sbgrace
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Posts posted by sbgrace
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I found these complete lesson plans based on the core knowledge sequence. The social studies for K are really neat in my opinion. Often either literature, art, music, etc. will also tie in. Had I found these at the beginning of our K year I would have used them as I really like the ideas.
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Saying a prayer for your mom. My poor son picked up c. diff in the hospital (also negative in testing initially). What helped him finally was Saccharomyces Boulardii. I wish I had known about it long before.
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bosket2, that was kind of rude or at least came across that way to me! It could have been phrased differently anyway.
OP, I'm glad you're rethinking knocking yourself out to make a from scratch plan for those areas. I agree you don't have to do history or geography in K but it can be fun and exciting and if you really want to follow core knowledge you'll want to cover at least some topics that aren't covered in first grade. Most of the geography and history I noticed they hit again in first grade so I wouldn't sweat it or cover things that she doesn't find interesting.
That said, I found an entirely planned out K history and geography (and art, music, literature, science) based on the core knowledge sequence. They look really fun with lots of hands on at the K level. Sometimes the music, literature, or art weaves in with the history as well.
http://learningsharingcaring.blogspot.com/2010/08/lesson-plans-art-music-social-studies.html
For our K we focused on the basics but I'm adding some units based on the above now as we finish our K year because I didn't want to miss the neat ideas.
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My son has taken melatonin since a neurologist suggested we try it about three years ago. The smallest effective dose is what you want so the dose you used sounds correct. That said, he might be able to go lower and that might be a way to encourage him to try again--maybe 1/4 or even 1/8 of a mg. We use 1/4 for my child though I've never tried lower. Generally, the lower the dose the less potential for side effects no matter the effect in question. But he was pretty low to begin with.
Melatonin has been studied as a preventative/treatment to certain headaches actually. I have heard of all kinds of things as side effects though including headaches (not common, not here, but I've seen it mentioned on boards). So it could be the melatoin. I hope it isn't. No way you could work out a deal where you lower the dose and you guys run an experiment and he doesn't know what night in a given week he takes it could you? Sort of a placebo controlled trial with his permission thing?
It's not ideal because of the nature of his issues and the melatonin/body systems themselves being involved but some people who don't tolerate melatonin for sleep issues do well with valerian. But those people aren't dealing with sleep phase issues and melatonin is good for those. What a stinky situation for you both. It's so hard to permanently alter a sleep phase shift. I think it's possible though he'll outgrow based on some research I did a while back.
Another thing you might consider would be blue light blocking glasses in the evening (there is research to support this though it sounds weird/it's just biological in that blue light waves suppress melatonin production and some people including, likely, your son are especially sensitive). I've done less looking into the research but bright light therapy in the morning might help as well. I'd really look into those glasses if melatonin turns out to be a no go.
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It sounded like OCD to me. If it sounds that way to you as well you'd want someone who specializes in treating OCD with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. The OCD foundation maintains a therapist list if that might be helpful. http://www.ocfoundation.info/treatment-providers-list.php
Meds will likely help him with the OCD and depression both though OCD doses tend to be higher (the doctor needs to know that OCD is in the picture when selecting a dosage level). A natural substance that might help is N-acetyl-L-cysteine. There have been positive studies in OCD patients adding it to existing anti-depressants and that makes sense. But there is research on drugs with similar properties and OCD treatment (upcoming/new developments/exciting in the field). Further, I've seen some pretty good results in a study using it alone (I can't remember the doses) for trichomalacia which has some similarities brain wise to OCD so it I'd expect it to be better than nothing. I believe there was a pediatric study in fact. Of course for your son adult studies and doses matter more but it's safe anyway. That said, given what you've described if he were my guy (my guy may well be there some day) I'd want a straight up proven OCD effective anti-depressant (Celexa, Zoloft...I wouldn't do Paxil or Prozac due to side effects issues with those) and an OCD treating CBT therapist as well.
