Thank you for the ideas. The special ed teacher is going to give both us and her teachers an ADHD checklist. (she also fidgets a lot for her dyslexia tutor in the afternoon, but that may be because she is schooled out) I will ask about auditory processing issues as well. They seem really like they want to find out what is wrong and help which is encouraging. It just kills me that I have to peel her off of me while she is crying and begging to stay home. :crying:

It is always so much easier to advise others. :huh: This fall, I put my 9 year old dd in school. She is severely dyslexic, but I was assured she would get accommodations which she is. She is doing well grade wise, but the last few weeks she has been claiming she hates school and wants to stay home (she has previously been homeschooled) Over the last week, it has been tears each night (one night for hours). She says it's too hard and she can't focus. I have talked to the teachers. They don't seem to notice an attention/ADHD type issue. The special ed teacher is going to observe her in class today and then talk to me. I put her in school for a break for me and because I thought she was a bit bored at home with all of her siblings in school. But I purposely didn't get an outside job or close the door on homeschooling all together. I really believe homeschooling is best in most cases for these types of kids, but I don't want to pull her out too quick. But I also don't want her to feel more stupid/incapable than she already does. Any advice?

Thank you for the ideas. I just think for my dyslexic child, reading and narrating is too difficult to do all of the time. I am looking for something else mostly for history/science/lit that could fill that gap so we aren't always doing reading/writing type activities. I could see reading or watching a DVD and then some project type idea as a form of hands on narrating, if that makes sense.

He probably will come around. Most men handle things very differently. He may feel like it is something he did or didn't do, or that he can't fix it, etc. He may just need time to process. I know my dh was in shock when I told him I thought I was depressed, and he felt like he had failed me in some way and felt guilty for not knowing. Of course once he came around, he wanted to fix it.

Afternoons are busier, but you do have a big chunk of time to get things done. My kids are older, but I rarely assist with homework. After initially teaching them how to study and organize themselves, I let them do it themselves. We are very busy in the evenings with activities, but your kids are younger that they don't have quite as many extra curriculars through the school. I understand the pull. My blog has a lot of stuff about making that decision to send your kids to school...or not.

I'm sorry. I should have said for content areas like history, science, literature, geography.

I had some questions regarding this post http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/540165-project-based-learning/?hl=%2Bproject+%2Bbased+%2Blearning&do=findComment&comment=6167352 about project based learning. Has anyone done this with a dyslexic child and if so, how did it work? Are there any studies saying that this method is helpful for dyslexics to learn?

It is not her husband. Just just has strong beliefs about not sending them to public school. It was even a stretch to send them to private school. Thanks for the ideas.

Yes. They are on scholarships now. She could go back to work part time (if they make too much money they will be bumped from scholarship, but she doesn't have the education to make enough money to pay full tuition) to help. She also said to me that she wants to get a handle on her kids attitudes and behaviors even if they were to stay in school because they do still live together and will have a whole summer together.

Oh, do tell! How would one go about this? I think most families could use a refresher now and again.

She knows my story, and it is actually one reason she put her children into private school, but now they can't afford it. (BTW, mine go to private school as well, but I am not against public school) I have tried to stress the importance of relationship with her children above all. I also don't think it is completely abnormal for these ages kids to bicker. I have kids ages 9 to 18 at home, and they can really get into it a lot.

She has asked my advice and I am quoting they fight like cats and dogs but nothing major. I did ask her; she said that one will tease the other or do something that irritates the other and they start name calling, yelling, tattling, etc. Nothing major to her she said is physically fighting or cussing etc, although once in a while they will smack each other. She said she really feels like it is her attitude that is affecting everyone else and that minor things set her off which feeds the kids attitude. I'm thinking she might need her own counseling to help herself (maybe a bit of depression involved)

She has a religious conviction about not using public schools. All of the children would like to homeschool again. It sounds like their bickering with each other and complaining bother her more than the kids.

The basic problems is she doesn't like to hear the kids fight and complain. Nothing major, but it gets on her nerves.

Congratulations! Grandchildren are wonderful.

She has homeschooled before (kids are currently in school) but she is going to need to homeschool next year because they can no longer afford private school and public is not an option. She will have 2 middle schoolers and one high school age child. These kids fight like cats and dogs and mom doesn't like to be around them. They complain about school until they wear her down. It sounds to me like she needs to change herself and work on her kids attitude but they is sometimes easier said than done. I am going to recommend some outside accountability like co-ops or something because I have found older kids do well with that. She seems quite down about it all, and I feel for her.

You are not a failure or a bad mom if you put your child in school. I understand the worry. I had it, but school has been the best thing for my two who are just like you describe. They answer to someone else so much better. Our relationship has improved so much. They do complain about homework some, but they do it because they don't want to get in trouble.

Thank you so much! I have no idea on what I want to do, but you inspired me.

I don't mean to take over your thread, but what age is too old to change careers? I am 48 1/2 and need to get a full time job in the next year or 2. I don't want to do child care or non-profit work with children. (my degree is child development) Am I too old to do something new that will require training?

I finally got around to taking pictures and explaining my bullet journal.

I put mine in my hot tea. Right now I have the lemon flavoring. It is a bit too sweet for me, though so I may switch back to raspberry lemon. I do that just in water.

I attend a Traditional Latin Mass. Very quiet and well, traditional with Gregorian chant. Most people keep to themselves and aren't pushy about getting involved. No clapping, loud singing, no charismatic stuff. I love the silence of the Mass.

My blog is mainly about homeschool burnout. I have quite a few post recently about it so if you are interested you can take a look. (see signature) Burnout encompasses so many aspects of our life: school is dull, we are stuck inside because of the weather, our finances may be a mess from Christmas, our home may be a wreck, we may be sluggish from winter wait gain because we haven't exercised because of the cold, our children may be bickering because of boredom, etc. My best advice is to take care of yourself, realize when you have moved from burnout to something more severe, and change something but not a drastic change. For example, don't purchase an entirely new curriculum because it will look old in boring in 6 weeks. Instead, buy one new fun thing. Or instead of switching methods completely, add in a week of unschooling or whatever.

I voted yes because I do pay for a better library, but it is only 10 a year. I doubt I would pay 65, but we are on a strict budget.

I am sorry as well. How sad. The flu is going around where I live. My kids school (grade school) closed school today and tomorrow because they have over 33% of the teachers gone and over 20% of the students gone with confirmed cases of the flu. Mine don't have it, and I am hoping it stays that way.