http://www.jumpgapsoftware.com/iallowance/index.shtml I've liked this one quite a bit. Good luck,

MemoriaPress was going to be my suggestion as well. Good luck,

I prefer Avast (the free version) - it works great and has kept my computer safe.

My suggestion was going to be to add to it also. Sounds like it's become monotonous to him. Perhaps more living books or even letting him pick out how he'd like to learn about about the topic. Have him search the net (safely of course), pick a book to read, look for a documentary or movie about it. Then just write a summary about it or have him pick out what stood out most to him. I'm not saying what he is doing isn't beneficial but it does sound boring. Does he like to read? Does he like history? My son loves history but his sister hates it. He'll delve into any topic but she just wants to get it done.

What doesn't he like about it? The outlining? The books? The layout?

STM4HIM, I'm sorry to hijack, but Ellie's zeal for Spalding is catching. Ellie, I'm just wondering if Spalding would work well for a dyslexic? I've never read any of the books, just your posts which have caught my attention. :) Thanks,

Personally, based on those ages, TT (TimeTravelers) would be too much for them. It's really an older child's lap booking course. I'd go with AJTL (A Journey Through Learning) as it would be more of an overview. JMO!

We received ours on Thursday and my son (15) started taking it that night. We are starting at 600mg morning and night on an empty stomach (I read that was best). I'll up him to 1200mg twice a day after a week. He is currently on 50mg of Zoloft and we are leaving him at that level until we see if the NAC is making any positive changes. I'll update as I know more. I'm soooo crossing my fingers on this. It's so heartbreaking to see this effect their lives so deeply.

I agree an app would be great, but if they don't make one or you can't wait, have you seen these two ideas for more organization and on-the-go learning with AAS? http://hopeforhomeschool.blogspot.com/2011/11/aas-letter-tiles-mini-office.html and http://tendingourlordsgarden.blogspot.com/2012/05/all-about-spelling-letter-tile-boards.html Just a thought,

This is my January schedule (and Feb., Mar. etc as needed). I should have done this long ago..... sigh.

:grouphug: I won't even get into how frustrated I get with doctors.... Keep looking at those positives; it sounds like you've been working very hard with/for her and she's moving forward - that's the most important bit.

Bluedarling, Me too on the curriculum changes. Not so much as a junkie type thing (maybe a little....) but really because I'm trying to see what he responds best to. I don't remember which thread it was, but someone had a son similar to mine and his neuropsychologist told his mother to do math for 30 mins. from one program, then do something else for a while, then 15 mins. from another program (but related in lesson) and then something else and then another 15 mins. from another program (again related in content). Not sure why but this resonates with me. I've often thought my son would really benefit from multiple programs but I wasn't really sure how to implement it. This sounds so simple yet effective. I can do it with his phonics/spelling too (he's dyslexic too). He loves to have me read aloud so I can slip more of those in between but leave these two most important subjects to take up the majority of the day. We'll see how it goes.

I completely understand. My son sounds very similar to yours and I sound very similar to you. Schedules....hmph....I just can't seem to stick to them. I think this son would really benefit from it too. And waking him up early? or even at a set time each day... Nope again. I tend to let him sleep in as he wants. Maybe we can work together to stick this out for both our benefit. :) I might suggest a Vitamin D3 supplement for him also just in case he doesn't get enough sun during the winter. Oh and fish oil. Actually, we are starting with some pretty intensive supplements this month in the hopes of getting mine off his med (zoloft for OCD).

You can get magnesium at any drug store or target or even grocery store. It's best to use chelated magnesium or magnesium glycinate. Not the cheapest stuff, the citrate, or your stomach will be really upset. It's also used as a preventative, up to 300mg per day to help prevent them. It might make you sleepy.

I agree with Karen, except I'd also add some Tylenol. Tylenol and Ibuprofen are ok to take together. Magnesium should take the edge off.

This could be my son. Really, I could have written this. I've just recently come to the realization that I need to back off the whole "college-ready" idea and concentrate on life skills for him. All the academics in the world won't help him if he can't hold down a job or function in life independently. So I've changed how I'm approaching school and he's responding much better with these changes. I think it helps him mentally as well as me. Thank you for sharing.

I'm one of the few I think who actually likes Saxon Phonics. I was gifted K, 1 and 2 when my kids were little and I definitely credit it with teaching my daughter to read well and quickly. My son, who has dyslexia and other delays, also used it and Intervention. It definitely helped and had I not panicked and switched to something else, it may have worked completely. My only complaint with it is the heavy use of coding. While I think it's helpful, for my son especially, he had a hard time remembering all of the coding so I just skipped some of it. This was years ago so I don't remember exactly but K starts out very easy, I think a letter a week. 1 sped things up a bit and 2 we never did. I did look through 2 though and it has a lot of extraneous history on the english language -- interesting but not entirely necessary, depends on the kid. It has a lot of parts to it. The lesson manuals are huge and scripted (think Saxon Math k-3). I liked this though. It has a lot of cards -- letter cards, phonogram cards, site word cards, affixes, suffixes, etc. Again, I liked this. Also a student workbook which is nice. A lesson would take us about 20 or so mins. in K up to 45 mins. or so with Intervention. If you have any other specific questions, just let me know. Oh, and look here for samples - just scroll down past the math: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=saxon+phonics&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1

That's exactly what I've been thinking. Does anyone else do this? Has it backfired at all? I feel I'm on limited time although he is finally realizing that his high school years will be longer than average. That's ok.

My daughter sounds like yours. Since Harry Potter, she has loved the Sisters Grimm series, the Underland Chronicles (Gregor the Overlander), anything by Rick Riordan, The Theodosia Series, and Artemis Fowl. She's just getting into The Hobbit but is finding it a hard read; that's probably because of some of the fluff she's read before though. Good luck,

This is for my 15yo DS with developmental delays. We've always done a spread of subjects throughout the day -- english (well phonics really due to his dyslexia), math, science, history, typing, etc., etc. However, he's so behind I'm considering a more immersive experience for him. Maybe work on phonics/reading/spelling, a quick book for history, back to phonics/reading/spelling, another book, etc. And continue like that until he's made some major strides with it. Then work on the next skill, math. I've always been worried about doing this due to his memory issues. Some things he remembers great; others, not so great (like phonics and math). What do you think? Any ideas? Has anyone tried this?

My youngest son turns two tomorrow. We have his birthday covered but I still need some things for Christmas. I'd like some learning type toys (not school) like Melissa and Doug stuff. What are your favorites that keep your little ones busy (if only for 5 minutes)? Thanks,

Has anyone even looked at it? I don't know why it interests me, but being a junkie....... well, you know.

If you're Scrooge, I am too. We are leaving on the 17th or 18th and won't be home until Jan. 6th or 7th. We will be in our 5th wheel RV, and I am planning to put a few select decorations in there, but definitely not in the house. Just seems like too much trouble.

I love salads but not my own. I like fruit on my salads, apples, cranberries, pineapple, mandarin oranges, tomatoes and cheese. I haven't done anything much this weekend, which is nice. Comforter is sage green.

I don't know if it would help, but if you have a smart phone or device, there are some envelope apps out there that might help. I think I even saw some software or something for your computer once but I don't remember exactly. Good luck, we may try this next year too.