Joel seems to be dominating my blog lately, truly I do have other children and I do spend time with them too. Joel is a bright little guy. He has an excellent sense of humour and keeps us laughing. He is not unintelligent, but his brain has been effected by his surgery and possible by the radiation too. We haven’t given up on healing or anything like that but we still have to live in the ‘now’ and meet Joel where he currently is at. It isn’t that Joel does not necessarily understand something quite often he does but the right words don’t always come out.
I think I have shared before that Joel could look at a ‘T’ and know it is a ‘T’ but say ‘F.’ That is because words are stored in our brains in drawers that contain groups of words. Today, tomorrow and yesterday are stored together. Husband and wife are stored together. On, under, beside, next to are all stored in the same drawer. We know this because Joel can access the right drawer just sometimes he pulls the wrong word. I know this because if I show Joel a flash-card with a letter on it often he can pull the wrong letter name but if you lay all the flashcards down and ask where is the ‘G’ Joel can find it. Interestingly Joel has connected with the sound the letter makes more so than the name. Perhaps the name is a little abstract where as the sound of the letter has a function.
When it comes to numbers again Joel has been challenged with the names of the numbers. I decided lets move slowly. I am concentrated on 1-6 right now and using some flash-cards I made along with a dice. (Shaking the dice and rolling it in good Occupational Therapy too. Shh!) I made two sets of cards so he and Hannah can play together. Hannah has already mastered the numbers but is not as good at rolling a dice or with memory match. We have made up a few games.
- The first game we lay the six cards out face up, roll the dice and match to the correct card. Would be a great game for a young child just being introduced to numbers. Joel easily matches the dice with the picture which gives him a sense of accomplishment and then we count the dots and say the number. I am noticing Joel recognising the numbers when said aloud.
- Turn all 12 cards over and you have a small game of memory match that isn’t overwhelming.
- Joel started turning his cards over mixed up (just six cards) and rolling his dice and tried to find the match once he matched a card to what he rolled he would leave that card face up.
I am sure others could come up with other inventive ideas of how to play with them. I printed out 2 copies cut out the cards and then laminated them. I thought I share it in case anyone else could use a simple early math skills game. I am having some problems with my link for now try following this link 1-6 Number Game
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My son was born with the same type of dysfunction. No matter what we did, he couldn't remember written words — at least not for more than a couple hours. For years (pre-K through second grade) we worked on c-a-t and t-h-e and other simple words. He couldn't do it! I finally threw in the towel and did everything with him orally. Reading, science, history and math. He could answer questions as long as I didn't make him write. We eventually learned the cause (years of testing) and how to help him — turns out my oral teaching approach was the best choice after all (thank you, God!!!). Now he is fourteen. He's been actually reading for about 3.5 years — and is catching up. As he explains it, the information train rode into the train station in his brain, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't figure out which track to send it out on. All those files in his head were a jumbled mess!!! Praying that your Joel will soon fill those buckets with enough information that eventually, he has enough for it to start spilling out. BE ENCOURAGED as you fill him. It is SO worth it!!!
Thank you Karen, Joel had a large malignant tumour removed 2 years ago and has had trouble with speech ever since. Some of the research I have done implies that if it takes a \’normal child\’ 50 times being exposed to something for it to sink in, it could take Joel 350 or 500 or 1000. So we keep as you said filling the buckets. It certainly can not do any harm! Your story is an encouragement!!!
Joel is a cutie pie! You have a beautiful family! You are so blessed. So sorry to read of Joel's struggles… he's in my prayers as you are too. Blessings to you and yours!!
Thanks Carla, I welcome every extra prayer!
You are such a loving mother, I love how attentive you are to your son's development, and how you celebrate each step of the way. Kudos to you, and blessings, Andrea (Twitter: @AmommynousBlog)
My recent post Madeleine has been teething this week. Not a pleasant experience…
Thanks Andrea, as a Mom your always wondering if you are doing all you can, you are probably experiencing that with her teething. We always want to make things as easy and painful as possible. I am continually learning how brave and strong little ones are!
Your posts are always so inspiring. I love how you seem to have a handle on so much and infinite patience. You have a really beautiful family! You must feel very blessed.
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Thank you Jacqueline don’t always feel like I have a handle on it, or the patience I need, but I do feel BLESSED!
Kids sure are amazing hey – and what a beautiful family you have! Joel sounds like a great kid and a real trooper. I've been fortunate to have relatively healthy kids, we've only had one lengthy stay in the hospital with our oldest, and it amazed me how he adjested to not being well and his spirit made it easier for us to push on. Thanks for sharing the flashcards, matching with the dice is a great idea!
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Oh Thanks, it isn’t easy to have a child who is unwell but when their spirits are high it makes a tremendous difference!
I love reading your posts very inspriring, you handle everything wonderfully. Be Blessed.
Thanks Pamela that is so kind!
With a caring Mom and a supportive family surrounding him, I'm sure Joel will be able to make it through all these obstacles. Blessings to you and your lovely family!
My recent post Staying Connected, and Family Ties across the Globe.
Thanks ‘Rebel’ those are kid words!