They looked great, so I ordered the Bear Necessities and the Apples and Pears. I like curriculum that is very teacher friendly and this looks easy to implement. Really, really appreciate the information. One thing to check off of my list. :-)

I have briefly looked at it, just haven't dug in, so thank you for the recommendation. I will go look at it now. Would it be worth looking at AAS and AAR? I peeked at this for my other child and wondered if it would work for Ell. It makes sense that the spelling rules would help along the reading... sometimes I want to hit myself upside the head (like the V8 commercials) and say 'duh' why didn't I think of that before. So appreciate the reply!! Thanks!

Thank you so much for your response Dav! It helps to hear from others who have journeyed just ahead of us and gives hope and motivation to press forward when feeling exhausted. I've been researching the multitude of phonics programs out there and need to make a decision. We have the 'I See Sam' series and she did well with those, I just felt like I needed more. I've taught and like the K12 phonics program, but was also looking closely at Stevinson and AAR. Some of the others that are highly recommended are not for kids with a low IQ. I would love for her to be able to read. :-) Great to hear success stories! It sounds like your DS has benefitted greatly in homeschooling. We continually toy with the idea of going back to public school, but she was so overwhelmed. Thanks again!

Wondering if any of you could post updates on how you are doing and how the curriculum that you chose worked for your kiddos? Our daughter, who recently turned 9, was adopted from China at 11 months. Similar stories to those of you above. Thought we'd 'catch up', that she was just behind due to her circumstances in China. Lots of sensory issues, cognitive delays, developmental delays, speech, social struggles, etc. Recent MR diagnosis, possible PDD-NOS, ADHD... Would love to hear how things are going. Thanks so much!

We bought the nature's way, but I'm sure the other will be great and then you can maybe tell us if you see a difference when/if you decide to switch. Read the book and listened to the CD's last year at this time. I was so ready to do it all, but do you ever feel so exhausted at trying that you just can't try? I really want to give it another shot, to try the supplements and maybe more eliminations from our daughter's diet, but whew!! Please let us know how it goes.

What a difficult decision! When my son did Creation to Christ (last year as a 7th grader), I had him do the science portion of Res. to Ref. This year he is doing the Res. to Ref. and doing Rainbow Science. We have done some doubling up of the history and bible portions of the guide as we didn't want to finish in June. He has done well with it, but I keep a close eye to make sure he is understanding what he is reading. I am stuck for next year as well. Just can't decide. He will be in 8th grade and would like to go to public high school full time beginning 9th grade, so it just might be my last year. The next two guides look amazing, but he did American History in 4th and 5th grade. I wouldn't mind doing it again if I knew he would be home, but I know the school does the second half of American History in 9th grade. I've also looked at the new guide coming out. It looks amazing and I think he could handle most of the work. Hmmm... Blessings,

Great video and what an amazing lil' kiddo! My daughter matches up with his over and under responsiveness. Sometimes I forget like on New Years Eve. :-{

After years of looking and researching we ended up at a child psychologist. I had to chat with several before finding the one that worked with children with developmental delays (or find one that specifies in the areas you are concerned with) and one that 'fit' us as a family. She was kind, nurturing and even worked with us financially. We were applying for financial assistance for our daughter's disabilities and the center asked that we have an IQ test and and Adaptive Behavior Assessment completed by a psychologist. I didn't know where to start and I was quite nervous, but this was really good. We have tried multiple places, therapies, doctors, etc. and they all give varied information, or bits of information. One person can help with memory, one with dyslexia, another auditory and then there are the OT's and speech, etc. It was SO nice to speak to someone who could SEE ALL that is wrapped up in the tiny eight year old package of our daughter. It was a relief to have someone recognize her issues and be able to put a name to them and for someone to be honest with us and tell us it is more than just one issue. I don't have money to waste to try out all these therapies, which we've done a bit of already. That is just my experience... I would look for someone who can see the whole child. Ask lots of questions before committing. I hope this helps. Blessings, Trish

The STAR Center website also has a lot of wonderful information. The founder has a book entitled, Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder by Lucy Jane Miller. A lot of the books have checklists which are really helpful. I would say one big factor for me in trying to decide whether our daughter had sensory issues was asking myself, "Does my child's behavior affect what we do and where we go as a family?" It definitely keeps us home, out of crowded places, away from parades, movies, etc. The checklists will give you a great idea and then you'll know if you should move forward. You can even call, or email the STAR Center and ask questions. They are quite helpful. I also liked the book 'Parenting a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder' by Christopher R. Auer. I highlighted and underlined a lot in this book. 'Raising a Sensory Smart Child' by Lindsey Biel and Nancy Peske paints an excellent picture (page 15) on how it must feel to have SPD. I refer to this all the time when trying to explain our daughter's sensory issues. Also, when looking for an OT make sure to find one who specializes in sensory issues. Not all have this experience. STAR Center http://spdstar.org Blessings,

