Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

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LynnH
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Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

Post by LynnH » Sat Aug 11, 2012 11:56 am

My ds will be doing Rev to Rev this year. I was looking at the maps he will complete this year and realizing how much information he will be required to put on there and how many long names he will be expected to fit in a small space. Due to his CP he just can't write small. He tries and it just doesn't work. In the past I have had him label the things where it was ok to write larger and then he shows me exactly where to write the others. I just don't know if that is the best way for him to be engaged in the learning, but I don't know what else to do. If he typed all the labels it would add at least 45 minutes to the mapping. I thought about me writing them all out and cutting them out and having him glue them in the right places, but I don't know if that is going overboard. I even just tried seeing how small our label maker would make words and it would work for some places, but not all. It also would add extra time. Anyone dealt with this or have any more ideas for me?
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/

chillin'inandover

Re: Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

Post by chillin'inandover » Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:11 am

Lynn,
Not sure if this would work because I am not that far in the guides but could you put a number by the name and just put the corresponding number on the map. This would be like a key or something on the back of the map. I believe you print the map so it could be double sided with the map on one side and the numbered list on the back side. You could just copy/print the list of names so that you wouldn't be typing for 45 minutes. I say copy/print because I don't know if the list is in the book to copy or with the CD that you print. If it would be easier or it is a small list the list could be with the map on one/front side only. Just a few thoughts. Tammy

LynnH
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Re: Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

Post by LynnH » Sun Aug 12, 2012 5:54 am

There really isn't a list. How it works in the guides with the Map Trek CD is that you have a Teachers map that is full color and has the places, rivers, states, battles etc all labeled. Then you print out a Student map that looks just like the Teacher one except it has less color and doesn't have anything labeled. I could maybe type up all the names from each map on a small list and let him do the numbers. I will run that by him and see what he thinks.
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/

my3sons
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Re: Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

Post by my3sons » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:30 pm

I think I would just print the teacher's map in black and white, and have him color that when coloring is assigned. Then, you could have him use the student map while referencing the teacher's map he had made to point to the areas mentioned in the plans. I think it is important to remember that the focus is not on writing skills here, but rather on using maps properly. He will definitely be able to show you his understanding of the lesson and the maps by doing it this way. I would not hesitate to do it this way with any of my dc in the same situation, and I would not worry one bit about it altering the learning for them. I hope this helps, Lynn! :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

LynnH
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Re: Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

Post by LynnH » Sun Aug 12, 2012 2:45 pm

Julie,
I hadn't even thought of doing it that way, but that makes sense. So you think that is better than him just telling me where to write each label on the student map? The way you describe would make it where he could still feel independent with it. My only concern is that if he is just kind of looking at the student map and "seeing" where it corresponds to the teacher map that he might skip some things. I am probably just making a big deal out of nothing. I think I am just struggling with the fact that he can't do what the guide says he is supposed to do. For some reason I am struggling more in that area right now than I usually do. It is probably much more my hang up than it is a real issue for him. I need to pray about it I think and ask God to give me peace about his abilities once again.
Lynn
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/

my3sons
Posts: 10698
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

Post by my3sons » Sun Aug 12, 2012 3:16 pm

Lynn - I can totally understand your thoughts here. You are such a great mom! So dedicated to helping each of your dc strive for their best. I honestly think more is learned from independence in this situation than from you writing for him. He is a growing young man, and he does such a good job in his schoolwork. He would be able to own the learning more without you doing the writing. I think I would spend my time having him point to the areas on the blank student map using his teacher's map as a reference rather that spend my time writing for him. Or, you could number the teacher's map ahead of time for him each day (just the areas mentioned in the HOD plans), and then have him write the corresponding numbers on the blank student map when he did the work. This would actually take this assignment back to being completely independent, while still focusing on the skill of reading/understanding/making maps with just a bit less writing. What do you think though? :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

LynnH
Posts: 1846
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:41 pm
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Re: Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

Post by LynnH » Sun Aug 12, 2012 4:14 pm

Julie I like that idea! That makes it totally independent and uses the key idea like Tammy suggested just in a different way. He will like that also. You are right that he is a growing young man and really desires to do as much of his school work on his own as possible. I have been brainstorming ways he can do the other things like the writing on the back of the Signers cards and I think I have ways to make most of those work by utilizing Ipad apps and typing.
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/

LynnH
Posts: 1846
Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 12:41 pm
Location: OH
Contact:

Re: Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

Post by LynnH » Mon Aug 13, 2012 12:44 pm

I just had to post back that Noah saw me numbering things on the teacher key and so I told him how mapping would work this year. He got this huge smile on his face and said "Awesome- I love that idea". So thanks ladies for helping me brainstorm this. I would not have come up with that on my own. I am terrible at out of the box thinking. God definitely used you.
Mom to:
dd 22 college graduate and employed as an Intervention Specialist
ds 18 US2, Loved Preparing, CTC , RTR , Rev to Rev, MTMM ,WG, WH and US1
http://www.graceandfur.blogspot.com/

my3sons
Posts: 10698
Joined: Sun Aug 26, 2007 7:08 pm
Location: South Dakota

Re: Mapping Challenges with dysgraphic child

Post by my3sons » Tue Aug 14, 2012 9:33 am

HOORAY!!! I LOVE picturing Noah with that awesome smile of his on his face! :D I can't think out of the box ever when it's for my own kids, and Tammy's idea was certainly the impetus for all this. So, this board is great about helping me in that regard too! It sounds like you are getting ready to start your year well, Lynn. So glad to have been able to help in some small way! :D

In Christ,
Julie
Enjoyed LHTH to USII
Currently using USI
Wife to Rich for 28 years
Mother to 3 sons, ages 23, 20, and 16
Sister to Carrie

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