How do I teach a very distracted girl the abcs?

Question

I'm doing college required community service and I have to teach this girl in a poor community the ABCs

She's really behind her peers when it comes to reading. I've tried repeating A-D to her but I haven't had much of a breakthrough. She knows how to recite them but I haven't been able to get her write them down perfectly or put them in the correct order. I've found that she has the most trouble distinguishing d and b.

But my biggest problem with her is she doesn't pay attention. She constantly fidgets in her seat and the least disturbance sends her attention out the window. Even when she looking at the work, I can see that her eyes keep going all over the place.

I talk to her parents awhile ago and she has the same problems in school. They're still deciding if she should graduate into the first grade but I feel like she'll have a a really hard time.

Answer 1

I thinkyu have watched the movie 'TARE ZAMEEN PE'  it is a wonderfu movie and your student's case is somewhat like that.  And i too read in a magazine that we should make children use their left brain which catches images.

Try teaching her in the form of pictures, give her some colours and tell her to make  the alphabets as colourful as she can....

I think my suggestion will help you..And your doing a good job .. don't give up ;; try till success.

Answer 2

This could be an early indicator of dyslexia, watch it closely.  I would make the letter tactile, and if necesary, have her use capital letter for b and duntill she gets the hang of it.

Answer 3

Having trouble with the letterd d, b, p, and q is very normal at that age.  It will come with time and practice.  Focus on the other letters.

Active learning/sensory learning is what she needs.

Sensory:  sand, shaving cream, playdough (you can get printable alphabet mats off the internet), etc.  You can practice letter writing in the sand by having a large card for her to look at and to trace and then try it in the sand.  Same with shaving cream (laminate the cards first for durability).  You can also hide plastic/foam letters in various types of materials.  Have her go on an alphabet dig.  If alphabetical order is the problem...have a strip pre-made for her to match the letters to.  You can also have letters up on a magent board in abc order except only a few missing.  Sing the song together to find which one is missing and search for it.  Also works for fishing...magent letters and a boughten or homemade magent fishing pole.

Go outside...have her help you draw a train track or hopscotch board and write the letters in side each space in abc order...taking only a few at a time.  Then move in different ways to each one and allowing her to say them in various ways (even yelling :-))

Give her something to fidgit with if you have to do sit down work.  Flour in a balloon, koosh ball, Tangle jr., etc.

Make a "feely bag/box".  Decorate a box in a fun way with holes on at least one side.  This can also be done with a plastic cup put inside of a tube sock.  Play letters inside...many different types... cut out of sand paper, wooden, plastic, foam, etc.  Have her pull it out and tell you what it is.  Talk about the shape of the letter and whether it has sticks and/or curves.  Place it on an ABC line in the correct space.

Roll a ball back and forth saying an ABC chant.  You can also use a permanent marker and write letters on the ball. When the child catches it they look at where their thumb is and tells you what letter it is.

Mystery Letters:  Cut index cards in half and write on each card a letter of the alphabet in thick white crayon.  Provide water colors for her to paint over top.  The mystery letter will show up.  Now she can put them in order.

Many many many more things to do!  Hope these few things help.  The internet has never ending ideas for you!  Just search alphabet activities.

Answer 4

I think that most all of the suggestions are helpful but you know her better than any of us.  I am sure this is frustrating for you because you want to help her.  I think you posting in such detail only shows that this does matter to you.  I could suggest a lot of possible "reasons" she is having difficulty but no clear answer could be given.  I would offer to you a few resources. First, there is something called a IEP.  A individual education plan.  This is a opportunity for her to be assessed by a educational professional who then makes a plan with the teacher, parents and school.  A lot of controversy has followed IEPs and you should research this a bit.  I propose this because the difficulties of her learning are observable to a point.  A trained professional could offer you a better assessment than this post due to actual observation.  This IEP evaluation is free upon request/need.  

My suggestion to you in another part is to nourish the relationship with her as much as possible.  A lot of incredible changes are going on in ece that are putting the emphasis on the individual and relationship. (Vygotsky, Freire, Erickson) Your relationship will actually be very important while she deals with the expectations and failures of this time.  I encourage you to go to NAEYC to find a mountain of incredible resources that might connect with you.  I wish you many happy connections with this girl.  I love to hear people excited and concerned with helping others.

