Summer Reading

I have been in search of finding incentives to keep my kids motivated this summer and I found several reading programs that look good. Our local library is offering weekly coupons and prize entry. You can record how many books or hour many hours and receive these incentives.  At the end, everyone who participated is entered into a drawing for some sort of GRAND prize.

Ariel REALLY wants to win.

Barnes and Nobles is offering a free book after the child reads eight books! Here is their link for details Barnes & Noble’s Summer Reading.

I found this link as well that has several other Summer Reading programs. Roundup of Summer Reading Programs for Kids Ariel is definitely excited and wanting to participate in all of them. I am still trying to motivate Daniel and Joshua. I think after the first time they do it and receive some sort of prize that they will be more motivated. I hope…

Happy Summer Reading!

Summer Goals

All year long, the boys have struggled when they read. They read with much more ease with their dad and me. Daniel’s reading has improved significantly with his new glasses that he got a couple of weeks ago. However, both Daniel and Joshua shutdown and have processing difficulties when reading for their teachers.

If they are struggling with any sort of sensory, social, emotional regulation, or are flat out “not in the mood” to read they find it to be a great challenge. This has caused me much confusion and what feels like squeezing my brain dry trying to find ways to help them read.

I know that both of them have heightened struggles and I need to take extra measures in helping them retain and maintain their reading skills. However, I know that they can read I am just unable to determine the proper accuracy because of all the other factors.

The other day while talking to Daniel’s teacher, I realized that Daniel struggles with doing the DIBELS, (timed reading) but that if I practiced doing it with him on a regular basis then, he would become more familiar with it.

I realized that I should be doing timed practice reading with Joshua and him on a regular basis so they could both have a script for it and become more comfortable. Part of the issue is that it is not consistently being done. The school only requires it to be done several times throughout the year.  At the beginning, fall, spring, and at the end if I recall correctly.

Possibly, this was suggested to me in the beginning or at some point, but frankly, it became too overwhelming this year. Things in my personal life, trying to help Daniel with his behavioral challenges, having three children at all different levels in their schooling, trying to keep up with the house, and doing much of everything on my own became too much.

Still I feel as though I should have figured this out! Oh, well I cannot focus on that what I will focus on is the plans I have for the summer. I created goal charts for each child.

Ariel’s goal is to read a set number of books, Daniel and Joshua’s goal is to reach 50-60 words per minute. I asked Ariel how many books she would like to read and she said matter-of-factly, “Sixty.” I said, “Are you sure?” She was sure and she is determined to meet that goal.

I am going to count chapter books as more than one. She has read several books within a day sometimes, not short books either. She read The Diary of Wimpy Kid in one day and then read several Dr. Seuss books. Reading helps calm her – she loves it.

For the boys, I will have them read books throughout the week at the end of the week I will have them read three stories, or books that they love to me for one minute. We will write how many words they read each week for about 12 weeks.

They are excited about reaching their goals because the big prize is going to a place of their choice, possibly one with bumper cars?? I am not sure yet. In addition, I gave them a bonus challenge. If they exceed their goals, they will be able to choose a toy of their choice for working extra hard.

I think that if they put in all of this effort and hard work that they should receive some pretty great prizes.  I am excited too and looking forward to our other summer goals with handwriting and writing prompts. I hope I have enough time to have them write their stories and post them to their blogs or onto here. We’ll see the summer is already quite full of adventure.

Here are the goal posters! Happy Summer!

Love TED, TEDx and TED ed Sharing Resources

Dyslexia, Dyspraxia, ADD, ADHD, LD, and Autism Education Tools and Info (25 TED Talks Perfect For Classrooms | Edudemic … – Scoop.it)

The first link has more excellent talks to watch in this first link. It is a great website as well Institute for Educational Advancement. They have resources and posts that are very helpful. We do not live near them, but it still has resources that I can read and apply.

Top 5 TEDTalks for Parents of Gifted Kids

Sir Ken Robinson: 10 talks on education

TED ed (Lessons) I am slightly obsessed with TEDed.

Sensory issues affect very much how each of my children learn and how well they do on a daily basis with school, for life in general. Both Jsohau and Daniel can loose all abilities of concentration or focus if there are loud noises or certain types of noises. It can derail them for an entire day if the headphones on the computer are too loud when they put them on or there is a strange noise. I found the next video to be very beneficial in regards to how sound affects us. (And validating.)

MATH!!!

 

Goodness, It’s Been A Long Time

This year has been incredible. It has flashed by in some ways and has felt dragging in other ways. I have had a mix of emotions about schooling this year. Overall, I am pleased and feel good about the progress that all the kids have made.

I do not have time to keep up with this blog any longer, due to all the time have, and need to put into reading interventions for the boys. As well as researching backwards and forwards in hopes of finding ways to help Daniel with his challenges and frustrations, while trying to maintain a peaceful learning atmosphere for Ariel and Joshua. It has been a challenge, but it is looking brighter each day.

I am merely exhausted and at wits end on some days.

