By that age, DS was stitching fabric using a vintage hand-crank sewing machine. We also kept an ample supply of scotch tape lying around. DS has always helped his Dad in the garage and on woodworking projects. We used to own a 1986 Corvette. DD likes beading with shoelaces, stamps, and card making. We also listen to audio books together and sit down to draw using how to draw instruction books. DD likes to draw with stencils. DD can knit, no purls though. She has a wooden spool knitter that she uses. By 1st grade, both the kids liked to paint premade ceramics and mini-card board boxes using acrylic paint.

DS took a class at the cover and I counted additional hours with swimming, physical therapy, and air soft.

Laugh away...We visit the orthodontist next week. :D

I have a child who adamantly refuses to eat meat because she is highly moral and doesn't condone the killing of animals. (Where that came from, I have no idea because we are animal eating fools in this house.) DD went nuts after she recognized a roasted "chicken body" at the deli section of our grocery store. Anyhoo.. Your child's bee reaction would signal a "too much viewing of PBS" remark from DH. DH and I live in la la land. We cannot afford another label.

The beauty of the smartpen is that it links the audio to the notes. Without the audio, I can't see the purpose in using the pen. Thus far, DS has permission to record, but he attends a private cover. DS turns on the pen at the beginning of lecture and writes his homework assignments down with the pen. The process has been awesome because he will miss important info while writing. DS also draws stars in his notebook during lecture when a complicated concept is being discussed. The star will take him directly to the info that he needs to relisten. Son downloads the pen to the computer to create a pencast. From the computer, I will listen to the lecture to explain concepts when DS is confused. The process is amazing really.

Yes, I would speak to the instructors. BTW, I think that it is great that your boy can swim. DS can, but he is not a strong swimmer. Your thread makes me want to hire a pro to work with him some more. Our problem is that we are nowhere close to a pool. :(

A year ago, an OT demonstrated that DD has motor planning issues. I could hardly believe it and then it struck me that the family had been accommodating her and none of us realized it. We simply adjusted to DD based upon our experience with DS, and these are two similar yet very different children. I just assumed that was what families do.

I agree 100% with this. DS also uses the basic Echo SmartPen in class, and Cal Newport's blog is awesome. I taught DS how to use a text book using these textmapping materials. Learning to read non-fiction is a skill too.

Yes, the cost of materials is bad.

To accommodate DS, he listens to audio texts and types his work. Reading with immersion technology has been helpful. I cut away busy work, and he mindmaps using software. I have to pick and choose what subjects are the priority and use get 'er done type coursework for everything else. School for DS is simply a long day, so I encourage DS to use his strengths to prop up difficult coursework. For example, he used his skills with computer graphics to complete informal logic assignments. For literature, I prefer a short story to teach a concept. Story maps are good for review of literature. I basically have to break things down into bite sized chunks.

FP, around aged 10-11, the human brain goes through a synaptic pruning process. Any dendrites that are not being used are removed with ruthless efficiency. I believe that pruning process is what enables grammar staged/concrete thinkers to shift and become more abstract thinkers. Add hormones to the equation and you have a stinky pubescent, challenging authority and who knows what else? My 15 yo is a laid back firstborn and a pleaser. He genuinely wants to please and be accepted by his friends and loved ones. Puberty was full blown by 7th grade. He was mouthy for a time, but DH and I worked together to manage him. My child has lots of currency, so I exploited that. During the school day when things were not going so well, DS went to bed and took naps multiple times after being fed a pbj. Gird your loins and be patient. If you are a Christian maybe consider reading Bringing up Boys by James Dobson. With DS, DH really stepped up and helped me because contrary to popular opinion, teenage males really need positive role modeling fathers to help navigate the emotions and bodily changes that they are experiencing. Things do improve, which I am thankful for because I genuinely covet the relationship that I have with both my children.

I have always understood that these kids are like wine and improve with age. Some subjects are never going to be easy so you have to just dig in and consistently encourage, target the areas that continue to improve, accommodate, accommodate, start teaching test taking strategies, and accommodate.