We are just beginning work with the metronome. We went to see a gal in our area who came highly recommended by a friend. Her daughter jumped 3-4 grade levels in reading by using this program. She does testing, recommends curriculum and exercises and also has her own curriculum. She has articles on her site that you may find helpful. Christian Cottage - Terri Spray http://www.christiancottage.com/Christian_Cottage/index.html How to Use a Metronome http://www.christiancottage.com/Christian_Cottage/Learning-Rivers-use-metronome-home-school-reading-learning-therapy-special-needs-writing-training-Teri-Spray.html Blessings, Trish

Not sure where your lil' man is at, but our DD8 really struggles with SPD and multiple delays and the over stimulation of social situations. She was in school - two years of preschool and one and a half years of kindergarten. It was regularly a struggle and felt like we were only seeing the worst. I wanted to see the best, not just battling with her through the worst, so we pulled her out. She has been home for one and a half years now and we see a lot of progress. We are able to monitor/limit her social situations, which has truly helped. Yes, kids may learn to modulate when with peers, which is good, but daily interaction may be too much. Our DD needs her down time at home. She even needs to be home without her sibling, so she has the space all to herself. We have found that 2-3 activities per week are good for her, but not more than one in a day. She is extremely social and loves her 'friends' but is quick to get overwhelmed, or jealous and that can cause meltdowns and aggressive behavior. Remember, you are your child's best advocate. You know what he needs and although the advice of the professionals is great, we just have to weigh that against what we know about our kiddos. Blessings!

So great to read everyone's responses and I resonate with so much of what is being said. Abandonment is never ideal and every orphan will at one point have to deal with the heartache that comes with feeling/being unwanted. (I didn't realize I had the issue of abandonment until I was in my 30's and I grew up in an excellent home and was adopted at birth.) Our darling daughter was 11 months when adopted from China. She has multiple needs; cognitive/academic, speech, gross/fine motor, drooling, sensory, etc. She is a high maintenance little bundle of joy. Usually attached to my hip, even at the age of eight. After reading through the responses, I too, wonder if she was abused. She does have scars. She always asks if we are coming back if we leave to go anywhere, she is quick to get aggressive, and frankly there are places we don't go and people we don't hang out with because they just don't understand, or don't have the patience. I too am trying not to allow the judgment of those around me to influence how I parent and how I see my daughter. And I too wouldn't change a thing. I would do it all over again. Our bio son was nearly 5 when she came home and as difficult as it has been for him I truly believe he wouldn't trade her for the world. I hope the words that everyone has shared has helped. We know that God gave us our little girl because He knew we would do whatever it takes to allow her to grow to her fullest potential. It is hard, exhausting and I've never been so angry as I have in parenting this little girl, or so sad that she just can't relate to children her own age yet desperately wants a little friend, but I've also laughed twice as much, enjoyed her snuggles that are too hard due to sensory issues, chuckled when she mispronounces 'peanuts' as you can only guess and filled with warmth and hope when I do see the growth. Blessings, Trish

