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Heathermomster

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Posts posted by Heathermomster

    Vision Appt--Kinda Freaked

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    If your problem is even more severe than your son's, and you have always enjoyed reading, it's entirely possible that you're, without even realizing it, using only one eye to read. You might think you're using both, but your brain might be suppressing the vision in one eye to stop all the confusion that results from poor binocular vision control.

     

    And once you're down to one eye, there's no more confusion. This is why so many younger children with vision problems can be seen covering one eye with their hand, or their hair, or turning their heads to block the vision of one eye with their nose. They're physically trying to get down to one-eyed vision. But eventually, if the problem is severe enough, the brain will indeed shut down, or more accurately, ignore, the visual input from one of the eyes.

     

    If you do get to a vision therapy department, have the above discussion and tell them you'd like to see how you read with the red/green glasses they most likely use. Those glasses will demonstrate whether you're using only one eye's input when reading, once you understand how they work.

     

    Sounds weird, I know, but I've seen it, and a condition called Alternating Suppression is very common. I view that as a precursor to one eye shutting down later.

     

     

    Thank-you for explaining and providing the link. I'll mention the red/green glasses, and am PMing you now.

    Vision Appt--Kinda Freaked

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted · Edited by Heathermomster

    All the facts and data aside, it hurts to have someone speak so candidly in front of my child. I truly try my best to avoid that. As DS ages, he realizes that there is a whole wide world outside that's unforgiving. I'm just glad my eyes are worse than his and he knows it.

     

    As to my own vision problem, I've learned to put a book down and rest my eyes. My body tells me when to do so. Prior to children, I used to read for hours and to the point that I literally could not see. Whenever I get new contacts/glasses, one of the first things I do is thread a needle. If I can't, and this has happened before, I ask the Dr to lower my prescription. I quilt, knit, and read.

     

    Blessings,

    Heather

    Math problems

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    DS has dyscalculia. I have no idea how my son's problems relate to your child's. He's highly visual and loves to hold and touch things. DS knows his times tables now, though it took some doing and started by me reading a few books.

     

    I read the book How the Brain Learns Mathematics by Sousa, Overcoming Difficulties with Number by Bird, and a book called Mathematics Made Meaningful. I found these books highly useful, and I recommend you explore these books (or something similar)and follow their recommendations.

    Vision Appt--Kinda Freaked

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted · Edited by Heathermomster

    With all the talk recently concerning Vision Therapy, I decided to speak with my son's optometrist about eye problems that may cause LDs. I ask if he could pre-screen. He told me no, but that he could perform the annual eye appoint and take notes that I could give to a specialist. DS had his eye exam this afternoon and weirdness follows:

     

    He measures my son's binocular vision and tells me that DS has esophoria with a number of 4. The optometrist then states that he's curious to know which parent this condition may have been inherited from. He tells me to hop in the chair and then determines that I have esophoria as well and that my eyes are actually worse than my son. The Dude actually jumped when he saw how bad my eyes were. My eyes measure 5 or 6. This, the dear Dr., did not expect.

     

    The optometrist then asks me about my education. I hold a BSEE. I read like crazy. I have always read like crazy. He ask if I suffered in school. Well actually no, I've never struggled in school, college, or otherwise. He then tells me that people with this eso business tend to be high school dropouts, waitresses, and criminals. That may be true...My family is filled with all 3 and I'm no kidding, the first college graduate.....

     

    All of this business to say, I have scheduled an appointment to have my son assessed by a professional who supposedly tests and may provide VT.

     

    The afternoon was weird and I'm hoping to lie down soon. DS heard the entire stinking conversation and at one point, I turned to him and told him not to worry. DS assures me that he's not concerned. I told him to absolutely not worry and that we'd deal with it...Thank-you for reading...

    Help! My eight yr old is having the hardest time learning his multiplication table!

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    We use Math U See and I even bought Times Tales which we all love. The problem is that Times Tales only does stories on the number "6" and up.

     

    So today when we were going over 2 x 8 = , he couldn't remember and then came up with 19. :confused:

     

    We've been doing multiplication for months now and his twin brother is fine. Yes, I know this boy is not as lightening-speed fast as his brother in picking up most things. . . but he eventually gets everything. But 2 x 8???

