We have been working with Jack’s new flash cards for several days now. I already see a difference. Jack is more animated, more talkative, more ‘here’. He has even gone out and worked for two days, even though it’s the weekend. I don’t know if that’s due to the flash cards, but I’d like to think so.

Tonight we worked on Activities (where you describe what the person is doing) and Categories (you name each object in a group and then name the category they belong to). I make it fun, like we’re playing a game. Jack is an oftentimes unruly student, mostly in a good natured way. He loves looking at the pictures and making up stories about them.

I started with a picture of a girl doing ballet. “What is she doing?” I asked.

“She’s—” Jack held up his arms, mimicking the pose. “And she’s–do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do.” He sang a series of noises to describe her turning around on her toes. “Like that.”

“Okay. And what is the ‘do-do-do-do-do-do-do-do’ called?” I wanted to know. We have our own language these days, but it helps him understand me.

“It’s called dancing.” Jack answered promptly. I nodded and held up another card.

“What is he doing?” It was a boy riding a skateboard. Jack studied the picture, frowning. Then his face lit up.

“Whoosh, whoosh!” he said, moving his hand back and forth. “He’s on the board.”

“And what type of board is it?” This was pushing it a bit, but I wanted him to think. Jack stared at the card, his forehead wrinkling.

“I don’t know.” he answered. So I told him. “Oh yeah, a skateboard! Why couldn’t I remember that?”

“You haven’t seen one in a while.” I held up a picture of a girl waving hello. “What is she doing?” Jack surveyed the picture, a devilish grin spreading across his face.

“She’s making out!” he exclaimed, the little boy pushing his boundaries. I gave him a look. “Well, she should be making out. With me!”

“I’m sure she should. But what is she actually doing?” I asked him. Jack gave me a look I knew well.

“She’s giving her teacher the finger.” he said, looking like butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth. I had to work hard not to laugh.

“No dear, she’s waving hello.” I said. Jack’s answer was an emphatic, “I knew that!”

We worked our way through the stack of forty cards. Then I moved on to Categories. The first card I held up was a giraffe.

“What’s this?” I asked.

“It’s a—it’s a—” And the noises began. Jack stuttered. He groped for the word. He blew raspberries (note to self—have tissues handy). He smacked his head with his hands. “It’s a ger—a ger—I can’t spit it out!”

“Well, you got the ‘ger’ part right.” I reassured him. “What comes after that?”

Jack thought. Then he thought some more. He repeated “Ger-ger-ger-” over and over to himself. Suddenly his face lit up.

“GERANIUM!!” he hollered, his entire face lighting up with a smile. “It’s a geranium!”

I didn’t have the heart to correct him. I was laughing too hard anyway.