Check out http://www.3rsplus.com for some great little readers that can be used as a complete learn to read program. They move much more slowly, have LOTS of practice with each new word/sound, a short, and very cute. Check out the resources for a notched card/cursor that is great for helping them keep their place while reading and really focus on the left to right reading. These books look like other easy readers but are quite different--lots more practice, they keep b and d, p and q, etc. far apart, use each new word many times in the same story and then again in the following stories.

A few thoughts. Strattera can also CAUSE the rages and behavioral outbursts, esp. if the child already has a mood disorder underlying. We had that here with my now 12dd. Strattera was TERRIBLE. She has a mild bipolar nad is now doing well on Lamictal and Risperdal. My 21 year old son (these 2 aren't bio related) became verbally aggressive, argumentative, etc. on Strattera when we had NEVER seen those behaviors before---he was on it for ADD. I would look into the bipolar thing. It may or may not fit but if it does, Strattera is usually not indicated for use. There are other meds that help with rages, outbursts, etc. that work well for kids on the autistic spectrum as well. I would seek out a TOP NOTCH pediatric psychiatrist ASAP. The wait can be months but try to get on a waiting list, let them know he is become violent, etc. That might get you in earlier. There are so many meds out there as well that unless the Strattera was the perfect med for your son, I would keep searching due to the weight gain. Make sure the doctor knows about any other meds you have tried, doses, etc. and his weight gain. Did they do a prolactin level, blood sugar test, thyroid, etc. as well? Those are pretty standard with the meds---esp. if he has the weight gain.

i posted about telling the camp director, and I still hold with that, but I also agree with you. The kids WILL behave like this and be exposed to different things. I guess my thing with contacting the camp director was how it was handled---did staff step in and stop the teasing? was the swearing stopped?, etc. Camp should be a safe place for kids---not one where they will be teased and have no protection from it, etc. On the other hand, I do agree that in this day and age, kids do need to know more than we might like for them to know. They need to know HOW to handle the swearing, teasing, etc. I wish my mother would have talked me through the "what to do when......... happens" type things. I was pretty clueless in many areas and learned stuff from the wrong sources.

i would also talk to the camp director and let them know what was going on. Likely more supervision is needed. Yes, thist stuff happens with kids that age but it should have been monitored, nipped in the bud, etc.

With a reading level of 2.8 the first few sets might be too easy for her. Then again, have her do the placement test at http://www.3rsplus.com/documents/Performance_Indicators_000.pdf as she might be missing key pieces earlier---esp. if they taught her using sight words.

Tell me more about this pony. We are looking for a SUPER safe and sane trail pony for my 13dd. Her "big old guy" (the 31 year old 16hh gelding) is slowing down. I need one that doesn't have the bratty pony attitude and likes to just follow along on the trail rides due to her special needs.

Is there anyway you could get some "horse" time for yourself by trading your vet skills? Maybe doing the shots (they pay the cost of the shot, you administer) or pulling coggins or ???? My husband and son have the horse gene as well----but they require 50 horse power or more---as in BIG dirtbikes that go over 100mph, etc. The girls and I are happy with our horse and pony power here.

We were actually considering a mule for my 13dd but honestly, we don't know anything about mules and were afraid we would not be able to handle a mule well. We know horses some, donkeys a little but no experience with mules. I hear that they think differently than a horse.

You are welcome to join us..............as long as you recognize a Quarab for the wonderful horses they are. :-) My gelding is one---actually about 3/4 Quarter Horse 1/4 Arab (best we can tell).

I remember when you took over his care. Glad to hear he is working out so well for you.

yes, it is hard to find a good trained pony for the price we are looking. Bigger horses (in the 15-16hh range) are going for very little in our area, many free if they are in their late teens or early 20s. My dd is only 4'9" tall and weighs about 85 pounds at almost 14 years old. She will only grow 1-2 more inches so we would like one she could tack up on her own. Her "big old guy" is almost 16hh (was in his younger days but might have shrunk a little) so she needs help with bridling him and getting the saddle in the right spot. I can see there is a market for show ponies. When we go to shows we see some very nice horses and ponies out there. We are more the back yard type people. While there isn't money in trail horses, we want one with lots of trail miles as we have seen horses that do awesome in the show ring only to loose it when they come across a rock, log, heavy brush to push through, water to cross, deer, etc.

http://www.teacherweb.com/CA/PomeloDriveElementary/Mrssakamoto/SWRL_001.pdf Go to page 3 of this printable book and you can see the copyright information that says that as of Dec. 31, 1977 it is in the public domain.

I have been to Equine Affaire in Ohio for the past 2 years. LOTS of fun.

The original format of these books are in the public domain. I See Sam .com, 3rsplus and some others have added to/slightly modified the books and copyrighted their versions but the original version was funded by a government grant. I don't have my original (printed in the early 70s) copies right in front of me but they do say right in the front that as of 1977 (or somewhere close to that) they would be in the public domain. I don't want to violate any copyrights so if you can show me differently, I will gladly stop sharing the link.

GOOD ponies are hard to find. We are having trouble locating a GOOD, very well broke/trained trail pony for my 13dd. Her big old guy isn't going to go forever and she will need another horse. I would love to find her one in the 13-14hh range but they are so hard to find----esp. ones that aren't little brats. Too bad you don't train trail ponies.

