Hacker Widow

This activity is to introduce word families.  Pick some fairly common “chunks”.

Then take the time to figure out all the letters that will create words. Some can be used in more than one “family”.

Attaching the velcro will help the child see the word.

I usually attach long strips somewhere on the folder to hold the pieces when not in use. Remember… velcro is our friend.  :0D

Ok, I admit it, I’m having a mid-life crisis. Who’d of thought! It’s still hard for me to believe. I sit at work or at home and feel restless. I feel like there’s something else I should be doing. Something that will be more meaningful, more fulfilling, more helpful, more memorable, more enjoyable… It has GOT to be out there, right? Something that will make people stand up and take notice. Something meaningful. Sadly, my job is sort of like that now. Any normal person would be intrigued, inspired and motivated. But me, I have hit burn-out so bad after 9 years, I can’t appreciate it any longer. I no longer have the motivation to create and inspire the kids I am with. Why? What has changed? Just because I had a few birthdays? What is it that made me so totally switch my thinking? A few years ago I was wanting to acquire more education to be able to delve deeper into finding out what creates Autism. Now, thinking about going back to school just makes me tired. Will this change? Is there hope to find ones passions again without buying a new motorcycle or running away with an 18 yr old? (Just kidding, honey :0) ) I guess we’ll find out…

I’ve talked about categorizing quite a bit, so I decided to hit math.  I’ve been with my student for about 3 years. So we have had to grow quite a bit. this was one of the earlier folders she used. I made it for the purpose of number recognition and counting.  This was actually just a handout in her Kindergarten class. I decided to make 2 copies.

I colored both copies and cut them out. I glued the first set onto a filefolder and glued the second set to card stock and laminated everything.

I attached velcro and she was ready to go. This can be done a variety of ways depending on your child.  ;0)

So on a Friday night in April, I partied with a bunch of wild ladies up in Fresno. Actually it was national scrapbook day, but it was still fun. I basically went so I could try to get some new ideas to finish the 3 albums I have left to do.

What I mean by that is the scrap-booking industry is going hi-tech.  They are starting to drift away from the more traditional type of scrapping like I do…

To the more advanced process of computer programs. There is something to be said for being able to do an entire album in a couple of hours. To have all your pictures categorized and at the tips of your fingers. To have hundreds of pre-made layout if you,like me, have serious brain farts and just can’t think of one more theme to do. Then you just download it to their website and receive your album in a couple of days. Wow…

But, I walk into Michaels and look at all the beautiful papers and stickers and just can’t resist.  I kind of go into a trance and immediately start envisioning all the pages I could do… Sigh, I think it’s a serious sickness… It takes me months to finish an album. This is a definite con. I don’t know, I think I’ll stick with the more traditional way…. at least for 3 more albums  ;0)

I broke down and went to the Exeter Brewfest with my hubby. I have to say it was really fun.

I know my hubby had a GREAT time…lol

Loved this guys beer hat!!

One of my hubbies favorite beers.

So many to choose from.

Even our wonderful neighbor Barbara Got into the act. LOVE HER!!

Lots of fun!! Hubby found a new second place favorite..

But the most important thing of the day…

ENJOY!!!

A couple weeks ago, we took a day trip to San Luis Obispo. This is one of our favorite places to hang out. On the way, we were amazed by the wildflowers that were bursting out everywhere.

These were in the hills right outside of Paso Robles. You can’t make out the purple, but the colors were soooo vibrant! Hard to resist the touristy trappings, so we pulled over and started snapping pictures.

Just amazing… Too bad it will all be brown in a few weeks.

We have a “cheat” meal every now and then at this great little place called Pita Kabob. They have some of the most wonderfully seasoned beef and chicken. My hubby and I will go in and split a combo plate. It used to contain: 1 skewer beef, 1 skewer chicken, rice pilaf, and hummus with pita bread…mmmm. Now it contains 1 skewer chicken, 1 skewer beef, salad, and hummus (no bread ) So, since the pleasure value has gone down slightly, I find I’m a little pickier. I decided to try a beef salad…needless to say, it was great.

But you notice the small pile above the salad? That’s my little pile of ” Ewww… get that OFF my salad!! Don’t let it touch!!” I really HATE tomato guts on my food! Come on… you know you do it too.~

It went like this…

“Look at all those things..”

“What? Where?”

“There..(points across the room) there and there, and Boom.”

“Uh, the chairs?”

“No, those.”(Points again)

“The ladies?”

“Yeah, over there. I had to help but its ok now.”

“O.K. Dad. Good job.”

“Yep. That one keeps staring at me so I have to do it back.”

“O.K. Dad. Do you want to go for a walk.”

“Yep.”

Then, outside…

“Yeah, I needed to get out of there. Boy, it’s cold.”

“Do you want to go in?”

“Yeah, that would be the way to do it.”

“O.K. let’s go in”

We go in and sit at the dining table.

“How’s everyone?”

“Great Dad.”

“Good…want to go for a walk outside?”

“It’s kind of chilly..”

“Let’s go.”

“O.K.”

Back outside.

“That how I like it.”

“How Dad?”

“With the thing over there and going to go out and help them.”

“O.K. Dad.”

“Brrr…. kind of cold. Want to go in? Ooops, I need to drop something.”

K, I have to admit, that stumped me.

“Do you need to use the restroom??”

“Yep.”

“Uh, ok Dad.”

We walked back in.

I went to visit my Dad today. He lives in an Assisted Living Facility’s Alzheimer’s unit.He’s had quite a lot of funny experienced in there, I’ll write more on those later. Today was not a funny day. Today was not a good day. Today was a day when he was incoherent, tired, and restless. Today was a day I watched him walk around his room for 10 minutes trying to remember how to put on the pair of sweatpants that he had in his hand. He’d decided that he wanted to get more comfortable and change out of his slacks. After rounding up his sweat pants, (they are usually in a variety of odd places, like the bathroom storage cabinet or at the top of the entry closet.) he just kept walking around the room. I assumed he was looking for a shirt to wear. He then stated he wanted to change into different pants. I reminded him that they were in his hands, and that all he needed to do was go into the bathroom and change. He then unbuttoned his pants and pulled them down enough to show me his three shirts that he was wearing. I suggested that he’d probably be more comfortable if he took a couple off. He did so. I just don’t get it. We can put a man on the moon. We can take picture of the sun. We can take in depth readings from some of the deepest depths of the oceans, so WHY can’t we figure out how to curb this horrible disease??? A disease that slowly strips a person of their wit, their charm, their compassion, their love, their humor, their dreams, their joy, their family and finally their hope. I can tell you first hand it is one of the most painful experiences I’ve had to deal with. Watching this horrifying disease grow stronger and stronger and seeing my Father become less and less.

This activity is very simple. The autistic girl I am with, has very weak fine motor skills. So we work ALOT on handwriting. I try to get her to practice 4- 5 times throughout  the day. This is one of the things we have her do. First, I got some large graph paper.

Next, I highlighted the words she’s currently practicing. We started with her name. Once she mastered that, we moved on to simple words.

Outlining the block the word is in, helps give a boundary to the child. In this case, we are trying to teach proper proportion along with spelling.

You can highlight in different colors. It really doesn’t matter to some children. You can stop there, and let the child use a pencil to trace. You can also laminate and bind the pages creating a reusable book. The idea being to gradually wean the child off of the highlighting. Enjoy!!