Both Daniel and Joshua have progressed in their reading. They actually do well one-on-one with me. Joshua was reading his workbook pages yesterday and answering them with little help or prompting from me, which is awesome. Today Daniel told me, “No mom, I do not want help. I want to do it.” when he was writing a sentence for an assignment. Those are some amazing moments.

I have been researching ways to help Joshua with his reading because I know that he can read, but his words get jumbled, move around, go backwards, and he also shared that some letters look like they are missing at times. I decided to go ahead and use as many dyslexic resources I can to see if they help him improve.

I found several iPad apps that I purchased today to add to our summer curriculum. I am using them with all three children. I will share.

Dyslexia* By Jenna Connolly

Alpha Writer, by Montessorium By Montessorium, LLC

Word Wizard – Talking Movable Alphabet & Spelling Tests for Kids By L’Escapadou

The Trip Little Critter Reading Adventure By Silver Dolphin

I would like to write about our school experience, but I have too much going on at the moment. I think I may during the summer. I think all of us are a bit more prepared for next year. However, I have had my own moments of panic and going into research mode because of state testing. Next year will be the first year that Ariel and Daniel will have any experience with that. I have been on the state testing information site for almost two weeks. I have also been researching about accommodations in regards to IEP’s.

I am still combing through all of it and reaching out to other Autistic moms who have gone before me. My brain feels tired.

This week has been an awesome school week though, the kids have been full of energy and willingness to get work done because their Grammy is coming in a couple of weeks and they do not want to spend all of their days doing school work.

We have big plans to go to several museums, the zoo, and some other adventures we have not decided on yet. Wow, there is so much that has been going on my head is starting to spin wanting to write it all out. There are so many positives that I want to share!

I must stick with my focus. In my research for the summer, I found some great teacher websites and some other free websites that I plan to utilize.

I found this one today Reading Bear. Taken from their website: “Reading Bear, a project of WatchKnowLearn.org, is the first free program online to teach beginning readers vocabulary and concepts while systematically introducing all the main phonetic patterns of written English, all using innovative rich media.” 

I am using this with my boys. While they are not beginning readers, they need extra time and repetition when it comes to the basics. I think this in addition to the other reading, phonics, comprehension resources I plan on using will help them progress to level ( I hope) by fall. Daniel will be receiving therapies over the summer and they both will be meeting with Daniel’s tutor for an hour a week.

I do think devoting all this time will help them a great deal.

These are links I found that actually have tools and online games, resources, stories, etc… For the curriculum they used through their school. I hope they stay up for the summer.

Welcome to Mrs. Lewis’s Elementary Cyber Classroom

Welcome to Second Grade Reading Street Teacher Resources!

Miss Hunt’s Classroom

Teacher Created Resources to Support Pearson Scott Foresman Reading Street

Everything Literacy

Turtle Diary (Free online books)

That t is all I have time for the day has been packed full and now the evening is as well! I hope to get back on here soon, but I am not sure. Anyway, I thought others might benefit from some of the links so I thought I would share.

I do have much more to share about Daniel and Joshua’s challenges and progress this year, but I may do it on my other blog Mind Retrofit. Ariel is excelling, we need to work on math this summer, but she she is doing really well. She will be going to a fine arts homeschooling co-op taking drawing and painting and Beginning Strings Program. Joshua will be doing basketball and Daniel is going to start music therapy. Some exciting things coming up for this summer and the fall.

I am late! I have no time to edit, please forgive any typos. Good evening all!

Night And Day

I am so thrilled! Since discovering how Joshua had been thinking in “black-and-white” terms about reading and schoolwork in general, I was able to help him realize that he is not right or wrong if he cannot pronounce a word or misses an answer to a question.

He seems like a new boy, well not really. His great personality has transitioned into his school life now and that makes me so happy. Him too! This past week I have been reading several books with Daniel and him. Their favorite by far is Go, Dog. Go!

Every week we go to the library for Lego Group and afterwards we pick out books to read for the week. This week Daniel and Joshua were more excited about getting books to read. They are both starting to get excited about picking out words that they know. I am amazed at how they influence and motivate each other. This is something that they connect with.

Ariel is well advanced in her reading and Joshua has voiced frustrations about not being able to read like Ariel. I am not sure why he compares himself to her in this area, but I have tried to deter him from doing so. Lately, instead of him comparing himself with her, he has been “owning” what he is able to do. He and Daniel both do their early reading lessons, they are in the same program. They both work on their learning through starfall.com. Joshua has used this to talk to Daniel and they share what they have learned.

It so awesome to see both of them get excited about books and learning to read. They are both feeling a little more confident in trying to read words. I think the more they build their confidence the more they will want to do.

Since they have taken to the book Go, Dog. Go! I decided to look for a video for them to watch and read along. Yay! I found one.

I am also pleased to have talked to Joshua’s teacher about some of my concerns with his handwriting. There are some resource videos through the school that I will continue to gain information from and work with him on his specifics. I am also elated that Daniel will be starting his OT and Speech therapy as well as other lessons to help his needs. I will use what I learn with him from the OT and apply that to Joshua and Ariel, especially with handwriting.