I feel badly for your son and you. It's so hard to watch those we love struggle and when it's a child it hurts so much more. I'm praying for him.
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One of my kids (first grade this year, with some special needs) has issues retelling a story with a beginning, middle, end. He can usually answer questions I ask about what we've read and I do believe he's comprehending based on his reactions to what he hears and reads, questions he asks, etc. However, he can't seem to retell things in a way that I believe a ending K/starting first grade child would. When I ask what happened at the beginning of a short reading (say two page chapter) he launches into maybe the main point, the end, or whatever detail caught his attention in the story. If I have him retell one section at a time even then I might have to lead him "and then...." "Next, he....." etc.
Ideas?
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This seems to happen too frequently. Why are Catholics, Mormons and now even the Amish separated from the Christian category?
I took it as using materials/curriculum from that perspective exclusively? I know you can do that for Mennonite/Amish anyway (CLE).
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I'm a former PS teacher as well and I agree that common standards (and even more specific than these based on my quick run through) are a good idea. What's bugging me as a homeschooler is the concern that my curriculum doesn't line up with them!
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I just want to add that not all OCD has outward behaviors. The compulsions can be mental and often are mentally going over things. It used to be called Pure-Obessional OCD. Unfortunately, it can be missed by professionals who are looking for things like handwashing or checking behaviors that can be seen. But OCD doesn't always look like that in reality.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Purely_Obsessional_OCD
One of the common forms is actually responsibility which sounds to me like what your son might be doing.For people with Purely Obsessional OCD, there are usually no observable compulsions, such as those commonly seen in those with the typical form of OCD (checking, counting, hand-washing, etc.). While ritualizing and neutralizing behaviors do take place, they are almost entirely in the form of excessive mental rumination.
and:Common intrusive thoughts/obsessions include themes of:-Responsibility: with an excessive concern over someone's well-being marked specifically by guilt over believing they have harmed or might harm (either on purpose or inadvertently) someone.
Essentially, it matters if this is part of OCD because the approach needs to be different. In that case trying to help him process and come to closure might actually reinforce the OCD and make it worse. So he'd need a Cognitive Behavioral Approach specifically for OCD. Anti-depressants might help of course. CBT is the only non-medicine treatment for OCD.The disorder is particularly easy to miss by many well-trained clinicians, as it closely resembles markers of generalized anxiety disorder and does not include observable, compulsive behaviors. Clinical "success" is reached when the Purely Obsessional OCD sufferer becomes indifferent to the need to answer the question. While many clinicians will mistakenly offer reassurance and try to help their patient achieve a definitive answer (an unfortunate consequence of therapists treating Purely Obsessional OCD as generalized anxiety disorder), this method only contributes to the intensity or length of the patient's rumination, as the neuropathways of the OCD brain will predictably come up with creative ways to "trick" the person out of reassurance, negating any temporary relief and perpetuating the cycle of obsessing. -
What does this mean for me/homeschooling? Is it silly that its bothering me?
Last night I came across a mention of recently adopted “Core State Standards†on a state education website. I looked around and found that the “Core State Standards†are a new approach intended to make the education standards consistent in every state for every grade. Essentially, it sets up standards for the US or at least that is the push. What is bothering me is Kentucky adopted them in February and then (I believe, quick count) 32 other states adopted this summer! That’s a huge portion of states and incredibly quick. I would imagine there is some incentive like money for adoption that set that pace.
What I’m wondering is should it bother me if my kids are learning something different than the school educated kids across the nation are at least being expected to learn? Do you think it doesn't matter if a curriculum is solid? This is really bugging me for some reason.
http://www.corestandards.org/ Webpage
The Common Core State Standards provide a consistent, clear understanding of what students are expected to learn, so teachers and parents know what they need to do to help them. The standards are designed to be robust and relevant to the real world, reflecting the knowledge and skills that our young people need for success in college and careers. With American students fully prepared for the future, our communities will be best positioned to compete successfully in the global economy. -
I will pray for him. Poor guy. :grouphug:
My thought is to write a letter to her (with your help) saying what he needs to say to bring some closure for him.
