Need opinions on homeschooling next year

Sherri,

I have often thought of the “If I could do it over again, what would I do scenario.”
I would have done exactly as you are planning. Hindsight really is 20/20.

Add in some audiblox or Pace when she overcomes some of the sensory issues and you have all the bases covered. If your mom is the patient type she could definitely do audiblox.

Our children’s brains are the most plastic during these early years. If we can address the deficits early we can make their futures easier. My son is doing well now but it just would have been a whole lot easier if I had just taken him out of school and dealt with all these issues the right way from the start. If he doesn’t get a good teacher next year I will homeschool him in a heartbeat.

It would have been nice to have skipped sped completely.

I pulled my son out part way through second grade and partially homeschooled him, after the school could not do anything worthwhile with him. Had I not had a job with an income that our family depended upon, I would have pulled him out totally. I think a year at home with therapy will do a lot for a child. You don’t have to play keep up at the same time as you are trying to remediate underlying deficits.

Beth

Go for it!!!!! In addition to lessening the stress, the improvement in her natural curiosity will come out. Children with learning disabilities really improve when it is fun for them and they are not judged against others. When they are the only student of course they are going to be the Best student. Their self esteem sky rockets and everything is soooooo much easier for them and for you. I homeschooled a 7th grader and the change was profound.

Getting those skills mastered can be the greatest gift you could give your child. In my opinoin, the *worst* case scenario would be that somehow, you never got around to it, and the kiddo just had a break… from a totally frustrating situation where she wasn’t learning the skills anyway!
I’d pick up Peggy Kaye’s “Math games” book, especially if you’ve got a girl who likes stories. It’s got some good explanations of how we develop our number and quantity and abstract knowledge, in between lots of really practical ways of helping kids understand math and its language. (Its drawback is that it’s got lots of language so for your very visual-kinesthetic learner, you’ve got to help with that connection.)
And who knows, you may find that your girl starts loving to learn again…

Sherri,
My name is Lillian and I am new to this message board, but let me just say “Thank You.” Thank you Linda, Beth, Courtney and Sue. You all have truly been an answer to my prayers. It was just last night that my husband and
I were talking about how we would get our eleven year old son, Justin, everything that he needs. We ran it all around and around in our heads. Our options were limited in that we will be leaving Baltimore and relocating to the Nashville area. The only problem is my husband’s job is in the small military town of Clarksville. There are only three (3) schools in the whole of Nashville which are specifically geared toward children who learn differently. I would have to drive at least an hour and a half to get to any one of them. The one school, of the three, which would be perfect for him may not have room. Justin will be in the sixth grade next year. He just completed fifth grade in a fully inclusive educational program within the Public School system. He did well. He attended private schools up to the fourth grade at which time he was placed in a level 4 self-contained classroom, but he received Math and Science instruction in the general education program with the other fourth graders. My husband and I, both, know that he can’t go back to public school. He is getting tired and he gets stressed trying to keep up with the rest of the class. I know that if we could just get him the programs he needs that it would make all the difference. My worry is that we are runnung out of time. he will be in the sixth grade next year and he struggles with dyslexia, due primarily to CAPD. His language difficulties include expressive and receptive language disorder and he has difficulties with short term memory, sequencing and organization. My husband suggested homeschooling and after giving it some thought, even though I was terrified of failing, I had to look beyond my fears and step out on faith. Shortly, thereafter, my husband questioned if I could really help Justin. I wasn’t offended-I had the same concerns. At times it seems as if his language keeps him separated in his own world, but Sherri, when I read your message and the responses it truly gave me hope. I know that environment is critical to the overall success of a child. I think that you are making a good decision to home school and you all have given me the confidence, fortitude and determination to home school Justin.

I know of all the therapies you all have mentioned and I know that my son will never be able to have those breakthrough moments until he has completed them. I guess I just have to come to terms with the fact that I can’t do every type of therapy that’s out there, but I would like to have him complete the FastForward program then move right into the Lindamood Bell learning Process or PACE. The only problem is that the closest Lindamood Bell learning Processes Center to where we will be relocating to in July is in Atlanta, GA. I contacted the Washington, D.C. site since it is only an hour away from Baltimore, but the six week course is $9,480.00. Do you all believe that!

