Reading!

Ok, so I'll admit that I'm a dorky teacher.

Over the past three years, I have been working with a very scripted reading program for my special education kids. In general, teachers don't like scripted programs. They tell you exactly what to do and exactly what to say. These programs leave very little room for creativity on the part of the teacher.

The first year I did this program, I was very skeptical. It felt very stiff and very boring. Thankfully, I went on maternity leave and didn't have to follow through with the program. The second year, I started half way thru the school year and kinda warmed up to the program. By the end of the year, I actually saw some kids making gains! Over the summer we found out, these same kids passed our 5th grade state-wide exams. This year, my third year, I am ALL for this program. I am working with kindergarten kids this year and teaching them to read! It's actually working for some of them and I'm very impressed with the results.

Ok, now the dorky part.

I bought one of the books which is a condensed version of the program I'm doing at school.... Only this copy is for parents: Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. (like it's really that easy!!). I am now teach Heather to read. She knows a few sounds and tonight she started to read "see me eat". Yes, she needed a little bit of help blending the sounds together, but she knew the sounds!

We started the program over the summer, once I was sold on the process, but Heather really didn't have the patience for it and neither did I. However, after working this year with 5 kindergarten kids who are the lowest of the low in their class and in DESPERATE need of medication, I somehow have been able to stretch my skills and patience to my own child. Last week I pulled the book out and found that Heather had remembered all the sounds I taught her a few months ago and was able to learn new ones! The book is for K-2 and we'll probably spend more time on the lessons that we would if she was in 2nd grade, but the point is she's learning something that will be helpful forever. Yea us!

And on the thumb sucking: Heather is doing very well with the band aids at night, but without them or the "yucky tasting" thumb stuff, the thumb goes right back into her mouth. We'll get there... even if it costs us just as much in band aids as it would have in braces!