Well, one of many…
I went to look for new books at CUM bookshop at Canal Walk the other day. But they didn’t really have much. I chose maybe one book for my middle two, a biography for myself that I’ll lend the teens when I’m done with it, and then this card game.
My aim with educating my middle two, is to make sure that their foundation is strong. Given they are learning disabled, why force typical learning for their non typical brain? So I mix things up. Sometimes a page or two from their normal school books (Christian Light) and anything therapeutic I can put my hands on, always bearing in mind the specific challenges they have.
This one seemed perfect for working their working memory. They have four of each card so up to four can play.
Today was my first time using them with my eight and nine year old and we played SNAP! I chose 4 pairs of cards upside down so I don’t weary their brains, and they each would pick up two cards and turn them over. Then put them back upside down and the aim was to hope that the players recall where each card was so that if they pick a matching one, they go back and pick it.
And before I could even mention it, Amarissa asked if they have Bible verses on them! Win! So we discussed the animal, the number on the card, and the verse..and worked on working memory in such a fun way that they were sad when it was over.
Win!
As for my four year olds? Play includes learning so there isn’t much happening except my taking note of unusual speech patterns in my very talkative one and making videos that playfully correct them. And showing and modeling saying “Thank you” for my (mostly) non speaker who does ask for specific foods but hasn’t learnt to say thank you yet.
My twin above- on the left of the picture as we view it- constantly begs me to read to her. She’s obsessed with two books. A “Seek and Find” David and Goliath book, in which every left side page has some items for you to look for in the right side page (sheep, the sling etc) and God Rescues- a book about Pharoah and Moses. I laughed recently. She came to my room instead of going to bed. and asked me if I’d read to her. I said yes. She ran out my room and told her biggest sister who was waiting to get her to bed, “Ella, Mommy said, ‘Let’s read!’” I love that interpretation!🤣
She is super busy, always wants to be read to, to play… Her quiet alone time has reduced in length.
And my non- speaking angel?
She is hilarious. She is still happy without us. I knelt down next to her while waiting for her to be changed out of her shoes for nap time, told her I love her..and she gently pushed on my knees, showing me I must get out her room.
Her dad popped his head into her room yesterday as she stood by the door getting toys out the wardrobe. She saw him..and tried to shut him out by pushing the door closed.
They’re happy. They’re getting over a horrible cold that has kept their poor noses blocked and miserable. We adults know how frustrating it is to have a blocked but runny nose and we can sniff! They aren’t there yet.
Anyway! This was meant to be a ‘homeschool tip’ type blog so I’ll end here because my wrist is extremely sore. Stupid AS. I’ll share some more on my YT channel. It hasn’t impacted my jaw this time ! Look for @thandilocks
They said I should write a book 