Second Time Around Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Well, I haven't been a regular on this board for a long time, although it was a second home at the time the first Well Trained Mind book was published! My 2nd child graduated from high school in the spring. I have one senior left, but she hasn't homeschooled since her Freshman year. Anyway, I wanted to thank those who have helped me over the years. I also wanted to encourage other homeschoolers of high schoolers with learning disabilities. Here is a link to a thread I started a while back. http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/393347-discouraging-math-sat-score/ I know that every child's path is going to be different, but I just wanted to say to those coming up behind us, that not in my wildest dreams did I expect my son to be where he finds himself today. A few months before I posted the above post, my son wasn't sure if he was cut out for college. He has dealt with very low processing speeds his entire life; didn't talk until after age 3 with help from ST; couldn't read until around age 10/11 and only after intense therapies from academic therapists, OT, vision etc. I used to spend hours doing brainskills and various software programs with him daily for years, often feeling like I was neglecting my other very able children, and wanting to pull out my hair, despairing that this didn't feel like it was going anywhere. He's also a middle child with two very bright siblings to walk in the shadow of. Yet he channeled some of his OCD tendencies during his later teens, and achieved amazing results. He reads more than any of my other kids (even though he is still dyslexic and slow). He has followed a rigorous Great books curriculum that I never would have imagined possible for him to do, even at age 14-16. And he loved it! He has received a 4 in AP bio despite no accommodations at the time. The following year, College board approved the accommodations as a result of his junior year testing (processing speeds in the first percentile and very low academic fluency) and he received 5's in both AP calculus and AP Chemistry. He was the top of both these classes at the local school where he took these courses, receiving 100% in his final school exam in Calculus AB and qualified for the Chemistry Olympiad in his region. He had to do a project at the end of that class which he based on his readings of Einstein's relativity for his Great books course. In his October SAT (first time he took this exam with accommodations in place) his critical reading soared to a 710; his writing was 690 and his math was 640 (which was 10 points below the score he received the previous May without the accommodations - so this confirms what others have said that accommodations only help where there is a real need for them, since most of his issues were language arts based). His grammar and spelling is, and probably will ever be, wonky, and yet, he learned how to write excellent papers for his Great Books course that went from B's to A's by his senior year (externally assessed) on complex topics. In a week, he will begin a double major in Forestry and earth science/Geology at a local public school, with a view to obtaining a masters in Forestry in his 5th year there. He has been awarded many scholarships so that our contribution to his college education is relatively low. He is also in the honors program. He also got accepted into several private colleges with significant scholarships as well as Renssaeler Polytechnic (engineering school). Anyway, as his mom, I'm obviously brimming over with pride in his accomplishments, and all this seems like nothing more than shameless boasting on my part. It is just that. But I also share all this in the spirit of encouragement for others who might be wondering what might be at the end of all this for their own children. Obviously, his path is his path; his challenges have been, and will continue to be (the college is awarding him the same accommodations he was given by College Board and the local school system of time and a half in all exams and tests), his peculiar set of challenges. So never any guarantees about any outcomes, ever. However, I just wanted to stress how impossible all this seemed to be to the both of us when we started on this journey. Please, don't ever let moments of doubt make you tire or falter, no matter how discouraged you both might feel. I have lived through days and years of wanting to weep with exhaustion and worry. Don't ever pigeon hole what you think your kids are capable of achieving - you simply have no idea, and nor do they. As I said, my son didn't think he could even consider college at age 16. He just turned 19 this summer. I never thought it was wise for him to wrestle with the Great Books, but it was probably one of the most inspiring things he did which affected him at a very deep level. I feel that here was an individual who might well have been trapped within a label so that neither he nor others could see the richness that was hidden deep inside him, waiting to find a way to express itself. I truly believe that homeschooling was the absolute key that unlocked his ability to access that part of himself, so that his disabilities did not define or limit him, but he was free to discover his personal best. So again, I know - shameless boasting on my part. But please applaud yourselves for going through all the pain, the sweat and the tears in order to unlock your own child's fullest potential, whatever that might be. So, adieu to you all, and very, very best wishes as you continue on this path you have chosen. Your kids are in the very best, closest to perfect, hands. You should be thrilled for them just for that fact alone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tokyomarie Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Thank you for sharing your story! This is so inspiring. My son, now almost 20yo, heads off to his 4yr university next week. His story is similar in many ways as regards the years prior to about age 17. Your voice is another one calling out to moms of younger children to stay the course and not get discouraged. Our bright children learn differently, but they are able and will find their niche in life with the help of adults who work hard to help them along in their journey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneStepAtATime Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Thank you for sharing. On a similar journey now, and we have a long way to go.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
texasmama Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Thank you so much for sharing your story! What a wonderful ending to your homeschooling career, and I wish you and your son (and other kids, too) the very best and warmest wishes for the future. It is so fantastic and encouraging to hear stories like this. Brag away! You have earned the right and then some! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted August 16, 2014 Share Posted August 16, 2014 Thank you for coming back to share!! My boy sounds a lot like yours, and you're right it's hard to fathom him like that, even though it seems reasonable. I'm going to have to spend some time imagining him as he could be to get fresh vision. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alte Veste Academy Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 I am a huge fan of shameless boasting about happy homeschooling outcomes, particularly for out of the box kids! Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 (edited) . Edited June 22, 2016 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vida Winter Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 I loved reading your story. Congratulations to your son and also to you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Ariel Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 Thanks so much for sharing your story and results. Posts like yours are so encouraging when we are still in the trenches! Wishing you and your son all the best in the future! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
at the beach Posted August 17, 2014 Share Posted August 17, 2014 :hurray: Thank you for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lecka Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks for sharing!!!!! It is great to hear of such success along with a low speed in processing, it is wonderful for me to read. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsmith Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks for sharing! I really needed to hear something encouraging. Best wishes to your son, and please come back and share how he's doing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MyLittleBears Posted August 18, 2014 Share Posted August 18, 2014 What an awesome encouraging post. He sound very much like two of my boys. Thanks so much for posting and congratulations! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Second Time Around Posted August 18, 2014 Author Share Posted August 18, 2014 Thanks to all for responding, and for all your kind words. I'll definitely come back to update his progress, and hopefully read about your children's successes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeniseF Posted August 19, 2014 Share Posted August 19, 2014 What an amazing and inspiring story! Thank you so much. My son just turned 7 last weekend and I've been telling my husband I really want to hear from someone who has already been down this road to find out what could happen. I'm thrilled to hear such amazing progress. Your words are enormously encouraging, not boastful in the least but sharing hope with all of us. Congratulations to you and your son! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SadieMarie Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 This really helps. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PollyOR Posted August 20, 2014 Share Posted August 20, 2014 Thank you and congratulations! :thumbup1: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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