Heathermomster
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Posts posted by Heathermomster
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2 minutes ago, Storygirl said:
Yeah, the same day thing was confusing. The grades are posted as occurring on the same day. When we brought up that point, the teacher said, 'I don't know why you think / DS would be saying that they are on the same day. The quizzes are on the following day."
Okay, I'm posting this now, then I'm going to look at something and probably come back and edit to say a little more.
So the testing is not on the same day? Which means he could rewatch the short videos at home and study for the tests. In spite of knowing his social delays, the teacher is giving him the option to reject notes that would be helpful? All of this is so weird to me. Does your son care that he is earning a D in the classroom?
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So the student watches a video, takes notes, and is tested on the same day? What purpose does that assignment serve? I guess I would expect the teacher to provide the notes prior to the video so that your student could read along while watching the video and then annotate them. I’ve seen some teachers hand out fill-in-the-blank variety notes prior to lecture/videos, but then I must have wrongly assumed that teaching was happening. Please update us. My tummy hurts from reading this.
Eta: I think the teacher is making this much harder than it needs to be.
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OP, PLEASE keep up updated.
Does he use audio books at all?
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I’m sold on the Bosch mini and the hand tool that Prairie recommended. I kinda want to buy the stand mixer now because we will be on break next week. She could use it then and verify that it works properly. I need to see if if we could purchase it locally. DH and I gave her a German made hand mixer two years ago for her b-day.
Thank-you, everyone.
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2 hours ago, Attolia said:
Long story short, I have owned the compact Bosch and the regular Bosch. I currently have the kitchen aid stand mixer and the kitchen aid hand mixer, well I have always had a kitchen aid hand mixer (I am on my second one in 22 years of marriage). This is all to say, if you want more info or comparisons then I probably know haha.
DD wants to make Swiss rolls, cakes, banana bread, and icing...She is about to be 12 yo and loves Mary Berry. Which mixer would you recommend?
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DS uses a Brita.
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23 minutes ago, PeterPan said:
So my dd cooked a LOT and I'm a bit of a fanatic. I would say buy her the hand mixer now, because she can do a LOT with it. I have both a countertop KA and the hand mixer, and I use my hand mixer a lot!! Save for the big stand mixer so you can get her one that will last her all the way. Do you have a stand mixer? So she at least has access?
My dh had a bid on a KA stand mixer at a charity auction one time, and I told him not to get it for dd because it wasn't big enough. I stand by that, even though it sounds nuts. When people LIKE to cook, sometimes they really want that bigger capacity. Mine is the normal bowl, and I often wish for the BIG bowl. So that would be sort of a save for big capacity, lasts a lifetime kinda thing.
That said, I bought my cousin a really nice countertop mixer when she got married, and I think there are units that just work. My mother has one of those Osters, and they still make stuff like that. But if you want a KA, I guess saving is the plan.
Does she have scoops? Scoops are revolutionary and will change her life!
Zeroll Universal Small EZ Disher Food/Ice Cream Scoop, Burgundy Here's one to get you started. So many sizes, fit in stockings...
Also you can go to a restaurant supply store and buy stainless steel bowls in a set. They'll last her for a long time and be super useful, super cheap.
I bought her a scoop for measuring out cupcake batter, and my smart alec husband tore it up on ice cream. It was like he decided to see how much ice cream he could nab with the small scoop. And then he called the scoop junk. When I explained the purpose of the scoop, he half apologized and laughed. Anyhoo, I need to get her another one.
I’m struggling with the notion of the KA because the reviews on the newer products are horrible.
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46 minutes ago, Arctic Mama said:
Agree, but since the stand mixers are just cost prohibitive for a child it is a better choice if she isn’t willing to really save up and make an investment gift (totally understandable!).
I think we are going to have to save. DD has no interest in a sewing machine but would love a stand mixer, so I would be willing to shop around for gently used or new.
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25 minutes ago, Arctic Mama said:
I used a hand mixer for years, it’s true they’re just not that bad. That said, I’d never replace my Bosch (which replaced my kitchenaid 🙂 ).
Is the Bosch a hand or stand mixer?
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My DD loves to bake and will be turning 12 yo in December. I’d like to purchase her a quality stand mixer under $100. Does such an appliance exist? Please provide some recommendations.
Thank-you!~h
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DH’s paternal grandfather was born in 1898 and served in WWI.
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Apples and Pears Spelling...
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On 9/24/2019 at 7:08 AM, Æthelthryth the Texan said:
Well, we had a dyslexia dx enter the mix so I pretty much did a complete revamp for one kid which trickled outward to my other elementary kid for the sake of streamlining and sanity. I feel like we ended up changing or shelving so many things in the last 2-3 months.
Hits/What seems to be going well for the moment:
VeritasBible- I can wax poetic about this program for days. Love it. We have completed Genesis-Joshua and have moved to The Gospels.
Saxon math 2&3
Hands on Equations for ds8 (and oh my word, can someone please remake the video to replace the one that comes with it!! Ack!)
