Would you believe I actually thought of you as I posted? If you like, I'll tell you about it once it gets here. Thanks to Amazon Prime, that will be NLT Wednesday. I hope the book is helpful..Until yesterday, I considered myself done with purchases for next year. What a fool I've been!

I broke down and purchased Image Grammar this afternoon...

Given the severity of your child's handwriting problems, you need to hire an OT. Speech to text software such as Dragon Speak works well and cost under $40 USD. For typing instruction, check out BBC Dance Mat typing, Typing Instructor, and Mavis. The company Alphasmart sells a device called a NEO2. The NEO is an extremely durable, portable word processor that works off AA batteries. My 7th grader has used one in class since 4th grade with the spell checker turned off. He types his work, walks the NEO over to the HP all-in-one printer, connects the Alphasmart with a USB to the printer, hits the send button, and out pops his work. Truly, the NEO use is simple. ETA: For handwriting, check out Dianne Craft and HWOT.

I have HO level 2 Ancients and will be using it next year. The spine is actually the red Kingfisher History. TSOM is used sporadically and can be readily replaced with K12 Vol 1. You can take a look at TSOM over at google books for free to see what you'd be missing. Honestly though, it's not much.

The report was absolutely necessary for my son's school. The school requested we acquire the report and provide a copy for their records. DS was tested 2nd grade and again just prior to 6th grade. I'm going to suggest that you speak with a few schools. The private schools don't generally enroll kids like ours because quite frankly, many parents don't ask for the accommodation, and the schools don't understand how easy the accommodation may be. We approached the school with our plan of using the Alphasmart and they graciously accepted, on a semester by semester basis. My son's accommodation affects no one detrimentally. My family supplies an all-in-one Hp printer. We offered this. The school did not make the request. My son's school printer acts as standalone unit, resting in the corner of a classroom and plugged into an power outlet. The Alphasmart is not connected to a network. After DS has happily typed away and he needs to print something, he walks over to the printer, plugs in his Alphasmart through a USB cable, presses send, and out pops his work. We supply all the ink and paper. He also comes home and prints work.

Veritas Press has an online history course. You can hop over there and view a sample. Next year, we are going to try HO Lev 2 Ancients. DS has always used history text books supplemented with videos, lit books (some audio), map-work, travel, museums, and history pockets. Have you ever met a family that was heavily musical or deep into sports? My family is heavily history and science orientated.

The diagnosis is helpful for special services in college. Your child would need to be tested about 10th grade. With the neuro report, your DD would be able to get extended test taking time, in-class notes, and possibly a tutor. I'd like to mention that laptop usage and ownership is mandatory at our local private prep school. At my son's school, all high schoolers are permitted to carry a laptop. The students apply for permission to use them at the beginning of the school year. Middle and elementary kids are on an "as needed" basis. My child is the only child in middle and about 20 kids at the high school level that opt to use a laptop on a daily basis. My son's machine is essentially a Palm pilot with a keyboard. A dyslexia diagnosis used to be great for using Learning Ally, formerly RFBD. The membership was free and you could download text and other books for free. They lost their federal funding, so the cost for downloads is about $100/year.

The school is completely OK with it. They hold off writing IEPs though until high school. We've met with them every year since 2nd grade, with a neuropsychology report in hand. The key is to develop a relationship with the headmaster and teachers. Thus far he's been tested twice, once in 2nd grade and just prior to 6th. DS does all the homework and assignments. We provide the printers. The school bears no responsibility for damage. DS signs an oath to not cheat with the Alphasmart. The NEO is extremely durable and very easy to use. Outside of grammar and math, DS soars. He's coming home full time in the Fall because the afterschooling is getting to be too much. DS is not remediated with math. DS wants to return for 11th grade, but we'll see about that. I was advised by the Dr. that tested DS to homeschool because the one-on-one teaching is most beneficial to him. I'm not going to say that the process has been easy. Some teachers have worked in private schools for a very long time, most don't understand LDs, and ultimately, the school is not bound by Wright's Law. One or two teachers have expressed confusion about DS typing because they don't understand the nature of dysgraphia. Definitely speak with the school prior to ruling anything out. Continue handwriting practice too...

My 12yo sits in a 6th grade classroom and carries a Dana Alphasmart. My family provides a printer for him to use at school, where DS types up and prints his work. He still does print work; however, I prefer he type. He started carrying the NEO Alphasmart to class in 4th grade with the spell checker turned off. Handwriting is painful and slow for DS. He would not be able to keep up with the tremendous notetaking without being able to type 40WPM. On occasion, DS gives notes to NT kids that cannot keep up. I'll add here that DS attends private Christian school and works without an IEP. DS is diagnosed dyslexic/dysgraphia/dyscalculia in the gifted range. My son's expressive language is incredible, and he can't spell for beans either. I was going to recommend other resources for you. Evan-Moor booklet EMC 6010 How to Report on Books provide excellent, gentle book report ideas. DS has completed at least 2 reports based off this book. Quick & Creative Reading Response Activities is very good as well. Also, the book The Dyslexic Advantage by the Eides is fabulous. Wait a minute...I see now that Shari beat me to this recommendation

Why don't you speak with your Pastor? What does your husband want you to use? What does the Bible study committee of your Church recommend for children's Sunday school? Does your denomination's seminary run a bookstore? Perhaps those individuals can help you most.

