First Three Weeks

The first three weeks of school have been mixed...

She loves her teacher.
She's struggling with the pace of academics.
She loves being on the safety patrol team, a privilege for 5th graders.
She's discouraged at the amount of writing required.
She loves science.
She's having a hard time with math concepts.
She's made new friends.
She's missing 2 friends who moved away over the summer.
She's diving well.
She's really tired at the end of each day.
She's only had one meltdown.
She's really trying according to her teacher.

School is Just Around the Corner...

And I must admit to a fair amount of dread for my daughter.  Since her older brother was a fifth grader last year, so I have a good idea of the content and pace of learning.  It challenged my son without academic struggles, so I'm assuming my daughter will struggle.  And it fills me with dread.

The question swirling around these last few days before school starts from many is "Are you excited about fifth grade?" My daughter answers 'yes' but her eyes dart and lock with mine while popping a shoulder shrug.  I know her confidence level is low.  She's excited about friends and activities and being the top class in elementary school, but you can feel her tension when she thinks about academics and all that goes with it.

There are a few changes we made...

she had an appointment with our eye doctor and he determined her prescription has changed and we ordered new glasses.  The issues with her eyes tracking evenly, holding a gaze steadily, and switching focus smoothly have not improved or worsened.  Her main complaint to the doctor was tired eyes after school which makes homework even tougher.

She will be home about 75 minutes before any other siblings this year.  I'm hoping to use this time to tackle some homework.  I don't usually like to hit her with homework right when she comes in the door from a long day of work, but I'm hoping the motivation of being done with homework early and having the rest of the evening free pushes her through that tough spot.  And I'm hoping the one on one time helping her with homework is beneficial to both.

I'm looking forward to having just her to focus on without distractions.  Plus I've been thinking of way to encourage and inspire her.  Proper motivation goes a long way with her.

And it does with me, too.

Summer Tutoring

We hired a teacher from my daughter's elementary school to tutor her during the summer break.  Erika was quite reluctant at the thought; she had definitely planned on being free of all things academic this summer.

I assured her the sessions could be quite different, maybe even fun. For starters, the tutor was coming to our house.  She likes the students to be comfortable and this made most sense geographically.  And the tutor was customizing the curriculum to strengthen Erika's weaknesses.  If Erika knew it, they'd skip it.  If Erika needed reteaching, they'd land it on a little longer.  I liked the idea of not moving forward until Erika had mastered a lesson.

We're six weeks into the summer break and tutoring is going fantastic.  Erika is working hard and many concepts are clicking.  She's very open to asking the tutor for help and learning the value of working through hard stuff because she sees the success.

My hope is she won't fall any more behind over summer break and she'll gain some confidence to take with her into school starting in just 6 weeks.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid & A Giveaway

My daughter's favorite books are The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series written and illustrated by Jeff Kinney.  She anticipates each book's debut as well as each movie release.

She likes the content of the books plus she also really appreciates the format.  The cartoon illustrations on almost every page aid in her understanding of the text and boosts her comprehension.  In addition, viewing the movies gives her visual images she can take with her when she reads the books.  She is very concerned with getting the images in her head to match the context clues.

My daughter seems to get bogged down with trying to visualize the setting and characters perfectly when she just reads text without illustrations.  Many times processing letters and words takes so much effort and the meaning just gets lost.  She'll often come to me in frustration when she has visualized the main character with red hair, for example, only to find out later, their hair is actually brown.  (I've explained this happens to all readers and even I adjust the visual images in my mind as I find new clues from the text) But when she realizes she is missing context clues and the plot doesn't make sense, she gets frustrated and starts to shut down.

The illustrations in The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books are simple, black and white cartoon illustrations and still leave room for her to do some work creating mental pictures on her own.  The font size is larger than standard in most books and paragraphs are separated by illustrations making it easier for her to track the text, read, and comprehend.

With my other three children, I've always required they read a book before watching the corresponding movie.  But sometimes, I find it is helpful to reverse this order with my dyslexic daughter.  Letting her view the movie first helps her follow the plot better because the hard work of visualizing the characters and setting is done for her. She can focus on the plot which makes the hard work of reading a book enjoyable for her.  I'm still trying to show her reading can be fun instead of the drudgery she often considers it.  The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and movies help us accomplish that.  Thanks, Wimpy Kid! 