Barton reading and spelling for dd
Pared down Abeka phonics to the easiest open and go possible for ds, and dropped all worksheets.
Switched all handwriting for both to Simply Charlotte Mason various copywork books.
Mystery Science- they love it and it’s easy to do once or twice a week.
MEL Science kits- pretty fantastic experiments we do a couple of times a month. I like that you can do the experiments multiple times. Huge hit for both. (And the rest of the family enjoys too tbh. Even grandparents have been impressed.)
SCM Picture Study Portfolios- they’re just so good.
Private Art lessons
Shelved for now due to time:
Song School Latin- they loved it, but it’s just not priority at the moment. The 3R’s at this point have me maxed out, and take up a lot of time since I can’t combine kids on those and I’m using some time intensive programs. Playtime comes before Latin at this point, but it’s a cute program.
Notgrass- OSSS- nothing against it and I try to read it weekly. It just hasn’t been happening the last month or so though.
Misses:
Veritas Self Paced History- I could not stand the bickering brother and sister (which tb fair I was warned about here.) The song grates my nerves in the worst way, and the production quality was just so much cheesier than the Bible version. I was really disappointed. We dropped it early on.
BJU Math- as much as dd liked the cuteness and it got done, it was WAY to much visual clutter for her situation.
Too Soon to Say:
AAS for ds8
DS was making fun of those videos 9 years ago. The hat Borenson wears kills me.
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About three days into the school year, I swapped out the HO2 Ancients paper timeline with sticker pack for the Timeline Creator iPad app. The iPad app is much easier to use.
Apples & Pears Spelling is awesome. Actually, everything we are using is good and gets completed.
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So, my eldest is 2e with maths and reading SLDs but no ASD.
I’m reading the OP and wondering whether there is a visual processing type element that needs to be addressed.
Anyhoo...I suggest the OP read How the Brain Learns Math by Sousa. I’m also a huge fan of Ronit Bird; however, I did not use her e-books. I used the Overcoming Difficulty with Number. As a mathematician, I believe the OP could read and intuit Bird’s methods easily enough. She discusses all the pre-skills necessary for multiplication.
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DS used Walmart youth flex frames for years. I would replace the frames if they are broken.
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Pretty please and with a link if possible.
Thank-you!
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At the beginning of the final three semesters of engineering school, I would have a bathtub cry. DH thought I was crazy, but I felt so much better afterwards. I always take a hot bath when stressed.
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You know that my DS started working with the CBT at the end of 10th grade and worked with him for about 12 months. DS also met with the same CBT over the summer. I say this to agree that ages 16-18 are hard and ages 19-20 are not without their challenges.
There has to be some way to make the situation a win-win. Like, he needs to understand that you will give him more freedoms if he exercises maturity and completes the tasks that you assign to him on time and without complaining. Your reward is a walked dog, some clean laundry, and clean dishes. You both are rewarded by a moderately clean home and a mutually respectful relationship.
The fact is that you are his mother and are responsible for loving him, providing him a home with food, and raising him into a responsible adult. You didn’t choose to be chronically ill. You love him and require his help around the house. Just tell him straight up that you love him and that you are playing on the same team. You want to help him and you’d like to see him be successful. Give him a specific list with the chores. He needs to demonstrate that he is completing his school work and studying well enough to pass school. If he does as you ask, all the better. If not, there are consequences. Be careful not to nag, lose your temper, or make excuses for him. If he’s hungry, he can feed himself.
I’m assuming that everything was spelled out nice and neat and that nothing prevented him from doing what needed to be done. If he knew he had to complete the chores to hang with his friends and he failed to complete the chores, he has no one to blame but himself. You are only guilty of loving him so much that you are willing to hold him accountable for his actions. If there is an obstacle that prevents him from completing the chores, he needs to tell you. Did he forget? Does he need electronic reminders? What can be done to improve motivation? Ask him how he wants to be reminded so you don’t nag and then build in the reminders as a team.
In 11th and 12th grades, DS benefitted from heavy exercise. He emptied the dishwasher, rotated laundry, took out the trash, watched his sister, and cleaned/mowed the yard. I expected dirty laundry to go in a basket. We folded laundry as a family. DS now gets up on time, does his own laundry, studies, and feeds himself. He keeps his dorm room surprisingly clean. Things do get better. Just remind your boy that you love him and that you want what he wants. BTW, the reminders, set-backs, and successes are not a one off. You will be cycling back and forth for awhile, but the instances will decrease.
As an aside, what prevents you from getting a dishwasher? Sister, I would be very unhappy without one of those.
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2 hours ago, Noreen Claire said:
I only started knitting two years ago, but I only knit with Chiaogoo metal needles. I have mostly circular (not interchangeable), with some DPNs. I like them, they are slippery and fast! I tried to use plastic/wood needles before, but just didn't like them.
The cables on these knitting needles are soft and good for using the magic loop method when circular knitting. The needle tips are pointy too which is nice.
