-=> Quoting Mike Martin to Regina Finan <=-
 MM> Howdy Regina:
 MM> Regina Finan wrote in a message to Alinda Harrison:
 
 MM> May I offer a possible strategy you may be able to use now.  Set your
 MM> problems up inside of blocks, one digit per block.  Jonathon can enter
 MM> his digits numbers and they will all be in alignment.  Then he can
 MM> take a 3x5 note card to cover the digits which are not of immediate
 MM> concern, adding only those in the column which are open to him.  If he
 MM> needs to closure on a per column basis, he can use a colored hilighter
 MM> to mark the digit columns which are completed.  Allow Jonathon to
 MM> select his color.   Eventually, he should be able to shed the card,
 MM> then the hilighter, and eventually the blocks. 
 MM> your numbers go in here
 MM> ||   ||   ||   ||   ||
 MM> \/   \/   \/   \/   \/
 MM> |    |    |    |    |    |      addend 1
 MM> |____|____|____|____|____|
 MM> |    |    |    |    |    |      addend 2
 MM> |____|____|____|____|____|
 MM> --------------------------------
 MM> |    |    |    |    |    |      sum
 MM> |____|____|____|____|____|
 MM> Often times, stratetgies such as these slow a student down long enough
 MM> for them to focus (visually and mentally) on the problem.  This
 MM> particular strategy is used frequently to teach students to allign
 MM> their place values, especially for students with visual difficulties. 
 Thanks Mike, I'll try it.  We've done similiar things, but not actually
 putting them into blocks and possibly using color.  This has been the
 only visual problem we have encountered.  Not quite sure if it is the
 ADD or other learning problem.  Math is his very strong point.  The
 only other problem he has in Math is explaining how to get an answer or
 where it came from.  He can quickly do the problems mentally better than
 doing it on paper.  So maybe this is a visual problem.  Taking a graph
 and a math problem he looks at it and comes up with the answer in 2 sec.
 then you ask him how he got the answer and his face goes blank.  His
 reply is always "I dunno I just know it".  Its kinda scary, cause he
 knows alot of tricks in Math and it is so natural that he just can't
 remember which ones he used (if any).  I am assuming also that because
 his learning problems with explaining things are a probable cause to it
 that will change as he practices his writing (stories and paragraph's
 as well as speeches).  Because he has a problem with this he has a
 oral speech class.  Telling stories or writing them down is difficult
 because he must put them in order of events.  Extremely difficult for
 alot of ADD'ers.
 Regina
... All I need is a Wave and a board to surf it on.
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