indigomama
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Posts posted by indigomama
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My district does learning disabilities testing for private school students in the district boundaries. Since we filed a PSA, we are technically a private school in their boundary. I just need to fill up a very simple request for evaluation form or just write a letter requesting for evaluation, and then mail or hand deliver to the district office.
The district does the evaluation and provide the services. Parents get the kid to school at the appointed time for the services. That is for my area. Some district are nice enough to send the specialist for home visits.
Since we moved here in December, I haven't filed anything with our district. Some recommended I wait till next year. But, would you recommend I file now, so I can request testing as a private school?
Also, do I just call the local district office? I am in Santa Barbara County.
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Hello,
Recently moved back to CA, I grew up here, but have never homeschooled here. DS3 is 7 and just finishing AAR level 1. We started at age 5 with OPGTR, which worked great for my first 2 sons, but after a year, he was making very little progress. We tried going very slow with just straight reading and then switched to AAR.
This fall after taking him to the eye dr we realized he had a lazy eye and has a patch and glasses. He's doing better, but it's still a very big struggle for him to read.
In CA, can I as a homeschooler use the public schools to get him tested for any disabilities? If yes, who would I contact? If not, where else should I look to get him tested?
Thank you!
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This year DD14 is homeschooling, and the younger three are in a private Christian school. We are in the process of figuring out our plan for next year, but it is looking like we may have DD14 homeschooling, DD10 enrolled in a school for dyslexia, and the two boys enrolled in the same Christian school where they attend this year.
It can be done, but keep logistics in mind. If you have to pick up students at two different schools at the exact same time, how will that happen? Are there carpooling options? It's good to look a couple of years down the line while you make decisions for today, but you can't always predict what things will look like in the future. For example, are you sure that your younger child will go to school at grade seven, just because the older one does? It's hard to predict those things if you are basing the decisions on what is right for each child.
One thing that is difficult when you have children who are homeschooling and enrolled in a school is managing the schedule. When the parent is busy homeschooling some children all day, then overseeing homework in the evening, it can seem like the parent never gets a break. Whereas with homeschooling, we were done with schoolwork in the afternoon, we now have homework in the evenings. It has taken some time to get used to that. With an older student enrolled in school, it may not be as much of an issue, because they hopefully will be more independent with their work, but it will still affect the time that you have to spend together as a family.
Thank you, those are some good things to think about. I had not thought through homework and what that would look like. Though, with just sending the kids as they head into jr high or high school, hopefully they would be more independent with homework.
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We have always gone with a combination of what is best for the student/what the student prefers to do. The daily driving and scheduling is the worst part. Bus passes are very helpful. And we keep a monthly calendar on the refrigerator that lists everywhere we need to be. I refer to it daily.
My eldest started dual enrollment at the university in 9th grade. She was a full time dual enrollment student by 10th grade. She is in 12th this year and still a full time dual enrollment student. My second daughter chose to go to the local high school part time starting in 9th grade. She is in 10th now, still part time at the local high school. Next year she is leaning toward full time dual enrollment at the local community college while remaining part of the high school theater troupe. Now my third daughter is leaning toward full-time online school for high school. She is going to take 2/3 of her classes online next year (7th grade) and we'll see how that goes. And my son will remain homeschooled by me, at home, for the foreseeable future. It is a bit of a juggling act at times, but certainly doable. :)
Thanks for sharing! It does sound like some extra juggling for sure, but as you've pointed out it's "doable". And I think with my DH's schedule we could share the extra driving.
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If you have had your children in different schooling environments at the same time can you share a little about how it worked for your family?
I have 5 children, and we have always homeschooled. For various reasons, I have been contemplating doing things a little different next year. Next year oldest will be going into 7th grade and my youngest will be ready for K, and I'm not sure I will adequately be able to school all of them with their various needs and personalities.
I have loved homeschooling my oldest: he enjoys learning, he catches onto things quickly, he's a good student, but lately I've been dealing with some attitude issues with him. Nothing abnormal, the usual preteen stuff, but I'm thinking it might be time for me to be just mom to him, if that makes. I am not thrilled with our local middle schools ( I attended one of them myself), and I don't feel like academics are challenging enough in the local private christian school. But 15 minutes away there is a great K-8 Catholic school that feeds into an excellent catholic high school. Tuition would be tight, but doable, and I think it would provide the academic and social challenges that oldest DS needs/would want.
Are there issues with sending one to school and homeschooling the others?
