My struggle with my 1st grade tutoring student ("K") has always been that she resists any new activity I introduce. Heaven help me if I show a moment of indecision or poor planning - she will jump on it and derail us for a long while. Even just that moment as I put one activity aside and grab the materials for another - she can use it for a diversion.
So I tried something new last week.
Before she arrived, I set up 8 different activities all throughout my living room. Each "station" had a few pieces of candy next to it. (I am not above bribery.) When she came in, I gave her a paper lunch bag with her name on it and said that as she completes each activity, she could collect the candy next to it. Not only that, but she could choose which order we do the activities in.
(Because of her attention issues, there's a constant power struggle, even when she's happy to be hanging out with me. This way I've given HER the power over our time together and we don't have to lose time arguing.)
She was so much more focused than usual, and she completed ALL the activities. This requires more planning and set-up ahead of time for me, but I think it will be worth it.
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