Historic events to watch with your student this Fall

Last night, my 13-year-old nonspeaking student watched the Presidential debate. He's been into this election for a couple of months, watching the RNC and DNC this summer and listening to part of Elon Musk's interview of Donald Trump.

He also watched the Olympics and Paralympics. 

Did he sit still next to me on the sofa and "watch" these events like a neurotypical kid? No, of course not. He swiped through photos on his phone, walked in and out of the room, and in general, appeared as if he wasn't paying attention.

However, after years of homeschooling, I've learned that his paying attention looks different. He's proven it to me enough times to make me a believer.

Okay, smart guy, if you were paying attention, what's the answer? Please point to the answer, is it this one or that one? Okay, so you got lucky. How about this one? Please point to the answer. Okay, I guess you were paying attention after all, I'm sorry. But stop rolling your eyes at me!

Historical events broadcast on television are an excellent opportunity to teach your student about current events and how they relate to history. This summer provided a bonanza of televised opportunities, but we have more expected by the end of the year. I'll provide you with a list in a bit, but first some advice about watching television with your nonspeaker.

Don't expect them to attend like a neurotypical student. Nonspeaking adults tell us they can concentrate better when they aren't directly watching a show or looking at speaker. Allow them to pace around the room, walk in and out of the room, listen from the next room, play with toys in the same room, and even watch YouTube videos on their iPads (with a quiet, respectful volume) while the event is playing on television.

Unless they become agitated, keep the event on even if they leave the room. After all, if it's truly historical and important for them to watch, the entire family should be watching. Otherwise you're being hypocritical, and autistics can sniff that out a mile away.

Briefly discuss the event the next day. Recap the important parts, the moments you enjoyed, the hot topics on social media, etc. Share a short clip or two with your student on their social media app of choice. Here's a tip: I like to log in to my student's YouTube account and play news videos of the event we watched together over and over to influence his algorithm and hopefully put something besides food AMSR videos on his feed. 😂

Check in with your student to see if they have an interest in current events. This summer, I started doubting myself and how much I share current events with my son. As a former journalist, current events are my special interest, and even though I always encourage parents to lean into their special interests when they teach, if the student isn't into the topic, that's just how it is. So I asked my son, "does it annoy you that I always share current events with you or do you like it?" He replied "yeah," but that's often his answer for everything, even no. So I continued. "I like to know everything about everything and I know I talk a lot, I'm sorry if it gets annoying," I said. "You need to learn this stuff but if you don't like it that's okay too." He grabbed me by the head brought my face up against his. (IYKYK) He decisively shook his head yes and smiled. The message: I also like to know everything about everything. 

Okay, kid. Bet!

Here's a list of upcoming historical events that you can watch with your student. Make sure you watch the ones of interest to you, and share that with your student, too. The "back when I was a kid" stories and the eye rolls are part of the experience. LOL

1. Jimmy Carter's 100th Birthday Concert. On Sept. 17 in Atlanta, an eclectic mix of musicians will honor America's 39th U.S. President. I don't think the event will be broadcast live, although I wouldn't be surprised to find it being streamed on YouTube or another service. However, I'm sure it will be available for replay (PBS?) and could be an enjoyable thing to put on for the family. The next day, you can give a short lesson on Jimmy Carter or research any of the interesting musicians or musical genres discovered during the show.

2. NASA/SpaceX Rocket Launch. On Sept. 24, NASA will launch a SpaceX craft to the International Space Station, to rescue the two astronauts stuck there after Boeing's craft was deemed unsafe for their return to Earth. This craft will send only two astronauts instead of the usual four, so the two stuck in space can return home as part of the regular rotation in February 2025. I like teaching about this current event because so many of us remember tragic NASA accidents from our childhood. So far, this space problem is being solved in a safe, reassuring way. There are plenty of short videos of the two astronauts on social media you can watch with your student.

3. A Caitlin Clark basketball game. The Magic Johnson of women's basketball is winding down a record breaking regular season, but there are still some opportunities to watch her on television. Friday night, Clark's team the Indiana Fever play the Las Vegas Aces, the WNBA's current champions and team of MVP A'ja Wilson. You can watch that game on Ion, which is one of those free channels that comes with most smart TVs like Roku, Fire and Vizio, and on streaming services like Hulu and YouTubeTV. The Fever have made it into the WNBA Playoffs if you miss Friday's game.

4. The World Series. The final game of the World Series is like the Super Bowl: even if you're not into the sport, it's a cultural event. Turn the game on in late October, get some traditional baseball snacks like hot dogs, shelled peanuts, Cracker Jacks and sunflower seeds, and share in a storied American tradition.

5. The Presidential Election. Election Day on Tuesday, November 5 is an experience not to be missed by any American of any age. Our free elections are the foundation of our democracy, so show your student as much of it as possible. Drive by a popular polling place and show your student the line out the door of people waiting to make their choice. Have the returns on TV and if the acceptance and concession speeches aren't made before bedtime, watch them the next day. I like to involve my student a little bit as I fill out my mail-in ballot. I show him how to fill in the little dots and how many choices are made, that it's not just about the big guys.

6. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. This event kicks off our parade watching season. We begin on Thanksgiving with the Macy's parade, then watch the Rose Parade January 1, and then watch a variety of livestreams from around the world on Chinese New Year. Parades offer a delightful mix of visual and audio stimulation, but catching them live can be overstimulating. Watching them on TV has been a good compromise for us, plus I can infodump historical facts about the parade and performers to my student in real time.