I wanted to mention this because the info may not be generally known. A DNA test may now be performed that will look at about 6 genetic markers to determine how a person metabolizes specific ADHD medication in the hopes of reducing negative side effects. My DS was administered a cheek swab at the child psych's office, and the results took about two weeks to come back. DS is now taking Stattera. His demeanor is the same, but he seems a little more tired. He sleeps better at night and wakes consistently. DS has started doing schoolwork without being reminded and has taken a sudden interest in studying more. We are into the third week of meds, so I can't speak reliably to their efficacy. DS has no behavior problems and is not even remotely hyper. We have done just about everything possible to stay off meds. DS requested them because it frustrates him to forget details all the time. It helps too that a close family friend started taking meds for his ADD by aged 23, and the meds allowed our friend to go back to college and complete his mechanical engineering degree.

Geoff, how does tone relate to this?

Call Susan Barton and ask your questions about levels and grade equivalency. She is friendly and generally happy to answer questions about her program.

I just added the links to my post. Sorry about that. The PT gave us several stability exercises to do at home, so we never bothered with the yoga videos.

I wrote the above one year ago. To follow up, I discovered a pediatric PT, who worked with DD for 8 sessions, and we discovered that DD is low tone. DD developed automaticity about 4-5 months ago. Looking back, the wheelbarrow walking and yoga ball exercises helped the most. ETA: KWT did work out for us because her hands were too small for the keyboard. ETA: Stability ball exercise link and LOE Student Whiteboard link.

Wow! Everyone has covered the bases really well. When DS was a toddler, I read a book titled Magic Trees of the Mind by Diamond and Hopson, and that book heavily influenced the way both DH and I approached our little boy. The book is old but explains brain development, dendrites, synaptic pruning, and how to create an enriched environment for your child. We had no idea that DS would have SLDs, and that book inadvertently laid the groundwork and prepared our hearts for the accommodations that were to come. Magic Trees is easy to read, and you can pick up a copy easily and cheaply enough on the used book market, so read the book. Secondly, count your blessings and try not to freak out. Dealing with a child and SLDs is kinda like turning 30. It is not as bad as it seems.

Have you considered Joy Hakim's A History of the US set? Maybe pump that up with historical fiction, timeline, mapwork, and documentaries and call it good. In 7th grade, my DS loved the war and weapons angle. I purchased Biblioplan Medieval and still get the hives thinking about that Companion text. The color alone sends me into orbit.

I just had thought. Is this school spending your scholarship money? If so, they are without excuse and should be using that money to purchase the materials and equipment that your DS needs to succeed. That means purchasing a LearningAlly membership, audio device with headphones, and a word processor so that your boy can type his work. If they advertise dealing with SLD kiddos, they need to act like it and deal with them accordingly. Just sayin'.

DS sat in a private classroom and dyslexia was the only issue that was dealt with. Three Wilson tutors and one retired 4th grade teacher were employed by the school, and I was the only parent that pushed hard for extra accommodations; however, my student is 2e with 3 SLDs. There were only two educational tracks at the school, and the tracks were regular and advanced. There was no voc track, so it was sink or swim for the students. The school never volunteered any helps, so the parent and student had to ask. For 5th grade, DS pre-listened to audio recordings at home that would be read and discussed in class the next day. I worked very closely with his teacher to make that happen. That was 5 years ago, Why can't your DS wear headphones in class and listen to his books and then answer the questions? DS was ever expected to compete AR at the level of his classmates. An iPod loaded with the VoiceDream or the LearnngAlly App would suit that purpose.

DS staples, signs, and dates his loose paperwork and hands it to me. We use loose paper for algebra and grammar. Everything else goes in a 3 ring binder or is in a digital format.

Every O-G tutor that I know recommends Abeka Phonics for nt kiddos because it is a solid program.

He has used Xmind and Inspiration. DS has network access in class. I also make arrangements ahead of time for testing with son's teacher. For Spanish and chemistry class, note taking with the PC and Smartpen is becoming too much, so DS will get notes from his friends. Typing in class was never an issue last year during informal logic, Elegant Essay, and biology.

Strattera is a non-stim med. Did either child have difficulty with Strattera or are you referring to the Vyvanse?

