Heathermomster
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Posts posted by Heathermomster
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So, what do you all do? Do you survive a tight space without a whiteboard? Or do you give in to the look of school exploding all over your home and get over the clutter?
My whiteboard is turned sideways and slipped behind a bookcase when not in use. I've also slipped it under my computer desk.
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Hey Heather, have you seen my mention of the Dvorak keyboard layout? I really despaired of my dd ever becoming a proficient typist, because the more we worked, the more she shifted toward pecking. She resisted the change, but now she thanks me. Might be something to look at. Mostly the fingers stay on the middle row, and there aren't all the midline crosses. I seldom see it mentioned here, but the change for us has been HUGE.
Congratulations for discovering an effective way to teach typing. I've heard about the Dvorak layout, but have never looked into that. My son types on a QWERTY at about 40WPM. I taught him at home for 5th grade, and he took typing as an elective over the Fall quarter. I'm curious to know how the Dvorak keyboard works with laptops. Do you require a special laptop? DS uses a Dana and Neo AlphaSmart for portable word processing.
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I just remembered something and wanted to share. I recently read the book The Dyslexic Advantage by the Eides. The authors specifically recommend the following resources for writing: From Talking to Writing: Strategies for Scaffolding Expository Expression by Jennings and Haynes, Writing Skills 1 & 2 by King, and Step up to Writing. Never tried these myself, though they may be worth a look.
DS also has used a program called Dragon Speak Naturally. DS speaks into a microphone, and his words appear as text in a word processor. We purchased our version of the software for 50% off at a local office supply store.
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I have an eleven year old who I was told had ADD and dyslexia (diagnosis through public school via the recommendation of the private school). We went a pediatric neurologist and got the EEG, nothing. Mixed reviews by the ps about how bright he was but no info of any real use.
I'm sorry, but I don't think I understand your son's testing. You wrote "EEG". Do you mean an electroencephalogram (EEG) test that measures and records the electrical activity of the brain? If so, this seems very strange to me, but I'm not a Dr.
To get a proper diagnosis, you need to call around and find a qualified, PhD Neuropsychologist, that likes children and has experience testing children. Testing typically takes two days. The Dr. will sit down and interview you and your spouse. You will need to take report cards and the test results from all previous evaluations. For an ADD/ADHD assessment, questionnaires are provided to all people who deal directly with your child. This testing is private, and the Dr. assigns a numerical score based upon the answers provided by you, your spouse, and your child's teachers. Generally, tests are performed such as the WISC-IV for IQ assessment. Other tests are performed that can determine dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. Your child's reactions and emotional state are observed during testing. All information garnered is reviewed and quantified to provide an overall assessment and possible diagnosis for your child. Parents are provided the results of all testing with a written report and suggested accommodations. I seriously doubt the PS did this type of testing for your child. I strongly suggest you consider having this type of testing done with your child.
If you have not done so, consider teaching your child to type. Typing helped my son tremendously.
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Tell the GS leader that you appreciate the work she does with the girls and ask her to inform you if she sees any future conflict with badge activities. Complete the missed badge activity with your DD and move on. I can see no reason for your DD not earning the badge.
As long as you HS, someone is always going to have an opinion on the subject and feel the need to express it. Try not to take this personally because most speak from ignorance. If you feel really compelled to speak with her. No e-mails. Ask her face to face if she has any questions about HS'ing. Answer her questions gently and clear up any misconceptions then and there. I think all mothers can get defensive about their choices. We shouldn't, but we do.
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Ds has finished Typing Instructor for Kids with 96% accuracy. His speed is only 12wpm. What could he use to improve that?
Speed will improve with more practice and an emphasis on accuracy. "Typing Instructor for Kids Platinum" came with games to play. While DS was learning to type, I set a timer for 20 minutes. We practiced every day, first thing in the morning. DS generally took a break after 10 minutes to do something novel, like rotate laundry or use the bathroom. When he grew bored, we swapped between BBC Dance Mat typing and Mavis Beacon. DS types about 40 wpm with 97% accuracy. Mind you, he mostly types and has done so since the summer.
