after school speech part 4

Last Tuesday, SJ had his bi-weekly speech therapy session.  His therapist spent most of the session working on the difference between fact and opinion.  She told him that a fact is a sentence that is true about something and an opinion is a sentence about something that a person thinks.  

She used different cards to show him how opinion sentences can begin.  They were the following phrases:  I believe, in my opinion, my favorite, I like, I think the best, etc.  

She also showed him cards that were examples of how opinion questions can begin.  These were a few of the example questions:  How do you feel about..?, What do you think about...?, Do you believe that...?, etc.

She had him complete a opinion survey on a topic of his choice.  He choose video games (big surprise).  Here are his answers.

My favorite game is Mario Cart.

I like games because they are fun.

I don't like that games take so long to win.

I think the best game is Mario Cart.

I feel that games are awesome.

I think that games are outstanding.

I don't think that games are stupid.

In my opinion, games are amazing.

I can't stand losing.

One of the worst things about games are the tutorials.

after school speech part 3

Yesterday was SJ's bi-weekly speech therapy appointment.  The first thing that they worked on was an Inner Feelings worksheet.  There was a list of vocabulary words for various feelings. SJ had to define or describe them to his therapist.  There were 27 feeling words in total. Twelve of the words (ie: amused, ashamed, comfortable, etc.) SJ was not sure how to answer.  She helped him with those words and asked that I review them as homework.

Next, she presented him with a worksheet that had feeling sentences. Under the sentences, SJ had to write a word that expressed the appropriate feeling word from the word bank. Here is an example of one of the sentences.

Sally wonders what's in the odd-shaped package in the hall.

SJ chose the word curious.  His therapist said he really struggled with this activity.  I was a little surprised about that, considering he was provided with a word bank.  She asked me to review this for homework as well.  Additionally, she assigned him a homework sheet on emotions.  She asked me to give him situations in my life where I am mad, happy or sad.  He could then write about them on the provided worksheet.

Last, she mentioned to me that SJ told her he is experiencing frustration during English class. He said the teacher gives too many complicated directions.  He also told her that when he is frustrated, he asks to use the restroom.  (He has used this as a coping technique since kindergarten.)  I told her I would call his teacher and ask her to give him more simplified directions.  I was very happy that SJ felt comfortable enough with her to let her know how he is feeling.  This is a big step for him!

after school reading tutoring #3

Last Monday and today, SJ had his weekly reading tutoring sessions.  Last Monday, Mrs. Banks had read Chapter 9 with him.  She said he did well at remembering facts from the two chapters (7 & 8) that we had read last weekend. I told her we would again read two chapters before the next session.  

We read Chapters 10 & 11 last night.  He complained a lot, but we got through it.  He expressed some concern about not getting this book done before the book report is due.  I told him not to stress over it.  

Mrs. Banks read Chapter 12 and half of Chapter 13 with him.  She said he read well and didn't complain a bit until they moved on to Chapter 13.  He had seemed anxious about not finishing the book and that is why she had him read the extra half of a chapter.

I told her that I would try to get him to read three chapters before their next session.  I am not a fortune teller, but I can hear a lot of whining in my future!