Re:ncc Chiari Children and Learning???

November 29, 2001

and Sylvia,

I am a homeschool mother because of my child " 's " learning

developmental delayed problems associated with what they called dyslexia

in kindergarten, which I know you have all heard of. I promptly began to

homeschool her since then.

I have ACM and am in the process of soon getting surgery from Dr. Oro. My

does have a few suspicious symptoms that could cause you to think

that she too had ACM, but I have never had her tested.

I just move along with her now homeschooling because I thought it best

for her in the light of what I thought that they would do to her in the

public schooling system (putting her in special ed or something).

is now 9 and in 4th grade. She is a very intelligent child, and

does well with most of her lessons. She is exceptionally smart in most

math concepts and excels in the sciences and stuff. But she still cannot

read or hand write at a normal level for her age. She struggles daily to

make words make sense to her, and write them down. She struggles daily to

learn to read and relate to eye-hand coordination stuff.

Even when we enrolled her in softball, she was not able to " grasp " the

concepts of the game. Ran the wrong way and all, because she cannot

remember right from left. It was heartbreaking for me to watch her

struggle since she is such a sensitive, great kid.

does have the classic dyslexia as it is described. What the source

is I am not aware.

But, this is what I want to say. Since I studied it so much over the last

3 years teaching her at home, (By the way I teach my other 11 year old at

home too and she is a prodigy of sorts, and the opposite as far as

excelling. She is too far forward in her schooling. Reads two to three

books a day. I am almost broke and belong to every book club there is. Go

figur. I can hardly keep up. So, I get both extremes.) I have learned to

relax. I know you want to say, ug to me cuz it is hard to relax when your

child is struggling to learn like other kids. But what I would like to

say is that your child is not like everyone else and that is OK!

Einstein could not read until 12 and Abe Lincoln himself had

developmental delays related to not being able to get proper schooling,

he read around age 12 too. I have some books on famous dyslexics.

The point is each child has their level, and as long as you try to

compare them to the 85% of other children who just seem to grasp most

knowledge quickly, you will miss that they are special people that just

see the world a different way. Too many times we are pressed by the

world's standards and that is not fair to these children, or to you. You

do NOT have to live up to their standard and your child is just as smart

in his/her own right. They will catch up. A lot of the first 8 years of

school are repeating things over and over.

I would like to tell you that with 's profound reading problems

(Which is the key to her loss of self learning) has begun to be

conquered. She now reads at about the 2nd grade level. Which is very good

for a child with dyslexia at this point. And, really wants to learn to

read by my helping her to understand that it is ok that she is delayed

and that she will soon catch up. Don't let them catch wind of the

" problem " . Then, they will never get a stigma attached to reading. She is

now beginning to comprehend what she reads and soon she will be able to

gain knowledge from reading books.

Until then, I read everything to her. Yes, all subjects. It is very hard.

It takes much time and frustration, but it is worth getting knowledge

into her head. Stories like the classics and historical fiction and good

long standing stories are wonderful like Old Yeller, Where the Red Fern

Grows, The Old Man and the Sea, The other Side of the Mountain, The

Little House Series, And, biographies, adventure stories. Never

underestimate the younger ones too as to what they will want to hear

about, even if they cannot read it. They love to hear it. (The Dr. Seuss

books are great for the younger ones because they repeat words a lot - by

the way NO Harry Potter. Just my opinion.) They may just love a child's

version of Galileo and his mark on the world. And, then take that child

outside and look at the stars, and watch them blossom in thought. Let

them hear a story about Emelia Earheart, and watch them look at an

airplane the next time one flies by. They will gain heros this way.

Until they can be self learners, you will have to do it. It is a hard

task, but God trusts you by giving you such a special one.

