5th Grade Self-Advocate

Today I was able to visit a school in which all 4th and 5th graders all had Netbooks.  It was amazing to watch how student maneuvered around the applications and checked their own e-mails.  The one memory that will remain for me forever is watching a 5th grade boy who is mute and in his group he was assigned the task of creating a press release for their groups project.  The class I observed he had gotten out his netbook and he had logged onto his e-mail to request some advice and tips from his speech therapist on how best he could complete his job.  I was so thrilled to witness this self-advocacy in a 5th grader.  It was apparent that these students are self-reflective learners and willing to do what it takes to get a job done.  Very impressive!