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Hi there,
I have been afterschooling for years and never knew there was a name for it...I wanted to mention that if you are concerned about your DDs reading, Scottish Rite Learning Centers perform free dyslexia screening to everyone. The only bad thing is that they do not perform IQ testing and other testing, so it is possible that a gifted child might test "low and no dyslexia" when in fact, they are compensating very well.
My son struggled in 1st grade, so we had him screened at Scottish Rite. He was diagnosed dyslexic the final week of 1st grade. DS began Wilson Reading tutoring with a specialist in 2nd grade. We opted not to hire an Orton-Gillingham (O-G) tutor over the summer, and that decision was a huge mistake.
If you are going to work with your child, select a program that is multi-sensory, O-G based. Get the eyes and ears checked to rule out any hearing or vision problems. Use books that are vowel controlled. I'm sorry but don't remember what they are technically called. BOB books are an example...I hate to hear about 1st graders having problems in school. Some children simply require more systematic, direct phonemic instruction and unfortunately, many teachers simply aren't good at teaching reading.
Link to O-G: http://www.orton-gillingham.com/
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Teach your child to read in 100EZ lessons
:iagree:100 times over...
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Opinions? What are you using for your kinesthetic learner?
I've used the comprehension guides from Veritas Press. Here's a link to Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. The guide contained some foldables and recipes to make from the story.
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DS is 12 yo and tested gifted with maths/reading/Hw'ing disorder. He homeschooled last year for half of 5th grade, is sitting in a regular classroom now, and will be coming home for 7th. DS has attended private Christian school since pre-K. I'm pulling him because the math pacing is getting to be too much, and the staff and school are extremely reluctant to accommodate. Quite frankly, I've lost the stomach for paying for his ed, dealing with the administration, and reteaching a couple of subjects every night from poorly written curriculum.
DS has been enrolled in the Wilson Reading program since 2nd grade. He will be privately tutored in Wilson next year. DH and I both have a heavy math background. Last year, I began reading to understand the maths disorder better and now tutor DS in math using rods and concrete manipulatives. DS types about 40 wpm and uses Learning Ally for downloadable books. Ultimately, I plan on following a 7th grade curriculum which follows: Math Mammoth (Littel McDougal pre-algebra book with MM7 supplements), Grammar Made Easy, WWS/WWE4, Mystery of History Vol1, Littel McDougal Life Science, some Greek mythology, and I'm undecided about Bible. DS plays trumpet and can do all of these things, though the pace is slower for grammar, reading, and math. I don't expect to get through all of this material. I want DS to develop his time management skills better, read thoroughly, and write (type it actually) about what he's read. On occasion, I still scribe for him too.
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Thank-you Ladies. I will check out these options..
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of writing to a 7th grader and would prefer the curriculum meet the following criteria: Quote:
Strategies that provide a common language across grade levels and content areas
*Interpreting textbooks
*Varieties of writing for different purposes
*Note taking and study skills
*Listening and speaking skills
Stategies that increase critical thinking skills
*Analyzing text
*Producing organized, clear communications
*Synthesizing information into knowledge
Strategies that teach the writing process
*Narrative, personal narrative, and expository writing
*Sentence, paragraph and multiparagraph writing
Stategies that improve reading Comprehension
*Response to literature
*Vocabulary
*Summarizing
DS will be coming home in the Fall and he's dyslexic. I've been looking at WWE4/WWS but am now wondering if I should supplement WWS with something that teaches more structure of sentences, paragraphs, and explores writing styles. Help me please, as I'm a total N00b to this curriculum selection thing....
Thank-you,
Heather
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After many failed attempts, DS learned an alternative to long division called Partial Quotient Division. As DS grew older and began working with decimals, we moved on to traditional long division. For DS, the multiplication practice helped tremendously. We also used metric graph paper and colored pencils.