I would not worry if your child is still struggling until around the age

12. They will quickly catch up then. But, always be reading to them, and

let them practice EVERY day with some type of reading program that you

think will work. My husband does the reading time with . I do all

the lessons during the day like grammar, phonics (for the 3rd time!)

handwritting, creative writing, etc. That is his contribution and his way

of letting her know he cares too. If you don't have a husband, others

would love to read with your little one on some regular basis I am sure

if it is too hard for your schedule. My eyes see double a lot of the

time, so that is why I do the short lessons with her, and he reads the

longer stories. And, then allows her to read to him at her level. Which

by the way, I have studied that you keep letting them read to you at a

level just below their ability, that way they are not too overwhelmed and

then can get a feeling of accomplishment instead of frustration.

does not learn with phonics, nor sight reading. She just has to

finally learn that word, somehow. And, then may not know it the next day

again. She may learn one word a day.

If you would like to hear some programs that I think are good, feel free

to email me and I will give you what info I can.

And, I would consider homeschooling these children if AT ALL possible. If

you cannot, don't feel guilty though. It is not for everyone. Just a

consideration.

in Ala.

On Thu, 29 Nov 2001 07:45:38 -0500 " sylvia granet "

writes:

>

> : I don't know Mason's specific issues, but there are some

> similarities in what you are describing to what we were puzzled with

> when

> EMily began school. She's 4 1/2 and also has a memory like you

> describe.

> Thus, since she'd been reciting her A,B,C,S and 1,2,3s since before

> age 2,

> we thought things would be a breeze at school. However (I'm now told

> by

> therapists), some complex children with multiple delays (),

> manifest

> great skills in some areas but need help in others. Like,

> cannot write

> one single letter or number -- even though she knows then, she can't

> put

> them in paper with her hand (hand, eye visual coordination)yet. She

> can't

> write her name! Even if what you see in Mason is or is not related

> to ACM,

> for sure it can be addressed. Can an occupational therapist assess

> him? Keep

> me posted..Sylvia

>

> >

> >To: " Chiari Group " <chiari >

> >Subject: Chiari Children and Learning???

> >Date: Wed, 28 Nov 2001 23:50:27 -0900

> >

> >Hello.....

> >

> >I have not posted in a long time, since my " little guy " Mason (age

> 5) with

> >Chiari is doing pretty well. I have a question, or actually a long

> comment

> >that has not formulated into a question yet, so I need some help on

>

> >figuring this out......

> >

> >Mason started kindergarten this year and we went through all the

> normal

> >doctor releases, etc., and I thought that was all we needed to

> worry about.

> > However, Mason is having notes sent home saying he is having

> difficulty

> >with his phonics. They say he is not able to hear/understand the

> beginning

> >sounds of words, so he is not at all where he should be. I am not

> sure why

> >he is doing this since he is a smart little boy, and he has AMAZED

> our

> >Church's AWANA leaders when he recited 76 memory verses (including

> Bible

> >verses and all the books of the New Testament) ALL in one sitting

> (at 5

> >years old)! The little " angel " has a memory!

> >

> >Anyway, I am stumped as to why Mason cannot get the

> phonics.......most

> >particularly the beginning sounds. Oh.......the testing system was

> one

> >that the teacher showed a picture of something that started with

> the letter

> >they wanted the child to say, and then the child had to say the

> word in

> >their head and then tell her what it started with. That makes it

> so hard

> >to figure out if it is a hearing, visual, or brain " process "

> problem.....so

> >I am not sure what to do.

> >

> >Any thoughts from experienced parents???? I am not sure what to do

> about

> >this. This child is just amazing in so many areas, and he even

> does well

> >on the phonics games that we play at home, so I am baffled as to

> what I

> >need to do. Please help.

> >

> > (Mommy to 5 year old Mason)

> >

November 30, 2001

: thanks for your advice. I will print it as a reminder when I get

frustrated because my delicious little is not like everyone else. I

too, have both extremes (which means I haven't parented an average child)..

I very gifted 8 year old (who also belongs to book clubs) who has always

excelled at everything easily since birth, and who my husband says " is

wired differently. " She does nothing like my 8 yr old who is exceptional,

and nothing like an average child. So, there's no cookie cutter approach to

figuring her out. We do know that she is very smart, has no cognitive

limitations, but that she has many delays and learning disabilities b/c of

the chronic illnesses she's had since birth. So, she eventually learns

things but it takes a while and lot's of effort (YES mega frustrating). It's

so EASY to get down and frustrated with her, yet it's so rewarding when,