Counting Kisses is a silly little game I play with my daughter, Jessie, who happens to have Down syndrome. It goes like this..."How many kisses can I have?" We negotiate. How ever many kisses she allows, I search for just the right spot, counting each kiss as I go. It's silly and fun and a favorite part of most every day.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Reading
I wish reading was as fun for Jessie as the Science has been. Although she's coming along nicely, it's difficult enough for her, requiring concentration she doesn't like to give, and I have to coax her along. She doesn't hate it; but she doesn't love it. I have figured out that it helps to have her start reading a story not too difficult for her, mostly words she remembers easily, then move on to a story that has words she doesn't remember as well. Then, when she's ready to quit, I offer to read her a story (from her reader), then she reads me another. The stories are short, so I'm not a slave driver, but if I don't have her read more than one we never get to new words to practice. Truly, I think the most difficult thing about homeschooling a child who has difficulty and is struggling (I have another kid who does; it's not just DS) is motivation. The trick is to find the balance of difficult enough to be making progress; but not too difficult to kill desire to keep learning. Whew, it just makes me tired.
Labels:
homeschooling,
reading
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Josette, I'm right there with you!! We walk a fine line!
ReplyDeleteI have been struggling with that in some areas myself lately, and I only homeschool one! I can imagine how exhausting it is when you have other students as well. Finding that line is difficult and can get discouraging but it seems whenever I get that way my daughter will do something to show just how far they she has come and makes it all worthwhile!
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