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is definitely her favorite book series.  

And because I'm just certain other dyslexic kiddos will enjoy The Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, I'm going to give away the The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days  hardcover book (#4) and the most recent movie, The Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days DVD.  

Details:

There are 2 things you have to do to enter to win The Diary of a Wimpy Kid:Dog Days book & DVD:

1.  Leave a comment with your name (first name & last name initial, please) And if you'd like, leave me the link to your blog or www and I'll check it out!

And... this is the really important one...

2.  I'm asking you GIVE the book & DVD to a child with dyslexia.  It can be your own child, your student, neighbor, friend, etc.  Just want to let you help inspire a child to enjoy reading despite the challenges of dyslexia.

I'll announce the winner Thursday (May 16, 2013) at noon (central time).  Check back to see if you're the winner and  GOOD LUCK !! 

*Contest Closed*

{Scrambled Path was not endorsed to write this post.  Opinions are my own.}

Dyslexics & Problem Solving

One of the advantages I hear over and over about dyslexia is the keen ability to problem solve.

Richard Branson attributes part of his success (which I define as being able to do what one wants despite the challenges in their way; not financial success) to his ability to see problems (mainly of potential customers) and provide relevant and timely solutions (to gain their business)

He has always felt while others write out lengthy proposals and present them in drab conference rooms to financial officers- he finds success in sketching out ideas on a napkin while conversing with someone over lunch.  In other words, he's able to identify and provide solutions to real problems for real people.  He also sees this as a function of his dyslexia- cut around the fluff and get to the center of it all with lots of fast thinking on his feet.

I see this ability in my daughter, too.  I'm not saying she has what she needs to be an entrepreneur billionaire, I just notice she thinks well on her feet and focuses on solving problems rather than analyzing or ignoring them.

She is often the peacemaker among her peers.   When spats break out, some times her peers think solutions are impossible and quit working to find one (run home) and let relationships fizzle out (avoid each other), but E is driven to find a win-win-win solution even if it takes a while.

And she's really good at simplifying problems, too.

For example,  she was recently given a writing assignment.  It told of a boy who was scared to go into the basement of his house.  He described it as dark, scary, and full of weird noises he imagined as horrible things.  The prompt went on (and on) to explore his possible emotions, imagination, and what the he should do/think to be able to conquer his fear and go into the basement.  There were three blank pages to fill with writings of thoughts, strategies, and ideas for the boy.

My daughter read it all, thought for a few seconds, and wrote:

Turn on the light. Nothing scary is there.  Go in the basement.

Problem solved. :-)

Study Buddy

I'm always looking for ideas to boost my daughter's motivation to read.  Since we all know,  one needs to actually read to improve one's reading skills.  But with my dyslexic daughter, there are times she does all she can to avoid it.  I avoid things I don't like, too, and need extra motivation to complete the tasks.  I get it.

One idea I have read over and over is to provide your child with a 'study buddy'.  A study buddy can be real or stuffed, it just needs to be something your child can read to and interact with as an extra motivation to complete assignments.

We have a chocolate labrador and my daughter would try to read to her, but we are a busy family and our lab likes to be in the middle of the action.  She did not make a good study buddy since she bounces from one person to the next and back again.

Now my daughter has a leopard gecko.  A reptile.  I'm not a fan of reptiles, but my son has one and my daughter loved it, so her dad bought one for her.  The gecko's name is Rosa.

Rosa has done a wonderful job in her role as an unconditional listener.  She sits and 'listens' to my daughter as she struggles through each word, completes a sentences slowly, and drudges on through paragraphs.  In fact, Rosa does a better job than I do.  I am often fighting the urge to feed my daughter words and rush her through phrases when I listen to her read.

My daughter loves having Rosa.  Rosa is a big cheerleader for my daughter as she does dreaded homework assignments.   She is motivated to do those assignments knowing she gets time with her gecko.  Either way, she's actually reading and using her brain to process language.

And I'm starting to appreciate reptiles.  Well, maybe just one of them. Thanks, Rosa!

Standardized Testing

Last week, the students at our elementary school were given their state standardized tests.  And my daughter was nervous.

My husband and I were nervous, too, but have not passed any of it to her.  We've been super chill about the test and the role the results will play in her future.  It's the last thing she needs.  Instead, we've pointed her back to all of the progress she has made and all of the hard work she's done to be prepared.