I do use the writing traits in a classroom setting for homeschooled kids. We meet just once a week. I have really enjoyed the lessons from writing fix. If you look at their menu, click on 'mentor text lessons'. If you scroll down you can click on lessons for different grade levels. I'll give you a couple of examples of lessons I have done from the site. They might be a bit young for your kiddo, but they do have older lesson ideas. Amelia's Notebook - Used this mentor text as a springboard to show students how and why we might keep a writer's notebook and to get them more excited about the idea. Even my 6th graders caught on to this. Look at Corbett's ideas on the site of how to use a writer's notebook. Also check out Ralph Fletcher's books at the library. He has one about why writer's keep notebooks. Fun and inspiring for the kids. We use the trait 'word choice' and brainstorm words we could use to replace overused words, or work to revise our first draft to include better words. I Wanna Iguana - Used this mentor text to show students how to write persuasively - so fun! The kids got a kick out of writing their parents letters (which also taught them letter writing format) trying to convince them why they should receive the pet of their dreams. You could turn this into anything your child has been asking for; ipad, computer game, phone, etc. We do a lot of role play as well with persuasion. Take Me Out of the Bathtub - This mentor text is great to have the students take familiar songs from their childhood like "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and turn it into a new song. I also used the examples of Michael Jackson's 'Beat It' and Weird Al's parody 'Eat It'. This was also a big hit for the older kids. Owl Moon - Great sentence variety If Not for The Cat - We wrote Haiku riddles with this mentor text. Fun! I hope this gives you an idea. Take some time to explore the site. Here are links to the books by Ruth Culham that I use regularly. I would go to the book store (Barnes and Noble) and look at them if you have something close by. Always nice to hold them in your hand before you take the leap. The guides have great tips on how to grade papers for each trait. It shows samples of student writing, which I also read to my students. (My 6th grader is in my class on the one day I teach, so I use this with him at home as well.) It gives activities and lessons to do with each trait. The third one on the list is strictly lots of titles and lessons to go with several titles for each trait. http://www.amazon.com/Traits-Writing-Complete-Guide-Grades/dp/0439280389/ref=pd_sim_b_1 http://www.amazon.com/Traits-Writing-Complete-Primary-Grades/dp/0439574129/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b http://www.amazon.com/Picture-Writing-Scholastic-Teaching-Strategies/dp/0439556872/ref=pd_sim_b_2 Another book I love is 'If You're Trying to Teach Kids How to Write You've Gotta Have This Book' by Marjorie Frank. It is full of wonderful ideas on how to 'romance' your kids with words. I hope this gives you an idea. It is not a full writing curriculum, but lots of wonderful ideas to get your kids writing with strong words, excellent voice, organization, etc. Blessings, Trish

Try http://www.writingfix.com. I love the writing fix website and I use it all the time to do six trait writing lessons. It is fabulous. I also use the two younger versions of the Ruth Culham book. I really like the idea of using mentor texts to show students great writing. You can also use songs, speeches and poetry. They also make six traits reproducible workbooks. I don't recall the publisher, but I know they carry them at local bookstores usually. Blessings, Trish

Great thread! Just picked up "Shut-Up About Your Perfect Kid" at the library. I'll let you know what I think. The title called out to me. :)

I really appreciate your feedback. I am so hopeful, but want to be realistic. We are seeking other avenues for having her tested and praying we can know and understand how to help her. Thanks!! Trish

Thanks to both of you for responding. I've actually looked at both of those sites. There are great stories, but I haven't seen anyone talk about how their child is doing 2-3 years later, or any statistics on how many children have been successful with the program and for which diagnosis. Hmmm.... It is difficult to know what to do. At this point I will continue to read the book, have her assessed somewhere and read a couple of other books on the same subject. Maybe I can implement some of the same exercises, etc. here at home. Blessings, Trish

This is so encouraging to hear! Way to go! I am printing your email, so I can research some of the tools and remember to work on one thing at a time. Thank you! Trish

Haven't posted a whole lot, but would really love to hear your thoughts and opinions. Our daughter is 7 1/2 and has been out of public school for just a year. It was a difficult place for her to be and we have seen a lot of peace and growth since having her home full time. She has never been diagnosed with a specific disability other than a speech delay, but some days it sure feels like she has such a broad spectrum of needs and I am so overwhelmed at where to begin, what step to take next. I'll try to give you a brief run down and then let me know what you think. -adopted at 11 months and developmentally behind -speech delay - 3-4 years behind -academically delayed - 3-4 years behind -aggressive, but has really gotten better -many sensory issue in all seven areas -twitch/tick which is the always the same; shaking & tightening of her hands next to her body and a stressed/tense jaw -does not sleep through the night -drools -quickly overstimulated and gets aggressive when there is too much going on -does not adhere to personal space -struggles socially due to her delays and lack of personal space -loves people -great with puzzles -rarely sits still through a picture book, or a prayer -potty trained at age 5 -phobia of animals, especially dogs and cats I'm sure there are things I'm forgetting and I appreciate you making it all the way to the end. She had early therapy through the school district and then therapy through the school - 2 of preschool and 1 1/2 of kindergarten. We also tried to different sensory centers and landed at the STAR Center, which was good, but cost thousands. I need to do something for her, but I feel at a loss and overwhelmed, because I could search and search for the right therapists for each and every area of concern. I have wanted to find someone to do all of the testing and help the whole of her being and then enters the Brain Balance Program started by Dr. Melillo who wrote the book Disconnected Kids. The center is right here in town, but also thousands, which we just don't have. Any thoughts? Opinions? Thinking of having her tested there which is a reasonable amount financially for all that they look at and then maybe using the book to implement strategies at home? What else have you all tried? What books do you use at home? What strategies have helped? I saw the earlier post on the BB Center. Does anyone have a success story to share - someone who doesn't work for the centers? Thank you so much! Trish

We really like Right Start Math as well...

