Two classes

The two classes I have meet twice a week, for two hours each day. The attendance varies between the two week nights. Attendance is a real issue for this program. During staff meetings, the dilemma of attendance is often a point of discussion. Funding is just one of the issues that are affected by the adult ed classroom and faithful attendance. It is a catch 22 of sorts. If a student is not present, they can not be instructed. If they are not instructed, there will be little possibility for change in test scores. Without a change in test scores, the program could lose funding...... If the program looses funding, the students do not have a class or a teacher.

Materials Used

I carry all my own material to class each day. My arms have never been in better shape. I bumped my own shoulder the other day and was shocked at how toned my arm was. I have tried to use different tote systems and am currently using two cloth grocery bags. I have made several attempts to whittle down the material. Unable to separate the necessary from the unnecessary, I continue to carry two bags of materials each day.

Getting the Main Idea (multiple copies of B,C,D)
Keywo
Rummy Roots
Orton Gillingham Manual
Lauri Letters
Alphabet tiles
small dry erase board
Spray for DE Board
pencil box with sharpened pencils, DE markers, pens and such
Sign in journal
buzzer
Morse code sheets in sleeves
Let's Read 1-9
Listen My Children book 1 +2
Blue Book (2)
Student Reference Sheets
Teacher Reference for BB
Two extra spiral notebooks
Chalk
colored ink pens
colored index cards
OG phonics cards
Stuart Little (2 copies)

Who am I?

I started teaching in 1987. I taught elementary school for ten years. During that time I managed to get a M.Ed. in At Risk Population from EMU. I later completed Level I and Level II of NILD training. I worked as an educational therapist in private practice for six years. With the Orton Gillingham training I received through NILD, I was able to help many children in my private practice.

In 2008 I began working with a local literacy foundation in Richmond, Virginia. Above all other positions, I believe this has been one of the most rewarding. Working with children has been so very different than working with adults. The adults I work with are in a group setting and are so eager to learn to read.

With the success I had achieved through Orton Gillingham, supported by NILD techniques, I chose to use the same approaches with the adult learners.

My hopes are that through this document, others may learn from my trials and successes.