We do have a large whiteboard. We usually use it for working out homework problems. I can start there. I usually have my daughter go elsewhere, her room, the other living room, etc. and she ends up back in there. Right now ds, is learning the 50 state capitals. So, she wants to be in there, to use the wall map while he does homework. It's always something. Sometimes she is more understanding though, and will go to her room. We have other spots in the house, they are just not cleared out for homework, and maybe they should be. A work in progress for me.

Ds (4th grade) was hs last year, and started ps last fall. He has made leaps and bounds adjusting to the pace of school. He still has struggles, but I feel he's learned a lot about their schedule and getting things done. However, he has been getting assignments lately, that are given with a due date of 10 days, or over a week. He has a hard time remembering these. He came home today, and said his teacher sternly addressed him personally, in front of the class for not having the work done (due today). He said 4 other students also did not have it complete, but he was the only one called out verbally. (I'll set my issue with that aside.) My initial thought, is that he should either write these stray projects into the assignment notebook every day, until he turns it in, maybe with a countdown of how many days left. The second idea is that he writes any special project, not due the next day, onto a post it note, and it gets moved to the current day in the assignment notebook, until it's done, and turned in. My husband suggested I find out from the teacher what his special assignments are, so I can keep up and remind him at home. I think his teacher's goal is to get him to be independent/mindful, so I'm not sure how this idea would go over. He is a slow worker. His teacher is displeased with that. I feel she thinks more effort would solve that, but he is just a slow worker. It's hard for him to maintain constant focus, all the time. I feel more proficient reading skills would improve his overall performance, so we'll be working on that over the summer. I haven't found a way to do it after school, because some nights homework takes forever, and I don't want to add more. I want to read some library books regarding executive function as well. I tried once before, but it felt like dry reading. I have to persist. And lastly, he has had writing about books most of the school year. Now, for the last 6 weeks or so, it appears we'll be focusing on grammar writing. His current assignment, that was due today, was to write a request letter to the principal. He has filled out a graphic organizer sheet with "parts" of the letter. His job is to turn the parts of the letter/phrases, into worded sentences, with a total of 3 paragraphs. He thinks he needs my help. I think he has a hard time grasping writing concepts, or maybe he overthinks it. He did one paragraph at school, his teacher didn't like it and told him to start over. I assume this was over a week ago, since it's late. So he started over today, and seems to have gotten 2/3's done. I had an old book called the write source. I really liked the format when I was a kid. I think it would fit his learning style, so intend to get a grade level appropriate one for summer. Our summer will likely be spent doing grammar, reading checks, learning to write better paragraphs, etc, and keeping math skills. In the meantime, I need to find an isolated place for him to work, because everything distracts him. Usually he works at the table, but his sister is a wandering distraction who doesn't get homework. I don't send him to his room, because he frequently asks for help. Anyways, if you made it this far. I could use suggestions for helping him organize his work, so he gets it done on time, and not at the last minute.

Dh is pretty set that he has to go back and stay there, and that eventually he'll get used to it. I think he feels that we don't cover enough at home, and maybe we don't, but I don't want to waste time on stuff he's not interested in. I focus on the basics, and then things he likes. Dh also feels he needs to make friends, because since we moved last year, ds has hardly a friend. I tried over the last year, but nothing has stuck with those he did get along with. He tends to get along better with kids his age or a touch younger. We have no neighbors with kids, and we live in a rural area. Town is not far, but the few friends there haven't maintained connection. It feels weird to call parents and ask for get togethers after so much time has passed. I had come to be ok, with him going back. It was getting harder to work at home, but most days were good. The tough times at home are usually when something isn't sinking in, ds doesn't pay attention, and I have to explain all over several times. It's gets frustrating for me, and sometimes we just take a break, and revisit it the next day. I think there are a lot of first child, have to get it right feelings, mixed with his issues of not always being to process, process fast enough, etc. (school at home methods also make it feel tedious, but help me know that we are covering new learning.) I had been trying over the last months of school (til may) to get him to work more independently, and he was. But now, he's not understanding their method of instruction and wants to come home, which is probably not going to happen. I just feel so frustrated, and want to help him, and let him know that he is smart despite how he may feel. On a note of joy, yesterday, he asked what he could do to learn more about history, and said he likes it. I remember some books I had gotten from the homeschool library, so I'm going to see if I can look them up today.

I just lost my huge reply. So let me sum it up. In 1st, they dx him with developmental delay, nothing specific other than my noticing that his fluency needed to improve so he could understand what he was reading. He was tested with the wisc-iv test. He scored low, low average on IQ and auditory testing, and better on subtest, visual tests. They said he was compliant, but got easily distracted, and I imagine he was bored and didn't want to give it his attention. He couldn't repeat verbatim very well. He did have some speech issues at the time, mispronouncing w/l, w/r, etc, and I think he has improved, outgrown those things. He still misuses grammar, like the appropriate tense of a word he qualified for speech and language, then. He can tell a long story, sometimes with many details, but I wouldn't ask him to write it. Sometimes my aunt would type up his stories as he would tell them. He liked that, but I don't do that. What we've used at home seems to be alright. I try to choose things, after looking at a million things, that are geared towards his learning styles. AAR 1 & 2, Some AAS, singapore math, we tried easy grammar and daily grams last year, that was nice and quick, and got the point across ... A beka for science and history. I haven't been pushy with him, as he would just shut down in school, and it took some time for him to not do that with me. Now, he is back in ps this year, and it's only been two weeks. I can see he is nervous. I think he gets anxious. None of these are going to help confidence. I did hold him at 4th grade because I didn't think he is emotionally or academically ready for fifth. So, I think he is putting too much weight on that, and just needs to focus on doing the best he can. Dh hated school, always. Reading was very difficult for him. But, he felt we should have done "school at home" for equivalent hours.... which I did to a degree (school at home, but not the hours) and it takes the fun out of learning. I don't see the point of working 4-8 hours when we can be done in 2 or 3. I'm not perfect, but I did try. I think ds needs compassion not tough luck.