I would think while he is doing a particular program, i.e., Fastforward, PACE or Lindamood Bell, that he would not need orton-gillingham daily or speech and language. I don’t know how I will be able to do it all. You know, you want the very best for your child and it is hard to settle. I don’t know. Maybe PACE is the next best thing. Help!

Lillian

Hi Lillian,

I would try buying the book reading reflex, the method is called phonographix. I worked with my son for one hour per day, every day for 6 months and got him up to a second grade level while he was still in second grade. He moved several years in ability in those 6 months. He is in third now and even enjoys to read books above his grade level after vision therapy.

Just so you know, I am not a teacher and had no idea how I was going to do this when I started. I bought that book in desperation, after much research, when I realized the school would not be able to help him.

I really should have been homeschooling him because the school’s method of guessing while looking at pictures was confusing to him. Phonographix is simple and logical, comingled with less effective methods it is harder to teach.

You might want to try it after fast forward. I would tell you to really focus on getting his reading remediated first.

I have tackled one issue at a time. Trying to get at all his deficits at once was just too overwhelming.

Hi Lillian,

I’ve never posted on this board but your situation sounds very similar to ours. We have homeschooled our 10 year-old dyslexic son since January for reasons similar to those you mentioned.

I just wanted to suggest that you at least consider the SPIRE materials authored by Sheila Clark-Edmands if you decide to homeschool. I’ve used both SPIRE and Reading Reflex, and on balance I think for a son your child’s age the SPIRE materials might work better. I am only a parent, but if you want to read an “expert” evaluation of the SPIRE materials, go to the teaching reading bulletin board, search for SPIRE and look for older posts by Susan Long. I think SPIRE and Reading Reflex reflect a similar underlying philosphy, but SPIRE just has a little more of everything. For us, the key difference is the controlled readings; SPIRE has many interesting non-fiction and fiction readings that appeal to a boy who likes to call himself a preteen!

Good luck.

Thanks Linda. I was really struggling about what do and in what sequence to do it. You helped a lot. I will definitely take your suggestion and do the FastForWord this summer and then go into the phonographix. Tell me more about the vision therapy you mentioned. Was your daughter experiencing letters moving around on a page or was it more than that? Are you homeschooling your daughter now?

Lillian

Peggy,
Thanks sooooo much! I need all the help I can get. (smile) Unfortunately, I haven’t begun homeschooling my son in the technical sense even though from the beginning, as I am sure you know, I feel I have been teaching, coaching, and learning from the very beginning. I have just been too afraid of failing him. His happiness and success are so important to me. I guess I felt I would mess up. Please feel free to suggest any curriculum, resources, materials, etc., that you have found to be helpful. I would really appreciate. Thanks again, for taking out the time to respond to my message.

Warmly,
Lillian

I just wanted to say that if you care so much, you won’t mess up. You won’t always make the right choices but with some of our kids that is difficult to do. I have had highly qualified professionals make mistakes with recommendations with my son. I have also had made mistakes. But I won’t give up on him and over the long run, that is what matters.

Beth

You are absolutely right. Thanks Beth. I needed to hear that. Take care.

Lillian

Hi Peggy,
It’s me again. After receivng your email message in reference to SPIRE materials, authored by Sheila Clark-Edmands, I immediately did a search for her Susan Long’s name in the “author” field and also the term SPIRE in the “subject” field, but I could not find any message relating to SPIRE materials. I tried to locate a web site by using SPIRE, SPIRE materials, and the authors name I did find out that she either has a company or is affiliated with a company called Progress Learning, Inc., but that’s it. The three matches that came up just listed a conference schedules and there was a link to the Learning Disabilities Association of Maine. I’ll do a scholarly search in the ERIC database and see what I can find. In the meantime can you tell me where you got your materials from?

Thanks, Lillian

I think you can find the SPIRE catalog at www.spire.org. We bought directly from Progress Learning at 207-985-3878. Sorry for the confusing reference to the Susan Long posts. If you stay here in LD Online, but go back to the “Teaching Reading” board and search for SPIRE under the “all dates” option you should find several old posts, including Susan’s evaluations.

