[stylist] Wonderland

Tue Jun 23 16:10:01 UTC 2015

Rowena,

We miss you too, but you're doing a great thing for yourself right now. We will not forget you, smile. We cheer you on though.

The other day, Ross and I were cleaning, and Declan was sitting in the hallway with his book basket looking at books. He sat there for about 10 minutes with one book, and periodically, we heard him say letters out loud. When he was done, he picked up all the books he took out and hauled the basket back to where it belongs saying, "Whoo, heavy," LOL!

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Rowena Portch via stylist
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2015 8:26 AM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List
Cc: Rowena Portch
Subject: Re: [stylist] Wonderland

What a beautiful thing to read this morning, Bridgit. Thanks for sharing. 

I have started my blind school last week and it has kept me so busy that I have not had time to write or socialize at all. I feel out of the loop on things. I also miss my writing very much. 

R o w e n a  P o r t c h
Author of the Spirian Saga

RowenaPortch.com <http://rowenaportch.com/>

View the Book Trailer for The Spirian Saga, a new paranormal romance <http://youtu.be/XeNmJkXyJv0> On Jun 22, 2015, at 10:11 PM, Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist <stylist at nfbnet.org> wrote:

Declan has learned what "my turn" means, and he applies it to anything he wants, including my computer. I try to come up with creative ways to handle individual situations, not always wanting to flatly say no. The other day, he insisted on touching the keys on the keyboard, and he kept saying the letter of the key he was touching. So it struck me that he might enjoy actually typing, and he would be productive, of sorts, and not just goofing around on mommy's computer. He was enthralled when he not only saw the letter appear on the screen but then heard the letter spoken out loud. We discovered this could be another tool for him to work on letters. He doesn't get to do it every day, but now when he wants a turn on the computer, we open up a text file an let him explore the keys.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jackie Williams via stylist
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2015 10:48 AM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Cc: Jackie Williams
Subject: Re: [stylist] Wonderland

Bridgit,
What you are doing with Declan is marvelous. I believe that the combination of using the computer visually along with JAWS is one of the most effective way of learning at almost any age. You should have seen my sixth grade grandson when he heard the ways spell check said the word wrong and then suggested the correct spelling which made it sound correct. 
There were so many other things. Of course he could see the red and green lines in the grammar mode, which I cannot. But I think Braille and JAWS would both be beneficial to all students if it could be incorporated into the public schools.

Jackie Lee

Time is the school in which we learn.
Time is the fire in which we burn.
Delmore Schwartz	 

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter via stylist
Sent: Sunday, June 21, 2015 11:15 PM
To: 'Writers' Division Mailing List'
Cc: Bridgit Kuenning-Pollpeter
Subject: Re: [stylist] Wonderland

Agree. I was not reading classics at 5, but by 8, I was reading at a high school level, and definitely reading some classics by 8 and 9. I have always tested above average in reading and literature. We work with Declan by writing letters down and asking him to identify. Recently, we started asking him to push a given letter on the keyboard, and he thinks it's so cool that it not only shows up on the screen, but that JAWS speaks it out loud. He also loves his fridge alphabet magnets. And in addition to books, whenever he sees letters on signs or clothing or posters or pictures or wherever, he points them out, smile. I know parents have busy lives these days, but I strongly believe that when you take time to actually engage with them, not just sit in the same room, but actually engage, they learn so much. We set aside time every day to do interactive play with Declan, whether it's educational or just physical. It's also fun to watch the lightbulb go off in their head at this age. And they are so amazed at everything, grin.

Bridgit

-----Original Message-----
From: stylist [mailto:stylist-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Semirhage via stylist
Sent: Monday, June 22, 2015 12:18 AM
To: Writers' Division Mailing List
Cc: Semirhage
Subject: Re: [stylist] Wonderland

Hey I think it's fine and more t han fine to brag about how smart your kid is. Especially when it's true and interesting like what you said, Brigitte. 
I mean some parents want to go on about how their baby is kicking and cooing at 5 months. Au really? I knew my ABCs when I was three, how to say/sing them and to read them in Braille. Learned when I was three. Maybe started a little earlier, can't remember, but I do remember singing the ABC song at 3.

It's about how much time parents actually take being active verbally and interactive with their kids. Sadly they're telling you that kids shouldn't do this until they're 4 because parents mostly don't bother actually training them anymore. It's sad.
But brag away. LOL. My husband was reading the classics, the heavy ones between years 5 and 7 years old, and that'd have gone right over my head. He didn't have a lot else to read but still. He didn't brag but I am impressed so I will. HAHA.
Sem
I'm friends with the monster that's under my bed.
I get along with the voices inside of my head. 

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