Becki just be patient, I know that is hard to do. I had the same problem with Bethany. She is very smart and talented. She is an excellent artist and singer, but as far as school work I didn't think she would ever catch on. Alot of it is just laziness. I was worried about the reading. At first I was afraid that she maybe a little dislexia, but her reading is getting much better. I never had to teach one to read, so it was a little challenging, but my youngest Rebekah is five and she catches on so much faster than Bethany did, I've had several people including some teachers that kids learn at their own pace. Kids are different. I have had to really pray for the Lord the help me, because I don't want my children to be dumb. Like I said before just be patient. Try different games with the ABC's. I know what helped my children was this magnetic ABC board that has a chalkboard on the back. I would just sat down with them and we would go over the letters, then I would pull them all off and tell them to find a certain letter and put it where it goes. That's what helped them. It's just repetition. I know what you mean also about not being disciplined. We need to do better at that also. Hang in there.

Hey Becki,
I had a hard time with Dalton. I introduced one letter per day (in 26 days, he'll know his letters). And I would review the letter from the day before to make sure he knew it, before I went to the next letter. He loved to play games. So I got flash cards with the alphabet on them and we went over and over the letters. And when he got a letter right I would give him the card, when he got it wrong I would get the card. And whoever got the most cards at the end would win. You could also give a prize, like you'll watch a movie of his choice with him or a special treat or something. He loved it. And it made it fun for him.

My Mom used the same thing to teach all 7 kids to read and it worked. It's a tape or CD set with a booklet that goes with it, called "Hear See Say" by Melody House Publishing. I know that Sam isn't ready to read yet but he could listen to the first part... You look at the letter and the picture that goes with it while you listen to a teacher and kids go through the alphabet and say the name of the letter and it's sound, like, "A, ahhh, apple". Since Sam does so well with memorizing words, maybe the combination of sight and sound would be good for him? Anyhow, just an idea. (Oh, once they have the alphabet sounds, they can "graduate" to the next side of the tape... "th, ch, wh" sounds and stuff like that. Maybe Sam could just stay on the first side for awhile?)

He is still young... BUT something fun that might help... get all the kids to form the letters with their body. Take a picture. Do only a few letters a day. That might help.. he would have to study how it looks to figure out where to lay. Make them keep saying the letter they are making. Then get him to make a "letter" for Dad... see if that helps. Of course this would require getting the other kids to help him.

Relax. The boy's only 3 years old! Don't force the issue. Let him take his time. I'm sure every kindergarten teacher can testify to having numerous children who didn't know the alphabet at age 5. Every child is different, and Sam is different in a LOT of ways! He doesn't have a learning disability, he's just not ready. Right now he's too busy ridding the world of germs by eating them! He's got bigger priorities than learning the alphabet. He probably senses your concern and you don't want that to transfer to him to where he starts to think he's dumb, since Momma thinks maybe he is. Act like it's no big deal. Later, in a couple of years, if he still hasn't learned the alphabet, THEN beat him. *BIG grin*

Kristal's suggestion is what we've done. I made up flashcards with pictures and the letters (upper and lowercase). The picture association seemed to help. I've not really spent any time working with Luke and he's almost five. But, low and behold, he knows his letters REALLY good all at once. We played Scrabble Junior today and he never hesitated once about where his letters belonged.

Also, Mom is right...he's a boy and their job is to rid the world of whatever injustice they deem important! Don't worry about Sam...when he's good and ready, he'll take off. We eased up on Caleb and he's taken off with reading. He doesn't read for entertainment yet (who needs books when you've got his imagination?!) but he CAN when he needs to.

The other thing that we've used is computer learning games. I'm pretty sure that's how Luke has come to learn his letters and numbers.

Bec, I gotta' agree with your mom. Three's too young to be overly concerned. I'd take it really slow and only spend a few minutes a day on it.

Also, it sounds like he's a definite kinesthetic learner rather than visual. Hands on is probably better for him. I think Wendy's suggestion would really work for him, but also let him write the letters. Kinesthetic learners need to DO and not just see. I'd just do one letter a day and let him paint the letter or make the letter out of play-doh or write it in chalk on the sidewalk ... whatever floats his boat, but I would probably stop the recognition technique (magnets, etc.). It's not likely that it's gonna' work with him.

Based on how you describe his personality, your concern about burn-out is very valid. He will get to that point if he's pushed too hard so just take it nice and slow.

It'll all come in time. :-)