Geometry,Staples Notebook graph paper, and a straight edge or ruler

Often a student will draw the problem on their notebook paper when they really need graph paper.  Without the graph paper there is more room for error.  Graph paper is not expensive, comes in a spiral bound notebook and helps a struggling student.  Graph paper allows the student to make neat efficient examples of the problem they are solving.  Tonight we were working with a student and when the student saw the problem on graph paper, the student was able to understand the problem solution. Using Graph paper instead of a makeshift graph gives a realisticvisual presentation of the problem.  Please make sure your child or student has the proper materials to do their work.  This includes a straight edge or ruler and graph paper.

Reading Comprehension, Barron"s Painless Reading Comprehension by Darolyn " Lyn" Joned, Ed.D.

The young man I am homeschooling and I are reading this book aloud together.  We began August 14, 2014.  I read the book aloud and he tries to ignore me.  On page 4 there is a reference to the Hunger Games books by Suzanne Collins.  He looks up and ask, " Is that really in there or did you make it up?" I show him the words in the book.
I have continued to read this book several times a week aloud to him.  I know if I do not read it aloud to him, it will not be read.  One reason it will not be read is he will not understand it.  He does not try because he has failed so painfully in formal school. When there are suggested activities, I do the activity with him. When I am not sure he understands a word, we discuss it together.  I have him type the word in the computer to find the meaning.  
On December 4, we are only on page 92.  Some days we only read half of a page.  We work to make sure he understands what that half  page means  Yes, this is slow and at times I want to do something else.
Page 90 begins a section on Skimming for Information.  There are  five questions to answer on page 91.  I have him copy that page to make it easier to look at the questions as he reads the selection back on page 20.  We discuss the meaning of some of the words in the questions.  I have him try each question on his own. When he can not figure out the answer, we discuss the question and I have him try to find the answer again.  Then I need to read the section to him and discuss what it means.  Finally he can answer the question.  If I get flustrated or impatient with him, I have just told him that yes he is dumb and I am wasting his time anyway.  He does not believe that sometimes I am flustered with myself for not having an easy way to teach him.
On December 5, we are doing the second half of page 92.  It is a Let's Practice section on the meaning of a selection on page 49.  Once again, I have him copy on a copy machine the 5 questions
I want him to answer.  This time he is able to answer the questions by himself.

Learning clocks

This set of clocks helps the learner that struggles to figure out problems that ask how long between when a trip began and when the trip is completed.

This child needs to talk aloud to learn

The child I am homeschooling has figured out that he needs to talk out loud to himself to work more efficiently.  He struggles to finish his math papers in a timely fashion.  He could not pass his timed math facts test.  Once he started saying his answers out loud as he took the test, his scores improved.
As he gains confidence in his ability to learn his math facts, I expect he will not need to talk as much.  I am learning to listen to how he needs to learn instead of how I want to teach. Success is easier for both of us.

Timing work for a struggling child

A friend of mine named Cindy told me about timing a child's work to help them succeed;. The child I homeschool took all day and could not get his work done.  I would spend an hour and a half to try to get his English finished.  We were both miserable.  I was not succeeding in teaching him.  Cindy suggested I try timing him and then moving on to the next subject when the time was over.  I gave him 10 minutes to do his English and then I assured him it was enough.  I put the paper back in my book to be worked on the next day.  At first, it took a week to do a day's work.  As I learned to accept what he could do, he grew more confident and could do more.  He was so concerned he was not doing the paper correctly he could not work. Now he can do a paper in two days and is close to finishing one day's lesson in one day.

Taking a photo on a cell phone to help write the answer

The child I am homeschooling struggles with spelling. Regardless of how much he tried he would misspell his answer and lose his place.  He decided that taking a picture of the word he needs on a cell phone and then copying it off the phone is easier than looking back and forth a few pages to spell the word.  This has made learning and getting his answers correct more efficient. This unusual tool and idea allows him to be successful when compensating for his learning challenges.  He is also using this idea to find answers to questions involving a map.

Can I finish my math problem?

The student I am homeschooling refused to allow me to read to him, two and a half years ago.  Today he asked his Dad if he could finish his math problem before they left.  There have been times I wanted to give up homeschooling this child.  Today, I was glad his parents and I have worked together to help this child learn.