     

    I'd love suggestions for games. . . or anything!

     

     

    Here's how I helped my own child.

     

    Consider backing off and doing a review of addition/subtraction facts to 20. Once your child is comfortable, practice mental math. Singapore Mental Math Grade 2 is excellent for that. Practice skip counting by 2s, 5s, and 10s. Lastly, start the times review again using the rods. Introduce no more than one concept per day. Spend 10 mins max explaining, and stand nearby to make gentle corrections. Stop after 30 minutes total.

    O-G Based Reading Programs for Homeschoolers

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    Thank-you Ladies...

     

    Here's a list of O-G programs from the Bright Solutions' website. (I believe that Susan Barton runs that website. It contains tons of good information about dyslexia.) http://www.brightsolutions.us/

     

    I love this website. My 6th grader has had a Wilson tutor since 2nd grade. Every summer involves 4 weeks of tutoring, 4 hours per week.

     

    My DD just turned 4, and I'm HS'ing her. She knows a majority of her letters and is sounding them out properly. I thinking ahead at present, hoping she doesn't experience the issues her older brother has dealt with, and trying to figure out how to manage any difficulties. I need a magic ball...

    Children with no "pace"

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted · Edited by Heathermomster
    I wasn't homeschooled.

    Any idea what the difference is between people who have mild LD's and succeed mostly on their own and those who struggle through life? I suspect my test results would have very similar outputs to my oldest son's - however I was super successful in school and at work...I overcame all my challenges with effort and desire.

     

     

     

    I recently read the book The Dyslexic Advantage, and the authors looked at the mind strengths of individuals with dyslexia. The authors interviewed successful people who have taken unusual paths to achieve their success (John Irving, Sir Richard Branson, Anne Rice, Charles Schwab, and lesser known people). I'm paraphrasing here. Each of these individuals seems to have had one person who believed in their abilities. Some woke up and made the decision to improve their condition by addressing their reading or writing weaknesses head on after years of embarrassment. Persistence and a diligent attitude seems to have played a key role. One guy's parents were flexible. All of these folks experienced difficulties in school. Some dropped out. Others took longer time to finish school and college. At first glance, none of their formative years showed promise.

     

    The back portion of the book discusses pre-skills for college. I found the book insightful because the authors call upon known research and tie that research with specific behaviors. These weaknesses are biological in nature, and it helps to be reminded of that from time to time.

     

    Whatever the learning issue, I think the bottom line here is that we need to remain positive (that can be tough), deal to our kids strengths, manage expectations, hold our children accountable (this is tough), and specifically teach them to manage their learning differences in a systematic fashion (good grief!! this is really tough). A support group for mothers of LDs might help. Prayer helps too.

    Children with no "pace"

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted · Edited by Heathermomster

    I do think a person can have slow processing speed and still be quick in some areas of their lives.

     

    My 12 you has a 55pt difference between his processing speed and verbal comprehension scores. My child is quick witted and you'd never suspect any learning issues. He has maths/reading/hw'ing disorders and is about as normal as a kid can be.

     

    He struggles mostly with grammar, math, about turning in homework. He's a subject matter expert on things that he loves, and slow as molasses with math homework.

     

    In many cases, addressing those problems can improve their situation.

    Goodness, I can't agree with you more. I think about DS and his education, from a long term and strategic perspective. How do I get him to where he needs to be in 5-6 years. Which colleges will work best? It's very sad when you meet adults with LDs, and their LDs were not properly dealt with; of course, there are others with LDs who go on to lead happy and productive lives.

    Seems like it's time for a roll call . . .

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    I homeschooled my older son for almost 9 years, from about 3/4 of the way through 1st grade to halfway through 10th grade. He just started attending a private IB school in January.

     

    We started homeschooling because he had trouble learning just about everything. He received many diagnoses before we finally received the one diagnosis that explains everything: dyslexia. The other diagnoses were: CAPD, SPD, Asperger's (later undiagnosed), visual issues requiring VT, and ADHD. He is also highly gifted, but that wasn't confirmed until he was in 7th grade.

     

    Things that helped: one-on-one instruction (this is by far the most important), OT, VT, Audiblox, REWARDS.

     

    Good job Mom!!

