I think lots of pictures + fewer words on a page is key - lessens anxiety which would only jam him up. Keep going with what you're doing! 🙂

I could swear I've read threads on this exact topic, but I can't find them. Spelling the word "chatper books" didn't help, either, but even spelled correctly I can't find what I *think* I remember reading. Anywho, fav chapter books for early-mid 2nd grade? Hoping for boy-friendly, and not too many words on a page. So far I've got: High Noon Scholastic Branches Marvin Redpost (DRA 20 - but seems harder!) I think Scholastic Branches could last us a long while, but options are good!

My DH has reading tastes that sound like your son! DH enjoys books by Italo Calvino, Gene Wolfe (his ALL TIME big time favorite, don't get him started talking about GW or you'll never escape the conversation 🙂) and David Mitchell. Also Neil Stephenson. For light fun reading, he enjoys the Terry Pratchett Discworld series. Has your son already done Lord of the Rings?

Haha, oh yeah, I totally said Wilks-Bar until I heard someone pronounce it Wilks-berry! Ack!

We had a German Shepherd when I was growing up, and her name was Pepper. I always loved that name for her. My cousin has a beautiful Shepherd named Ruby 🙂

People "from away" always say Bang-er for Bangor rather than Bang-gor, Maine.

They know you're not from PA if you say Lan-cas-ter instead of LANC-a-ster. There's also Schuylkill County, pronounced Skoo-kull. I think. Still not 100% sure on that one.

Also, I probably have more free time than you 😋

I actually really like the verbosity of Marilyn Burns 🙂 It helps me to read actual conversations between student/teacher (though they're likely made up), like how the Lindamood-Bell stuff has actual conversations. It helps me picture what's going to happen.

I'm re-reading this and realizing your son is only 10. If I were in your shoes, I would scaffold a task (say, math problem) until he can do it without a fuss/tears. That might mean you're doing 90%. Then, gradually back off the scaffolding. Like Heathermomster said, even if typing might be the long-term solution, it's not easy for a 10 year old to type, particularly if there are other executive functioning or ADHD issues happening. Scribing can help with the impulsivity, because YOU are writing, so you control the speed. At least in theory 🙂

I love that idea!

With word problems, I have to cover up sentences and only let him see one sentence at a time. Not sure how that would work for algebra problems, though.

Right there with you! The impulsivity is so frustrating. It's hardest for me to deal with this in math, because my student's thinking gets so twisted and removed from what we were actually trying to do that it's super hard to get back to the task at hand. Sometimes an alternative/longer path through a problem gets a kid there with the right answer, but sometimes it just gets them hopelessly lost in the forest, ya know? Since he's refusing to even type the problem without starting to solve, could you just type the problem out for him? If he protests, you can remind him that he won't do it for himself, so you have to take over. Would that help with the frenzy of solving/getting mixed up? For my student, it is very hard for him to wait for even a few seconds before doing *something.* Writing something, saying something, grabbing something... it's like he has to be doing something so immediately that his brain doesn't have time to even think about a math problem before things have already gone haywire. It's very frustrating. I don't have any wise thoughts other than to perhaps break the task up into teeny tiny chunks, get compliant with that for even a single problem, and then move on to 2 problems...

Is it squeaking everywhere, or only in some parts? Maybe you could put furniture over the squeakiest parts (like a dresser, or things that don't need to move, and also re-de-squeak the floors with those screws. Maybe there is some padding you could put under a carpet? What about adding something on your bedroom ceiling? Maybe there are noise-reducing panels or something that could be attached up there. I feel you about being a light sleeper. It's a curse! Since graduating from college, I lived in apartments with neighbors, and.... I had SO MANY issues. So many knocks on the door to quiet down, so many actual calls to the police for actual parties, so much YELLING next door... I get the shivers just thinking about it.

Well that's a really thoughtful gift! I would love that!

Maybe when I've been there for a few years 😂

These are great, thank you! I love the idea of using toilet paper in some way. Maybe I'll just wrap up a giant 24-roll pack or something 🙂

We're having a Yankee Swap at work, and the limit is $10/gift. People at school have good senses of humor, and previous gifts have ranged from actually useful/wanted to just for fun. Any good ideas besides the banana slicer?

Yes - I feel the same as you. Someone pointed out to me the other day, what happens when they are expected to read books with no pictures?

Me too! "Balanced literacy" sounds so, well... balanced, that it could seem unreasonable to say that you didn't want your child's reading instruction to be balanced. But structured, that's good, too. It's interesting how using a certain term can make a difference in how something is perceived.

Ugh. Your situation sounds so stressful! I agree with others to drop the graded homework. It's taking up all of your time after school, and getting you (and them) nowhere. If it were me, I'd give them a talk about cheating, and why you're going to make in-class assessments the basis of their grade from now on. If they don't pass the assessments, they don't pass the class. That ought to get their attention. Agreed about collecting cell phones at the beginning of class. My last school had either cubbies or the plastic shoe holder thingies that you hang over a door. You could check with the admin first that they'll support you in this effort, and also check with other teachers. Something to build rapport - maybe you could have them do a little survey next class. Have them fill out a form, something like 1) what's the best part of your year so far, 2) worst part, 3) why are you taking physics, 4) what makes this class easy/hard for you. They might admit to things like not being able to do the math, etc. if they write it down privately.

If you want to add hands-on to any reading/spelling program, just buy a nice set of letter tiles. Spelling words by building them, and reading words by tapping each tile while saying the sound is so great for learning how to read. If he's struggling, I'd back up to what he can do independently, read and spell LOTS of words at that level, and then add one small new thing at a time... moving slowly as he masters each concept. Don't dismiss "dyslexia issues" without some investigating. Can he rhyme? If you say a word, can he break it into sounds? Try him out on some easy words "hen, sit" and also harder ones, "slip,"swift," etc. Can he separate words into onset and rime, like saying "cat, c-at," etc.? Dyslexia is very common, with 1 in 5 kids having some degree of dyslexia - most never get diagnosed. I like Recipe for Reading as a basic guide for young kids, coupled with letter tiles. It's about $20 for the book on Amazon.

Ha, I was just thinking the same thing... maybe my DH can hold out hope that I'll stop putting stuff in weird places and then forgetting where I put it.

Awww... he loved the movie! So cute.

It's a new term to me! Have others heard of it already? I was listening to an NPR story today about the education system in Kansas, and the current battle there between "structured literacy" and "balanced literacy." Apparently the International Dyslexia Association coined the term "structured literacy" to brand systematic, sequential reading instruction. I think the term is brilliant - and a great idea to "brand" this way of teaching reading. Kansas story: https://www.kansascity.com/news/state/kansas/article215092575.html IDA and structured literacy: https://dyslexiaida.org/structured-literacy/