Measuring a pencil with a paperclip

There is a problem in the Saxon 7/6 math book that asks the student how the student would measure their pencil with a paperclip.  The book's purpose is for the student to find out how many paperclips it takes to find the length of the pencil.  The student I am homeschooling asked if he could tell me how he would measure the pencil using a paperclip instead of writing the answer.  He believed the answer 

is to long to write.  I told him he could tell me but then he might still have to write it.  He would take the paper clip and unfold it to its extended length and then weld another paper clip to the first one until it was as long as the pencil.  This method will work. It is just not the expected answer. I explained to him the answer the book wanted.

Grandpa Teaches Austin to Color, ebook on Kindle,

This is about grandparents working with a grandchild that is struggling to color.  Hopefully the book will encourage others to help anyone they know struggling to learn.  The book can download on Kindle for free tomorrow November 5, 2014.  Otherwise, it will be 2.99.  Have fun reading.

working with older adult

Today, I worked with an adult who is struggling with balance because of Parkinson.  I showed him  some ideas about patterning with tossing a ball and helped him think of things he could do to help slow the disease and keep his balance better.  As we were working he could see his balance and ability to catch the ball improve.

Blockus

This is a favorite game with the teens.  I played it Saturday with 3 sisters I am working with.  It is better taught on a one on one basis to begin with to avoid hurt feelings.  On learner earlier said this could really make enemies while playing.  There are enough pieces for 4 players. It helps with patterning in a fun way which helps with reading.

Dominos

Too many people do not know how to use dominos to teach math.  This is an easy way to encourage math without teaching math.  The dominos are played and then the end dominos are added up on the ends to keep score.  Here 6 plus 6 are 12 and they are added to 4 plus 4 are 8 for a score of 20.  Only numbers ending in 5 or 10 groups are counted as score. I do not have the learners add the scores but simply add then aloud for them until they are able to do this for themselves and then they add without being told.

Block Buddies

This is an enjoyable patterning activity for younger children and helps with learning to read.

Game Shelf

This is just a picture of some of the games on the game shelf in the tutoring building.  This building is 16 by 24 to allow room to bounce the balls and for the balancing equipment.

Head Full of Numbers

I do not like this game.  Either a student will like it or they will strongly dislike it.  When they like it, I use it and when they dislike it, I agree with them and explain I do not like it either and we will chose another way to learn this information.

Fraction Dominoes

This is a wonderful game to help learners understand how one fraction has the same value as another one.  For example 1/3 equals 2/6.  Therefore, they can be played next to each other as they have the same value. It also helps they see how the picture 1/3 equals the symbol 1/3. Usually I use this for 4 to 6th grade.

Balametrices Hanging Ball and Control Stick

This is a control stick from balametrics used to hit the ball hanging on a string from the ceiling.  Almost every learner wants to use it like a bat.  This helps with hand eye activities and balance.

Counting by Number

I have the learner stand on the balance board and hit the ball hanging from the ceiling while saying the numbers while counting by 2's, 3's, 4's, and etc.  We alternate hands while doing this. We also pattern by bouncing the balls to each other while saying the number pattern. The pattern is my right hand to their left hand, ball to their right hand and then the ball bounced to my left hand. Once the pattern is learned and the number set said aloud, we switch tossing the balls to the other direction.  We start with one ball and work up to four balls so each hand is doing something all the time.  This is a lot of fun while learning remedial math counting. Sometimes, I need to change where I am standing to the right or left instead of directly in front of the student to help a different part of the brain to focus on the number sequence.

Ball on Circle

I start this activity while standing on the floor and as the learner learns I have them work on the balance board.  The toy moves and the ball often hits the floor to begin with.  It is just a fun balancing activity. I found this at kiddlestiks in Tulsa.  They have a lot educational toys. 

Balance Beam Ball Toss

An individual balancing and bouncing the ball across the body.

Math U See Fractions

I use these to show how 1/2 times 1/3 equals 1/6 in my example.  Too many students struggle with this concept and it is so easy when they are shown with the Math U See Fraction pieces.  The math u see is clear plastic pieces divided into different fraction parts.  The other fraction piece is placed over the first one to show how it is multiplied to make a smaller piece. Many times a learners face lights up with understanding.  I ordered these from the math u see program.

More Fraction Tiles

These fraction tiles are square and some learners seem to need to see more than one kind of fraction shape tiles to understand fraction pieces.

R Word Bingo

This game just helps with the letter r in words.  Younger children also like to take their turn reading the clues.  This helps them learn without the pressure of a grade.

Balancing externally instead of internally

Saturday, I tutored a young lady and am reminded to share about balance.  Often when learners struggle they need to spend their time and energy working to balance.  This is done when care and energy is taken to balance when it should be done automatically.  She was on the balance board and throwing a ball at the number board.  I noticed she was working to hold her arm behind her to help with balance.  This takes away some of her concentration energy to learn. I explained that she needed to relax her arm at her side to learn to balance internally instead of using her learning energy to balance, This is a big part of what I teach.

