upon recent course material.

ALEKS gives parents and teachers the ability to see an attendance report, which allows us to verify and track time spent.

I have an inbox with my master account, and assessment and quiz results are sent to that inbox so that I can look over them and print them if I choose.

I like ALEKS. The customer service is awesome. I don't have to drive a child to a tutor or pay hourly rates for that tutor. My only problem with ALEKS is that it begins at 3rd grade, and I have one child not quite ready for 3rd grade math. I will subscribe when my children need extra help in math. (Regular use is necessary and ALEKS recommends three hours a week, minimum.) ALEKS assesses each student and customizes work based upon where each one is working, giving them practice and experience exactly where it is needed. ALEXS is priced at $19.99 per month per student, with family plans and six month and one year packages available.

ALEKS offers a 48 hour free trial on the web site home page. Take the time to take the tour and a free trial. A free trial month is available to those new to ALEKS via the TOS freebie page.

For my Crewmates reviews of this product, go HERE.

"Supporting students who resist or refuse to do work"

Today, I received a review copy of "The Autism Checklist, A Practical Reference for Parents and Teachers", by Paula Kluth, Ph.D. with John Shouse.

I just flipped through the book, and a phrase at the top of one page about halfway into the book jumped out at me:

"3.8. Supporting Students Who Resist or Refuse to do Work"

You mean mine isn't the only one? Who knew?

I am looking forward to reading (and reviewing) this book!

Can we get a BARE NAKED PATTIE please? McDonald's NON-Response

Hello Penny:

Thank you for contacting McDonald's recently with your idea for a product or service that you believe would be of interest to us. We appreciate your interest in McDonald's, but it is our company's policy not to consider unsolicited ideas from outside the McDonald's system. We have retained an electronic copy of your submission solely for our records.

It's not that great ideas cannot come from people outside of McDonald's. Each year, however, McDonald's receives thousands of unsolicited ideas and proposals for products and services from individuals as well as companies. Because of the volume of unsolicited ideas and the difficulty of sorting out what is truly a "new" idea as opposed to a concept that has already been considered or developed by McDonald's, we must adhere to a strict policy of not reviewing any unsolicited ideas that come from outside the McDonald's family of employees, franchisees and approved suppliers. We realize that we may be missing out on a few good ideas, but we have had to adopt this policy for legal and business reasons.

As a result, we must decline your invitation to review your submission and hope you understand the reasons for this decision.

Again, thank you for thinking of McDonald's.

Donnell
McDonald's Customer Response Center

ref#:6297086

Can we get a BARE NAKED PATTIE please?

May I take your order please?

Yes,

I'd like a "double stack",

plain, no cheese, no bun, no toppings,

JUST TWO HAMBURGER PATTIES IN A BOX.

What would you like to order?

One Mighty Kids Meal

w/ the double cheeseburger,

plain, no cheese, no bun, no toppings,

JUST TWO HAMBURGER PATTIES IN A BOX.

We spent quite a few days on the road over the summer, where we had to eat in restaurants with a child on a GFCFSF+++ diet. If I had a dollar for every time we got MORE than two hamburger patties in a box, I could pay for some therapy. When I say "NO CHEESE, NO TOPPINGS," that is exactly what I MEAN!!! At one fast food place of the Golden Arches variety, the employee took the patties to the back and scraped the cheese off and gave them back to me. DUH. I could have done that -- I brought them back to you to get CLEAN ones that had not been touched by cheese.

The problem exists at restaurants where you sit and give your order to a waiter or waitress, too.

I am frustrated when I explain the allergy situation to wait staff, stress the importance of a PLAIN pattie, and have the meat come to the table with seasonings and/or cheese. Arg.

At Steak & Shake, the sliders are seasoned with some sort of seasoning salt, which the wait staff failed to explain to me. Double arg.

What restaurants need is a NAME for a PLAIN, BUNLESS HAMBURGER PATTIE for those of us who don't want the bun or cheese or toppings.

Hamburger steak?

Bare naked pattie?

McBNP?

I don't care WHAT you call it, but PLEASE, restaurants, put SOMETHING on the menu that is CODE to the chefs in the kitchen that means NO BUN, NO CHEESE, JUST THE PATTIE.

THANK YOU!

I love to watch my children doing what they love to do!

She hates to practice penmanship and copywork,

but enjoys making shapes with her feet.

Who knew?

Improvement noted while skating when others are on the ice:

She and coach had been from one end of the rink and back as I caught this video clip:

A "twist", yesterday and today

Monday's lesson included this little move, which requires a whooooooole bunch of sensory integration, motor planning and knowing where you (and your arms and legs and tushie) are in space:

Tuesday's lesson had her working on that little move again, a little differently this time:

This child has been described by more than one professional as a child who could use more intent and deliberation in her movements. She compensates by (I'm told) flinging herself forward, moving quickly wherever she goes. (Looks like she's walking to me, but the "flinging herself forward" makes sense to me.) I like how figure skating lessons incorporates deliberation and motor planning, including proprioception and vestibular work. What a wonderful side-effect of learning a beautiful sport! :)

Stay tuned, more videos to come in a later post.