The Importance of Control and Expression

Routines and schedules can be tiring, but they give crucial structure to a day and a feeling that one can have some control in a world gone chaotic.

I have seen the importance of a schedule with James during our new, mandatory learning at home routine. It helps him take better care of himself. When checking his school-issued Chromebook, his face looks a bit relieved, and his mouth curves in his smile.

Here are some great handouts to give structure and control in a messy situation:

Thanks to Natalie Long at LONG Creations, you and your child can create a time capsule about this historic situation. Please visit her Facebook page for more information.

I like the way James can give some order and structure to how he is feelings. An outlet for questions. And understand that there are things he can do to keep himself busy and in control. And hey, a writing exercise!

Creative With Spelling

James still does not like to write much. For spelling this year he's having to up his practicing. His aide makes simple flash cards for him, tracing over his pencilled words with a coloured marker, to make them more interesting.

Tonight his assignment was to alphabetize his spelling words and practice writing them. Normally we work from the spelling list, which becomes a battle of wills. James does not deem alphabetizing words to be of general interest.

For the first time I thought to use the cards instead of the list. There were still several sticky moments, with James attempting to balk at finishing the project, but being able to put his finger on the cards at the first letter of each one as we wended our way through the alphabet  and turning over each card as he ordered it seemed to help a bit.

Finally I had James write the words as I read them from the stack of alphabetized cards. Sometimes we talked about what the word meant (progress!) and sometimes I had to work him through a mini melt-down over the spot on the paper ("It's wood pulp, Honey; you'll never be able to get it out - it's part of the paper.").

And for some extra credit, we found ways to use spelling words in during his bedtime story:

James likes George, but he's still a bit scared of dogs and puppies. Hmmm....

We got in cute, ate, made, safe, five, and rule. Not bad!

Magic Marker Monday: Oobleck

Some writing James did during summer school. I asked him what that strange word was. "Oobleck," he said. What is that? From James' description, it's a combination of Play Dough and slime; and it's lots of fun to play with.

Love his illustration too!

I am so glad they not only made something, but that they could also play with it, and then write about the experience after. I am also really glad it did not come home in his backpack!


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Magic Marker Monday: Rainbow Spelling Words

James is really taking off in his new classroom, and doing amazingly better with his school work. I am so very thankful for his new aide, who is making the hugest difference in our lives. We went from a situation where James was not learning, resisted vigorously going to school, and becoming a disciplinary problem to one where he was participating with his class in class work, much happier to come to school, and making progress with doing more work independently.

Case in point -- rainbow spelling practice!

He scored 100% on the test, too.

 Normally James needs someone prompting him through his spelling word list. He insists on a yellow, #2 pencil, and gets frustrated part way through the list. This week, his aide showed me the simple spelling flash cards she'd made for him; she printed the words first in colour and James then traced them in pencil. This could explain why last week James wanted to write the spelling list by himself -- in crayon. I printed the lines for him and the result was delightfully colourful.

Not content with that, James went on to write words in crayon -- something he usually did with pencil or pen, as he'd snap the waxy sticks.

Oh, and instead of touch math (old class and aide), he's memorized addition facts so he can add 3 columns of numbers and is getting better at subtraction. Again, this is the difference that a well-matched aide can make. She tells me she's making up multiplication cards for him to use. I cannot tell you how grateful I am that there are people like this woman out there to help children like James. She is helping to give him tools, education, and creativity.

And hold on to your hats -- there's an ostrich report in progress; with drawings!!!


For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit
5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

                               
 

Magic Marker Monday: What Am I?

James' class had a pre-Easter assignment -- take home an egg drawn on paper and create a riddle for the class to guess. They were to write clues on one side and draw the answer on the other.

James and I did his the morning it was due, at the coffee shop, on our early morning run to school after dropping Daddy off at the commute bus. Yay organized Mom, *not*!

Here are the questions (which I ran by him for approval and gave him lines for writing):

1. I am big.            
2. I lived long ago.
3. I can roar!          

Answer:

Note the drawing in the upper right corner. That was my quick reference scribble. James was very clear that it wasn't just any dinosaur, it was a Stegosaurus!

Good fun and practice for all!

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own, visit
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Magic Marker Monday: The Write Stuff

I try to get both children to write thank you notes. With their birthdays occurring so close to Christmas, it can be a challenge. I have found out that they do best if I get them to do about three at a sitting. They do not want to use pre-printed cards -- they want to make their own.

James, in particular, is excited to make them this year. He wanted to write his own thank yous. I dictated the letters an provided some guide lines, he did the reast. He even picked the colour of the paper for the cards and chose and placed the foam stickers on his own as well.