Plink's blog inspired me to purchase the Echo Smartpen, and it is an awesome device to have when relistening to missed directions during lecture. :D

DS carries a Lenova laptop w/ DVD and an Echo Smartpen to class. For audio books, he uses CDs, Bookshare with the iPad Voice Dream app, YouTube, Kindle Touch with Whispersync, and Learning Ally on the iPad/iPod app. DS also uses Inspiration and a freeware mindmapping sw. During the day, he wears a nice set of headphones so we don't disturb him and he can listen to texts and/or watch videos and lectures. DS learned to type in 5th grade and never took to Dragon sw.

Geodob's suggestions are interesting. I was going to suggest that you keep the CLE and add c-rods. I have never seen CLE up close so I don't know how or if they incorporate c-rods. Maybe print up some 1/2" grid paper using a light gray ink, scribe the columnar add/subtraction problems for your son, and hand over a yellow highlighter so that he can highlight the ones column of each problem. The highlighted column would indicate where he's to start. I would remind him to highlight the ones column every time until he internalizes the process. If you haven't done this already, consider having your DS evaluated by either an OT or pediatric PT that will examine his visual perception, developmental motor, static/dynamic balance, handedness, and pincer/core strength. My son's directional issues improved after working with a ped PT.

My take away from the Shaywitz book is to use direct, systematic, and explicit multisensory phonics instruction with dyslexics for a minimum of 3 hours weekly. The O-G method stresses individual instruction that is adapted to the student's needs and is very flexible. The author pushed early intervention as opposed to a wait and see reading option, and she stressed finding a good dyslexia school. I don't fault Shaywitz for holding that opinion as she works within a system that she knows, which is institution based learning. Depending upon the severity of the dyslexia, remediation can be quite taxing and lengthy. I seriously doubt she even considered that a homeschooling parent could provide the necessary level of instruction, and I doubt she would be opposed to homeschooling now because Barton has proven to be a godsend to so many families. BTW, only about 3% of US children are homeschooled. The book is about 12 years old and looked specifically at dyslexics. Maybe I am wrong, but the fMRI studies were performed on kids with no significant educational issues outside reading, which means kids on the spectrum or with spectrum issues would have been excluded. The book never mentioned specific tests to rule out others conditions affecting reading such as developmental vision. Shaywitz focused on phonological processing difficulties. I am not sure that I answered your question. If you are having success with reading, I expect that your DS is receiving direct, systematic, and explicit multisensory phonics instruction that has been adapted to his specific needs, and that is a good thing.

If the the doc actually noted something specific, it would have been nice if she had shared that info with you so that you could be on the look out for the behavior. Lots of students favor homeschooling for no other reason than they enjoy it. I would have leaped at the opportunity to be homeschooled in middle school and late high school, and I have no SLDs or anxiety. I am always struck by the socialization argument, as if a child's life begins and ends at the front door of a public school house.

I am curious to know what specific behaviors did the specialist observe first hand that led her to believe your DD was too anxious to attend ps? I don't understand why the doc believes your DD's homeschooling decision was based upon anxiety?

Great link!

Is the Vyvanse a stimulant or non-stimulant med? How old is your child?

After looking around and seeking feedback from multiple sources, I took DS to a highly recommended child psychiatrist and carried all the previous testing and diagnostic work. The psych offered a DNA test to verify whether son's metabolism could process ADHD inattentive meds properly and reduce negative side effects. The tests came back good so DS started taking Strattera over the weekend. So far, we are seeing no change. DS goes to bed almost every night at 9pm and gets up at 7am. I haven't noted any more tiredness than usual or mood swings. His temperament is absolutely the same. I know the meds should not have a positive outcome for about a month. I was absolutely sick and petrified when DH filled the scrip, but so far, no harm has been done. Mothers of Straterra users, when can I expect any neg or positive side effects to kick in? Please tell me all that you think I need to know because I'm too ignorant to even know what question to ask. Blessings, ~h

Awesome and thank-you for the update!

I don't know what an accredited high school English course looks like. I would just purchase what you think entails one and then accommodate it to make it work. I would add some grammar/diagramming and essay writing instruction. Reduce the reading selections down to an doable number, use adapted versions, audio books with Immersion or Whisper Sync technology, and supplement with Cliff notes, movies, and plays. Explore mindmapping and use Socratic questioning. Used Holt publishing world lit texts are cheap on Amazon. I personally like Teaching the Classics DVDs. With the Jill Pike syllabus, you and your DD could work through TtC in 8-10 weeks.

Awesome.