It's that time of the year again. The time when we promise to help our children do better in school. The problem is that it often takes more time than we expect and the results are often disappointing.

So what is going to make this year different? Changing our understanding of what is blocking our children's ability to learn and using a different method to help them. Let's look at a few problem areas.

Reading fluency:
solution: word decoding
method: highlight the small words or sound units in within the word with different colors.

Paragraph writing:
solution: paragraph formula
method: 5 sentences
sentence 1 is the introduction
sentence 2 to 4 each contain a fact about the topic
sentence 5 is a conclusion

Spelling test prep:
solution: group like words together
method: look for common letters, eg., light, fight, right

Letter reversals: use ReverseFixUp

Math addition:
solution: teach with a system
method:
count up numbers from 1 to 4, eg., 7+3=(8,9,10)
count down numbers from 1 to 4, eg., 7-3=(6,5,4)
teach the doubles, eg., 5+5, 6+6, 7+7, 8+8, 9+9
subtraction ladder for 11 to 18
multiplication look for the system eg., times 4 is a double plus a double

This year, a New Year's Resolutions you will keep!

Go to Reading Skills Index for more information and teaching techniques.

Go to Math Skills Index for more information and teaching techniques.

See our Teaching Resources for worksheets, lesson plans, special education resources, etc.

Make learning fun with a few educational-type stocking stuffers.

• large foam dice to practice basic math facts, especially adding and multiplying
• math flash cards for adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing
• reading flash cards to create funny sentences
• number magnets with +, - and = signs
• alphabet magnets to practice spelling words
• a simple calculator with large buttons to practice math facts and to check homework (this is also great for a struggling older student so they can continue to learn other math concepts as they master their math facts)
• small white board with colored erasable markers and an white board eraser.
• toy money
• toy cash register to practice counting money
• colored highlighters to color words for decoding (the best way to create fluent readers)
• dominoes to make add and multiplying practice fun
• memory cards
• number and letter cookie cutters
• Christmas workbooks

Stuff their Christmas stockings with educational tools and let them learn while they play.

Finger Calculator

I don't use this method since it hasn't been necessary thanks to our other math strategies. However, I noticed a search interest in it, so I will use my blog to explain the Finger Calculator Method.

The right hand is the ones numbers and the left hand is the tens numbers.

Right Hand:
The pointer finger on the right hand is 1.
The middle finger on the right hand is 2.
The ring finger on the right hand is 3.
The baby finger on the right hand is 4.
The thumb on the right hand is 5.
The thumb and the pointer finger on the right hand are 6.
The thumb, the pointer finger and the middle finger on the right hand are 7.
The thumb, the pointer finger, the middle finger and the ring finger on the right hand are 8.
The thumb, the pointer finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the baby finger on the right hand are 9.

Left Hand:
The pointer finger on the left hand is 10.
The middle finger on the left hand is 20.
The ring finger on the left hand is 30.
The baby finger on the left hand is 40.
The thumb on the right left is 50.
The thumb and the pointer finger on the left hand are 60.
The thumb, the pointer finger and the middle finger on the left hand are 70.
The thumb, the pointer finger, the middle finger and the ring finger on the left hand are 80.
The thumb, the pointer finger, the middle finger, the ring finger and the baby finger on the left hand are 90.

Method:
eg., 3 + 2
Touch the pointer finger on the right hand on the desk and say 1.
Lift it up and touch the middle finger on the right hand on the desk and say 2.
Lift it up and touch the ring finger on the right hand on the desk and say 3.
You have 'entered in' the first number 3, now to add on the 2:
Lift it up and touch the baby finger on the right hand on the desk and say 1.
Lift it up and touch the thumb on the right hand on the desk and say 2.
You are done so the answer is the 'thumb' or 5.

eg., 6 + 5
Touch the pointer finger on the right hand on the desk and say 1.
Lift it up and touch the middle finger on the right hand on the desk and say 2.
Lift it up and touch the ring finger on the right hand on the desk and say 3.
Lift it up and touch the baby finger on the right hand on the desk and say 4.
Lift it up and touch the thumb on the right hand on the desk and say 5.
Keep the thumb down and touch the pointer finger on the right hand on the desk and say 6.
You have 'entered in' the first number 6, now to add on the 5:
Keep the thumb and pointer finger down and touch the middle finger on the right hand on the desk and say 1.
Keep the thumb, the pointer finger and the middle finger down and touch the ring finger on the right hand on the desk and say 2.
Keep the thumb, the pointer finger, the middle finger and the ring finger down and touch the baby finger on the right hand on the desk and say 3.
Lift the right up and touch the pointer finger on the left hand on the desk and say 4.
Keep the pointer finger on the left hand down, and touch the pointer finger on the right hand on the desk and say 5.
You are done so the answer is the 'pointer finger on the left hand' or 10 plus the 'pointer finger on the right hand' or 1. 10 + 1 is 11.