Balance Beam Walk

This is a balance beam board.  Actually it is two boards lined up together.  This individual walks the first beam, which is stationary.  The second balance beam is on rockers from Balametrics. The rockers are like the ones on the balance board. The learner walks the beams forward with their eyes open and then backwards. Touching the wall is acceptable as they learn to do this because the goal is to keep from falling while learning to balance. I warn when they are close to stepping off the board backwards.  When this is mastered the learner tries this with their eyes closed.  Peeking to see where they are is acceptable as they are learning to do this with their eyes closed.  Again, touching the wall is also acceptable as the goal is to keep from falling while learning balance.
Another activity is bouncing a high bounce ball across the center of the body while walking the balance beam. Often it is necessary to walk beside the learner on the floor to teach this.  The learner holds the ball in the right hand and puts the left foot forward.  Next the ball is bounced across the body to the floor.  Then caught in the left hand.  Now move the right foot forward on the balance beam and cross the body with the left hand and bounce it on the right side of the beam and catch it with the right hand.  I watch to see that the learner does not bounce the ball on the same side as the leading foot.  This is more difficult than it appears to be.  This is a fun activity if taught gently.

Learning to follow directions, Teaching to follow directions, David Titus the String Man

Many children and adults struggle to follow directions.  In my opinion, this is especially true of struggling learners of all ages.  One " hands on" way of teaching and learning to following directions
is watching and using the videos of David Titus.  The learner hears and sees the directions as they are using their hands and the string that comes with the video to follow the directions.
An added benefit is being able to show others how to use the string and share the success the learner has.  Too often a struggling learner has too few successes.

I have been in 9th grade 3 times and cannot pass

I talked to a mom last week.  She has a son who has been in the 9th grade three times.  His sister, who is grown, thinks he may have dyslexia.  Mom says the school told her he will not pass if she puts him in school this year.  Will mom bring him to see if my tutoring will help him?  Has the son given up on schooling and will he even come see if my tutoring will help him?  I do not know.

Barron's Painless Reading Comprehension, Reading a book I am not interested in

I am working with this book to help with reading comprehension.  I am reading the book to my homeschool student and it looks successful.
There is a book, I have no desire to read.  It is the Hunger Games.  We are reading it in school when the assigned work is finished.  The student thought I would read it to him.  We are reading it every other sentence.  I take one sentence and he reads the next one.  Why should I do all the work, when he wants to read the book.  This way he has to read if he wants to hear the book.  Also, he is encouraged to read for pleasure.

Round Fraction Tiles

This is one of my favorite tools.  These can be found at WalMart as well as many other stores.  I have several sets and they make a great hands on toy for age 4 and up.  Any child struggling with fractions should play with these. I keep them in an easily opened container.  They also need supervision so they do not get lost. I have them use these on a table that is their size.  Make up story problems for them.  Example.  You have a pie and you are going to share half of it with your friend. Before you cut the pie two more friends come over so you need to cut the pie into how many pieces.  Continue the story as the child helps you make the story.

Shapes Up

This is another patterning game.  It is fun and helps with math and reading.  I do not use each tool or game each time or with each student.  Do not think you need to get them all.

school has started

The student I home school is back in school.  This year should be a successful year.  His challenges have been worked on and hopefully overcome.  Now we will work on filling in the holes in his learning.
We have had two successful days.  When he wants to slid back into compensation mode, I remind him that he is in middle school and we have corrected the learning challenge.  We are doing the balance board daily also.  Last year, it was a challenge to get math and English done on a daily basis.
This year, we are doing history, math, English, Science, Bible and Khan Academy.  Today, he wanted me to grade his work. He needs to learn to wait for his grade, so he will get it on Monday. Khan Academy is fun because I sit by him and help him figure out the problem and then he gets instant feedback on his answer.  It is a fun way to practice without me pushing him.

Qwirkle

This is a fun game to teach patterning.  I use it for most ages but change the difficulty for the younger children. I change the difficulty by having everyone put their tiles face up. It is a popular tool.

Small Motor Control using clothes pins

Unfortunately, today children do not see clothes pins.  Moms seldom hang clothes so many homes do not even have clothes pins in them.  I start out letting children play with these and them have them do them with different fingers and their thumbs.  This helps with holding a pencil for writing as well as hand eye control.