Among the Hidden

I'm feeling much better, although still a little hoarse.

This weekend I finally read Among the Hidden, by Margaret Petersen Haddix. It's been on my list for a long while, and I think I picked it up cheap for Cliveden House and then borrowed it back. Now I'm keen to get and read the other books in the series and read the whole lot in a gulp. I'm really happy to know the name of the newest book - even though I have about seven to read until it comes out later this spring. I'm not including it with this post because it's kind of a spoiler.

Anyway, tomorrow I go back to tutoring. I plan on reading to the girls (and whoever else appears) and then having them read to me. Going back to the original idea. I know it's important to work on the word families, etc. but the thing really is that I don't think they have any examples set to them by their families at home. Reading isn't just about knowing the words, it's about using expressions and intonation and hearing the story as you read.

I also picked up some Reader Rabbit software and will install it on the computers before the kids show up after school. I have kindergarten, preschool and first grade reading skills CD Roms, with two CDs with extras, including a basic math concepts one. I think it will be okay, but shan't know until I get down there. The thing is, the RR software pretty much demands use of speakers and/or headphones, and we don't have those. I'm hoping it will still be explanatory for the kids with just the onscreen prompts.

On top of those things, I also have several sets of cards made up to play word family memory games and to try and reinforce the solution to the problems we've been seeing with bs & ds and writing numbers backwards, I plan to take some sort of tactile tool with me to help with learning our letters etc. That is to say, ketchup, clay or sand to make letters in and with. It's a little complicated, but this is a suggestion that was recently made to me for the girls in particular.

I'm certainly open to more suggestions on how to address these sorts of learning difficulties. The best i can think at the moment is just to have them practice, practice, practice.