A World of Learning

 I love watching the Olympics! So I thought I'd encorporate it into my tutoring sessions this week. I took all of the learning games that each child has been using, and, after having them read their word list (list of words they're learning), we played the games together. The games help with word or letter recognition, and sometimes spelling as well. We kept points whenever someone won a game (I tried to rig some of them so the student would win). My mom, ever the crafty one, helped me make gold medals out of soup can lids spray painted gold, sparkly gold stars, and gold buttons. Then we just added a big loop of blue ribbon to put in over the kids' heads when their session was over and they won! I also gave them a little bag of Skittles instead of just one piece of candy like I usually do. They had fun with it, especially when they got the medals. They had to go and show their moms!

 Doesn't it seem like you go somewhere and always forget something you needed? Well, I do that too, when I'm tutoring. I usually have all of the papers and books and games that I need for the specific lesson, but there are little things that I need no matter who I'm tutoring. So, I put them in a zippered pouch that I could just grab and throw in my tutoring bag. (I have a different bag for each student.) The items that I keep in my pouch are: pens, pencils, a large eraser, a pencil sharpener, scissors, dice, and a sharpie. Not pictured, and what I bring that doesn't fit in the bag is Scotch tape. I use the dice for math games - there are so many math activities that kids can play and learn from at the same time that involve dice. Most of the games I've tried with my math students have been a hit!  What do you think is something essential for teaching? I welcome any suggestions!

 First of all, I'd like to say Happy July! I hope you get a chance to enjoy the 4th.  Now, on with the story. I am now tutoring two six-year-old girls. One I've been tutoring for at least 6 months, and the other one I just started today. I'm doing the same program for the new girl that I did for my other student. We always start with identifying the letters of the alphabet and what sounds they make. Then we read the Bob Book "What can I see?" When I read this with the first girl, she caught on to "see" and "bee" right away. The word "see" is repeated many times in this little book. The word that took her FOREVER to learn by heart was "can." This new girl I'm working with caught on the the word "can" even faster than she did "see" and "bee!" What a change! I think this new girl is going to catch on to things quickly. Both girls are great learners, and very well-behaved even having to do readi