This Thing Is Bigger Than The Both Of Us

Welllll, alrighty then.

Last Monday night, the first one I chose to tutor in January, our numbers doubled. I went from "my two girls" to adding two boys and - sort of - an older girl.

These extras are Sam, Mike and Shania.

Sam is seven, but reads less well than the twins, who are six. He lacks confidence, even with Hop on Pop. His older brother, Q, seems to enjoy reading. But Sam hasn't figured it out yet.

Mike is about ten (I've been given differing information about what grade he's in), but originally told me that he reads at a 3rd grade level. He actually doesn't read that poorly, but needs a lot of practice to "get it" with fluency. Right now he's able to read the words, but not hear the story.

Shania, I think, is his sister. They have different last names, but I guess that's neither here nor there with these kids. Anyway, she's about thirteen. She can read, and reads aloud when given the chance to read anything. I don't know how much of the story she understands. She's asked for recommendations, but reads a few paragraphs of each book (aloud) and puts it back on the shelf. The only thing she's picked up of her own accord more than once is an elderly Garfield comic book she found in the big book case. And suddenly I'm grateful for the huge box of Garfield books that's sitting in my attic room, waiting to join the fold of donated books in Cliveden Park. (Thanks, Imagine!)

Clyde also worked with most of these kids for a time, as well as Q, and his regular gang upstairs. He tells me that Mike is just "lost" in math. He doesn't know most of his times tables, but his school is working on fractions and percentages. I myself am easily confused by numbers, but apparently all of this is makes school/life harder for this child. Clyde relates that Mike is far enough behind right now that it is unlikely they will be able to find a way to catch up with his learning this year. That doesn't mean he won't try, of course. But Clyde isn't sure how to best approach things yet. And Mike doesn't seem to mind, which is certainly a challenge, also.