|
Third grade was just about at an end. I requested a fourth grade teacher that had taught my 10 year old the year before. Miss Kitty loved her and I had spoken to the teacher in the past for ideas to use with Booboo. She too had experience in special ed. I spoke to her again and asked her for a list of 4th grade spelling words so that we could get a jump on things. She gladly obliged, and even included some information on dyslexia and learning problems.
One look at the spelling list told me we were in big trouble. There was no way Booboo was at a level to spell these sort of words. She could easily read such big words (thanks to Reading Recovery) but there were so much phonics and exceptions to phonics it would be near impossible for her to spell these words with her poor phonic skills. Memorizing would fail her here too because even if she could memorize the letters, she would never be able to spit that many letters out in the correct order.
I hit the message boards hard. I scoured every website trying to find phonics programs or ideas. Since she seemed to fit the "dyslexic" characteristics, I decided to approach her summer schooling from this angle.
I checked into Barton and Wilson. Surely the most expensive must be the best right? After much consideration, it seemed logical to start with a less expensive program to see if the dylexia approach was what she really needed. I ended up choosing Reading Reflex for $10 purchased second hand. www.readamerica.com if you are interested. It is a faster paced approach to teaching phonics. As I said she does read and spell, just not very well.
That's where we are at right now. We completed Basic Code, and on a reccomendation I purchased a support guide from Read America to continue on with the Advanced Code.
I am slowly trying to incorporate other things into our summer school. Regular trips to the library, math fact review, creative writing,reading quizzes through www.bookadventure.com and a new discovery, audio books! She can pass quizzes on 6th grade level books if she listens to the story on cassette or cd. (Makes me think maybe her auditory processing is okay afterall.)
So as the song goes, we have been pressed, BUT NOT CRUSHED, persecuted, BUT NOT ABANDONED, struck down, BUT NOT DESTROYED... Having said that, I'll wrap this up by saying that HIS JOY IS GOING TO BE MY STRENGTH!
And here's the lyrics to the whole song if you're not familiar with them: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I'm pressed but not crushed Persecuted not abandoned Struck down but not destroyed I am blessed beyond the curse For his promise will endure That his joy is going To be my strength Though my sorrows may last for the night
I'm trading my sorrows I'm trading my sickness Yes, Lord ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
GOD IS GOOD!
|
Comments