She is 8 years old. Her reading level is third grade level, but her phonics are more at a first grade level. Since the phonics are weak, they are holding her back with writing and spelling, and progressing with reading. We were looking at different computer based phonics programs, most of them are too "little kid" for her. She needs something though. We do have AAS, but I was looking at what else to "add" if I could. Something that she might think is "fun". Thanks.

can you make up in homeschooling? Long story short, I homeschooled my 2 girls for 2 years. The older one is at a great private school and loving it (she really needed to be challenged much more then I was able to keep up with). My younger one had some hearing/auditory issues early on, and is doing well, but, not good enough. We moved to a neighborhood chalked full of kids, so my 8 year old really wanted to try the ps. It is an integrated arts school, and she is my right brain artsy kid, so we thought why not? Well, she is strong enough to not qualify for any help, but too weak to keep up on her own. Plus there is very little teaching going on in the school. The teachers are so overwhelmed with learning how to grade for the common core, then the became an integrated arts school, and now we get the email they are combining the classes for team teaching (50+kids with 2 teachers). If you are a strong student, you will be fine, otherwise forget it. I was so mad when I realized that my 8 year old forgot how to do long addition/subtraction that involves carrying/borrowing. I taught her that in 2nd grade and she totally had it down. Now, she has no clue. How do I know this? Well, I was/am considering transferring her to her sisters private school, and they picked up on how far behind she is. She actually LOST ground by going to ps, she didn't gain anything. UGH! I am so frustrated. But I digress, so, if I hs her again, which I am totally for, how much ground can you cover in a year? Anyone been there done that? Thanks for any advice, and thanks for the rant.

Not sure if I am allowed to say this here, but I have the LiPS and am looking to sell it. I tried it with my dd, and it did help immensely in some areas, but then we moved and her new speech therapist doesn't use that system, so it is sitting on my shelf not getting used. Just pm me. Good luck.

Yep, pretty much what I thought you would all say. I have been saying the same thing to myself for several weeks now. It irks me to the bones that they think she has poor social coping skills. Well, yeah, we don't normally let our kids hang out with mean kids. I know in my heart she would be better at home in some ways, but this is my super outgoing, loves friends, kind of kid. Hmmmm.....lots of thinking to do. Thanks all.

(I tried to post a few minutes ago, and it never showed up, will try again, sorry if it double posts) So, I stopped hsing my 9 year old this year. Her attitude in hs really stunk as last year wore one. She only wanted to do what she wanted to do. The local ps became an integrated arts school, and she loves theater, so I thought lets try it. So, now she is begging to come back, crying every night. She has been so bullied by kids. She had no idea kids could be so mean. She is also so bored (blowing those MAPS scores, esp reading, sky high). They won't recommend her for the GT program (even though she is off the chart), because they said her "social coping skills" are weak. We were told she needs to learn how to do deal with mean kids. Okay, give it to me. Suggestions? Advice? We have met with the school several times now, I don't think anything is going to change. I love her so much and feel so bad to see her like this, but am afraid what if she goes right back to bad attitude and thinks she can just go back and forth as she pleases. Thanks.

We do MOTL here too and like it. My girls actually ask for their 5 a day worksheets!

I will email you too! Thanks so much!

So, one thing I use to love before homeschooling was scrapbooking. Not the digital kind (I don't know how to do that, but the paper, cutting kind of scrapbooking). I have been thinking about how I can turn scrapbooking into a type of school time. Of course, I will have to "lighten up" my expectations of how a scrapbook looks now. Now that mine were out of scrapbooking magazine, but I tried. But I was thinking that making more scrapbook pages with my kids would bring it's own sentimental value. Hmmm...fine motor skills with the cutting. Have them do writing for the captions. I am starting to think this might be fun and good for us all. I don't have to feel like I am "giving it up" (honestly I have no time to find time for it). But, it will bring my kids and I even closer. Plus, help with some schools too. Any thoughts?

Thanks, by prep work I mean the lapbook activities in Road Trip. Sometimes I find myself doing more of it. I like the suggestion though of tweeking it though. Like using the state sheets, etc.

Hi all, Okay, we are looking at doing a geography unit this year. I have the COAH Road Trip from the Omnibus. It looks great, and has gotten good reviews. My concern, is how much prep work I may have to do. Then, while I was searching here I stumbled upon Trail guide to geography. That looks awesome. What are your thoughts? Differences between the two? Which did you use and why? Did you like it?

These look great for my kiddo too! Thanks.

Thanks for this input. I will look more into this for her.

Thanks so much for all the great responses. I already ordered the book that was mentioned. :). The crazy thing about my dd is that she loves theater - she can go on stage in front of hundreds of people (started that at the age of 8)and not be nervous at all. But then all of a sudden, wham. She freaks out about something like going to theater camp for a half a day (after she already went 2 days and loved it). Then once she starts down that path, I don't know what to do. But, I have "engaged", trying to help her, with no luck. Now I am going to try some different techniques. Thanks so much, I don't feel so alone in this journey anymore.

