A World of Learning

 I'm not only a reading tutor, I'm also a sub paraeducator for the school district where I live. I subbed 7 times last school year, but today was my first day this year! There are four elementary schools in my town, and I was subbing at the one right next to my church. I've subbed there before, but unlike last year, I didn't know any of the kids until I saw one boy at recess that I used to tutor before he decided he wanted to go to public school instead of homeschool. He smiled at me and I gave him a high five. It was good to see him standing with some other boys and looking happy.  Last school year, I spent a lot of time overseeing recess, lunch, or the bus line. But today I spent the first half of the day with one boy (who didn't want to do anything he was told), then the second half of the day with another boy who just needed someone to keep him focused. He was a fourth grader, and we worked on several different subjects together.  That is what I truly enjoy - wo...

 Everyone who knows me knows I love to read! I also love seeing the children I tutor increase in their reading skills! There is one 4-year-old boy who I was only recently teaching to identify the letters of the alphabet. Since he really seemed to have grasped that knowledge, I knew it was time to start teaching him words.  I started with the sounds each letter makes, stating the letter, a word that begins with that letter (Apple, Bear, Cat) and then making the sound of the letter, having him repeat after me. He's starting to memorize the sounds, and insists that I don't help him if he gets stuck.  I have also started him on word lists. I have a list of ten age-appropriate words that he has been working on remembering as sight words, for the last month or so. He finally memorized all the words and earned his $5 gift card to Walgreens! Now he's on to a new list, but we do go over the other one to keep him familiar with it.  I'm also using Bob Books with him, which have...

 A few years ago, I found on Pinterest the idea of making a "Monster Box" out of an empty tissue box. So I made one, using it to keep plastic letters of the alphabet inside, for children who are learning to identify the letters. Well, this "Monster Box" has seen it's better days, having been crunched from the top and from the side, and has gotten a tear in its opening from an exuberant hand reaching inside for a letter.  So, I decided to make another one. The previous one looked more like it was designed for a boy, but now I'm teaching the alphabet to a little girl, so I made it a "Kitten Box" instead. The great thing about these boxes is that you can let your imagination go wild - it can be anything!  The main thing is that it's used to help little ones learn the letters of the alphabet. I have a laminated sheet of construction paper with the alphabet on it. So the child will reach into the box and pull out a letter, matching it to the one on ...

 Okay, so this boy isn't one that I actually tutor. He's autistic, and I just make sure he gets up in time for school and make him breakfast, then take him to school. Today is his first day of high school!  I asked him if he was excited about starting high school, and he said no. I asked him if he was nervous, but the thing he was worried about was that he wouldn't see any of his middle school teachers anymore. And he had a new class schedule to learn, and wasn't sure he would know where each class was, and how to get there on time.  I told him to just check in the office if he didn't know where to go next. I remember starting high school, even though it was so long ago. It took me about a week to feel confident about knowing my schedule and where my classrooms were.  I'm sure he'll do fine once he adjusts to a new school. He did fine remembering his schedule at the middle school, and this will be the same way. I was surprised this morning that he got up bef...

 One of the boys that I have had the pleasure of tutoring over the past four years as a homeschool student has now decided that, as a fifth grader, he wants to attend public school. He is advanced in his learning skills, so he should have no trouble there. The only thing that could pose a problem, something he would need to get used to, is the structure of class subjects and the length of the school day. His studies at home have so far been done at a much more relaxed schedule, since he is so smart and can finish lessons quickly.  I will really miss tutoring him! He has been one of my favorite students (well, they're all my favorite) but I love his spunk and personality. This also means I'm down one student. So I'll need to do a little advertising to see if I can get any more clients.  Here he is with the textbooks he's been using for homeschooling - I wish him well in this new venture he is embarking on! (Though I do secretly want him back lol) 

 Well, I found a new book at Walgreen's that I really think will help out my youngest client! Since she is only three years old, I've been holding her hand, making sure she's holding the pencil the correct way, and desribing what we're doing as I help her write her name.  But when I saw this dry-erase book, I realized I was moving too quickly for her. It's made for preschoolers, and the first page has different types of lines on it - curvy, zig zag, bouncy, and so on. The child is supposed to try and trace the lines to help with hand-eye coordination. I watched her as she traced the lines, and saw which ones were easy for her and which ones were more difficult. The lines with curves were easier for her to trace than the ones with 90 degree corners. She only seemed able to draw in curved lines. I realized that going straight to writing letters was way too much to expect from her. She needs to start at step one, which for us, is tracing the different lines. I'm go...