I'm homeschooling my 12 year old daughter after pulling her out of public school at the end of her 3rd grade year. At the time I didn't know she had NLD. She was diagnosed with ADHD, poor working memory, and a low average IQ. I felt like we were missing something with her diagnosis. She was unable to tell time, understand place value, and couldn't get a grasp on money. After our first year at home I called the neuropsychologist back and told her what I was seeing. She then looked back at the records and told me that she believed that she had a Nonverbal Learning Disability. She gave me a very grim prediction of what I could expect of her mathematically. Basically, if she can get to the point where she can use money and tell time we're doing well. I'm now at a wall with her math. I have been allowing her to move forward without the expectation of mastery. I've made modifications based on my research using books about teaching children with NLD. She has stopped at the end of 4th grade math. I can't seem to get her past it. She continues to struggle with time, money, measuring, and place value. I don't know what to do. First, let me ask if there are any parents of preteen or teen children with NLD that can share their experience with math? Second, should I continue to try to introduce new concepts? Third, should I stop and just focus on mastering time & money? My fear is that she may never understand these concepts. It truly makes no sense to her. Am I spinning my wheels? Am I expecting too much? We use a spiral math curriculum and I allow her as much time as she needs on a lesson. We took 1 1/2 years (including summer) to get through 4th grade math. We just started 5th grade math and she made it through the first part because it was mainly review of 4th. I just need some guidance. I know when she was in public school she was in special education and she was allowed to be promoted without passing. I want to believe we can do better than this but I also don't want to deny her limitations. Thank you, Heather

My baby has a rare birth defect in his brain that we didn't find out about until he was 9 months old. I'm thankful that we didn't know about it at birth because no one treated us differently. That would have made this life-change even harder. We had 9 months of "normal" life before we had to adjust to the new normal. I'm sure your friend will appreciate you treating her and her baby the same way you would treat a baby born without special needs. She will have a lifetime of having to discuss her child's disabilities. I agree with all of the previous posters... a baby is always a gift! :) And I want to say that you are a very kind and sensitive friend to even think about what your response should be. She is very blessed to have such a supportive and thoughtful friend.

My neighor came by last month to tell me she was worried that "this is all just too much for you"... meaning homeschooling. She goes on to explain herself, "Your two middle kids are smart and good, why not send them? I understand your oldest has learning disabilities and you feel you have to homeschool her. But why do this to the other two?" I'm just thankful my oldest didn't hear that the neighbor doesn't think she's smart or good. It also sort of sounded like she thought my oldest wasn't good enough for school so, she would have to settle for the sub-par education I am giving her at home.

To be fair, I believe the school primarily describes itself as a Classical school with a CM influence. I read the thread on CM that birchbark posted. I feel like I need to read CM's original writing now! Very intersting thread. Thank you for pointing me that way. As I stated in my original post, I am new at homeschooling (finishing second year) and I am NOT a certified school teacher. I have read several books on the classical education model and one book on CM (The CM Handbook). I have listened to SWB's lectures on writing and I have come away with the impression that narration/dictation/copywork are essential. These responses have further confirmed what I understood. I'm thinking my friend needs to get reading! :001_smile: Thank you for all of the responses.

This is what I want! I don't want to argue with her. I just want to know if my thinking is correct. If I'm wrong, set me straight. I'm open to being educated! :001_smile: BUT I believed I was right and needed confirmation. Thanks! I do feel better!

They do many hands-on projects and nature study. That is why they consider it a CM school. Do you happen to remember the thread title about people misinterpreting CM? I'm not sure what to search for. Thanks!

Thanks! I read the post by Nan. Awesome! I agree that it is very important but is it essential to the classical education model? I wish I could change the post title... I was tired when I wrote it and I realized there is a typo! Oh, well... :001_smile:

My friend teaches at a CM/Classical/homeschool hybrid school. The parents homeschool 3 days per week and the kids are at school 2 days per week. Their school begins creative writing in kinder. They do not use any narration/dictation/copy work in their curriculum. We have a running debate about it because she "doesn't get" how or why I believe narration/dictation/copy work would ever help a child learn to write well. I have explained the best that I can but we cannot come to terms. Am I way off base in my thinking it odd that a CM/Classical should have narration/dictation/copy work in the curriculum? They did use WWE last year but it was dropped. I am certainly willing to admit I am wrong. I am fairly new at homeschooling. Honestly, she is the one who keeps pushing the issue. I want her to drop it but I have not defended my choice in a way to prevent further debate.

We had the same problem with CLE Reading 5. I went ahead and ordered Reading 4 today. I guess I feel like pushing her really hard on 5 is not worth it. Last year we had a problem with Easy Grammar 4 and I put it aside for a different grammar curriculum. She has re-started EG 4 this year and she is doing great. I think she was just not ready yet. I am hoping that the CLE Reading 4 will work and she will be ready for 5 after that.

I totally agree. Big HP fans over here. After listening to the first book on audio my kids started reading the books and now they are avid readers. I attribute their love of reading to their experience with HP.

Can anyone direct me to the free online placement tests for CLE? I am not seeing them on the website. Thanks. Nevermind. I found it. I didn't see the download option. Thanks.

On the "books" (according to the budget), I spent $600 for 3 kids. But I really feel like their education is important and I will purchase what I need to and cut back on things that I feel are not as important. We are not going into debt to homeschool but we do feel education is an investment. I can usually "justify" my spending by reminding myself that my SIL spent $15,000 on her daughter's private school kindergarten education.

The big hits for history were putting together a 3-d wooden Sphinx puzzle (from Michael's) and making a 3-d Trojan horse (Usborne). For science, we made Jello models of plant and animal cells. This was a really suprising hit. They loved them. We are currently raising caterpillars (www.insectlore.com) and tadpoles. We are also ordering an egg incubator because my father built a chicken coop for the kids on his property. I hope this project turns out well. We also researched and planted a garden that attracts butterflies. This was my favorite project this year. For art, our most memorable idea came from the book, "Meet The Impressionists: For Kids". We made Monet's waterlillies. Super easy and fun. -Heather