Interesting....

Submitted by Colleen and Derrick on Sat, 07/17/2010 - 11:42am.

I have been blessed to come across the most kind, understanding, gentle, and caring tutor for Devin.... She is teaching through the Orton Gillingham approach to reading.. It is a multi-sensory approach, you see it, hear it, feel it, and say it.. He is doing so well with it.. He is eager to go and eager to do the work.. I can honestly say he has gotten more out of the last two weeks then he did out of the last couple of months of school.. No fault of the school... He just physically and emotionally wasn't up to it.. I also have come across the most amazing!! OT.... Devin is doing the "Astronaut Training Program"... which is a program that works on the Vestibular System.... The vestibular system plays a HUGE roll with your eyes and their ability to track and move... therefore if it is not fully developed or if it is off in any way it can cause problems with reading and learning... In Devin's case, do to a long stays in the hospital and chronic illness... his vestibular system may not have fully developed and or missed some of the steps and stages of development.... Therefore making it hard for him to track from the black board to the book...

He is also doing the Neuronet program.. Which is a program that works on the ability of the right and left side of the brain to communicate better and more naturally... In "normal" situations kids "normally" get the exposure for all these things to occur "naturally" but in some cases it does not happen... and surely for a child who lives a life of illness you are bound to miss some crucial steps!!

It has been a very interesting summer!!! Derrick and I are learning so much... and now I "think" we finally realizing the impact that chronic illness and hospital living has had on Devin..

Well, the million dollar question... What are you doing in September??

The things I have learned...

* Devin does not have the strength (at this point) to last an entire day without a nap... He is exhausted!!!
* Devin has areas of strengths and areas of weaknesses.... ie general knowledge (VERY strong area) math (VERY weak area)
* Devin is doing great with 1:1 turoring
* Based on his evaluation Devin will learn best through a multi-sensory approach.... (their are NO schools here that teach that way)

Suggestions....

* Because of his lack of success in school, do to multiple reasons...
- breakdown his work into achievable goals...
- follow something he struggles with by something he has mastered...
- give him things he can see and feel as learning tools... ie money, use real coins... math, use cubes...
- nurture his strengths and praise even the smallest accomplishments in his weaknesses...

BIGGEST Suggestion...

** take him out of school 2-3 days a week 1/2 day and continue with private tutoring... this will give him the confidence and the foundation he missed (from missing 13 weeks of school)... and also will help him keep on track when he is sick!!!

Concern/Question....

He DESPERATELY!!!!!!! wants to go back to his old school.... and this has been an issue since changing schools in February... BUT I didn't realize how big an issue...

Pro's -n- Con's
- New school 10 kids in the class= less germs/ Old school 34=more germs
- New school slower pace= less work to make when absent / Old school faster pace= more work to make up when absent
- Old school LOVED/ New school never really excepted as his school

Ok... go to the child psychology part of his educational evaluation...
Devin, where do you go to school... (the old schools name), who is your teacher (the old schools teacher), who are your friends (all the names of the kids in his last class), do you like school... I love my old school but I hate my new... What?? and their it all begins...
Mrs. McQueen have you considered that some of his problems are coming from his unhappiness..... AAAAHHHH!!!!!!!!

SO, WHAT TO DO IN SEPTEMBER??????? thoughts welcome!!!