Re: Questions for the homeschoolers

[Guest guest]

:

A very good question. My daughter is almost 10 and I don't homeschool. I have always pushed the academics as well as the life skills in her school program, as I have always thought both are equally important. But, I am beginning to learn after these 10 years of seeing how/what she has learned (how fast, how much, retention, generalization, etc.) that I never see a good amount of consistency and things keep changing.

With that said, I don't know how verbal your son is but I have to say for our situation, speech or some way of communicating (assistive tech, pictures, etc.) has become the MOST important. It's really hard to get along in life if you can't communicate in some way. Also, at this stage, becoming more independent in life (toileting, dressing, hygiene, etc.) is becoming most important. Academics are great, but if the child is really lacking in these other areas, what good are they going to be?

Just my 2 cents from my experience and my coming to this realization after trying so many different things.....

Best wishes,

Heidi

[Guest guest]

Hi :We home schooled my 13 year old for a year and now he goes to school part-time.  Our district does not like it that he is part-time but I got a doctor's note that said it is best for him.

We have tried to balance the boys sensory needs with academics and it is not easy.  Tony now 13 started to hold the pencil correctly just two years ago.  I'm pretty sure that Isaac who is in 8th grade (also with DS and PDD) did not hold it correctly until the end of his kindergarten year and he is high functioning.

I am impressed that your son is doing swimming and Tae Kwon do.  That he can participate and benefit is really a step forward.  Which makes me think, don't underestimate him academically.  Lots of our kids learn to read before they learn to write because writing is a fine motor skill.  Your son sounds very ready for reading.

My Isaac is doing Algebra (not well but he is passing) but he cannot button a shirt.  I would like for him to button a shirt but I am glad that the school has him succeeding in a regular class.  He does have support but trust me, the homework is real Algebra.  If the school had asked me if I wanted him to learn Algebra I would have said no.  I would have been wrong.

The year that we home schooled Tony he completely blossomed.  He improved academically and socially.  We had really struggled with both boys in our local neighborhood school.  It was a school with a poor reputation - but we didn't know that going in.  Because Tony improved so much by our home schooling him, we felt he needed the stimulation of public school again.  We refused to send him back to the neighborhood school and sent him to a school in the next neighborhood.  They were wonderful!!!  Had I any idea public school could be so great I would have moved both boys years before.  

They are both now in middle school and it seems success is less dependent on the overall atmosphere and more dependent on the individual teacher.  They are both having great years though Tony only goes half days.  Last year we had to file complaints with the state Isaac's teacher was so inappropriate.

I get where you are coming from.  If Tony went full days he would not have the attention span to participate in Special Olympics and we feel that sports does as much for him as academics - it provides him an opportunity socially and helps him be independent with his personal needs.

If the school is good and really meets the kid where they are at, then I think school is more beneficial than all the therapies.  If the school does not meet the needs of your child and you have the ability to home school it is a great option.

Good Luck with all of this.LoriMom to Isaac 14 and Tony 13

 

Hi!

My son will be 7 next Feb. and I will have to notify the authorities about our intention not to enroll our son (with dual dx) in PS.We live in NC.

My son is on a special diet, so every meal takes time, no quick cereal boxes breakfasts here!, he also needs sensory stimulation per his OT, daily, plus daily practice with encouraging self-feeding and drinking from a cup. He attends an afterschool program 2/week in the afternoon, swimming 1/week, tae kwon do 1/week and OT 1/week. He also need ST and PT so I do what I can on my own.

We feel he benefits from all these things, the problem is there is no much time for academics, and I am talking the very basics like holding a pencil properly, coloring (he still just scribbles), understanding counting. He has known his letters, colors, shapes and things like that, mostly thanks to some wonderful videos.

I started using the TACCH workbox system and it works well with him but then the day I do homeschooling I don't get to do any therapy with him. Sometimes I think I should only concentrate in his sensory issues, his speech,etc. etc. but I know my husband gets nervous if he feels our son is falling behind academically.

In brief, my question is, how to determine what is the most important things to concentrate on?

I would love to learn how others have dealt with this. Thank you in advance,