Back to Brain Gym

Ki and I decided we need to go back to doing some Occupational Therapy before math. Ki has Sensory Integration Disorder and Dyspraxia. Lately we haven't done much OT, but he doesn't need it very often these days. He used to need a whole list of therapy activities a few times a day.

He has been having more and more trouble learning his math and being able to have a functioning brain during math. He's been going into his 'Dyspraxic Muscle Fatigue' during math lessons. Which I term as "being a bowl of limp jello"

Brain Gym activities work well with him. They also help the others boys a bit; it's good for helping with focusing and dyslexia. Joint Compression helps Ki, too. I should get him a new exercise ball for that.

Today, as we were starting on his math, I could see the chaos in his brain taking over, so I told him that if he keeps having problems focusing on his math, we'd start doing Brain Gym again beforehand. He said that'd be good and would help him, then asked why I made it sound like a bad thing because it's a good thing. I told him I didn't intend for it sounds like a bad thing; sometimes words are like that.

So I had him do some Brain Gym and drink some water and his math time went MUCH better.

He did some CrissCross marches, some Brain Spots, and some Leg Muscle Massage things. not sure of the later really works; the book says it is a 'before math' activity. I wonder if Ki just thinks it is supposed to work, so it does.

Also, today he told me that he really like his science book! (Apologia Land Animals)

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I picked a few early potatoes today. my friend Kirsten was over with her little boy. I thought he might like digging in the dirt, but he seems enthralled with the 3 "Big Boys" running around the back yard. Anyway, I only got 3 small red potatoes. I boiled them to go with my dinner, then mashed then with some salt & butter; but not much. Homegrown, fresh-from-the-garden potatoes don't need much salt or butter at all.

Here is a pretty picture I took this morning. It has been raining here, but the sun had come for a few minutes so everything sparkled with raindrops.

GAUGED

that is what the last couple weeks have been.
I already know Gavin can do whatever I give him.
But the other two- I know they can get more work done with me sitting right there and doing it with them the whole time and telling them exactly when to do what- they can do more that way then they can independently. and that is fine. they are young. I don't expect them to do the same amunt of math problems and criticial thinking work on their own.
The trick is finding out how much I can expect them to do without out expecting the same as when I'm there guiding their every step and without expecting too little.

Gavin can do the same amount, but Gavin has been pretty independent the last few years (amaxing for a teenage boy about whom the psych said "WOW, he has ADD bad, doesn't he!")

We tried this 2 yrs ago (beginning of the school year- so about2.5 yrs)

Gavin did pretty well, just daily reminders to check his list and work on things.
Connor tried. (was 10 at the time)- but he just could not handle doing much without me there, basically holding his hand.
I didn;t even bother trying with Ki (8)

Now- Gavin(14) is doing great- no reminders needed at all.

Connor (13) is doing fairly well, he just gets distracted easily, so I have to remind him to stay on task sometimes.

Ki (11) - well, all he can handle is his daily RED and then making a list of his GREEN work and I get him going for each item and often sit with him and help him still.

But I am seeing what the younger two can handle well without having too much or too little.

which changes every few months it seems- with those 2...LOL.

From January 15, 2008

Mostly a great day.
8:30 AM – Orthodontist appointment. Connor ad a broken bracket, the panoramic X-ray didn’t work, he got springs and his teeth ache. G&K asked DNA Survey Questions of 5 people. Recessive trait for thumbs takes the lead. Pinkies are neck and neck. But Dominant in all others is winning already.

9:30 – Breakfast at Java Café. They Survey the gals in the knitting group that meets there. There were about 8 there today! Big Group! Dominant is everything except those thumbs! Though pinkies are still kind of close. Gavin and Connor took turns reading out of Jesus Freaks.
- then a couple errands to stores on that shopping strip-

11:30 we get to the little strip mall with the Game Store. I thought they opened at 11, but they don’t open until noon. So we go to the Dollar General store and to Subway to get food to bring.
12:10 arrive at Krystal Keep. Ron was there. It was good to see him. He’s a really nice guy. We haven’t seen him since August. His baby is now 5.5 months old. Maybe next time he’ll bring pictures.

Ron asked the boys why they weren’t in school today. He does that all the time. He knows we homeschool and thinks that’s great. He just likes teasing the boys. The boys survey Ron, Bryce and a few others.

We played a game of Thin ice. With our own rules, better suited to kids with ADD/HD. I’ll post picks later. The Store owner came in and stops back to say hi. All the ‘regulars’ always stop by to say hi to me when I’m there. I guess I am almost a regular, too, though.
The store owners remarks that it must be field trip day. I told him it is “Critical Thinking Skills Day” and also “what school looks like when you are at the in-laws because your house stinks of paint”.

Thin Ice was fun. Ki didn’t do well, be he has dyspraxia. He really enjoyed just stacking pyramids and making designs. Gavin and Connor tied on the last round and we went one last round. Gavin ended up winning.

We took a break and the boys surveyed about 10 more people. Then we played Aquarius. 3 times. Connor seemed to enjoy it. He has been in a game playing mood lately.
They surveyed a few more people. Even Bob went along with being surveyed.
Then we played Volcano. Ki is getting better at that game! It takes the kind of thinking needed for Chess.

We left there around 4:30. Volcano with 4 people takes a while. We stopped at our house to feed the cats and get the mail. I found my camera, but my phone is still MIA.
We then drove to Grammy’s house.

5:30 - arrive at Grammy’s house. Brian pulls in at the same time. The boys want to watch one episode of The Tick before we leave for Dinner. They hadn’t watched TV since Saturday Morning cartoons; poor deprived kids.

After Skyline Chili we drive to our house so Brian can set up the modem and get online to process some online stuff. I took a shot nap in my bed.