She woke up on day one of testing... sick!  Fever, headache, sore throat.  After a trip to the doctor, we discovered it was strep.  Of course, she was home the next two days recovering and missed taking the tests on the scheduled days.

Initially, I was frustrated she missed testing days after only having one other absent day this academic year.  Why must she be sick on the days she needed to be there most?  But as it turns out, the make up testing environment may have really helped her take the tests in a calm state of mind.  It seemed to be with less pressure and may be exactly what she needed to do well.

She reported the tests were easy.  Now I'm nervous.

Time will tell.  Awaiting results...

Dyslexia & Diet

I've watched a lot of the nutrition documentaries out there...

Crazy Sexy Cancer
Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead
Food Inc
Food Matters
Forks Over Knives
Hungry for Change
Vegucated


My main purpose was to find some nutritional solutions to the environmental allergies my son experiences.  Along the way, I discovered the power of vitamins.  I have seen my son who is prone to allergens reduce the symptoms with a vitamin load.

Recently, I've been pondering how diet and dyslexia might be connected.  Not as a cure, but how healthy nutrition can boost brain function to alleviate any barriers that can be removed.

Any articles, research, or tips you can share?

Summer Strategies

I flipped the calendar to April and realized we only have roughly 2 months of fourth grade left.  And as always, it's mixed emotions.  I feel like we are close to accomplishing another long school year and I feel nervous about summer.  Summer break presents a great break from the rigor of the school year, but it always seems to be a con for all of the momentum we've finally got going.

Last summer, we opted to not enroll my daughter in summer school despite several recommendations to do so.  It was a far commute, long hours, and not necessarily going to address the academic areas where she needs extra work.  I bought curriculum and we had a loosely structured academic time each day.  My older kids got in on the task, too, and helped when they could.  It went well, but it seemed to be more of a maintenance strategy, not the strategy we needed to make progress.

This summer, I think we need to find something more substantial to use the nine weeks as a time to catch up on missing concepts and be more prepared for fifth grade.

Any suggestions?

Supplemental curriculum?
Private tutor?
Program at a learning institution?
Summer school?
Online programs?

IEP Meeting

The IEP Invite & Agenda

Last week, we had our IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting for our daughter with her teacher, case manager, tutor, speech therapist, principal, her father and I.  And it was long. And good. And exhausting.

There was so much admin to cover first (long part), then we moved on to documented progress (the surprisingly good).  But we landed on goals for the future and all the work needing to be done to accomplish those...  And that was the exhausting part for me as I help her navigate through it all and especially for her, as she does the hard work of learning.

As with most of her meetings, there's good and there's bad.  I must force myself to focus on the good and let that fuel me for the future.  (By the way, I can not think too far into the future without being overwhelmed when it comes to her education)

Here's the thing: I'm not concerned about her living life as an adult...  she has awesome relationship skills, can problem solve, and knows her strengths along with her limits. She'll do just fine. But I am very concerned how we make it through the next 9 years of report cards, homework, standardized testing, studying, and IEPs.  I have to adopt the "do the next thing" strategy and take it all one week at a time.  Or I can get really overwhelmed and lose my drive to help her succeed. (the last thing she needs from anyone!)   I have to remind myself we are succeeding and let those reminders propel me to do the next thing... and all the extra things.

Anyone feel exhausted just thinking about all that needs to be done?  And the future?

Diving

Hard work paid off this week at a meet.

Drafts & Tears

Been working hard on writing compositions lately...

The prompt for this week was:  What would you do if you were given $100?

We spent so much time, discussion, & tears on several drafts.  Once we got through the very long process, she was quite pleased with the results.

She's learning the value of pushing through difficult assignments and the joy of accomplishing them when she didn't think she could...

Learning it, just not always liking it.

My daughter thought this was funny!

Managing Anxiety

Managing anxiety with my daughter has been a challenge for us.  Partly because my husband and I don't struggle with anxiety much and partly because I just don't understand the level of anxiety or all of the triggers for her.

The anxiety appears when she's asked to do a certain task or when she doesn't sense a person is going to unconditionally support her.