I'm wondering if there are any social groups available for young adults on the spectrum? If not or if that's too much for him maybe he could do a cyber group to make connections with other Aspie young adults.
My spectrum kiddo is only six so what I say may be worthless or worse. But I've seen an adult with undxd Aspie stuff and it impacted their life because those universal spectrum weaknesses made relationships (work and home) tougher than they needed to be. It's not too late for him to learn some of those things if he's open to the idea in my opinion. I like RDI for addressing those things but he'd need parent access and time for that. I wonder if Michelle Garcia Winner's materials though might be helpful. If he were mine I'd rather him try to learn what he could to make the social navigations easier directly now that you know the underlying issue.
Then, I'm wondering about co-morbid stuff and treating that aggressively. You said depression (which is common in Aspie kids). Is he taking medication? Is he near you? I'm wondering if not letting it go might have some OCD type component which is also common. If so most of the antidepressants will help with that as well. I wish the counselor had been better. Is there another one to try? If it's a major university I'd wonder if there are resources for Aspie type stuff.
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If your child doesn't have major issues they can learn to read pretty quickly and entirely phonetically with a SWR or WRTR/Spaulding or similar phonogram based approach. If a child is going to be struggler you'll learn slower (with O-G, I See Sam at a slower pace, etc.) but these are the very kids most at risk with sight words anyway. So you're spending less time and frustration trying to undo damage in the long run even though the actual progression to reading is slower.
Sure some kids will do ok no matter the method. However, in my opinion it's not worth the risk that you might have a child who will fail miserably with a method including sight words.
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I found these lesson plans with book lists for some of them. Based on what I've seen from the books selected they seem very good and you might find the authors also covered other Presidents. Our library system (interlibrary anyway) had many of them.
http://www.suite101.com/external_link.cfm?elink=http://www.cstone.net/~bcp/BCPIntro2.htm
These plans are all I've explored but I imagine they have similar book lists for other Presidents as those are covered in the Core Knowledge Sequence at other grade levels.
I know you didn't ask for this but for some early presidents I found this site http://www.earlyamerica.com/gwlife.html which has among other neat things biographical information/blurbs, actual news clippings, videos and music, and neat stuff generally. I made unit study that included Washington and Jefferson and used a lot of this along with books and some things from the link above along and my own ideas. I think you might find it helpful particularly for Washington and Jefferson as you plan your units. It really added to mine.
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I'm praying Emily and so will my husband. :grouphug:
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For anyone who has used both Little Hearts and Beyond I have a question about the history particularly.
I love a lot about Heart of Dakota. I haven't loved the history texts for the second half of Little Hearts like I had hoped though. Intentionally vague "what I didn't like" was that Little Pilgrims was a bit too one sided for me in some areas and not in depth enough generally. The History Stories have been a little more dry than I expected I guess but I was "more ok" with that text. I had some other issues too with choices of topics I guess and time or lack of time devoted to certain areas. I know people love her history. I don't want to leave any negative impressions of a really great program. I still love the activities and over-all feel and ease of HOD and the literature approach she takes fits us wonderfully.
But is the choice of texts similar for history? If I disliked Little Hearts will I also have issues with Beyond?
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I'm praying for you today Molly--really specifically for those requests.
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I've got a child who is extremely auditory in his learning style. He's obvious and has been for such a long time (before school or lessons began) but I think it's because he's so extreme in that area. The other has been harder. I'm not sure it's as important when a child isn't extreme in one way or another as they can adapt reasonably well to other styles.