Now you see why I don't teach it, though it is fun to use to balance your cheque book.

You can also use it to multiply and divide, it is very effective for times 11.

The above method will let you go up to 99.
So what about 100, believe it or not you simple tap your hand against your forehead for the hundreds. Have fun!

Go to Math Skills Index for better methods and strategies.

It is once again the Christmas season and Christmas carols are in the air. Take this opportunity to teach your young ones or struggling students their math addition doubles. Sing a Christmas carol chorus and then practice their math addition doubles.

Method: If they don't know their addition doubles at all then just do one double at a time, eg., 1 plus 1 is two, sing a carol, then 2 plus 2 is 4, sing a carol, 3 plus 3 is 6, sing a carol, 4 plus 4 is 8, sing a carol, and 5 plus 5 is ten, sing a carol.

Once they know these math addition doubles, sing a carol, and do as many math addition doubles in a row as you can. When they make a mistake, sing a carol and start over.

Continue the game whenever you can, until they have mastered 6 plus 6, 7 plus 7, 8 plus 8, 9 plus 9 and 10 plus 10.

Enjoy the holiday season.

Go to the math addition page for more ideas and information.

It is time for a new name for Dot Patterns. One that is easy to find. One that tells what the product or 'tool' does. So the new name is Re✓erseFixUp, since it fixes letter and number reversals. There were lots of choices but few that weren't already in use by the automotive, graphic or computer industries.

Re✓erseFixUp is the new dot pattern name.

Together, we really will be able to reach and teach all kids.
Linda.

Look for inexpensive educational gifts to help struggling students.

Have a great holiday,
Linda.

Go to Overview page.

I have been working with students with learning difficulties at some level for more than 30 years. Some things are very easy to teach and some are not. The easiest thing to teach is reading. Working with both high and very low IQ students, the same system works — WORD DECODING.
WRITING is also easy to teach, and can become stress-free for both the instructor and the student, if you use a simple formula or 'tool'.
To write a paragraph is surprisingly simple:
Paragraphs should be made up of at least five sentences.

• An introduction sentence.
• Three information sentences.
• A conclusion sentence.

Together we can, TEACH ALL KIDS,
Linda.

Parents please don't turn your ADHD or dyslexic child into an 'educational' invalid.  They have a learning problem not a fatal disease.  They CAN write, they CAN read and they CAN learn their math facts.  They may not learn them as quickly or in the same manner as child without learning difficulties but they CAN learn.  
Letter reversals - use Re✓erseFixUp dot patterns.

Writing - use a paragraph formula.
Reading - use decoding words.
Reading comprehension - use the words in the question to start the answer.
Addition - use counting up, related facts and regrouping.
Subtraction - use counting down, magic 9 and the math ladder.
Remember, together we CAN teach ALL kids.
Linda.

Go to Re✓erseFixUp page for more information.

It is almost that time again -- summer holidays are nearing an end. For the struggling student that has had a 'rest' this summer, it is time to dig out the math flashcards and do a bit of review. Remember all your math strategies -- math ladder, related facts, magic nine, etc. Write a letter about your summer holiday using the paragraph writing formula.
Enjoy the end of your holiday,
Linda.

Go to math skills page.

Reading is one of the easiest things to teach if you use Re✓erseFixUps and decoding word lists. Re✓erseFixUp dot patterns help the student recognize the individual lines that make up letters and numbers. Decoding word lists teach the student to isolate the parts of a word to make it easier to read. Students use highlighters to decode words into separate sound units or small words. This creates confident and fluent readers in a minimal amount of time. For example, if the word to be decoded was 'confident', the student would highlight 'con' in one color, 'fi' in another color and 'dent' in a third color. They then read the word as three small units instead of one overwhelming single word.

I can't stress enough how well this system works. Together, we can teach all kids to read.

Go to decoding word page..