Home schooling

I taught middle & high school in Virginia… I would seriously consider homeschooling as an alternative.

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/8259/how.html (cut and paste it to your browser) is a great introduction. That site will get you through anything ;))

For some really good articles specifically about homeschooling LD kids and LD/gifted kids, go to http://www.resourceroom.net/homeschooling/index.asp

Are you thinking of focusing on skills at first to bring thigns up to level, or of developing his strengths and interests, or both?

In a couple of weeks I should have another article with thoughts about exactly your question…

Try going to http://www.metacrawler.com and doing a search on “homeschooling Virginia”. You should find one or more websites that tell you exactly what you need to do to get started. Also, you should find one or more homeschooling organizations you can join. These often have telephone “hot lines” you can call, leave a message, and have someone get back to you. They are the best sources of information about how to homeschool in your state. It’s a good idea to join at least one of these organizations, as they often have information packets and newsletters that help you network with other homeschoolers.

Mary

Local and state homeschooling groups will be the best source of info about the legal requirements in Virginia. Find out if there are special requirements for homeschooling LD kids- there are in a few states, I just don’t know about Virginia.

Unless your child is really miserable in school or you feel you must pull her out asap, I’d encourage you to take a little time to read about different approaches to homeschooling and to consider your goals for homeschooling. You and your daughter will have a smoother transition and are more likely to feel successful with homeschooling if you know your options first. You may choose to follow a curriculum very similar to what the school is using, but you may decide that you would rather try a classical approach or unschooling. I like “The Homeschooling Answer Book” by Linda Dobson for a general introduction. If a particular approach appeals to you, then you can read more about it (i.e. The Well Trained Mind for classical education, or The Unschooling Handbook, etc.) Knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the different approaches to homeschooling will help you and your daughter put together a program that really meets her needs.

Jean

You need an IEP for your child! The school must accommodate your child and help them succeed. Most kids with learning disabilities need the social interaction of a school setting. Know your rights! Visit the Dept of Education for Virginia and the IDEA Law to get your tax dollars and a free public education for your child! The law must accommodate! I know, I have my own child with ADHD. He is 17 and he is a challenge! He will succeed. Taking them out of school puts the school system back 25 yrs when over a million children with disabilities were not in school. School is full of children with assorted disabilities and their mainstreamed into the same environment. Your child doesn’t want to be different, but being in a home school sometimes will make him in a protected bubble?

Jackie,

I strongly disagree with Carol’s comments that “Most kids with learning disabilities need the social interaction of a school setting.” and “Taking them out of school puts the school system back 25 yrs when over a million children with disabilities were not in school.”

While school’s are required by law to provide LD services, actually getting appropriate and meaningful services may be another story altogether. I believe it’s important to evaluate where you want to spend your energy - fighting the school or really helping your child. Nor is it your child’s responsibility to set an example for other LD students to keep the school out of the dark ages. The LD battle will not be won or lost whether you homeschool your child or not. As a parent, you do have both the right and responsibility to do what is best for your child.

I have been homeschooling my LD child for the past couple years and wish I had started sooner. The school would have never provided the programs and therapies that I’ve been able to provide. My child interacts with other homeschooled children and with public/parochial schooled children through various extracurricular activities. Frequently homeschoolers have more of a problem with too much social interaction than not enough.

Kaleidoscapes.com has a variety of good homeschooling discussion boards.

I wish you well in your homeschooling endeavor.

Homeschooling does not mean that social interaction stops and it doesn not mean that a child is in a protective bubble.

Unfortunately theory and legalities don’t match the realities of what happens in schools. I’ve been a public school teacher (6 years; another 8 in private school) and while some places do the job, others are simply toxic and it would be better to teach them *nothing* at home than send them there. Taking them out might put the school system back — which is a shame — but unlike 25 years ago there are many more resources to make homeschooling a vibrant and viable option.

A self-contained LD class can be much more of a protected bubble — or more likley, a cage where a kiddo is enclosed with low expectations … and not much in the way of protection. Too many of the social interactions I’ve witnessed in middle and high school settings have *not* been the stuff I’d want my kid to have to deal with and I’m not even close to the overprotective type.

I was a very sheltered child- I was in a private girls school from 1st- 12th grade back when sending kids to private school was pretty unusual. My parents heard all about how my sister and I were overprotected and how difficult it would be for us to deal with the “real world”. How could we possibly deal with college classes with BOYS after spending 12 years in a girls school? Throughout all those years of being challenged to do my personal best in the shelter of a supportive and nurturing atmosphere, I was gaining confidence in myself and my abilities. When it was time for me to move out into the real world, I did so with self assurance, as did my classmates. I know being sheltered was a good thing for me so I don’t worry about my homeschooled kids being too sheltered.

Jean

I want to thank all of you who support me in chosing to home school my child.
Thank you!
And hats off to you!

Thank you for the support.
homeschooling in another state wrote:
>
> Jackie,
>
> I strongly disagree with Carol’s comments that “Most kids
> with learning disabilities need the social interaction of a
> school setting.” and “Taking them out of school puts the
> school system back 25 yrs when over a million children with
> disabilities were not in school.”
>
> While school’s are required by law to provide LD services,
> actually getting appropriate and meaningful services may be
> another story altogether. I believe it’s important to
> evaluate where you want to spend your energy - fighting the
> school or really helping your child. Nor is it your child’s
> responsibility to set an example for other LD students to
> keep the school out of the dark ages. The LD battle will not
> be won or lost whether you homeschool your child or not. As
> a parent, you do have both the right and responsibility to do
> what is best for your child.
>
> I have been homeschooling my LD child for the past couple
> years and wish I had started sooner. The school would have
> never provided the programs and therapies that I’ve been able
> to provide. My child interacts with other homeschooled
> children and with public/parochial schooled children through
> various extracurricular activities. Frequently homeschoolers
> have more of a problem with too much social interaction than
> not enough.
>
> Kaleidoscapes.com has a variety of good homeschooling
> discussion boards.
>
> I wish you well in your homeschooling endeavor.

Thanks for posting back — I always wonder what happens after people read the replies…

Dear Sue J.,
YA right!, is that really the answer I’am looking for?. Can you please as knowledge that you must have as being a teacher for sld.,children?, tell me your advice on SLD home schooling?. I have two children with SLD one in5th gr., 1st gr. Cameron the first grader has SLD,dyslexic,ADD a Maybe?.
I’am on the computer doing some research and also doing a home version rating form for cam’s teachers. Jesse 11, 5th grade, is going nowhere in school, he also with SLD I think has ADD also and now in the process of getting all rating forms together. I’am always beside myself with these two, tying to please teachers, etc.,etc., Anytime I just walk into there schools there is a problem!. I really need someone to talk to and that seems to be on the same wave length as myself. One ? for you is, is it llegal to home school a SLD student that allready has been diagnosed by the school system, has his ese (cirricular forms), school parent teacher contacts, once every 3mos.?

Could you please E-mail me with a reply soon?

Every state has laws the permit homeschooling. In some states there are additional conditions placed on homeschooling a special needs child (such as yearly approval of curriculum by a sped teacher). In some states there are no additional conditions. It can be done legally in every state, no matter what was diagnosed or how.

Your best bet is to contact one of your state’s homeschooling organizations, as they will have the most accurate information. You can usually find these by going to http://www.metacrawler.com and doing a search such as “homeschooling your-state-name”.

Mary