Into The Home Stretch

Despite the already climbing temperatures, which I find hard to cope with, we are excited to be starting the final term of school for 2009. I have been trying to post about bits and pieces that we do each day in our work which deal with the Auditory Processing Delays. I seem to never get to finish such a post.

Most days we work on Maths,a little below age level but where my sons are able to achieve alone. (That's a great boost to be able to work ALONE!) Their English consists of reviewing Phonic sounds, vocabulary words, some grammar and writing, again at the level they can read at. Science and Social Studies are very basic and as many practical activities as possible. I read a lot of General Knowledge type books to them as well as novels, poetry. They also have to read to me each day. Our allotted subsidized Speech Pathology sessions are over for the year but we try to work on the various phonics activities and games suggested there as much as possible. After a couple of years, this has become a repetitive grind for us all. (Trying to keep positive)

This term, our support teachers from Groves Christian College, have sent some new activities which the boys are keen on. One is Signs and Safely. This is a practical workbook which we can follow up in our day to day life. This is something they can do almost entirely on their own, so they are loving it. I have always tried to give the boys the skills they need to function normally, even when they can't read everything around them so this will be great reinforcement.

The other is a comprehension book using all non-fiction pieces. This is helpful, as most of the comprehension they have been doing has of necessity been babyish stories which are of no interest to them. This gives them snippets of useful general knowledge, written at a level they can mostly read and comprehend.

Memorizing and retaining information are areas where delay is most noticeable, especially in details. We do a lot of reading aloud, me to them, covering almost any area which I feel they need to be learning. I really want my lads to be able to converse and understand what others are talking about in general conversation.

Can a non reader really complete their schooling and lead a useful and fulfilling work life? The Lord knows. I pray constantly for patience and wisdom . If I refer too often to it, please forgive, it is very heavy on my heart.

What I know is that they already size up possible future occupations by whether it will require reading.

When S2 was at the hospital the other night, he told me, after the very kind young doctor had walked out of the room, that it would be great to be a doctor. I said that they work very long, hard hours and they have to do a great deal of study to be able to treat patients. He thought that over and said, "University?" I replied " Yes, many years of university." He said no more but his face spoke volumes. :0(

We are continuing with our practical approach and plan a couple of skills days with the dads this term. We are also doing our Lamb's Book of Art session weekly with our small group. Swimming squads training is back on for the Summer, with our regular home school group, and basket ball fixtures with a local club. I'm exhausted just writing about it all!