But I thought I would reply as a mom of kids the same age (though only two in our case). I can't imagine trying to tailor actual curriculum choices each child. I try to pick something that has wide appeal and uses multiple modalities if possible. If something is not working at all for a child or there are major learning issues I will and have switched it to accommodate the struggling child. But, again, I'm picking programs that will be good for both kids as they are solid choices. I do tend to teach my boys separately in major content areas (for us phonics, math, narrations, handwriting). That way I know if both are "getting it" and can take extra time if someone isn't. We do the other stuff together.
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Thanks so much for posting that link. My kids will love it!
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Garlic makes my son vomit repeatedly. I fed him veggies that I had inadvertently cooked with sausage that contained garlic. He didn't eat the sausage. He was very sick.
He doesn't react to smell though...I don't think...now I'm wondering though if that might be our mystery vomiting episodes. Rats.
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My instinct is telling me that she is a lot like me. I test well and was placed in gifted classes but always struggled to get the work done. I don't know if I had any kind of LD other than ADD, which I still have. I'm sure you know that ADD often "goes with" other LD's. Have you read the book "A Mind at a Time" by Levine? I wonder if it might be helpful. When I read it my son was very young but I remember thinking I wanted to take another look as he got older. A lot of libraries seem to have it.
Well, she was just a little off on tracking and convergence. She has improved a lot in the dot mapping and has improved in math during the same time period. My instincts say we are on the right track and don't really need anything more. I almost canceled the appointment, but she still wanted to go.
That's so encouraging to me and, in your shoes, would make me think I was on the right track in my choices. What vision therapist did you see? We saw someone in the North Indy area--I think Carmel if I remember right.
I'm curious--did she improve suddenly? My son seems to have clicked all the sudden like day and night. Whew. I think.....
Also, if you get a chance could you tell me how far beyond current grade level you are supposed to take a child. My son would be entering 1st grade this year and I'm not sure if I was supposed to take him 1/2 through 1st or what before we quit. I got the book out of interlibrary loan so can't check.
I am trying to find out what will do the most good. For that money I can get her in to my Natural Doctor who will assess toxicity, diet, behavioral therapy, etc. I am thinking that will help more than the vision therapy, and our appointment today confirmed it. KWIM? It might. If you learn something neat I'd love to know! Andrew's sees an Integrative Med. doctor but I've not seen anything help the attention issues particularly.
She has had a lot of circumstances holding her back in math... I have had health problems and depression, she has had anxiety, we switched math programs so that she will get a fuller understanding, she has a brother who is a very hard to handle toddler. The circumstances have a lot to do with it too.
Thanks for talking this through with me. I can't pick up the phone and talk it through. :grouphug: No one around here homeschools or understands any problems like SID, etc.
I'm curious about which math you picked and how it goes as it sounds like there might be some similarities in our kids. :grouphug: If it helps at all I'm happy to talk with you either online or phone. I know what it feels like when no one in real life gets it. Oh, I'm in Brownstown which is about 1ish hours southeast of Bloomington between Bedford and Seymour. Small town Indiana!
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Do you think there are neurological differences in her causing learning issues or do you think it's only behavioral? I really think moms are usually accurate in their instincts about special needs areas.
Honestly, I can't see a child without something going on neurologically only doing K level on those dot assessments at her age. I can't remember her age exactly but I know she's older than my kiddo. There is more to this area than visual recognition and visual memory. I didn't see improvement in the visual spatial reasoning and related areas when we had major improvement in tracking and convergence here.
Anyway, whether it's neurological or behavioral or (most likely for most kids I'd suspect) a combination doesn't it still need addressed to give her the best chance of success? My husband was sort of reluctant to continue in a specific therapy we are using for the social side of things in my son for many reasons including not being sure of underlying cause of the difficulties and and cost. While I understood his reluctance my "take" was he's got issues in this area for whatever reasons and this therapy is the best approach I can find for trying to work on them. He came to the same conclusion eventually. I don't know if that's helpful in your situation. :grouphug:
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I use Pure Encapsulations for a long time but lately I've used Source Naturals. It's worked wonderfully here but melatonin can give vivid dreams for some people unfortunately. What was the dose? You could try the smallest effective dose and see if that helps. My pure encapsulations capsules were .5 mg. and I used half of them each night so .25 mg per night for my six year old. It's slightly harder to dose Source Naturals small but I still try to do the smallest effective dose.
