�We've used dry erase markers to write spelling words REALLY BIG on sliding glass doors, bathroom mirrors, etc. We also used the stairs; moving up and down. We get go up a step each letter we get right, and to the bottom and start over if we miss the word, with the goal to reach the top. We've also used sign language to spell words, and we have learned we memorize better if we are moving around - not sitting still like "normal". I bought a clipboard and clipped our words to it and we walk around, sit in a tree, go up and down stairs, bouncing a basketball for each letter, swing in a swing - I don't really care what but moving and learning at same time. We've also made up lots of songs - the sillier the better; singing the letters of spelling words or things we have to memorize. Finally, an oldie but goodie:
let the child make up a silly sentence using the letters of the spelling words. For example the word is LEAF; he may make up a sentence : Let's Eat A Frog to help him remember the order of the letters.�
Becky Wiersma
�A form of sign language is what we use to learn Bible verses and Catechisms for school. We come up with signs when the thought in a verse changes. Sometimes we only have two or three signs in a set of verses. She also steps off each word as she says it. Some weeks we can work 4 days on a Bible verse and be no where until I make her "walk it off", in 10 minutes she usually knows it.
Our newest help is the Math Turbo Twist by Quantum Leap (Leapfrog). This is different from the Twist and Shout (old version). We had that before and it is too fast for my daughters. This is slower and covers more types of math, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, and percentages all in one Turbo Twist. It has several games or ways to learn and practice the tables. If one doesn't work another might. An expansion pack to insert with more problems is available. Over the Christmas break she has learned the 5 and 7 multiplication tables. GREAT investment for us!�
Rachel Shankle
Since it was December, and such a busy month, his teacher wanted to make their monthly book report an easy project. The assignment was to memorize a 20 line poem. For most children, this was an easy project. However, I knew we were in for a struggle, so we started as soon as the assignments were handed out. The poem we chose was "Twinkle Twinkle, little star". The first four lines should be a poem all children already know. We worked on it for a week before we had those four lines mastered. Just four days before the assignment was due, we only knew six lines of the poem, although we had been working on it for two weeks. That day, I went to a friend�s house who knew sign language. She showed us how to sign the poem. The next morning, he could recite the whole poem. On the day the assignment was due, I went to watch him recite the
poem to the class. I'm sure you understand my excitement that day. After he recited the poem, he did the whole poem in sign language (with my help). Then, we taught the class how to say "twinkle twinkle little star" in sign. This is also the technique we used to study his spelling words when he was in first grade. We would learn how to spell the words using sign language.�
Suzanne Thomas
�Bouncing for better handwriting�using a pogo stick helped our son with his handwriting. I don�t understand why this worked but it was something to do with crossing the mid line in our bodies, working left and right sides of the brain. We found that Alex jumping on the pogo stick helped Alex�s handwriting to improve and it was a fun thing to do without him realizing he was doing something for his dyslexia. The IQuest by LeapFrog for history made studying for tests fun. We bought the math and history cartridges for the textbook Alex was using and it has been great.�
Angie Hood
�What worked before Greengate?? Well, books on tape of course were a big help. Working math or spelling words on a dry erase board helped. When putting spelling words in alphabetical order, I would write the words on small cards (the back of Chuck's old business cards) then Janie could lay the cards in alphabetical order on the table or floor and then copy or type them on her paper. We keep a fishing tackle box with school supplies in it. That way she can have all the things she needs in one place and it's portable. When she was in public school and would have a lot of math problems to do, I would let her use a calculator on every other problem. That way she wasn't so frustrated and mentally drained. Since Greengate I haven't had to help Janie much at home and my brain has enjoyed the vacation!�
Lydia Alexander
Homeschooling mom Barbara Cerny:
The Scottish Rite videos have been great! Just being able to get up each day and know that the O-G lesson (Orton-Gillingham) is planned for the day is awesome. I have used textbooks that are written at a lower reading level with a higher interest level, such as Peoples Publishing and Globe-Fearon (for science and social studies). Also, a study skills course has been good for them to help with locating and processing information. The Critical Thinking Press publishes thinking skills books that are great. For math, I use a multi-sensory approach, either a video (Nick is doing Alg I on video now) or a manipulative based program like Moving with Math. For grammar, we have used Easy Grammar- it provides information in a sequential manner and is less confusing. I don't know if this is what you were asking. We listen to a lot of books on tape, too!