We bought the readers, the teacher’s manual and the word cards. You can do without the cards but the teacher’s manual is a must. We had to guess which level to start our son; it will depend on how much, and what, phonics training your son has had. We started in Reader 4 when our son’s reading accuracy was about early 2nd grade—this was a pretty good guess so maybe it will help you judge.

Good luck.

http://www.resourceroom.net/homeschooling/index.asp

I don’t know you… but I do know it’s the parents most concerned with how they’re doing who will do the homework and make changes as they go… in other words, the more worried *you* are, the less worried *I* would be :-)

Thanks so much, Peggy. I’ll try again.

Lillian

Hi, Lillian!

I was so glad to see that my post somehow helped you. It’s so amazing how we think we are in this alone, only to find out we’re not and there are people here who not only can help, but care, too.

I wanted to update my situation a bit. I met with my daughter’s teacher yesterday. She said it would be fine for my daugter to pass to 2nd grade (and the math mid-term was a C- after all). :)

She was actually very interested in the CAPD report. My daughter has trouble with decoding, short term memory, integration and organization. She agreed to change the seating arrangement and give my daughter back her recesses. She recommended a 2nd grade teacher who has a structured classroom and is very patient. She also said she felt any of the 2nd grade teachers would wear a microphone so my daughter can use a listening device.

The way it stands now, we are still going to do all of the programs mentioned before. I will see if she is ready by the time school starts in August. The school has wonderful values and we both love it, so I hope she will be able to handle the demands. If not, I will take her out and homeschool her the remainder of the year.

I really appreciate everyone’s suggestions and support on this matter. As you know, it’s something you always question yourself about, especially with our special kids.

Hi Lillian, I’m Leslie in S. CA. Do what Linda suggested and buy Reading Reflex, then e-mail me. I doubt very much that you need LMB; PG (the system taught in the book) has been proven to take one-seventh the time and nearly no expense. (I’m a PG therapist and trainer.) You may do great with Reading Reflex without any help, but using me would put you that much ahead of the game.

I will help you BY PHONE ONLY, so it’ll cost you about 5 cents a minute for the call. It’s a simple method, but a real conversation is imperative. You sound desperate, as do all the parents who are referred to me. I hope you’ll take me up on my offer, before wasting any more time or money on anything else. In the meantime, put on a smiley face; help is just around the corner.

My e is [email protected]

Leslie

Give it a try - your child is too young for this type of stress. We took our daughter out of public school in 5th grade and her whole personality relaxed. If they are not “getting something” in a classroom they have to move on - in home school you find different ways to teach your child in a way they do get and then move on. Our daughters reading went up tremendously just from cutting out things that weren’t that important and allowing time to read. One word of caution (which is something I had to learn) - I don’t know your childs disabilities but there are some things that cannot be fixed - some can be greatly improved, some will come with time, and some she will learn ways to learn differently. Enjoy your child and don’t make everything the pressure of education and trying to keep them up with kids in a classroom setting. Removing that pressure is wonderful.

I nearly pulled my daughter out of 4th grade and didn’t for all the reasons you’ve stated-will I do a good job? what if it doesn’t go well? what if it damages our family relationship? etc, etc.

Then this year I had to pull my daughter out of school while I dealt with a family illnesses (which took much longer than anticipated). I was amazed to find it was not that difficult because you do away with all the line-up, pass out, classroom menial tasks. We accomplished all of her work in half-days. Lots of time for activities.

Your last message indicates a 7 year old was missing recess. What’s up with that? In first grade?? You can do better than that. I would use the rest of the year to research teaching materials specific to your needs and building a teaching plan for next year. Homeschooling is an ideal companion to therapy.

Yes, you can and you can do a great job.

Leslie,
My apologies for the delay I have been “out of pocket” for some time and I just happened to check in today. I was so very happy to read your response and I would love to take you up on your offer. I am in the middle of relocating, but as soon as I get settled in Clarksville I will email you at the eagerreaders email address to get your telephone number, o.k? Well, thanks again and I look forward to talking with you. I am so excited!

Lillian