Monday, December 12, 2022

 Monday, December 12, 2022

   

I returned from my morning walk just as B. pulled up the driveway. He stopped to hand me something. He said it was a gift from Mama K, a mutual friend. She expressed gratitude for my listening ear the other day as she complained about the burdens of her life. They are considerable. The talk relieved some of her stress. That was easy. I was glad I could do something to help her. I can't help her learn to set limits except by blowing up ineffectively.

   As usual, no one showed up for my Step Up Tutoring Office hours at 11. The program got off to a great start. They changed the policy because they had to show their sponsors' results. They insisted that each session be forty-five minutes to an hour. They introduced scripted lessons. They demanded that students report what they did to the students weekly to the parents and the student's classroom teacher. I do half-hour sessions unless I feel more can be accomplished by doing longer ones. Students are all climbing a steep incline. They're exhausted. I get tired of pulling them up that hill.

   Elsa and I went up to Paulette's to get more water. Ideally, we get refills every third day. That hadn't happened in awhile. I had guests, and then I was just lazy. Whenever we go up, we visit as well as pick up water. I like sitting with Paulette, talking about nothing in particular, working on a jigsaw puzzle, or shelling mac nuts.  

  I told Paulette about the Christmas present I bought myself. I was excited- a four-inch handheld chain saw. It sounds like a fantastic little tool. Paulette said she had one but wasn't that thrilled with it. She sawed down a slender branch. It took a minute. I thought it would be better. Then I saw the blade was rusted. I don't know how old it was or if she didn't do what was necessary to take care of it properly.

  I had a session with adolescent D. I worked with him on copying letters. He could hold up to five letters in his head. He also needed help with handwriting. I started with the classification activity, categorizing print letters by their spatial orientation. Uppies (b, f, etc.), downies (g,j, etc.), and the regulars ( a, c, e, etc.). From what he says, he has no problem with letter formation. He had trouble controlling his hand. It is too tense.