Also, DS2 would be in 7th in 2 years, but the Catholic school would be too much for him, but I think he'd do well in the smaller more relaxed private Christian school (yes, I realize Catholics are Christians, too. I am just trying to differentiate them for clarities sake). So, in 2 years time, I would have one at the Catholic High School, one in the private Christian K-12, and homeschooling the other 3.
Anyways, I would love some thoughts from parents who have sent their children to different schools/homeschooled some all at the same time. Thank you!
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Haha yes. When younger and crazier. Before meeting my husband I dated a Polish guy for 4 years. We often went out to Polish clubs. So one time we went they had some weird thing where they put an envelope under some of the chairs. If you had one you were supposed to go up and lip sync to a song. Then everyone had to vote for their favorite. Ok think...I'm a major introvert, very quiet most of the time, and just not the type to do anything like that. But I got picked. So I got up there and asked them to describe to me what the song was about and what the singer was like. Apparently she was a large loud woman. The song was in Polish. So I got up there and acted like a loud large woman. I won too. Maybe because I looked the most ridiculous, but whatever it was silly stuff. LOL
That's great! I love this story.
To everyone: thanks for sharing. I've loved reading through this thread. The thing with acting: I think I would be fine once onstage "in" the role, it's just getting the nerve to tryout, ahhhhh!!!!!! The thing that intrigues me is that I love doing voices when reading, and I developing a character in my head while I read. But the thought of other people looking at me is truly terrifying.
But reading everyone's stories are encouraging.
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I went spelunking. Really, in a research cave. Not a tourist thing at all, no "stairs" , no ladders. It was with a group with college professor of mine. I have a total fear of heights. My parents totally thought I would go and back out last minute LOL. It was very cool. At one point we all set down on the ground and turned off all our headlamps. You could see NOTHING, not even your own hand in front of your face. Huge waterfall that we couldn't even see/hear the bottom of.
Wow, that would be way out of my comfort zone, too! Good for you for going, sounds like a really neat experience!
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Go for it! I was quite shy in high school and decided to try out for a school play because it sounded like fun. I got a part and enjoyed the experience, and I ended up active in drama club and forensics.
Or maybe you'll try acting once and love it!
I definitely think you should go for it.
I feel crazy even thinking about it, hahhah. But, I'll look into it. I live in a community with lots of great resources for it, I just have to get over my very intense shyness.
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Well, I had a very large party for my 30th.
I hate parties, with a passion. Except that year, for some reason, I was seized with the desire to host one. So I did.
I actually have nice memories ( and photos ) of that party, of people who have since died, so I'm glad i did it.
I've never wanted a party since, lol
That's awesome! I love that it was a really good thing for you, and it's funny that you don't want to repeat the experience :)
Maybe that's what I need to do, just get this "acting thing" out of my system, by doing it once in some small way.
Thanks for sharing!
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Have you ever done something really outside of your personality? Not anything illegal or bad. Just something different from your usual?
I am very introverted, very shy, and I hate being the center of any kind of attention, but for some reason, lately I am drawn to the idea of acting. Not to be a movie star or anything, just to take a class at a community college, or try out for a small role in a local production. If I told anyone that I know about the idea, they'd check me for a fever, lol. It is sooooo outside my normal interests.
So, I was wondering have you done anything really outside your normal? Was it a good or bad experience? Or share what'd you'd like to do.
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I had severe SPD with my last three babies, hence no more babies for me! I tried many different things: aqua therapy, bad chiropractor, bands/braces, physical therapy,etc.
Finally, after kid #5 it didn't go away after birth (it usually did) so I went to a different chiropractor, she was amazing! And, she explained what and where the problem was, made specific adjustments and it all went away. The key for me was to find a chiropractor who was specifically trained in techniques for pregnant and postpartum women. She was so much better than the first general chiropractor I went to.
ETA: all my births were vaginal, but it was important to avoid certain positions (typical on back, huge spread leg), and I had two on by side, news together and up, and one in the water. No problems, at all.
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I'd switch doors as others have said. What would even lead a guest to a front door on the side? They would walk up from the street, and then take a little path to the side of the house where the front door is? That seems really strange to me!
Yes, when you pull into the driveway/garage on the left side, there is a little path in front of the sliders to the right side of the house where the "front door" is, on the plans.
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There are some pretty simple things you can do to make a kind of psychological entryway. One is different flooring or a rug right around the door. If you do some online searching there are many ideas - it's a common problem.
I've been goggling "shotgun houses", because that's kind of what it will be like. There are some good ideas out there. And it will motivate me to keep the kitchen clean!
