**--Scroll down to find lots of useful information about the Wiggler's Checklist.
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"An excellent book that could stand alone on its merit as an engaging, heart-warming story, but in addition; this book is filled with instructive life wisdom, spiritual insights and rock-solid techniques for helping children with learning differences." - Amazon reader
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Wednesday Wink #22 “A Wiggler’s Checklist”
Things to consider when making a struggler’s checklist.
Spurs the other students to keep plugging away.
Examples of “fun” list activities for home and in class:
At home:
Salute a parent.
Pet the dog.
Eat a specific snack.
Ring a bell.
Go look out a window.
Get a cuddly stuffed animal and bring it back to your desk.
Stand up and stretch.
Get a drink.
Choose a coupon. (See “Prizes That Don’t Pinch the Pocketbook” section of this website.)
Dance to a favorite tune.
Choose a sticker and put it on your forehead.
Choose a sticker and put it on somebody else’s forehead.
In a school classroom. Stress silence so others are not disturbed.
Salute the teacher. (Nothing better than seeing the smile on a kid who’s proud of herself.)
Get a drink of water.
Draw a smiley face on the whiteboard.
Get a snack.
Go wink at your teacher. (I love seeing those winks.)
Stand up and stretch.
Go look out a window.
Choose a sticker and put it on your forehead.
Choose a sticker and give it to a friend.
Choose a coupon. (See “Prizes That Don’t Pinch the Pocketbook” section of this website.)
And my all-time favorite – Ring the cowbell and say, “Mooo.” (Strangely enough, this is the best
motivator I ever used. It is most effective if used sparingly and for long-term assignments.)
There are more examples in this website under these headings:
Dyslexia and Others
Doodlers and Dawdlers
Have questions? Email me (a live person) at [email protected].
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Book Club Questions and Maggie’s Chili Recipe
Select questions from the list to discuss, then enjoy a bowl of Maggie’s chili.
The recipe is provided at the end of the questions.
1--What do you think is the author’s purpose(s) for writing this book?
2--What phrases or actions of Luke’s showed how his reading problems affected his self-identity.
3—Brainstorm a list of methods and conversations that did not help Luke. Then make another list of things that did help him.
4—In what ways could this book help a parent or teacher who has a child that struggles with learning differences?
5—If you made this story into a movie, what actors would you cast for each character?
6—Did any characters change during the course of the story? Who and how?
7—What was your favorite scene? Why?
8—Who was your favorite character? Why?
Maggie’s Chili Recipe
Serves approximately eight people.
Ingredients list:
1-2 lbs of hamburger
1 yellow onion
4-5 cans (16oz) Bush’s Chili Beans with mild chili sauce.
2-3 small cans tomato soup plus water.
1 can (15oz) Great Northern Beans, drained. (Optional)
Variations and adaptations:
--Chili powder may be added if you like it spicy, or provided on the side.
--Sometimes I add corn.
1 -- Brown hamburger and chopped onion in soup pan. Be sure to drain the grease. 😊
2 – Stir in the other ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes or longer.
3 - Serve with blueberry muffins, cornbread, crackers, fritos, and/or other family favorites.
Some people (like me) stir in shredded cheese and/or sour cream.
Things to consider when making a struggler’s checklist.
- Use a physical list, whether it be on paper or a big board. (i.e. white board, chalk board)
- Several individual steps are better than a paragraph.
- Use few words.
- When first trying this, make the list easy and not too long. This’ll help student get in the groove.
- Try to incorporate tasks the student can accomplish without help. Then let him take his paper or tablet to a grading station. (See the Wednesday Wink provided above.)
- When doing math problems, do the first few like this: Student works problem, stops, and checks the answer with a helper &/or calculator. Make corrections as needed. Then do and check the next problem, etc. – until you know he understands the process. This will let you know that he can handle the problems correctly before he does the whole set. Then shorten the assignment. When he finishes, he may go to the checking station to see how he did.
- Be available to help as needed. Put the grading station near you.
- For math and spelling, instead of using paper, let student write on a big board. This uses different muscles, and you can see how he’s doing without hovering over him.
- If a student is unable to get his work done, evaluate his progress and make adjustments to his workload. Our goal here is independent success.
- Always include a quick “fun” activity near the end of the list. Silliness is a plus.
- When a student gets out of his seat to grade a paper or do the “fun” activity, it does two things:
Spurs the other students to keep plugging away.
Examples of “fun” list activities for home and in class:
At home:
Salute a parent.
Pet the dog.
Eat a specific snack.
Ring a bell.
Go look out a window.
Get a cuddly stuffed animal and bring it back to your desk.
Stand up and stretch.
Get a drink.
Choose a coupon. (See “Prizes That Don’t Pinch the Pocketbook” section of this website.)
Dance to a favorite tune.
Choose a sticker and put it on your forehead.
Choose a sticker and put it on somebody else’s forehead.
In a school classroom. Stress silence so others are not disturbed.
Salute the teacher. (Nothing better than seeing the smile on a kid who’s proud of herself.)
Get a drink of water.
Draw a smiley face on the whiteboard.
Get a snack.
Go wink at your teacher. (I love seeing those winks.)
Stand up and stretch.
Go look out a window.
Choose a sticker and put it on your forehead.
Choose a sticker and give it to a friend.
Choose a coupon. (See “Prizes That Don’t Pinch the Pocketbook” section of this website.)
And my all-time favorite – Ring the cowbell and say, “Mooo.” (Strangely enough, this is the best
motivator I ever used. It is most effective if used sparingly and for long-term assignments.)
There are more examples in this website under these headings:
Dyslexia and Others
Doodlers and Dawdlers
Have questions? Email me (a live person) at [email protected].
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Book Club Questions and Maggie’s Chili Recipe
Select questions from the list to discuss, then enjoy a bowl of Maggie’s chili.
The recipe is provided at the end of the questions.
1--What do you think is the author’s purpose(s) for writing this book?
2--What phrases or actions of Luke’s showed how his reading problems affected his self-identity.
3—Brainstorm a list of methods and conversations that did not help Luke. Then make another list of things that did help him.
4—In what ways could this book help a parent or teacher who has a child that struggles with learning differences?
5—If you made this story into a movie, what actors would you cast for each character?
6—Did any characters change during the course of the story? Who and how?
7—What was your favorite scene? Why?
8—Who was your favorite character? Why?
Maggie’s Chili Recipe
Serves approximately eight people.
Ingredients list:
1-2 lbs of hamburger
1 yellow onion
4-5 cans (16oz) Bush’s Chili Beans with mild chili sauce.
2-3 small cans tomato soup plus water.
1 can (15oz) Great Northern Beans, drained. (Optional)
Variations and adaptations:
--Chili powder may be added if you like it spicy, or provided on the side.
--Sometimes I add corn.
1 -- Brown hamburger and chopped onion in soup pan. Be sure to drain the grease. 😊
2 – Stir in the other ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes or longer.
3 - Serve with blueberry muffins, cornbread, crackers, fritos, and/or other family favorites.
Some people (like me) stir in shredded cheese and/or sour cream.