They do look like the BOB books on the surface but are much more carefully sequenced and provide a LOT more practice with each new sound/word. The BOB books frustrated my girls while the I See Sam books really worked. By the time you get to the 4th set of books the stories are a bit "older" which is nice if that is an issue. My girls viewed the early books as "comics" so it was not an issue. http://www.teacherweb.com/CA/PomeloDriveElementary/Mrssakamoto/printap2.stm is a site where you can print out the first 2 sets for free. Can she read at all? If so, what level?

Just wondering how many horse people we have here on the boards. We have had horses now for 2 1/2 years. Currently I have a 16 year old QH/Arab gelding. My 13dd has a 31 year old 16hh QH gelding and 12dd has a 20+ year old POA mare. We trail ride almost exclusively. We have done a very few fun shows and might take them to a very low key FUN speed show (as in the local draft horse teams are saddled and run speed type show). Other than that we ride out from our house almost every day. We ride on the gravel roads, through fields, paths in the woods, etc. We trailer to local trails once in a while and go to my friend's to ride there on the trails by her house. We are all beginning riders. I had only ridden a horse 2 or 3 times (and those were the nose to tail horses) before I bought my first horse 2 1/2 years ago. My girls have been riding since they were preschoolers but due to their special needs, are still beginners. We can walk, trot, and lope but it isn't always pretty. We have our horses here at home now on our 5 1/2 acres. We just brought them home in May after we bought the 3 1/2 acres behind our house to add to our 2 acres, cleared the land, built the barn, put up the fences, planted pasture, etc.

http://www.3rsplus.com got my 13dd reading. It might seem too childish for your 21 year old niece but if she wants to read, this program likely would work. My 13dd has an IQ that tests at 38 but is more like mid 60s. She is now reading easy chapter books and gaining on her reading skills. We are doing functional math---time, money, etc. and she is still at a 1st grade level with most of that. She can add mixed coins but not 6+7.

How old is your dd? Can she read at all? http://www.teacherweb.com/CA/PomeloDriveElementary/Mrssakamoto/printap2.stm is a great place to start with 52 books you can print out for free. http://www.3rsplus.com is the website that sells the entire program. It is HIGHLY effective for dyslexia and other reading struggles and is very easy to use---just read the stories, no drills, no worksheets, no prep, etc. This program would take you from K-3rd grade reading level.

I know very little (OK, just about nothing) about BFE but my girls have seizures. They have complex-partial seizures and one has drop seizures as well as migra-seizures as well. Both are doing well on medication. For my 12dd with 3 types of seizures, Lamictal is covering them all. For my 13dd with only 1 type (at least that we have figured out) she needs Tegretol and Lamictal. I would find a TOP NOTCH pediatric neurologist and go from there. [

You might be able to find lessons cheaper---depending on what level of riding you want to do and if you/your daughter are willing to do some chores or barter other services for the lessons. I pay $20/hour for lessons right now, using our horses and that is for all 3 of us in a group less---not $20 per person but for all 3 of us. I have traded rides in my trailer, use of our camping trailer, wood for woodstoves, etc. for lessons as well. Check to see if there are any 4H clubs in your area. Many of those leaders will give lessons at a reasonable price. You might also find an older, experienced highschool or college student that will do lessons cheaper. Just make SURE (as with any lessons) that the horse is the right type of mount for the rider's skill level and that safety is foremost.

I think that riding can be a sport (like your dd rides) or a hobby (like we ride) just as some golf, swim, play ball, sail, etc. for the fun of it and others are very into the sport. I think the original poster was wondering if there were other options other than higher level shows for horseback riding. If your daughter likes to show and does well, that is great. I enjoy going to horse shows and seeing well trained horses ridden by very talented riders. Even more though, I enjoy riding down the trails with my girls on our not so highly trained (but great with water, turkey, deer, and horse eating garbage cans) horses. We are not talented like your daughter but can enjoy riding as our hobby.

We ride and take lessons but it is for pleasure. 95% of our riding is out on the trails. My girls have shown a bit at fun shows but they are low key, $3/class, wearing used outfits that cost under $20, etc. We do try to take almost weekly riding lessons---we take them from a 4H instructor. She helps us with basic horse care, tacking up, safety, developing our seat and quiet hands, etc. Often she goes on trail rides with us at the end of the lesson or as the lesson to teach us how to cross the roads safely, what to do when you come across dogs, snakes, etc., how to navigate up and down hills, water, sand, etc. There is a LOT more to riding than just showing in a ring. That is fine if showing in a ring is what she wants, if not, maybe she would like speed events, trail riding, or other types of riding better.

Check out these free printable books http://www.teacherweb.com/CA/PomeloDriveElementary/Mrssakamoto/printap2.stm If you like these, you can continue on with the series from http://www.3rsplus.com'>http://www.3rsplus.com'>http://www.3rsplus.com'>http://www.3rsplus.com This is the program my sister used to teach her kids to read---her son who is 5 is now reading at a jr. high level or above. Look around the http://www.3rsplus.com site for lots of great ideas and helps, free downloads, printable stuff, etc.

OK, if it is a theological problem, it likely won't get better as you go along. I personally like what I have seen but you need to decide for your son if you agree with the program or not. You might be able to find out more self teaching programs if he likes the ACE format. I had read somewhere that there is a secular program out there similar but I have not seen it. Good luck. These special kids make it tough.