All Hail the White Board

The white board doesn't only help MB stay on task but is greatly helpful to me also. The school days are going well, although there have been some resistence to the board - just because it is there. But, with the white board - not only has MB and I stayed focused easier, but K has really wanted to be a part of the day again. It feels good to be in a kind of comfort zone again.

We spent an hour on reading/phonics activities this morning. I have gotten concerned about some of the same continuous mistakes MB has been making for the last 6 months. To the point the idea of having her tested for dyslexia has popped up. DH and my father have it, and I swear I have some of the "signs" for dyslexia. I have been reading up on techniques and have decided to implement them now - it is a slower, more repetitive approach to really help with phonetics and word recall. Even if she isn't dyslexic this type of approach can't hurt her and will help with the same problems I keep seeing pop up.

Anyway, she is actually liking the approach. I am pleased so far that the frustration and fighting has seemed to decline a little. On the other side, K is really attentive to these lessons and I have a fear that K (3 1/2) might take off reading. She keeps disappearing into her room with books for long stretches and when we are working on worksheets she tells me she doesn't need directions - and then proceeds to actually complete them. I would love to have K love and enjoy reading as much as I do, but I am not sure what it will do to MB who is 3 yrs older and loves being the "big" one and the leader in everything.

During Math today - I gave MB a worksheet to help reinforce some of her addition facts and K counted equal number of cherries in the Hi-HO-Cheerio buckets. I sat on the couch to be there in case they had questions - :snore: the next thing i knew MB was waking me up to tell me she was done.

And to just let everyone know how slow we are in history - we are finally to Chapter 18 of SOTW 1. Since September we have managed to make it less than halfway. At this rate the four year history plan is going to take us 8.

I better go - MB just came in to inform me how much work it is to keep her two little sisters from doing things that they shouldn't be doing. All while blowing her bangs out of her eyes in frustration. I just had to laugh and give her a big hug.

Peace,

Amy