Last school year in my blog, I wrote most often about two students. This was not my intent, and I, of course blogged about other students, but these two students showed the most progress and, at times, took the most energy. If I look back at those blogs, it is amazing to see how far they came.
This year, again, not by intent, but for the same reasons as last year, it seems that three different students are beginning to emerge as my “highlighted” students. I have mentioned them several times already this school year; one is a first grader with some learning disabilities and the other two are brothers (twins) in second grade, working at a kindergarten level.
This week, each student exhibited progress. For the first time, the first grader was able to read a four letter word! It came with great struggle, but he was able to read several four letter words. I have been working with this student since the simmer, and I hope this is a sign of times ti come. I have been covering up the last sound(s) in each word so he can more easily blend or sound out the words. This is a source of frustration for him, but it provides a higher success rate while reading for him. This week, the books we were reading had many more four letter words then in previous books. By using the same method, exposing the first two sounds and then each subsequent sound, he was able to blend the words together. My hope is that by physically narrowing his view of the letters, he will be able to do this in his mind as he reads; I have already seen this with some three letter words. Words he would previously sound out, he is now recognizing.
I have been challenging the two second grade boys to learn sight words (words that are often used) at home in between their visits to LIST. If they are able to read all 10 words to me each visit, they are allowed a prize from the treasure box. This has worked as a great motivation for them; I have been trying to find just the right activity to motivate them and it seems I have found one that works! At this point, I think they have learned 40 or 50 words. Small steps, but progress nonetheless.
Finally, if you have not heard, His People, a local community choir will be performing a Christmas concert with all proceeds benefiting LIST. Save the date (December 13) and buy your tickets soon! For more information, go to www.listhelps.org.
