Helenenorth

  Hello all-- This picture says it all!! The children indeed are growing and blooming,  inspite of the challenges.  Give them love and consistency, and what do you get--- Two absolutely amazing things happened a couple of days ago, and unfortunately, I did not have my phone at school, so I could not capture the magic in pictures.  I will have to try to give it to you in words. As we are approaching the end of the year, I stapled  together half finished math worksheets.  So, math lessons are about 10 minutes of drill, and then individual work on the worksheets.  I set the clock for 20 minutes of direct work time, and the remaining time is free time..providing everyone is on task. I move from student to student and guide them in their individual work.  This maximizes learning, and students really focus.  It has taken nearly 2 years to get kids to this place. Sounds like a cake walk--well it isn't.  The individuality of each child makes for...

  Hello all The school year is grinding to a halt.  The secondary side has government exams--they are all shut down and kids only come for exams.  The elementary side also has exams for grade 6.  We are still in full operation, but the kids and parents consider  it is  the end.  Last week, out of a total of 9 students, on any one day I might have 4 or 5, and in the afternoon maybe 3--so it is a slow, anti-climatic ending. This is where, "living in the moment" comes into play.  For every child that comes, I do my best to work with them--make it the best that it can be.  We have had some great break throughs too--Penina is finally reading independently, Nathan has found his voice, and is speaking more clearly every day.  He sings his little heart out, and can pronounce some words in every song we do--that is something for a child with Aprexia.   I have zero training in what to do with him, so it is all hit and miss--finding his v...