:iagree: Paragraph Writing Made Easy has been very helpful for DS.

I think you should teach your child to type ASAP. Typing for DS has changed everything.

I'll need to call the company to be certain, but it looks as though the activity book has been added. The start-up materials look to be for the classroom and enough materials for 10 students. The activity book may be found at Amazon.

Would you mind sharing which edition you have? I can't tell whether the 2nd edition includes the CD. :) Thank-you. Scratch that question..I see a pic of a CD on the 2nd edition cover.

:bigear:

Well, you did say he was visual...Audio books would be a long shot. We use them in the car. I'm not a scrap booking type of person, so we kept the coloring and gluing type work to a minimum.

A Scottish Rite diagnosis is a sticky business. I generally recommend it for families who express reluctance with dyslexia screening. It's free...Who can argue with that? They don't perform IQ testing, and I've been told that a dyslexic child may be compensating well enough not to show enough dyslexia indicators for diagnosis. Neuropsychologists are qualified to test fully where Scottish Rite cannot. I'm not sure a school district will accept a Scottish Rite diagnosis. Mine didn't when I called about it 5 years ago, but then my local ps is bad...

Sounds like your DS may enjoy keeping a notebook. Maybe consider trying this with one subject. He can draw pictures and you can scribe for him. Keep his drawings and paintings in one location where he can reflect upon them. Do you listen to any audio books? Here's a link...

If I could go back in time when DS was 7yo, I'd purchase him a field microscope for exploring the back yard.

Please talk to me about Image Grammar...Do you recommend it? Would you use it alongside another grammar program? I've been planning to use AG with my rising 7th grader. IG was mentioned on another thread, so I took a look at it. Thus far, I find the program fascinating and can see where it might be more beneficial for written expression rather than grammar. IG doesn't feel like a complete grammar program because it doesn't appear to cover complex, compound, and complex-compound sentences. I base my assumptions upon a quick perusal of their on-line middle school samples. So please tell me your thoughts. Is the program any good? Would you use it as a supplement? Is the starter kit necessary? DS is a highly visual dyslexic, who will be coming home in the Fall, after years of grammar torture using text books. Thank-you and Blessings, Heather

I just wanted to mention that the Scottish Rite Learning Centers provide free dyslexia screenings to everyone. You can look them up and see if one is located in your area. They are located all over the country and don't test IQ or provide a full neuro report. Spelling is a problem for dyslexics. DS has attended a private Christian school since pre-K. He will coming home in the Fall for 7th grade. He types his work in class on a Dana Alphasmart and prints his work on a printer provided to the school. He has received Wilson reading instruction since the beginning of 2nd grade. I homeschooled DS second half of 5th grade and taught him to type and master his math facts. Spelling, grammar, handwriting, and math are his problem areas. We have been afterschooling for years. As a result, his grades in no way reflect his LDs. Without a neuro report, an outsider would never imagine that my son is 2e, diagnosed dysgraphia/dyslexia/dyscalculia and gifted. A neuro report is critical for receiving accommodations for college. I'd like to recommend the books Overcoming Dyslexia by Shaywitz and The Dyslexic Advantage by the Eides. Both books helped me to understand the biological basis of dyslexia.

Please talk to me about Image Grammar...Do you recommend it? Would you use it alongside another grammar program? I'm planning to use AG with my rising 7th grader. IG was mentioned on another thread. After checking IG out, I find it fascinating and can see where the program might be beneficial for written expression; however, IG doesn't feel complete to me as the middle school program doesn't appear to cover complex, compound, and complex-compound sentences. So please tell me your thoughts. Is the starter kit necessary? Thank-you and Blessings, Heather

How fun! My AAR pre-1 arrived yesterday. My 4 yo has been playing with the zebra puppet since it came out of the box. To the op, I have purchased AAR deluxe, Get Ready for the Code books, HWOT, and two Essential Math books for my 4yo DD. I purchased several e-books during the Scholastic $1 sale. The DD pre-K budget is less than $250. We already have supplies like crayons, scissors, and paper, so I'm thinking that I may be done. For the rising 7th grader, we purchased a good quality microscope. DS is tutored for dyslexia and trumpet and will be attending a co-op. I'm embarrassed by the money I have spent; however, the reference books, history, and grammar will cover 2 years or more. I will be picking up an inexpensive Brother BW laser over the summer because the cost for ink jet cartridges is becoming too much. I will likely pick up another bookcase and donate a few books that we never read.

What exactly is the purpose of dictation? Spelling and punctuation practice? If so, re-mediate the spelling and punctuation with something more developmentally appropriate. Typing instruction may be helpful. If you must dictate, have DS pick a book and select one short sentence from that book to work with. If you are both frustrated and he's crying, no good purpose is being served here.

Would you please provide a link to this thread? Pretty please with gumballs on top?