Materials:
* Handy Dandy Pad o' Construction Paper ($1 from the Dollar Store)
* Tub o' foam stickers (about $5 on sale from Michael's)
* Markers on sale from Target ($1 a box of 10)
* Misc. ball point pens

I found it was easier to have James write the message on the inside first before decorating the front. The foam stickers made an uneven surface for writing, and he kept making holes and got frustrated. Can I say how proud and happy I am that James can write his own Thank You cards?

His sister did a marvelous job as well. She detailed her presents in the front of the cards in design. I love how she put puzzles on the inside! Someone has been enjoying all those 3rd grade worksheets.

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

               
  

Magic Marker Monday: Making Mail

For some reason, James really wanted to go to the post office today. So I told him we could if we had something to post. So we made cards to send to the grandparents.

James picked the theme: Space Station (ship):

I helped him only a little with writing the messages:

And he picked the stamps from Up for the envelopes.

I love this whole Pixar stamp series, by the way.
And I hope to pass my love of writing letters on to my kids.

For more great masterpieces or to share some of your own,
visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

      
  

Good Day, Sunshine

James, about 30 seconds after he rolls out of bed:

He's been drawing shapes in colours, and writing their names in black marker. His handwriting is improving, although the letters look more decorative than literal.

Here's what he has to say about his favourite (for now) activity: "I get markers? Oh! Here you are!" (looking at markers in a cupboard door).

Pulls out a chair and squares up to the table: "I sit here and write. I'm BU-sy! Mommy, I'm working."

Work away, little dude. And keep smiling. It makes my morning.

The Weekend Update

Okay, this is just plain teasing your Mom ...

James, drawing pictures, his name, and the word "sun," using both hands.

Magic Marker Monday: Art on the Go

Last week, James' sister began taking group piano lessons after school. It's at James' campus, so I end up doing an hour's loop of school pickups and then back where I started to sit with James in a classroom while his sister learns about the piano and music. Snack time is in the car, and James got antsy watching the group, not understanding completely why he could not be there too (at this point, it's a money thang, we hope he'll get started on the piano soon too).

I ended up sitting with him in a corner of the classroom. Luckily I'd brought a small pad of paper and a pen. We started out practicing numbers and letters:

Then moved on to my drawing pictures. I started labeling them and then James wanted to write their names, writing as I dictated (he requested the fire engine and spent a lot of time on that page). I was so proud of how much he could do -- my guy who could not even write at the beginning of this year!

I love how he's signing his name now too:

For more magic or to join in the fun, visit 5 Minutes for Special Needs for more Magic Marker Monday.

Magic Marker Monday: Workbook

James' favourite thing to do EVERY day while on vacation? Practice his numbers and letters.

We worked on some homework sheets and had some fun with a small pad of lined paper, but his special focus activity was this Christmas present:

 

It's one of the few erasable books that actually erases, and his aide says that already she can see an improvement in his letter writing. Thank you, Barnes and Noble!

And yes, he's been growing again:

He's wearing his cousin's size 7-8 hand-me-downs, and his 6th birthday isn't until next week.

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There and Back ... Again

We are back from an early second trip of the year to visit family and friends in SoCal. Excitement, new experiences, and I am happy to report that that there were no incidents of either car sickness or constipation. Progress!

Early on a Friday morning, we hopped in our van and made our way to I-5, which became our friend for the next 5 or so hours. The kids and I were able to enjoy a late-afternoon nap that ended with the start of the Grapevine. Could that connecting segment be any rougher? It's almost like a speed bump and comes right before the CHP station, which is probably a good thing.

This was quite a different trip for me. We've been doing this ~1,000-mi R/T thang for over 7 years now, but this was the first time I hadn't had to pack an extra bag of white noise machine, diapers, and small children toys. The portable CD player, for the first time, went completely unused. This was liberating for me. Less to fret over packing and tracking the entire way. What entertained the kids? Books, a pad of paper & crayons, and for James, a Magnadoodle:

If his smile looks different, it's because he lost his second tooth on the trip. The first one disappeared at school before we left. My buddy is growing up!

I loved how well the Magnadoodle worked. It focused James when he was at loose ends. It had no batteries or cords. He could use it anywhere and it occupied him for hours, allowing him to indulge in his latest obsession, Writing His Letters and Spelling His Own Name. Take that, Bembridge Scholars!

The trip was to visit family, help a family member move, and meet up with friends at Disneyland. We sure got our money's worth out of this trip, and it will take several posts to cover it all.

Safe to say that on the trip back up, we'd had our fill of fun, and were happy to enjoy the ride home as we unwound from vacation overdrive and rested up for more school.

Magic Marker Monday: First Kinderpiece

I opened up James' backpack this afternoon and found his first artwork from Kindergarden. The title of the first one went right to my heart:

I liked seeing him try different colours:

It's his name!

Looking forward to doing more writing work with James.

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