Check out the FPEA site: http://www.fpea.com/ We are located in Polk County, in Central FL. We are in our 7th year of hmeschooling, and so grateful to be in a homeschool friendly state. You can choose to register as a homeschooler or under an umbrella school. We've gone both ways, but we're currently with an umbrella school. We are only required to keep track and submit 180 days of school. For registered homeschoolers, ou just have to submit a yearly evaluation. It can be as simple as a portfolio eval.

When Legoland first opened up here in Winter Haven, FL last year, there was a minimum of 10. This year there is no minimum.

If your getting SWI-B, it will come with a suggested 15-30 week schedule. It really depends on how quickly your students work through it. In the 30 week schedule, the video is scheduled every 2 weeks or so. The suggested schedule shows lessons 4-5 days a week, depending on the lesson. For example, several lessons are scheduled 4 days a week, others are 5. I have to add that we've only been using SWI-A for a couple of months. The first few units, which are scheduled for 4 days, can easily be done in 3. This week we begin unit 3, which is scheduled as week 13. There are 5 days scheduled this week. I hope this makes sense. In my opinion, I would plan on 3-5 days a week, for about 30 min, allowing about an hour on the days you watch the video. If you get done in less, great. Here is a great article from IEW's website: https://www.excellenceinwriting.com/files/lesson_planning.pdf

I have never done any standardized testing with my boys. It is not required by our state, but I am seriously considering it, just for our own information. My boys actually want to do it, after hearing about the local ps kids having FCAT testing this week. I have my eye on the PASS test, but I am also wondering if the CAT, which is available online, would be a better fit. My twins are 12 and we are dealing with different challenges, including severe speech apraxia, auditory processing issues, and most likely dysgraphia and dyslexia. I am almost positive they are at different levels in different subjects. Any suggestions?

I love my better binders!

Both my boys are using TT5 this year. It is not online, it's a disk, so only one student can use it at a time. When one student is done with the lesson, my other son gets on to complete his lesson. We just buy an extra workbook. When you set up the disk on the computer, it allows to register and track progress for several students for the year.

that was a link for hives...are you saying this will be the likely result? LOL. I'm all ears since we are seriously considering them now that my boys are middle school aged. The tests, not the hives. ;)

Bump

Anyone?

I agree. We recently started SWI-A with my 12 year old twins and I wish had made the leap sooner. I was hesitant about the price at first, but I figured I had nothing to lose because of their guarantee We will most likely continue through middle and high school as well.

I am looking to purchase her DVD, Smart Kids Who Hate to Write. My twin boys are 12 and have severe speech apraxia. They have also struggled with auditory processing issues and were 10 before they started reading. We had a neuropsych eval when they were 8. They were hesitant to diagnose dyslexia because at the time they were just reading at a 1st grade level and she wanted to wait another year before diagnosing dyslexia. Fast forward 4 years and although they are both reading, they both struggle with reading comprehension and spelling. One of them really struggles with handwriting. We've always used HWOT and it really hasn't helped. We have started making accomodations by limiting the writing and allowing him to type. He also really struggles with math. Yesterday, it took him 3 hours to do 22 problems in Teaching Textbooks math. He does come across as being lazy and unmotivated. I'm at a loss. It's frustrating and just exhausting. I suspect we are dealing with dyslexia with both and possibly dysgraphia and discalculia with at least one. I really can't afford to have them tested since our insurance company won't pay. This is why I'm looking at Dianne Craft's DVD. I am also looking at her Struggling Learners DVD, hoping it will help with both. Another mom on another forum offered to let me borrow her Brain Integration Therapy manual. My question is, does the information on the DVD's overlap with what is in the manual? If I was to get just one DVD, which one should I get?

anyone?

I am looking to purchase her DVD, Smart Kids Who Hate to Write. My twin boys are 12 and have severe speech apraxia. They have also struggled with auditory processing issues and were 10 before they started reading. We had a neuropsych eval when they were 8. They were hesitant to diagnose dyslexia because at the time they were just reading at a 1st grade level and she wanted to wait another year before diagnosing dyslexia. Fast forward 4 years and although they are both reading, they both struggle with reading comprehension and spelling. One of them really struggles with handwriting. We've always used HWOT and it really hasn't helped. We have started making accomodations by limiting the writing and allowing him to type. He also really struggles with math. Yesterday, it took him 3 hours to do 22 problems in Teaching Textbooks math. He does come across as being lazy and unmotivated. I'm at a loss. It's frustrating and just exhausting. I suspect we are dealing with dyslexia with both and possibly dysgraphia and discalculia with at least one. I really can't afford to have them tested since our insurance company won't pay. This is why I'm looking at Dianne Craft's DVD. I am also looking at her Struggling Learners DVD, hoping it will help with both. Another mom on another forum offered to let me borrow her Brain Integration Therapy manual. My question is, does the information on the DVD's overlap with what is in the manual? If I was to get just one DVD, which one should I get?

I just recently started making copies of the assignment list that I print out for myself. That way, my kids can stop asking me what to do next. I go ahead and include all assignments for the week and highlight all the assignments that they can do independently. We're on week 3 and it seems to be working for us. I still get that dreaded question and I just have to remind them to check their assignment list.

This is what I do.

FYI- the desk apprentice is cheaper if you buy it in-store. I got mine for $25.99 vs. $44.49 online.

My boys expressed interest in comic books and I was concerned at first. Like any other book out there, you have to monitor it. There are some comics that are really dark and aimed at adults. There are others for kids. Personally, I think the Spider-Man comics my boys have read are harmless, and she obviously feels its ok for her child to read them. My boys were struggling readers and I came across this article that I happened to bookmark. http://momshomeroom.msn.com/parenting-articles/reading/getting-serious-about-comics/251535497?WT.mc_id=CopyThis http://marvelkids.marvel.com/comics http://comicbooks.about.com/od/buyingcomics/tp/toptenkids.01.htm

Wow, I'm 35 and I get these too. I never really thought anything of it. I have to say these boards are quite informative. I'm all ears...

I just started my boys on SWI-A a couple months back and just completed lesson 5. They start off with a paragraph. Anywhere from 4-6 sentences.

Weight watchers. It's not a quick fix-it's a health makeover. I lot 7 lbs my first week, but that was quick to me, LOL. I did it strictly online. After that, it slowed down to about 2 lbs a week. I lost 22 lbs and have managed to keep it off.

(((HUGS))) I'm sorry.

Praying for you. I have experienced this with my boys and their seizures. My heart goes out to you. Hugs and prayers for you and your family.

Both my boys just turned 12 and grammar just wasn't sticking. I suspect they are dyslexic and they have struggled with any LA over the years. We just started IEW, SWI-A. I found their yahoo group to be very helpful. They recommended dropping grammar for now and working on writing and spelling. We are working through Sequential Spelling and I let them play the games on Grammaropolis. I have found that they are learning grammar through heir writing. Here is a great article I found on IEW's site: https://www.excellenceinwriting.com/files/What_About_Grammar.pdf

Thanks for sharing! Both my boys have a history of epilepsy and I'm almost positive we are dealing with dyslexia.