Aspergers, not LD - study skills question

My LD son had the same assignment in 4th grade. I don’t think flashcards would have done it for him either. What we did was get a big poster size map of the U.S. and go through the states and capitals by region. I think the visual image was important to him.

Beth

Thanks, Beth :)

I suggested to his mom that using a U.S. map might help, and I think they tried this too, to no avail.

Hmmm….

OK…then. Back when my child was not as high functioning, he had to learn all the continents. I had him draw a picture to remind him of each one. He then bounced on a ball (we had used the ball in therapy) and recited what the continents were from the pictures.

Today—three years later—he still knows the continents!!

Is this test over all the United States? My son had it by regions which would make a suggestion like that above possible. But all the U.S at once without the regions first…..well, I don’t think a child without disabilities could do that very well.

It might be like the test my son had the same year as the continents on all the bones in the body…not worth aggravating yourself over. My son told me that he would only need to know them if he was going to be a doctor and he was not going to be a doctor…. Some assignments are not worth losing sleep over. He flunked that test but so did a lot of other kids. Difference was neither he or I were even upset.

Beth

:D

The bouncing ball idea is a good one!

I’m thinking that if his not being able to memorize the states/capitals is simply a function of his disability, then I’ll change the assessment format. Like you said, some things are not worth the aggravation. Maybe he just won’t be able to memorize them no matter what. I don’t know.

I was thinking that, using a book for reference, he could draw, label, color etc. a U.S. map in some way that would demonstrate his understanding. He’s very artistic. I haven’t thought through all the details but this might make the most sense. Being able to memorize is not the end goal for everyone, after all. Reference skills are valuable too. :)

Thanks for your help.

My daughter used a state capital song tape from audio memory. They sing the capitals by regions with a very catchy tune

http://www.audiomemory.com/

Another option might be to check out a freeware program that offers electronic flash cards and allows the student to color code the states that he has difficulty with. He can also import graphics which adds additional visual cuing. And the software keeps track of his responses so that he can see which questions he has mastered and which ones are still difficult.
I have to look up the website so let me know if you’d like it.
I’ve burned it to CD and have distributed it to some of my students. They love it to help them remember a variety of things - state capitals, vocab words, the Preamble to the Constitution, science definitions, etc.

He sounds like a visual learner to me, so practice labeling a map with the names & capitals given would be wehre I would start. Have flashcards for eery state & capital (cut up so they’ll fit on a map).
I am pretty sure there are some online exercises to do this (some people just gotta play with Flash!). A little googling gets me
http://www.yourchildlearns.com/puzzle_us.htm
Try googling states capitals lessons and see what comes up. Flashcards just don’t “imprint” for some folks.