Spring Fever

Spring fever has hit.  Mark has decided, for himself, that every moment that is not spent in lessons should be spent outside.  And a new behavior has popped up - Mark comes and gives me random hugs.  Just out of the blue I will find him coming up and giving me a big hug.  He doesn't want anything.  He doesn't ask for anything.  He just hugs me and then runs off.  Occasionally, he has me follow him outside to the trampoline.  I love both behaviors and look forward to losing enough weight so I can join him on the trampoline.

And TV watching is drastically reduced.  It's gotten to the point where it might be one movie a day.  Yesterday there were no movies.  And that happened several days last week.  And this is Mark's decision, not mine.  He'd rather play outside than sit inside.  In fact I got scolded thoroughly one day when he wasn't allowed to go back outside (punishment for not coming when called multiple times).

Math is doing much better.  1 and 2 are pretty solid, so I'll be starting 3 tomorrow while reinforcing the others.  Oh, and he's not really happy that I am asking him to count things around the house.  Today he shot me a grumpy look and I told him that math was every where in life.  That just got me another grumpy look.

Reading is still having problems.  We are using multiple books at the same level because we are having to hold where we are at right now.  Spelling is much better but he's having real problems with Word ID.  Even with candies as rewards.  A lot of this is him falling back into prompting behaviors.  I'm taking it slow and steady.  He is asked to ID a word up to 3 times, with the words getting shuffled each time.  If he gets it in one, he gets a candy.  The words are sorted as he gets them.  In one try, they go in one pile.  Within 3 tries, they go in another pile.  Never, they go in a third pile.  When we are done he has to trace the "never" pile on his board two times.  And then trace the "within 3" pile on the board once.

While he's getting better at tracing, he's not happy about it.  And probably would love to avoid it.

Next week I'll start keeping more detailed data sheets on counting, spelling and word ID.  I'll need that data as we go forward in order to know where his strengths and weaknesses are.  And so that I can see which words might be best to start making him truly spell without guides.

Oh, and yesterday he pointed at one of his cards and said "Right there" in response to my request for a word.  He was wrong, but I loved hearing him say it.  And this morning I got told to "Do it" (tickles).

So far, spring fever is doing good things here.  Even the onions, garlic, and potatoes are jumping up to say hi.  I hope it's bringing good things to you.