A nice youtube video:
Khan demonstrates it:
http://www.khanacademy.org/video/partial-quotient-division?playlist=Arithmetic
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of writing to a 7th grader and would prefer the curriculum meet the following criteria:
DS will be coming home in the Fall. I've been looking at WWE4/WWS but am now wondering if I should supplement WWS with something that teaches more structure of sentences, paragraphs, and explores writing styles. Help me please, as I'm a total N00b to this curriculum selection thing....Strategies that provide a common language across grade levels and content areas*Interpreting textbooks
*Varieties of writing for different purposes
*Note taking and study skills
*Listening and speaking skills
Stategies that increase critical thinking skills
*Analyzing text
*Producing organized, clear communications
*Synthesizing information into knowledge
Strategies that teach the writing process
*Narrative, personal narrative, and expository writing
*Sentence, paragraph and multiparagraph writing
Stategies that improve reading Comprehension
*Response to literature
*Vocabulary
*Summarizing
Thank-you,
Heather
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About 5 months ago, My now 12 yo DS went on a 5 day/4 night trip to a place that teaches 6th graders about citizenship. When DS came back, he turned into a complete horses butt. This child has never been away from us for so long on an overnight. Back talking and grumbling. Smart mouth...
He straightened out in about 3 weeks and I've really had no problems since. DH sat down and had a long talk with him. We brought down some punishment. No IPOD, TV, computer. I laugh looking back at calling that punishment. My mother would have punished me by making me do the entire family's laundry for a month...I digress...Anyho,,,
I think that's just what 12 yos do sometimes. It seems they like to push the limits. They rage and want independence. I see the behavior as independent of the way he is educated. Our children should be brought into compliance irregardless of where they are educated.
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My 9 yo is making progress, and he has gotten several words to the point of 'sight words'. (He has struggled at every step, we had to start at him visualizing the story in his head - sounds like your son does that beautifully!)
Since he is progressing, we are going to continue on with what we are doing. SWR and daily reading. (He has a card in his chores to remind him to read.) I think the reading (he's read Little Bear books, a Frog & Toad, Jemima Puddle-duck and Hop on Pop recently - we told the older two once they read 100 books we would give them $50 as a prize). I'm going to have us do more recognition work on his spelling words.
I just wanted to mention that the Scottish Rite Learning Centers provided dyslexia screening for free to everyone. You may want to consider finding out if there is one in your area. The only bad thing about Scottish Rite is that they don't perform IQ testing. Some gifted children compensate so well that their dyslexia is difficult to detect without an IQ test.
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My 8 year old just can't seem to get through his times tables. No matter how many tricks, games, cards, focused walk throughs we do. We will recite 8x8=64 10 times and then I'll ask him what 8x8 is and he has a blank stare on his face. Oh, and no, he has no learning disabilities whatsoever, he's just not retaining his times tables. And yes, it's been verified that he has no learning disabilities.
Thoughts?
We used rods with DS and sometimes sang silly songs while clapping like, "8 by 8, it fell on the floor. When it stood back up it was 64."
DS prefers practice via the keyboard. Linky follows...
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How would you test based on my child? If I test re-test 2nd I think it would give him the best op for staying on track.
Test DS at the level that he is at. Also, congrats Mom!!! It's great to read that your DS is improving. Don't feel the need to rush ahead to catch him up. Focus on the foundational skills.
You mentioned history a couple of times so I'll add this. A friend of mine has her DS watch Liberty's Kids for history. Never done that myself; however, it worked for her family and may work for you.
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Merry, Both books do cover some skills that are more public schoolish. I still didn't skip them as eventually DS may need them. The first book helped his working memory the most, this second book is really getting into sustaining attention. You have them read, or listen to you read then you add in various distractions and commands such as when you tap the table they are to do something else like write their name at the top of the page, then go back to what they were doing, you add background noise, etc.
Did you cover this material daily and for how long? How long did it take to complete the 1st book? I'm trying to determine when and how I can incorporate this instruction into an already packed day.
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DS is diagnosed dysgraphia and learning to write was horrible. He tested with a Neurologist on his 8th birthday and received the official diagnosis.
So what did we do prior to and after the diagnosis? Prior to, I took a cookie sheet and spread out shaving creme. My son practiced lettering in shaving creme and it was fun and messy. DS practiced with really large lettering and decreased the lettering size as he improved. Secondly, I purchased a chalk board and hung it in the hallway. We used the board quite a bit. Purchased pencil grips and insisted he write with bigger letters (think writing height 2 lines high, up and down on college rule paper).
