I have been soo busy that I haven’t had time to visit here for awhile. I recently started working part-time as a reading lab teacher at a public school (actually my job title is merely “aide,” but I’m seriously considering taking the CBEST!). Anyhow, I had an interesting experience today with one particular child. I was working with a group of 3rd graders. One was particularly low and had tremendous word attack and spelling issues. At one point he was asking me how to spell something. I was encouraging him to sound out the letters of the word, but then when he was having so much difficulty doing this, I had him take a short break writing and taught him to air write and visualize the word (Russia). He was quickly able to tell me every letter and spell it backwards —with surpising ease. He was shocked he could do this! Our center time had ended so he walked up to the dry erase board and wrote the word on it and said, “I really see it in my head!” Then he went to another teacher and excitedly told her about it.
Is this unusual? I was really surpised at how easily he learned to do this. And also, how stongly he visualized the letters. Can it be that he never tried or realized he could do this?
Re: Unusual teaching experience?
It ‘s unusual for the light to go on so easily — but maybe so unusual because it’s not tried very often at just the right time ;)
I remember shortly after I published “ways to practice spelling” and getting an email from a mom whose kid had started getting A’s & B’s on spelling quizzes with Reverse Chaining (the teacher’s only strategy was “copy the word 5 more times”). Not only was he happier because he was succdessful, but he realized that sometimes when you’re failing miserably, it may not be something innate and irreparable about you — it may be something about your approach that needs to be tweaked.
Powerful lesson for a second or third grader … YOU GO GIRL :) :) :) :lol: :lol: :lol:
Re: Unusual teaching experience?
(But yea, this is a risky spot — *do* teach him to connect those strong vfisions to the sounds the letters stand for! “SS” can stand for /sh/ in pressure, Russia, fissure…)
Re: Unusual teaching experience?
Something we see often in math — I think Des mentioned she had had a couple of these moments. Sometimes the kid needs *permission* to visualize. If the teachers and curriculum have been only verbal and negate any visualization methods, permission can be very powerful. Then yes, definitely, teach him how to tie it al together.
hey Laura..
Are you sure you don’t want to go to CSUNorthridge and become an SLP? I started out as a reading intervention teacher like you are doing when I had all my LMB training. I was hooked…4.5 years later I am an SLP…It’s never to late… :lol:
Re: Unusual teaching experience?
This particular student will definitely need another program like PG (which is what I’d probably use because of my lack of time with each child). Hopefully I’ll get more opportunities to work with this child before the end of the year. But unfortunately, it’s unlikely I’ll really get enough time to make much of a difference before school ends.
I get so little time with individual students. Right now I’m filling in when the other teachers (aides) are absent. If no one is absent I can choose individual students to work with.
I’m also limited because I have to use materials set up by the reading specialist — and right now that’s group reading and comprehension questions. But I always try to slip in some phonics work (ala PG!). :wink:
Patti, I did consider CSUN’s SLP program, but it would take a long time to get through it. Right now, I’m thinking I may do the quicker task (take the CBEST and then work towards becoming a Reading Specialist). After that I may take some SLP classes through CSUN’s extension and see if I like it and want to apply for the program. (Although I’ve heard CSUN is so overcrowded that they are closed off to students who already have a master’s degree. So I may not have a choise).
yeah it does take a long time
To get through the Speech Path program. :? Even if you already have a degree, you would still have to do all the classes in the SLP major which is a lot. I know CSUN has a program that you can do online and with work experience but I think it is pretty costly. The Cal State System is in crisis due to the budget crunch. The fees are going up every semester and they cut back the classes that are offered as well. :cry:
When I started I had an AA in Business from a loong time ago…then I jammed going summers and some classes between semester’s averaging 15 units a semester and it still took me 4.5 years. But I got my Special Day Class teaching credential and my SLP credential at the same time. I am so glad I am done!!
I applied at 5 different school districts, and I am working for one of them per diem…all 5 called me for interviews as there is such a high demand for SLP’s…. :lol: I love what I am doing… :wink:
I think it’s extremely likely that no one has ever showed him. Seeing Stars uses that technique, and there’s no doubt that teaching visualization increases memory for spelling, as far as I am concerned. Good for you for thinking of it! However, you know he needs to go back to square one and do a PG type program. :-)
Janis