We took a history hiatus and opted for world geography with the Oak Meadow syllabus and TC lectures for 9th grade. Accommodate and select materials that appeal to your student. I prefer to use a colorful history spine and divert from that using WTM recs while keeping an eye on what DS loves, ancient weapons. For 10th grade, DS is picking up at the High Middle Ages, and we are headed to the American Revolutionary War using Spielvogel's Glencoe World History text, TC videos, trade books about weapons, documentaries, snippets of primary sources, The Timetables of History, and History of the World Encyclopedia. In the past, DS followed the WTM recs and kept his info in a 3-ring binder. DS types all his work, so would append to a particular word document as we covered various aspects of history (inventions, mythology, people,etc) and then print up the work periodically. WTM recs for high school are different, which include 50% historical knowledge and 50% Great Books study. SWB's WEM spells out how to conduct the Great Books Study. For historical knowledge, the student reads and then lists important dates, names 2 or 3 of the most important people, names 3 or 4 events that stand out, and selects 2 events, people, or ideas that they'd like to investigate further. I plan on typing up and laminating these instructions for DS. I accommodate DS so he uses audio books with immersion reading where possible, mindmaps his notes, watches documentaries, watches TC lectures, and uses trade books. In the past we have listened to period music, and I expect he will build some Renaissance inventions. Your student could go in a million directions with history.

The Da Vinci Code...Lovely Bones..

Me too! :party:

I have looked at standing desks but never purchased one. We opted for using stools at the kitchen counter. DS would go between a standing and sitting position. DS drove me crazy while sitting on a yoga ball. Prior to purchasing a desk, I would suggest taking your child to OT to determine if any retained prim reflexes are present. DS had an ATNR, STNR, and a partial spinal galant which required specific exercises. He saw a PT for balance, posture, and bilateral issues. He also completed interactive metronome which helped as well. Eta...Atter all the therapies, DS sits now. After a brief Internet search, I see people are making standing desks by hacking product from Ikea.

DS used this one for 9th grade. DS took biology, Elegant Essay, and a logic class outside the home. Other subjects were open and go. We sat down on Monday mornings and reviewed all assignments and expectations. We then discussed how to spread out his work to get assignments completed to meet deadlines. The afternoons were set aside for subjects I taught like math, literature, and whatever helps DS specifically requested.

Who says the you have to homeschool at all? One of my engineering friends pays a tutor to homeschool two of her children, a rising 9th and 12th grader.

Magic Trees of the Mind...This book is old, and I read it 14 years ago. The books discusses brain plasticity and the importance of creating enriched environments for children but not so much the how. I always understood the child's IQ was a cross between Dad and Mom's IQ. For content areas, my kid's explore alongside DH and me. Three nights ago, DH and the kids built a bat house and viewed Jupiter and Venus with our telescope. We listen to audio books, plant gardens, watch documentaries, visit museums, go to ballet shows, play badminton, and build decks together. Yes, my DD was pulling nails during demolition. What book is going to teach you that? Live with them and explore together.

I pulled DS in MS, but it wasn't planned. Homeschooling became an option out of necessity. Looking back, my son should have been pulled sooner from a private classroom, but I honestly believed he was receiving a sound education at the time. Until DS came home for 7th grade, he had never diagrammed a sentence or understood parts of speech. He had barely narrated across any subject, studied Latin, knew no history beyond the US, and had never studied the mythology of any culture. I learned exactly how narrow my son's education was once he was pulled. Making matters worse, DS was removed from his life long friends that he saw on a daily basis. I find it interesting that someone would purposely plan to pull their kiddos during logic stage especially since the grammar stage is so formative in terms of habit training, basic reading, math, language, and writing instruction. If one cares at all about a classical education, placing a child in a ps setting for grammar stage feels counter to me, but I suppose that just depends upon one's goals. We all must meet the individual needs of our family.

What happens when you scribe for him? If he knows the math when you scribe but is struggling with the written output then the issue isn't really math. Have you considered allowing him to use a 10-keypad and reviewing facts using MUS's online drills application? If he is a weak writer you can accommodate with stamps, scribe for him, magnetic numbers, and he could use an OT evaluation.

Yes, stop now and use Ronit Bird e-books, the RS abacus, 10 trays, dominoes, and counters. Make the math light and fun and get him caught up over the summer. MM has never appealed to me or my DS. Use a white board and check out CLE or Developmental math.

We were homeschooling prior to Sandy Hook, but violence was a reason to not enroll our kids in the system. We are not from the area. DH and I were active with the local cub scouts and always present when DS was involved with t-ball and soccer. We were none too impressed with the behaviors of the parents or students that we met.

I have basic questions since he's 40 years old such as, is he functional in his day to day living? Does he cook, clean, pay bills, laundry, and where does he live? Can he hold down a basic job? At 40 years of age, is there a job he wants that requires a minimal set of educational certifications to get him employed? Is that job realistic? How is he paying for the schooling that he receives? All the skills in the educational world don't matter if he is not functional in his interactions with the world around him. Also, can he perform his own online searches for self improvement or is he sensitive?

My children are home for health, worldview, and learning issues.