Elie and learning

[Guest guest]

Elie early on learned to read up to the first grade level primer. Three

times and lost it. He once wrote his name in cursive and lost it. He was

doing addition of single digit to single digit with manipulatives and self

correcting and lost it. All of this before he was 15.

Since he turned 16, we have concentrated on speech and Edmark type emergency

word recognition, block printing and enumerating. He also has learned coin

recognition but still has no idea what things cost.

Every teacher except one has worked on some kind of academics but mostly

with no retention.

Elie stopped allowing us to read to him or to try to read the pictures in

his books more than 6 years ago. His books are still in his room - along

with new ones he receives every holiday and birthday but he will not touch

them or allow us to touch them.

However: for this teacher he has counted to 100 (with little help at change

of decades), he has both said and written the alphabet, recognized most of

the words in Edmark I, used picture cards to get groceries at the store,

written his name in block - first and last, knows his new address, watched a

movie and was able to tell the teacher what would happen next (he ought to

because it was Wizard of Oz).

Sara - Choose to make lemonade, not complain about the lemons.

>From: mfroof@...

>Reply-To:

>To:

>Subject: Sara

>Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2006 21:19:14 EDT

>

><<The teacher began by telling us that she believes that Elie is well able

>to

>learn to read and to use math in practical ways to improve work skills.

>But

>he will be taught academics in conjunction with his work.>>

>

>Hi, Everyone....Sara...are you saying that after all these years, no other

>teacher has tried to educate Elie? What has he done in school all these

>years? Has he ever shown any educational abilities at home.....enjoying

>reading

>with you, counting toys, etc. Sounds like Trish.....finally connecting

>with a

>decent school that is willing to give every student a chance. Best of

>luck

>to Elie this year......he's got a lot of catching up to do.

> Take care, Everyone.

>Margaret

>

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