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5 minutes ago, Storygirl said:
Yes, he finally got an ASD diagnosis this summer. It was NVLD before. He still has the NVLD profile, of course. The new diagnosis didn't change his IEP, because it didn't affect his needed accommodations and goals at school (he already had an extensive and thorough IEP). He does have a long list of things to work on that are listed in his new psych paperwork, but much of that was either already addressed in his IEP or are things we will get help for privately. We've had good communication with the school about the new diagnosis, and it has been helpful for me to be able to frame my conversations by talking about autism.
He also has ADHD, Tourettes, anxiety, dysraphia, and LDs in math and reading comprehension. He works with an SLP at school on pragmatics, but she doesn't have time to address all of the social thinking issues, so we've been working on lining up a counselor familiar with teens who have HFA (long waiting list). Our school special education coordinator also got us connected to county and state disability services, which is opening up a lot of doors. We're still learning how to navigate all of that, but we've had some good things happen with job training through the state, so far.
We are in a better place for helping him now than we were 18 months ago. And a lot of that is due to the school system. We moved here deliberately to place him in this school, and I think it was a really good choice, despite the challenges.
That is what I thought. How long are you going to have to wait for the counselor? Did they give you any indication?
You are doing a great job.
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8 minutes ago, Storygirl said:
I snipped some things out of the post, so that I could leave just the comments I am responding to.
DS15 does have a study hall called "academic assist," where the teacher actually can monitor what the kids are doing, prompt them to work on certain things, and help with projects. We met his academic assist teacher, and she emphasized that she is there to help, if the teachers keep her informed about what DS needs to be working on. She said that he was not using the time well at the beginning of the year, but now that she knows more about what he should be doing (his intervention case manager created an electronic planner for him that she can also see) she has been working with him. We've also emailed her a few times to make sure she is aware when assignments are showing up as not turned in. I think this is very helpful, but DS hates that we are communicating with her and accused us of causing him stress, since she is now overseeing what he is doing more closely. So it's helpful, but there is blow back.
I think PE would be a good option for DS. Technically he is exempt, because marching band and sports fulfill the requirement, but he can take it anyway. With band and academic assist in his schedule, he doesn't have room for other electives this year.
Vaping and so on is a concern. DS's lack of impulse control and propensity for risk taking have always made us worry about this. He has numerous friends who vape and says he has been offered a hit and refused. Did he really refuse? I hope so, but I can't know. I think he has absorbed enough of our family's messages about the dangers of smoking and drugs that crossing the line feels uncomfortable to him, even when he sees his friends doing it. I don't have illusions that that will remain the case always, though, and I do worry that he will submit to peer pressure eventually. DS has never hung out with friends outside of school hours, and although that is too bad in many ways, it does limit the influence that they can have to the school hours.
It's harder to control what he has access to on the computer now that he has a school-issued Chromebook. We monitor its use at home, but he can look things up at will when he is at school. Of course, they have filters, which helps. But there are definitely risks for him in that area. He does share with us some of the unfortunate things that his friends say and do -- I think he shares more than a typical teen would, because he doesn't always filter his communication for his audience. So that gives me a glimpse, but I know I don't get the full picture. He is definitely not hanging out with a wholesome group of peers.
What is he diagnosed with? For some reason I thought his diagnosis had changed?
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1 hour ago, PeterPan said:
I love this!!!
My dd is plugging it out. She's up to a whopping 5 classes this semester (14 or 15 credits, not sure), and is inching *so close* to being ready to graduate! With the 5 classes this term she has 8 more and an internship. It's THAT CLOSE!!!
He dropped a class and will take it during the interim semester. He has to take 27 hours and maintain a 3.25 gpa for scholarship. He’s well above the gpa min but keeping up 27 hours will be a challenge. The writing for the classes seems intimidating to me. I have no clue how he will do, but he’s loving the subjects so far. Off hand, he’s taking early US History, OT, Ancient Lit, and Art appreciation. The irony is that for the lit class, he read the big boy version of Gilgamesh. He loves the prof and has requested I make her a scarf.
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5 hours ago, PeterPan said:
OT/PT?
That or a cruise, lol. What are you hoping to find beyond the writing issues? Is it possible there's some praxis, like with your ds? I mean technically hand hurting when she writes is something else (vision, core, reflexes, grip, etc.).
She has worked with OT/PT for 8 weeks.
DD is low tone and abdominal surgery has had an affect. The ILLs are loaded with motor issues, so I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s got something clinical. She’s borderline whatever the case. I’m going to scream if her ped suggests squeezing theraputty one more time.
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When IEP accommodations are not provided
in The Learning Challenges Board
Posted · Edited by Heathermomster
This is such junk to me. Why bother with an IEP that is a legally binding agreement and then allow a minor with social thinking deficits to decide what helps they will receive on the spot, in the moment, and in a classroom? Of course he doesn’t want the notes or to do the work. What teenaged boy with ASD is fully compliant? Whether your child wants the notes isn’t relevant; however, the teacher is legally obliged to hand them over or provide them by email.
ETA: One of my biggest beefs with educators is their total lack of understanding about EF issues and the cognitive delays they are actually dealing with.