I can really relate to all of you and wish you were closer for playdates. Our dd7 was adopted at 11 months and was delayed from the beginning. We were dreamy eyed parents and didn't realize it was anything serious right away. She continues to be about 2-3 years behind on most levels. Sometimes I really think there is more in her little brain that her body won't allow to come out. We have done special services through the public school. She received services for two years in preschool and then she was in kindergarten for two years. During that time, we had some great specialists and therapists and some pretty irresponsible ones as well. She was extremely overwhelmed in school with all the transitions, the close quarters with other students, being treated like she was so much younger, and teachers who really were at a loss at how to teach and discipline her. We wanted this to work and I didn't think I could homeschool her, but the more I had to explain to the multiple staff members that she encountered on a daily basis, her world, the way she learns best, that gum might be helpful, that she gets aggressive in tight quarters, etc. I realized that maybe home would be a better place. She would come home from school completely worn out and didn't have the words to express what was going on so she would melt down. Anyway, all that to say, we pulled her out last January and she is a much more peaceful child. She is making strides. I don't know what the future holds, but I am seeing her speech develop into more clear sentences and she read her first little book this week. (I am Sam.) My one advice would be to never make excuses for your child. Don't justify their behavior to those around you because of their delays - you know best and you are their best advocate. Be their voice! I have many regrets of things I've said in front of her, or things I should have said to others in defense for her and I feel like she picks up on those things and so do those around her. She was painted as the bad kid for such a long time and I need to change that and be her biggest fan no matter where she falls on the developmental scale.... It continues to be a struggle. We battle a lot, but I have missed opportunities to protect her, to defend her and to speak on her behalf and I don't want to make that mistake again.

:bigear: All ears as your post sounds familiar. We've 'joked' that our daughter has tourettes, because of her 'tics', her aggressiveness toward others that almost seems unconscious at times and her use of the word 'stupid'. It flies out of her mouth, especially when tired, and it is not always directed at someone, or something. Would love to hear responses. Thanks!

How old is your nephew and is he still in school? Can you see, or can your sister see any correlation in his aggressive behavior? Our daughter was in school for the past 3 1/2 years ( she is 6) and every teacher, therapist and principal felt school was great for her because she needed to learn how to socialize with the other children, which I understand and definitely see the value. She was the aggressive one in class to the point other parents were complaining, which is SO difficult. She has a tendency to push or pinch people out of her space. Anyway, my mother's heart felt like it was too much for her and when she would come home we only saw the worst, because she had put out so much energy all day trying to deal with a world that is so over stimulating to her sensory needs. We pulled her out of school in January and now I get the good and sometimes still the not-so-good, but we have a more peaceful child and we are able to regulate her sensory output and input more effectively than they could in a large classroom setting. Just thought I'd share in case it would help. As everyone else said, an OT is extremely helpful as well. We had to try more than one before we found one that we felt was looking at our daughter's individual needs and not just using the same diet, formula, or plan that she/he used for the child that was in the room just before our session. I also agree with reading to Out of Sync to child. It is good for family members to read so they can be more patient with what your sis is going through.

I would also look at HOD and one website I look at a lot is http://www.readwritethink.org, so maybe check there. I know a couple of ideas would be to use simple picture books, or chapter books and do activities that coordinate with each genre. One year to introduce fairytales, I took used an object from the most common fairytales and then wrote those name on the board. The kids had to decide which item went with which fairytale. (apple - Snow White, long gold hair - Rapunzel, rose - Beauty and the Beast, etc.) Also, for Mystery, we played Clue. Just a couple of ideas to make it fun. Hope that helps!

Yes, we have used the American Story 1, Science - Shoot, Sprout, Buzz & Bite (which is different in the new catalog) and we are currently using the American Cultures. I am actually going to sell all three simply because I don't think they will be a good fit for my daughter when she reaches that stage due to her learning disabilities. However, we enjoyed them all. I don't love studying plants and neither did my son, but the insect part was great! I really liked the richness of the books we read for both history packages. The read alouds have been great. My son could tell when I was about to cry and he'd chuckle at me. There are definitely things that fit some kids and not others, but there are a lot of options, so you can pick those that your family enjoys. I do think he has learned quite a bit. I really like their timeline and figures. We hung this on the wall and it is a great visual that we will continue to use. I also use the Kindergarten Phonics program with my daughter, which is going really well. I like the resources that come with the program. Let me know if you have more specific questions on any of the programs we have used.