Answer 5

Put shaving cream down on a cookie sheet then write the letters with your/her fingers. Maybe 2, cookie sheets (one for each of you). Have her mimic what ever letter you do. also try allowing her to stand, at her desk/table.

Try doing things in "stations".

1. cookie sheet w/foam

2. blocks w/letters or magnetic ones

3. buy/make foam cut out letters, and make up some kind of "find the missing letter game" each correct answer gets an m&m

4. finger paint the letters

5. musical ABC chairs (done w/ABC song)

Answer 6

OK, first realize there is a definite distinction between reciting the ABCs and recognizing them. The correlation may not be there for her. First, I would try to steer clear (for a while) from reciting the ABCs. Concentrate on learning the letters out of order. Flashcards could be handy. I got one of those tracing books and put it into a binder with sheet protectors. You can give her a dry erase marker so she gets the repetition.

If she has fidgeting issues use it to your advantage. When she gets the letter right you can dance like that animal (dog, butterfly, etc). If you are in college it tells me you recognize the importance of learning, you have a gifted opportunity to help this young girl enjoy learning. From the sound of it this will not be an easy task, best of luck to you.

Answer 7

make it fun - it will be much easier for you to keep her attention if she's having a great time.  Make a game out of magnet letters and a magnet on a dowel rod   - it's a fishing game. She catches the letters and puts them in order.  Singing the ABC's over and over is fun - put it to a jivey beat -Dr. Jean has some wonderful ABC songs that are so fun to do because of the fun beat to them.  

If you are looking for perfection though - look elsewhere - a kindergartener isn't going to be perfect by any means - noone is!  

there could also be medical isses such as ADHD to deal with.  Try the fun games and see if this helps. Good luck.

Answer 8

Turn it into a game, kids love rhyme and song and it instantly gets their attention

Answer 9

could you start with something essential like have her eyes tested? maybe she cannot see very well.

Answer 10

tell here she cant go home if she doesnt or give her ISS

Answer 11

just something my mom taught me,

" a D is a Dog chasing a stick"

and here you draw Little legs on the rounded part of the d

"And a B is a stick swatting a bee"

and here you draw little stripes on the round part of the b.

also you might have more sauces teaching her the letters out of sequence.  I know that this sounds contradictory, but there are certain curriculum's that teach the letter I first.

you say " today we are going to break the rules, we are going to skip all the way to the letter I"  and have her jump up and Yell "I says i is an Indian,(or whatever), each time you point to the letter I.

also kids love flashcards and some competition.(or a timer and a prize)

Answer 12

U should sit with her in a quiet place where there is no distractions and play with her by learning her ABC's. If she gets them right give her a treat like candy or a toy. Do this every time u have a chance. This might take a while.... Well hope this helps. Oh yeah, try to make things gun, not boring. If u have a cd that sings the aBC'S PLAY IT AND SING ALONG, THE HAVE HER WRITE THEM.

Answer 13

Try making her associate a word or animal with each letter. Such as:

A - Apple

B - Bed

C - Candy

D - Dog

E - Elephant

and so on.

Answer 14

make it fun for her kinda make it a game and do a little at a time like a-d and pick out things that start with each letter and have her find them she is distracted bc it boreing to her make it a kind of educational game

Answer 15

u can make use of objects to attract her. my daughter reacts similiarly and i will use apples for "A", bananas for "B" to teach her ABCs.. once she sees it, i will cut the fruits for her to eat. with her mouth open, i will pronounce the letters for her to repeats. so far it works.. cheers

Answer 16

Try keeping here after class and tell her if she gets it right she will win a prize.

Answer 17

take her out with picture cards, get her to find the item in the picture and to say it . apple, bird ,cat ,dog ,stick the letters on the card as she finds the items.

try singing,(as in the sound of music. ) doe ray me far so la tee  etc.Relax she can tell your frustrated about her progress.

Answer 18

trying finding what she likes and appeal to her in that way and teach them to her

Answer 19

PRAISE AND REWARD!!!!!!!!!

Answer 20

You've probably been around her long enough to learn what distracts her... you just need to focus on finding what her interests are and applying them there.

For example, if she likes art, fingerpaint with her, and sneak the letters in there. If she likes play-doh, help her make the letters out of that.

You know what doesn't work, but you need to find a fun, creative and interesting way for her.

It's like sitting in a boring classroom, compared to an interactive, fun one. It's so much easier to concentrate and learn when it appeals to your interests.