Having a tough mama time. Ds went back to ps. He was suppose to go last year, but we did one more year at home last year. Ds is having a tough time, esp. with math because he doesn't have all his multiplication memorized. Every night he gets upset and tells me he wants to quit school and come home. He's having a hard time adjusting to the day. Dh said tonight I should have made school harder last year, so he wouldn't want to come back. That does not help me or anyone. I spoke with his teacher, she said they will test ds and see if qualifies for extra help. I don't know what schedule that will be on. I am working extra with him at home, trying to focus on what they are covering. I was reading some other posts, and think maybe I will preview math work with him, and see if that helps. I don't have any hs friends around here to talk this out with. I'm feeling a bit sad for my son, and think he deserves compassion, and it breaks my heart. Just needed to get that out. More about ds. Reading has been a long journey, though he will read for enjoyment now. Haven't pushed him for speed, because I've been hoping to get him to a point where it isnt cumbersome to get through a page. He enjoys books on cd. Math, he gets it, but has a hard time with recall. Simple addition he has not memorized, and takes him longer than I think it should to produce an answer. He said in math class now, at ps, that the other kids know the answers and he has to calculate it, and it takes him longer. I am battling to keep his self esteem.

Well, I am waiting to be able to volunteer. It is definitely weird being home, just me and the dog. Ds is having a hard time, so I need to work out before or after schooling schedules for him. I thought about going back to some kind of job, but I realized, I want to be home in the summer with my kids. I wouldn't want to start a job, to quit. I thought perhaps something seasonal, or short term, or pursuing one of my many hobbies to sell things.

Is he into minecraft or angry birds, or stuffed animals? He can cut simple shapes, and stitch them together, then stuff with batting. Someone mentioned the Sewing school book. There is also a set of books, by? Winky Cherry. They are older, but nice books. There are some great projects in One Yard wonders. They have produced another or several book spin offs of that one too I think in the last few years. You might also look up he book Cute Stuff, it's a Japanese stuffie type book. If you find that one, there are others similar to it, different themes. Not everything inside is girly. And, you might look for some Japanese "zakka" sewing. There is one printed in English, called zakka sewing. That one might be more machine sewing, but some projects might be able to do by hand.

Does your library offer e-reader books? Ours has a service, I think they use the overdrive app. Check your library's website and see.

Thanks everyone. I bookmarked several of your suggestions. I like the organization/display of the enchanted learning a little better than the abc teach. It's simple but I don't have to mouse over to preview things. The math worksheet generator looks good. The math fact cafe looks good too. I'll definitely use that and it's free. I have been on currclick a long time ago, but I will revisit it. I like the lined paper that guides handwriting development. I'll also check currclick for some of that, instead of trying to do my own. It would be nice to have a vertical pad of it.

I have been using abcteach for the last year. My sub is going to run out soon. I was wondering if there are other websites that are just as good or better. I mainly used it to generate handwriting help or worksheets while teaching my son d'nealian cursive. ETA: I thought Amazing D'Nealian Handwriting Worksheet Maker, only had print not cursive. I just went there and found they do have cursive!!! I did print out some clipart things (@abc) once in a while for various projects, but I don't think I used the site to it's full potential. It seemed that a lot of times, I couldn't find something for what I was looking for, or it was too simple, or young, or it was generated by someone that added it to the site, vs. professionally made. I may also have tried math worksheets. It looks like they may have modified that one. I can't think of anything else specific, so that tells you I didn't use it too much outside of the worksheet generator. Anyways, I would be interested to hear of some other websites with similar offerings. Printables for an 8/9 y.o., for nature class, and special topics (like countries, flags, history, science....) and holiday related things. Language arts, holidays, etc. A good price is helpful too. thanks

I'm planning to pick up some small chalkboards, like they suggest in HWOT (handwriting without tears). We practice d'nealian here, so I only use HWOT for the order of letters & instruction. As backwards as that may be. My youngest loves to write, but needs to get in better practice of making letters the right way. Most of the time she does not start at the top. All in due time.

Have you looked on etsy, or other selling sites? There is a great pattern by That Darn Kat for undies, size 2 through 8, I believe. If you know someone who sews, maybe you could buy the pattern and have them make you some. There is no elastic, the waist fabric used is cotton lycra, so it has it's own stretch and recovery. I subscribe to ottobre design, and they have a similar style. They fit my daughter great 3 years ago. She still somehow manages to wear them, even though they are now snug.

Thanks, this helps me too.

I hope your summer goes well. I wish we would have done some traditional math last summer. My child is finishing first grade, and I hate the Ev. Math program. It jumps around so much, topics don't necessarily correlate. One day it's money, the next it's polygons, and now we are on fractions. We have covered a lot of concepts. I don't think I am against spiral math, but I don't like this program. We are going to work over the summer. I heard Math U See is good, and Singapore. My child also does math drills, like Mad Minute, which is 30 problems and they get 1 to 1 1/2 minutes to complete. It has taken the whole year for him to finally get it. And I don't think math is his worst subject. If I could go back to last summer, I would have taught the traditional math algorithm, along with an introduction to place values, and gotten other ideas.