Purchased a NEO AlphaSmart for typing. They are simple word processors that are durable and have a long battery life. It comes with a simple spell checker that may be turned off. DS types on AlphaSmart and prints his work directly to an All in One HP printer using a USB cable. Tried HWT and had no success, mostly because DS was still in a PC school and the school stressed Zaner-Bloser.
To date, DS writes legibly on normal sized paper. He prefers to write; however, I insist that he type anything over a paragraph. I taught DS to type using BBC's Dance Mat typing (free and on-line) and a little of Mavis Beacon, but we mostly used another program called Typing Instructor for Kids Platinum. DS practiced 20 minutes per day. I timed the lessons and he practiced even when he was sick or it was a snow day. I'd like to add here that I had concerns about his ability to type. I only stressed accuracy and never speed. We are blessed that learning to type was mostly easy going.
While learning to type, DS started using Getty-Dubay cursive italics. G-D contains no loops or weird flourishes. Print and cursive are practically identical. DS claims he never liked G-B but his HW today looks curiously similar.
Never hired an OT. Between his reading specialist and PCS tuition, we chose not to pursue that route. Of all my son's learning challenges, dysgraphia is my least favorite one.
Blessings, Heather
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Racism is certainly alive and well in America, but I don't think it does our kids any good to tell them at age 5/6 that for most of history, our whole country believed darker skin meant bad people. I think they can get the point of the lesson when they are several years older. Meanwhile, each family can address racial issues as they see fit (my kids and I have had many discussions about racism and slavery that didn't leave them feeling ugly or undesirable).
Any other views from parents of nonwhite kids?
All of my nieces and nephews are nonwhite...I agree with you 100%.
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I'm assuming that you live in the US. If so, $4k for testing seems excessive. You should consider calling around and check the mental health portion of your health insurance to see if they will pay a portion of the testing. If not, consider looking up the Scottish Rite learning centers and discover whether there is one in your area. Scottish Rite provides free dyslexia screening to the public. The one caveat to Scottish Rite is that they don't IQ test or test for dyscalculia; however, this info is based on my local chapter, 5 years ago, so you will need to call. Scottish Rite are volunteers and keep odd hours, like only open in the afternoon. Local PS systems should test for free (due to Wrights Law); however, I have never pursued that option.
Given the tremendous obstacles in learning that you have described, 75% on the math portion of a standardized test would hardly be considered bombing in my world. According to Ronit Bird, 50% of individuals with dyslexia are diagnosed with dyscalculia as well. Your DS sounds incredibly bright.
Just one mad woman's opinion...I consider testing important at least twice. Once to confirm the issues that you are seeing, and later during high school, so that your DS can take the neuro-report to his college and get accommodations like extra testing time, possibly a note-taker provided, permission to substitute a core class, and/or calculator use. Many home educators hold a differing view and I respect that.
Blessings, Heather
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Thank-you...I'm hopeful about the program The author recommends turning off all helps (spell check and the like) when using a word processor.
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DS has been in the Wilson Reading Program for nearly 5 years. When he was younger, his teacher liked DS to use picture notes. DS would literally draw simple pics in the margins beside the paragraphs, and use those pictures to narrate back the story.
The pictures never made sense to me, but the method worked for DS...
Does anyone else here deal with a fast processor?
in The Learning Challenges Board
Posted · Edited by Heathermomster
Have you seen this website?
http://www.visualspatial.org/
My DS has very high verbal comprehension and abstract reasoning skills. Processing speed is his biggest issue, but talking to him, that issue isn't detectable. He has awesome expressive language and is extremely quick witted. When he is doing an activity that he loves and understands, he has near total recall and is highly VSL... It's crazy. Anyho..
DS loves hands-on activities. Puzzles, Legos, snap circuits, auto repair, cars, weapons, history, science experiments, 3-D Home architecture, 3-D modeling, comics, military aircraft, models, dioramas, photography, and making videos...He loves all of it. Journals for science and history are a big plus, and he enjoys sketching cars and motorcycles.