 Informal
Practice
Parents have useful opportunities for informal practice
of activities; while preparing food, shopping, setting
the table - the scope is endless! In this way learning
is reinforced, and transference of skills -so often
a problem in children with special needs - is assisted.
Teaching Sessions
For your teaching sessions, have ready a comfortable,
distraction-free setting with table and chairs, your
Structural Arithmetic equipment and resources, and a
diary for jotting useful observations, which will be
invaluable for tracking progress. Like any good teacher,
plan your sessions in advance by reading through the
relevant lesson. Your sessions will be more productive,
and your child's attention less likely to wander.
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Small, regular sessions get the best results. Decide
on a suitable time slot when you and your child are
not tired, and try to keep to it without being rigid.
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Establishing a routine will make your work easier
by avoiding resistance and time-wasting negotiations;
it is estimated that a habit takes three to four weeks
to become established.
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Ten to twenty minutes is recommended four to seven
times a week. Naturally, more frequent practice yields
faster progress.
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Be very patient, give lots of praise. Make it a
pleasurable way of spending time together.
One-To-One Teaching
The lessons in Structural Arithmetic Book 2 have been
written as a group activity, however, they can be easily
adapted to one-to-one teaching, therefore, specific
one-to-one instructions are not included.
As a general guide, you would pay special attention
to the child's concentration span and the length of
the activity. While preparing the lesson in advance,
if the activity seems too long or demanding, consider
taking turns with the child. Modelling the correct way
to work through the task is invaluable. Also, consider
swapping roles, (as indicated in the teaching). This
is an excellent way for your child to begin to develop
'teaching skills'. It also offers the child the opportunity
to practise any emerging understanding as well as language.
You may also include a favourite doll, soft toy or puppet
for which you or your child could take an extra turn.
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