I know reading aloud is a huge trigger in any setting of any material.  She doesn't even like to read aloud when it's just her and I alone.  And we learned when my daughter's beloved tutor was reassigned, the new tutor caused a lot of anxiety.  Mainly because it was all new and he tackled some things differently.  It was a setback for my daughter and took some time for her to establish a relationship with him and settle in to the new set up.  She doesn't perform well when she doesn't think people have her back.  She is very guarded and shuts down with any display of a lack of support. (her perception of lack of support is a little off as well)

Once she's convinced a person will unconditionally support her, she will try.  And try hard.  As I've mentioned before, she trusts her diving coach and it shows by the stunts she attempts.  She loves to meet and connect with people and really doesn't have any fear of strangers.  (As long as they don't ask her to read aloud ;-)

A lot of the challenge is reassigning her anxiety and fear...  reading aloud for a trained, licensed tutor in a safe environment who wants to help her succeed should not be scary, but interacting with strangers in an unknown environment should be.  I love that my daughter has an eye for marginal people and a heart to connect and help them. I certainly don't want to change that.  But a good dose of caution goes a long way in personal safety.

I have a hard time explaining that to her without heaping more anxiety on her to deal with.  I do not want to throw fear onto a task she does well (connecting with people) since she already has a lot of anxiety over the things she does not do well (read, write, etc)  It seems it would be downright discouraging  to tarnish a skill she enjoys and needs to feel successful.  I've placed the burden on myself to find ways and places for her to utilize her strengths.

My daughter also struggles with bad dreams... Dyslexics have often been described as seeing in three dimensions and being very visual therefore, it seems to me (and again, I'm not an expert) visual images must really burn into her brain.  When she sees a scary image it really sticks with her and it must be vivid since it seems so hard for her to forget.  For this reason, we try to guard what she sees knowing it brings bad dreams and it takes a lot of sleep loss, prayers, and reassurance from mom and dad to recover.  And all those distract from the things she needs her brain to power through.

For now, we've decided not to seek medication therapy, but want to help her to learn ways to cope and manage with the anxiety.

Any tips you can share?  I'd love to know what else we can try (or avoid)...

Diving

One of things we've discovered is our daughter needs something nonacademic to do.  After spending most of her day in an environment where most things are difficult for her, she needs an environment where she can excel.

For our daughter, it's diving.

Her small stature and lack of fear has been a great match with the sport of diving.  It also pushes her brain to process steps, approaches, jumps, twists, and tucks in just a few seconds time.  Which surprisingly she does well...  but I think it's because she lacks some of the mental shutdown she sometimes brings to academic items.

And she has an outstanding coach.  He narrates and shows her want he wants her to do (either poolside or has another diver perform from the board), then he asks her to do it and when she gets it right, he has her repeat the motion(s) several times.  Once it's solid in her brain, she can do it.  It may take some time to solidify it, but she gets there.  And the fact she knows that, keeps her trying.

 I mentioned her lack of fear earlier and this is one of the baffling things for me as her mom.  There are times when she exhibits a lot of anxiety and fear.  Helping her manage this anxiety is one of my biggest challenges.  However, I've learned this anxiety is triggered mainly by school, reading aloud, and general academic settings because when it comes to other things- she exhibits very little.  For example, she has no problem whatsoever jumping off the 7 meter platform into 20 feet deep diving well.  Repeatedly.  

Diving also gives her time with kids both older and younger than her. She loves meeting and connecting with people. And the beauty is none of them know her academic status unless she divulges it.  This setting gives her freedom from her difficulties. 

And it's just what she needs.

What works for your child?

Glimmer

Dyslexia Quest App

Here's a few screen captures and thoughts about an app I recently purchased for my daughter.  I'm always looking for fun ways to let her practice skills.  She has enjoyed this app finding it both challenging and rewarding as she sees improvement. 

App Name: Dyslexia Quest
Price: $1.99

Choose your age range

Choose a Quest

First stop on the Tiger Quest

My results (clearly, I have some work to do!)

The Fine Print

List of skills this app works on the quests

 On a side note...

I completed a quest among the craziness of my household... (kids asked me questions, hubs called on phone, sister texted, dog barked, etc) I really had to work through those distractions to stay focused and by the end, my brain literally hurt.  (It went much better later when I was alone without distractions) 

It was a good reminder to me how my daughter must feel most of the time.  It's not always possible to give her the quiet, distraction free space and ample time she needs to be successful.  She often tells me 'my brain hurts'.  The $1.99 I paid was worth experiencing a bit of her world.