Curricula and Learning Links - Special Education
Poor Memory Recall
The mother of a ten year old boy asked, "How do you handle learners that struggle?" Her son remembers all the details of his video games, computer learning programs, movies, and books, but can't recall how to work a math problem that has been explained and practiced multiple times. Is it laziness, lack of self-control and discipline, or is it a genuine learning disability? Participants in HomeschoolChristian.com's message boards offer ideas and encouragement.
Silvie: Mine was in Christian school through 4th grade, so 5th grade was our first homeschooling year. That first year was an absolute BLAST, mainly because we were de-schooling for the entire year. Well, as the grades have ticked by, my son has shown more and more 'problems' with retention. And yes, he too has memorized the LOTR (books and movies), all things Star Wars, he knows facts about airplanes that NO ONE should know. He does very well at tae kwon do in the areas of 'memorizing' forms. But, if we did an algebra (that's where we are this year) problem right now and he understood it, did it, checked it, and explained it - 2 minutes from now, when we did the VERY NEXT problem - he would forget everything! This past year, with Algebra and Biology especially, I have really pin-pointed some real learning difficulties. I cannot begin to tell you why he knows all the specs of a World War II plane that flew one time, in October of whatever year and the pilot died after killing so many bad guys, but cannot tell me the steps to a math problem that we have done over and over again. What I can tell you is that I have read some books and enlightened myself to some very specific learning quirks that he has. I've read about ADD, left-brained children, and recently about dyspraxia and dyslexia. He has a little of this one, and a little of that one. No doctors, no diagnosis, just some pin-pointing of some things that I had not been noticing. Someone on this board has graciously given me a set of Audiblox and their book, which we have just recently started to work with. I must say... I have seen incredible things with this system. Still not sure how or IF this will apply to real life. But, it's been interesting. I had chalked up some of his non-learning to immaturity (which is still part of it) and to his being a boy and all sorts of other things. And each one of these things may play a part in it - but I cannot make him a girl, I cannot make his maturity level peak suddenly, but I CAN work his schooling differently.
So, here we are, trying something new with school - AGAIN! But, such is the joy of homeschooling. He would be failing or in a LD class if he were in public school. And he IS learning some stuff.
Judy G.: I have been so embarrassed when my 14 year old son (who has read hundreds of books including Lord of the Rings which he can discuss intelligently with any adult) looks to me blankly for help when we're out somewhere and someone asks for his phone number, address, or whatever. His favorite answers are "I dunno" and "I forgot".
I have finally (just this week!) faced up to the fact that he still needs me to be his constant, one-on-one *teacher* and even though it would be SOOOO much easier to hand off his assignments to him, it just isn't going to happen...at least not yet, maybe not for all of high school. Yet I know in my heart that in the future when he WANTS and NEEDS to know something, he'll be fine...he can figure out the rules to any complicated computer or board game, knows all about all the Redemption cards, whatever is important to him...and school, especially math is NOT important right now! I guess his phone number and address aren't either. The best I know how to do right now is to pound the basics and study habits into him, and of course pray!!!!!! I will say that I can periodically see leaps of maturity as far as school work.
Lorelei: One of two things may be happening. He may be testing you, do you give up as soon as he's pressed you enough or if he cries? If so, he has won the war. The old adage, Choose your battles it very true. When he gets a right answer praise him for it and if he gets it wrong, start that whole lesson over again. If he's faking, he'll get bored with redoing lessons.
The other thing may be that he is bored and if you bring some games or songs into the lessons he may think it's fun enough to learn. We did stupid games like: We did vowel sounds. I'd say is this vowel long or short and he'd say short and I'd reply, is that your final answer? He'd say yes or change his mind, but if he got it right, we'd cheer!
I have also used a prize envelope, I made up the prizes, like a small toy, a day with dad, a movie, dinner out, etc. I give it for a good weeks work.
Suzi:I have noticed with my first son that when he went through growth spurts he didn't seem to learn as well. I don't know why, all I can figure is all of his body's energy is going into growing. He has taken spells where it seems he doesn't remember or learn a thing and then all of a sudden he learns so much.
Find more free curricula and resources on HomeschoolChristian.com's Curricula Page Index!
See more Special Needs Resources.
