OT...help needed with 4yr old teacher visit today

[Guest guest]

Sherry, there are many things that you can do to help him remember and retain

what he has learned. I'll email you privately to talk more about it.

Donna

Homeschooling mom to 3

Hunter (6), (5), and Abigail (born still 6/12/04, waiting on us to return

HOME)

hjjdherring@...

[Guest guest]

I know I am over reacting but my eight year old son did the same thing. We could

work on something, he would know it and understand it. Then next day, he

wouldn't remember anything we worked on. It was very frustrating for us.

He is now 8 years old and has dyslexia. He is getting better about retaining

facts. But it's been hard.

~`~Holly~`~

iel (5/96) & Jenavieve (5/02)

" It is not how fast we learn that counts. It is learning that counts. "

[Guest guest]

In some cases, you cannot force them to learn something. Your son is

placing things into short-term memory and not long-term memory. It

might be because in his frame of mind learning letters is not

relevant. If he is getting over a speech problem, he may be focused

so much on that and his newfound power with language, that memorizing

letters is meaningless. It would be like somebody to ask me to

rememorize the symbols for the elements. It is not important in my

life as a SAHM who homeschools elementary age children. If somebody

were to assess my abilites based on that, it would not be fair. I

have friends, family and physician phone numbers memorized so my

ability is there, just not my desire.

You might have to back off and focus on what he is good at, and try

it again in a month. I remember being present for my son's

breakthrough at 5.5 that a letter could be corresponded with a

sound. This is a kid who plays chess, by the way, and was computer

savvy at age 2. He could write the whole alphabet out at that age as

well, but he could not tell you that the letter P made the 'puh'

sound or that the word bat started with a b until 5.5. I remember

being so frustrated I wanted to yank my hair out. Then, in one day

he got it, and there was never any backsliding. His brain made some

connection that day, and I am still clueless on why it clicked.

Having that experience taught me that kids learn how to walk at

different ages, and they learn their letters at different ages as

well (my just turned 5 year old taught himself how to read at age 2

but still thinks if he closes his eyes you can't see him). If it

makes you feel better, I know of many kids who are not in special

services who could not tell you what letter was what.

My 6.5 year old son has high functioning autism, by the way, and was

in preschool for language and social services. I would say if this

is VERY important to you, then make it visual and fun for him. I

think these kids with language delays had to learn things visually.

In preschool, Ethan skipped a number when rote counting, so I made

numbers out of train track. He must have been developmentally ready

for it, because that is the last time he ever skipped that number.

Anyway, some kids learn things verbally, some visually, and some

learn with physical activity. Most kids learn from a combination of

it all, but there is one area they are dominant in. I got my kids to

skip count by fives to 100 in one day by letting them jump on numbers

I taped to the floor.....

>

> Hi everyone. I havent been on here in a while. Things have been

> going pretty well for my 4yr old. His speech is still delayed

> upgraded from moderate to mild now.

> He goes to a preschool 3 times a week for 3 hours each time. His

> teacher came to me today and is concerned about his ability to

> retain the information. I had spoken to her about a month ago as I

> had seen this as well. They will learn a letter for the day and he

> knows it all day but he forgets it the next day. Its the same

thing

> for numbers. He does know his shapes and colors.

> The school is going to test him again and maybe offer him some

> services through the school district.

> The preschool is geared toward special needs so all the school

> services are offered there.

>

> My question is does anyone have any tips on working on this with

> him. I am going to try and read more to him and buy him more paper

> to trace letters and numbers.

> He remembers everything else and can remember things that everyone

> else has forgotten. Why does he not retain this info?

> He just turned 4 in July...I dont think this is expecting to much

> from him do you?

> They all keep telling me how smart he is. He has been evaluated

> over and over and has never been diagnosed with anything other than

> speech delay.

>

> Does anyone know of another chat group that I might join to get

some

> tips?

> Anyone advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

>

> Thanks

> Sherry in NC

[Guest guest]

I tried to send this offlist but the email keeps bouncing--sorry group..

I teach four year old kindergarten and not knowing a letter from one day to the

next sounds like most of my class--and we go over and over the letter of the

week each day! If kids don't " care " about letters why remember it at this

point. They do better with say letters in their name, labeling colors, shapes

etc. then abstract symbols like letters. And he's a young four too. I wouldn't

be worried at all from that description. Maybe finding different ways to teach

the letters like making pretzle letters to eat, playdough letters, sand paper

letters, putting glue on letters and having him cover the glue with beans or

cereal, tracing letters in pudding or shaving cream on a table, bending his body

in the shape of a letter..... some kids need to learn through touch and

movement...

L.