I am likely going to get certified in Secondary Science, Biology and Chemistry. (I have a Ph.D. in biology). I have taught at the college level, but I am really drawn to teach high school. I have been a bit surprised that likely I will need to spend a year working on the certification, including student teaching, which seems excessive considering that I could walk into a college and teach outright. I am planning on spending this year investigating teaching by observations and some job shadows to make sure this is really what I want. I also will take our state certifying exams so I will be ready to apply when my family is ready. :-)

Thank you. This is helpful. To be reminded that this too shall pass, ds is growing up, and I can change my response to be more detatched. Today is already feeling better than yesterday. (and it also helped to read the thread about the sadness of kids moving out..snif!)

He is going to school in 2 blessed months. I gotcha!!!

Ok, you wise parents...Please, please, please tell me how to get along with 14 yo DS? Right now I am having fantasies of moving out into my own quiet, perfect studio apartment-- I would probably let dd come along, but then I would have to get a 1BR. Dh? Well, he could manage ds-- which seems fair as I have homeschooled (without much support/ input) for the past 8 years. Ds, he is 14. He seems to be quite lovely with other people-- funny, kind, helpful, motivated, cooperative. With me? He is surly, rude, unmotivated and self-centered. I KNOW this is the age, the gender, the age-old problem because I have read y'all's posts. So don't tell me that because I am dying!!!! Tell me how to get through this? (And reading back through this paragraph, I know one of your all's response would be that I have certainly cast ds in a negative light and I need to focus on his positive. Trust me! I have been doing that! Catching him when he is good, noticing positive traits, treating him with kindness, taking him to friends, rides, etc...) Today, he had a violent, rage-filled temper tantrum and broke one of his most beloved items. Why? Because his father told him that he had broken an agreed upon rule regarding his cell phone and ds flipped. I just want to escape. The lack of harmony, the rage on ds's part, feeling rather alone in trying to figure this out (dh likes to come up with ideal situations that don't reflect reality or platitudes..."we should treat each other respectfully" and he kind of likes to tell me how I should "be"..tougher-skinned, more respectful, more understanding....) So give me strategies. Give me hope. Tell me that it is a bad idea to move out (even though a modern, all white studio apartment is so perfect in my mind) Maybe, and most of all, can you just give me a little compassion when I am feeling pretty beat up by all of this?

And to add to the PP, kids on IEP often have lowered "passing" rates on standardized tests.

It sounds like you are wanting more help and understanding. So yes, I would seek an eval.

It helped ds learn all the sounds/ letter combos, but he never improved in his ability to read nonsense words...which implied to me that it had not effectively taught my son phonics. I am in the "spend your money on a good tutor" camp.

Because these changes were so dramatic and overnight, I would want a full neuropsychiatric evaluation.

The Dyslexic Advantage is helpful in the description of procedural difficulties related to dyslexia. If you haven't read this book, it is very helpful in understanding some of the giftedness that goes along with dyslexia.

I say that since you are feeling concerned you should investigate. Six is not too young to evaluate for dyslexia.

I think typing 20 WPM is perfectly fine. I also think looking at the keyboard is perfectly fine. In fact, I often do! As long as he knows the keyboard, I think he could just begin typing his work now, and he will improve. When I switched my ds to typing for his work he was typing 9 WPM. It was just using typing everyday for his work that helped him improve. Now he would rather type than dictate to the computer because that is just how he thinks!

What wonderful news! I am so happy to hear how well your son is doing!!! Congrats to him and you! As a matter of curiosity, what dyslexic math program is his tutor using? I would be interested to hear more about that....

Yes. Let her read it. You continue to work with her on decoding in a separate and systematic way, like Barton. Use controlled readers to map to the skill you are working on in Barton. But, yes, let her read whatever she wants! I would be so encouraged by her wanting to read chapter books! Great work getting her to that point!!!

I love stories like this! Congrats to you all!!!! Dyslexic kids ABSOLUTELY can learn! Keep up the great work!!!

Also meant to say that you can do the same thing on a Mac (latest OS)..... don't even need a mobile device. You can just do it as you are word processing!