     

    Would you please share what writing and grammar programs that you used with your DS? Also, what was your approach to math?

     

    Blessings, Heather

    Text-book history for 7th grade American history

    in Logic Stage & Middle Grade Challenges

    Posted · Edited by Heathermomster
    I keep remembering stuff. We loved this.

    Heather, would you tell me how you use this book? Supplements?

    Which version do you use? There are several versions at Amazon.

     

    Thanks.

    I'm sorry that I missed your posting. I have this copy of The American Journey and used it as a spine. I used this book because that was what my son's school was using when I pulled him to homeschool.

     

    I used Evan Moor History pockets to supplement. Evan Moor has tons of supplemental information. Our study corresponded with a vacation to Pensacola, Florida and visit to Fort Barrancus. A few months prior to study, we had visited NY and visited Wall Street and Hamilton's grave. We had also visited D.C. and saw the White House, DAR, and went on a Capital tour. For supplements, we used this, full sized US and world maps, and several Civil War books to supplement. DS is up to chap 24 and sitting back in a regular 6th grade classroom. DH and I are not too thrilled about the way the authors deal with the Bolsheviks and communism overall. The text leans heavily to the left.

     

    Evan-Moor Teacher File Box - There is so much here, I can't name it all.

    Salem Witch Trial History Notes

    Life on the Plantation

    Last year, DS read Mark Twain and Mr. Tuckett, and I read aloud The Last of the Mohicans.

    This year, DS has read Bully for You and traced our immigrant ancestors to England (DH) and Virginia Colony (moi).

    NETFLIX instant downloads has tons of documentaries too. We watched a doc about Thomas Jefferson and something about the Civil War by Ken Burns.

    disgraphia & a successful writing curriculum (or what to avoid)

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted · Edited by Heathermomster

    You should consider getting a complete neuro exam by a qualified tester, that deals with and likes children. Skip straight to cursive. Getty-Dubay is my favorite because it has no loops or weird flourishes. MIL is a reading specialist and cursive writing was her recommendation to me. Consider teaching typing now and make the process fun. Short, sweet lessons with rewards. Your child is probably miserable with the HW'ing. I know my son definitely was. Scribe for your child.

     

    Here's an example sentence of the differences when I scribed and when DS wrote alone. Green...The grass is green. (DS would write something akin to this.)

    The furry rabbit ran across the green, dewy lawn....(I kid you not. I actually told him once to reduce his sentence length because I was running out of writing space.)

     

    If you are not comfortable with your child on the computer, consider purchasing a basic portable word processor like the AlphaSmart Neo. They are durable, cheap, and run forever on AA batteries. To print, walk it over to an HP all in one printer, connect it with a USB cable, and hit the print button. DS has used his 3 years, and you may purchase them used if cost is a factor.

    Anyone else homeschooling a blind or seriously visually impaired child

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Anyone else homeschooling a blind or seriously visually impaired child

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted · Edited by Heathermomster

    What you are doing sounds good. I suggest you continue to work with math manipulatives and add dominoes and rods. She's still young, so do what feels appropriate. My sister has an incredible numbering sense; however, she lost her vision at 8yo. I have no idea what role her age of vision loss played in her development. You can print out large sized domino cards to work in conjunction with the actual dominoes.

     

    http://teachmath.openschoolnetwork.ca/Subitizing.htm

     

    I don't know what age my sister started using the abacus. I'm way out of my depth here. Look into using a Soroban abacus.

     

    http://www.abledata.com/abledata.cfm?pageid=19327&top=13205&trail=22

     

    Read aloud books. Poetry, silly songs, and rhyming. Word games and tongue twisters.

    New to Board - DS getting Neuropsych eval next week

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted · Edited by Heathermomster

    Hi there,

     

    You must have a wicked sense of humor. My Mother, younger sister, and I do and it's because of my eldest sibling (who is 43 yo) was born with spina bifida and hydrocephalus. My sister has been shunted since 1969.

     

    For what it's worth, I kinda understand your situation. Be advised that testing may be stressful. If you can, have the testers spread out the testing over two, possibly three days. Have some snacks available and be prepared for your child to be emotionally spent once the testing is over.

     

    Blessings, Heather

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