Oh, how stress can cloud the mind and confusion can cause frustrations! I am feeling much more settled and hopeful after this past week.

Inspiration

So… the other day I was feeling overwhelmed and frustrated. I have been under a huge amount of stress with Daniel’s evaluations, my cancer/possible other physical ailments scare for the past two weeks, my doctor’s appointments, David’s work stress, and trying to keep up with school. There is more, but I will leave it with that.

I discovered today that a large portion of Joshua’s frustration is that when he does not know how to say words or does not remember them, he thinks that he is in trouble. He thought that I was upset with him.

He came to this conclusion because of the words “right and wrong.” He had not differentiated behaviors that are wrong from school performance. The things that he does get in trouble for, such as jumping off of the couch, or quarreling with his sibling have been equal to missing things on a test for school or pronouncing a word wrong in his mind. I had no idea he felt like he was doing wrong things when he missed something on lesson! Oh, how awful!

I held the little guy this morning after he tried to read his story for a lesson, but could not remember how to say we or go. He started crying and completely shutdown. It made no sense to me whatsoever. I was finally able to get him to talk a little more about it, but it still did not make sense. Thanks to Ariel’s insight we were able to figure it out and I believe he is feeling better.

I am trying to help him understand the difference between these things and that making mistakes and not knowing things is all part of learning. They all three struggle with this. I plan to continue to reassure him about this. Poor guy has been getting so upset because he thought he was doing wrong things when all he was doing was trying his hardest.

So today, Daniel inspired me. He saw one of my blogs and said, “I want to do a blog too to put my pictures on.” Joshua had been asking for a blog, but then lost interest. However, he has off and on continued to ask whenever Ariel starts working on her blog. I decided to work with the boys and set up blogs for them. They chose their background and the pictures they wanted. Daniel did not feel like sharing much, but we will work on that. Joshua wanted me to type out some things.

I think this may be an incentive for both of them to work on sharing ideas, and practicing spelling and typing. Maybe they will feel proud and excited if they also share what they are learning, such as sight words that they have mastered or share about a story they read. I do not know I will go with it and see what transpires. They may just want to put up pictures, but at least they feel proud of their “own” blogs.

Here they are if you would like to check them out. Ariel has been adding things to hers too!

http://legobuilder10.wordpress.com/

http://greenrocks10.wordpress.com/

http://dragongirl10.wordpress.com/

 

Frustrated

Joshua and I are working so hard to help him with his phonics and reading. He has progressed very well in some areas, but the amount of energy and frustration he goes through is upsetting. He gets so upset, tired, lethargic, has been crying, and it takes a lot of effort to get him to work on any of this. I have been pumping him with positive reinforcement constantly, but if he cannot get one word, he loses it. I continually tell him that it is all part of the learning process. I do not know what to do anymore.

His teacher was personable in the beginning and seemed to listen to my concerns. Now I feel that she has an opinion of me or something – she does not engage at all and only repeats conversational scripts every week.

“Keep doing what you are doing.”
“Joshua is doing a great job and working hard.”

I have told her a few times that I believe that Joshua has dysgraphia and dylsexia. I feel that he possibly has other forms of dyslexia. It is not only about reading. She said she would do some sort of evaluation or something at the beginning of the year and I have heard nothing. I do not feel comfortable talking to her any longer because I do not feel she understands or even wants to help me at this point. I have shared his struggles with writing and it is very clear by the assignments he has turned in that his writing is mostly illegible. I do not know what to do or how to deal with the situation  I need help to help him and I do not know how to get it.

I am not bashing her I know she has many other children and parents to work with. However, I am very frustrated and so is Joshua.

I think that there may be the added issue that his grades are very good. He can do the work, but the amount of struggle and frustration he goes through causes us to take many breaks, as well as with his personality it causes him to feel badly about himself. I do all that I can to build into him, but some days it is not enough.

I do know that many days it can be stressful for all of us when Daniel is also having struggles with his schoolwork. I have to give Daniel constant attention, while Ariel and Joshua do not get the same amount all of the time. I try to give them all as much as they need, but the last week I have had to go to several doctors appointments, and Daniel has had an OT evaluation and a speech evaluation.

After going through standardized testing with him, I am confident that Joshua needs these done as well and should receive therapy. I may have to wait until next year and see whom he receives as a teacher. Maybe they will be more understanding of our family issues and concerns. I may go through their doctor first and see where that leads me.

In the mean time, I have found some other resources to help me and I will see how that goes.

To add here, I understand that many children at the age of six have similar issues with reading. The majority of people believe that this is something that children grow out of, while that may be true for most I see too many tell-tale signs that cause me to think otherwise for Joshua. I am also well aware that our family is predisposed to learning disabilities and that Joshua struggles with many sensory integration issues.

Phonics & Decoding 

Language Arts: Reading Program

Facts on Dyslexia

Dyslexia (An excellent resource to help understand dyslexia.)

Smart Kids Who Don’t Want to Read

Identifying If A Child Has A Learning Glitch