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My house is like this. The door opens directly into the living room and the view is straight to my kitchen sink. It helps motivate me to keep the sink area as neat as possible.
Recently I was talking to someone who's been in my house several time and commented on how much I hated that. She said "oh, I never noticed!" and we walked to the front door so she could see. She said she was always looking at the person who let her in, then around the living room because usually there were other people there. I don't think she was faking it to make me feel better. I think it's something that bothers me because I live here.
And, you know, we deal with it.
That's so great that she sees the people first. And, I bet it will bother me more than it will bother my visitors :)
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I really appreciate everyone's thoughts!!!
With being able to share too much details: we basically are just very, very, very appreciative we even have the option to own in our HCOL area, let alone a new build. We aren't in a position to ask for a lot of changes. But the slider in front is a major issue for me. I know they have replaced it in another house with a typical front door, so we are going to ask for that. The door on the side will then be blocked from view/access from the front by moving the fence line up, so I'm not overly concerned what type of door they'd put there.
I will worry about furniture arrangement later, I suppose. But, to me it will still feel a little awkward to walk right into the living room with a straight view of dining and kitchen areas, but I will make it work.
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make the front door face the street. put a large window (or french doors) by the dining room. where is your backyard access?
That's what looks best from the outside, but it makes the inside furniture layout really awkward. The backyard is accessed by the front door (which is actually on the side!). So, we could but a a slider where the on the side (where the current front door is) and access that way. Or a gate on the front side of house. Or there is access through the master, and through a side door in the garage.
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Or, can you wall up the area with the slider door and put a window there for light, and then put a regular door on the long side, but move it down a bit so it doesn't open at the table, but opens closer to the short end into the LR? Or is that too much of a change for the builders?
There is a window above where the sliders are and it could stay even if they were walled in (very tall ceilings). But no, you can't move where the door would be on the long side, too much change for the builder.
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Can the front door be the short end of the rectangle facing the street, and can the slider be the door that opens to the side of the house by the DR table? Basically switch doors?
Yes, that's option B. I'll clarify that. When I said make the sliders the front door, I meant replace the sliders with an actual front door. But the problem is that it really really limits furniture layout. You'd walk into the living room. With the only wall space on the left, and a bank of windows and the slider along the wall on the right. Does that make sense? And we need space for sectional (or two couches), a piano, a tv, and bookshelves!
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Let's say you are going to purchase a home in a development that has not been built, yet, and you cannot make any major floor plan changes, but you can change the placement of the front door. What would you do in the following scenario:
House is one long rectangular open concept room, that includes the kitchen, dining area, and living area. The short end of the rectangle faces the street and one long end faces the side of the house. It is currently planned to have a glass slider door facing the street, and the actual "front door" is on the side of the house. The sliders are in the living room and it leaves the whole inside of the house exposed to the street. The side door (which is to function as the front door to guests) opens right onto where you'd put the dining table.
Would you:
A) Leave the plan as is?
B) Replace the sliders with an actual front door (which makes it awkward walking right into the living room seating area), but would enable you to enclose the side area, giving you a bigger fenced yard and not have people walking into the table?
C) Make a wall where the slider is (giving you more wall space inside and a more designated seating area, and using the side door as the "front door", even if it's an awkward walk into the dining area?
I would love to hear people's thoughts. Thanks!
Edited for clarification.
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Would it help if you went, too? Maybe, not sit with them, but at a table near by, so he felt like he had a quick out, if needed?
I would encourage my kid to go.
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If they're 7 and 9, you might want to consider Playmobil. My boys were big into it at those ages and there are tons of historical figures. I bought a few sets to coincide with what we were reading about in history and I'd read the passage then pull out the set.
Well...pull out the people. My boys didn't care so much for sets as much as just for the figures. I bought a lot of packs of knights and Native Americans and Egyptions, and Romans (solidiers and families for the last 2).
Playmobil is much loved here, and we have many sets. I was just curious if Lego had a similar theme concept as Playmobil. I ended up getting him a Pirate lego set. He'll love it.
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Thanks for all the responses. I will look into all of these!
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Legos are huge in our house, but I usually just get whatever I can find in the stores.
My DS 7, really loves history this year, and I was wondering are there history themed lego sets?
ETA: I got DS 9, the lego Chess set, and it was a huge hit!
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I know nothing about them, but in the last month, I've been invited to 5 online Norwex parties from friends. It must be the new thing.
I have questions about testing for disabilities in CA.
in The Learning Challenges Board
Posted
Thank you!