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Well, I took her to a vision therapist and she did two Visual Perceptual tests. She scored 95% for a 12 year old on both.:001_huh:
I am thinking that most of our school problems are behavioral. :sad::blushing:
How did she do on the dot map assessments though?
My experience is that Andrew had a developmental visual assessment around age four. They caught some major/severe issues in convergence and tracking. I saw two doctors--one locally and one in Indianapolis. We did therapy. He improved wonderfully in those areas. He was pronounced "reformed" in those visual areas by both doctors. He still had some directional type issues and coordination things going on they wanted to address but we had to stop for cost.
But I am seeing visual perceptual stuff and he did not score at age level on the dot maps in that book. He is very weak in copying patterns or movements even. There are many things really I won't go into but clearly there are issues here. Still, he's done pretty well with most of the critical thinking company visual spatial workbook exercises and that is similar to what might be assessed with vision therapy stuff. But he's really struggled with those dot maps and he fits the profile for Non-verbal learning disability symptom wise as well.
Anyway, my experience has been that our vision therapy assessment didn't pick up all the areas--particularly the visual spatial reasoning it seems.
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I believe it was this thread about Liping Ma's book that convinced me that conceptual math was the best approach for math education and what I wanted for my kids. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178544&highlight=liping
So that narrows the choices down to (I may be missing some....but this was my list from that thread): RightStart, Math Mammoth, MEP, Singapore and derivatives, and perhaps Miquon. Some might argue that Math-U-See has some conceptual basis as well. I don't believe it is Asian math though and I've seen debate on the conceptual part.
I'm not math oriented myself and neither is at least one of my kids. Therefore, I felt I needed hand holding in teaching and the lesson structure needed to be explicit (without conceptual leaps) for my "not mathy" kid and myself. So those needs for me knocked out Miquon and Singapore. I don't think workbook style was the best approach at this age for either of my kids. So that meant Math Mammoth wasn't what I wanted for early grades though at this point I plan to try this when we're past the early grades (RightStart B and maybe C). I'm not sure MUS is as conceptual as either RightStart or MEP but at any rate when I looked over it I felt it's too worksheet and not enough variety for us. So that left me with RightStart or MEP.
I'm using RightStart A and recently added MEP reception for K for no real reason other than it looked fun and different and was free.
Rightstart is wonderful for one of my kids. He loves the games and gets it. I get math in a way I never did before as well and find that so cool! I like Rightstart's short lessons because I find that particularly appropriate for this age and especially for my short attention span child. I also love the variety of activities in each lesson and the manipulatives used. For me I love that it's scripted. RightStart tells me exactly what to do and requires no pre-planning on my part. So it's easy to teach. I feel MEP (so far anyway with Reception year) has similar strengths (conceptual, short lessons, variety of activities, easy to teach/scripted) though it's a very different program.
One of my kids has learning disabilities in math areas I believe. He hates games of all sorts so RightStart using games to teach isn't a great fit for him though I would expect games are a good fit for most kids of this age. I don't know if or when I'll find the "right" math for him. RightStart isn't perfect for him. But I feel I'm giving him the best basis I can by using RightStart right now.
Refrigerator left open?
in General Education Discussion Board
Posted
My husband got home really late last night and had stopped at the grocery on his way home. He unloaded and went to bed. At 3 am (sick kid) I noticed the refrigerator was open a crack. The things felt cold to cool depending on location but most stuff was sweating. Hubby thinks he unloaded between 11 and 12 pm. So the door was open from 3 to a maximum of 4 hours.
Do you think things (especially my meat) are safe?