I am new to the life of dealing with an anxious child. My 9 y/o is anxious. We have sought out professional help with some success. Just curious, as parents, what has helped you help your child the best? Thanks

Okay, I just found this site, and I guess my little guy has the palmar grasp. I will just keep correcting, and see if we will get to the next level soon. http://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/pencil-grasp-development.html

My 4 1/2 year old has the craziest grip I have seen. I correct it, casually, only to hear him say every time "I don't like that". I wish I had a picture of it. He holds the pencil, marker, crayon over the top with his thumb and index finger holding the grip only. Any thoughts? I know he is young, but I am not sure what age to get concerned about this.

Yes, thanks girls for the reality wake up call. She is making good progress. I have to remind myself this. I was so glad the timing of her VT eval was when it was. Today when she wanted to make cinnamon rolls, she read all the directions, perfectly. WOW! Sure, she can't read a chapter book yet, nor does she want to. But, she can read. I think when you couple a hearing problem with a vision problem, you get trouble. But slowly it is coming. I just need to be more careful to not push, and keep making it fun.

Yes, thanks girls for the reality wake up call. She is making good progress. I have to remind myself this. I was so glad the timing of her VT eval was when it was. Today when she wanted to make cinnamon rolls, she read all the directions, perfectly. WOW! Sure, she can't read a chapter book yet, nor does she want to. But, she can read. I think when you couple a hearing problem with a vision problem, you get trouble. But slowly it is coming. I just need to be more careful to not push, and keep making it fun.

OMG - thanks so much all. Okay, so yes she has seen a COVD. We went the whole nine months. She in fact just had another recheck last week. Here is what is found: when she read a paragraph the first time she never got past the first word. The second time she did read the paragraph in 70 seconds with 30 mistakes. The third time she read it 40 seconds with 22 mistakes. Last week she read in 48 seconds (so slower), but with ONLY 6 mistakes!! What he told me is that she is in the stage right now working really hard at being more accurate, so fluency is taking a back seat. I am looking more into Meet the Masters right now, and my composer study from Confessions of a Homeschooler. Like Herekittykitty said, I could have her do the writing during those studies. She picked a nature study for science, so of course I found a neat nature journal (writing again). So, I am thinking of not really having assigned reading or writing anymore, but still the phonics. Well, quiet reading during the day, and of course her audio books at night. This is the kiddo that was doing OG method, still is. We took a break on FastForword - it did help, but it seems like a certain frequency is killing her ears or something. Any more ideas, keep them coming. I love getting input from people who "get it".

Hi all, I have been really searching hard to figure out how to get my music and art loving 8 year old more interested in school. In another thread I started, someone mentioned Meet the Masters. Hmmmm...this looks good. I was even thinking that she may like to actually do some of the reading on the pdf's (gasp) - she does not like reading, but surprises me sometimes by what she can read. Thoughts?

My 8 y/o, who is technically starting 3rd grade, still has little to no desire to learn anything "school" related. (She has had trouble with reading, spelling, and writing - but is my right brain kid too). I am trying to find "different" curriculum or unit studies out there that might ignite her hidden passion in learning. Any thoughts or ideas? Her interests include music (especially classical), piano (she plays), art (I do have her signed up for an art class this year, and we have Home Art Studio). She loves more hands on type of learning. Thanks.

How do I know if my struggling 8 y/o, who is my right brain kiddo, is just on a different time line and will read in "her" time or if she really has a learning disability? She is my music and art loving kiddo. Reading, spelling, and writing are very hard for her. That being said, she is reading at a 2nd grade+ level, so she is not really "behind" much. Although, her reading stamina is very low, and she has to work very hard at it. Spelling, well that is much harder. Writing is really hard (more like a 1st grade level). I have read some resources on right brain kids/learning. From what I understand, they do learn to read later. Well, maybe that is her. I need to play to her strengths too, like music and art. She has done 2 years of piano, and has no intentions of stopping. I am signing her up for an art class this year too. But, I need to be sneaky, I feel, and sneak in language arts. For science she picked a nature study. I ordered a cute nature journal for her to "write" into. She will also be doing some "reading" in her nature books I ordered. Where else and/or how else can I play to her strengths? Thanks.

No, they are headphones that surround the ear. She is not allowed to use earbuds for the ffw.

What would you think? She has been doing fastfoword which requires headphones. The problem is that she hates headphones, even the good quality ones. I think we have six different kinds. Today she finally broke down enough during fastfoword she said it felt like 1000 knives were poking her ears. She has had three tube surgeries for her ears, so maybe some scar tissue. What would any of you think?

Hmmm...I never heard of blobbing at all. Thanks - it looks fun!