Self advocacy

So AM came home before Thanksgiving break fuming about how the school had changed homework hour. Previously, all the children enrolled would work on homework in the library, and then be able to check out books from the school library to read. Apparently some of the fifth graders were not behaving and so the grade was moved to another classroom. AM spent the weekend complaining that he was now not going to have enough books to read. On Sunday I mentioned that he might be able to work something out with the school administration, but he needed to come to them with a plan of what he would like to change, that would solve his problem. I encouraged him to write it down so it could be presented as an idea of something to change rather than a complaint. Monday he came home all smiles! He had asked to be able to go to the library after he finished his homework, check out a book, and return to where the fifth graders were. It is so nice to see his maturity growing (and the school for being reasonable!)