herekittykitty
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Posts posted by herekittykitty
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I guess I am a little late to the party on this thread but just read all of it, and it sure is an interesting discussion. I have been aware of Cindy's web site through a yahoo group I belong to, and I've found it interesting and useful. I guess I am somewhere in the middle when it comes to therapies and interventions. My DS7 is dyslexic and dysgraphic, with visual processing issues. The 2 interventions we've pursued are vision therapy and the Davis Dyslexia method. We've been very happy with both. I would also consider the visual correction he needed to be a medical issue that needed attention.
I am curious how others view their children's dyslexia - I personally don't see it as a learning disability, but as a learning difference. Cindy I am curious if you would view the non phonics approach of Davis as an intervention? I did not view it that way. We chose it because we felt it honored DS's visual and 3D strengths, so I looked it as helping him access a right-brained curriculum if you will. He is also a much happier child as he really really wanted to read.
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My DS7 also learns really well through stories. The City Creek Press math materials have worked wonders for him. He has visual processing issues, but is an excellent audio processor, so we do lots of audio books and any type of audio story based learning I can find. The stories give the information context, so it is easier for him to remember as opposed to rote memorization.
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Have these been posted here before? I wanted to share because I have found them very helpful. I was actually using a similar approach for reading with my son and it's been pretty successful. I really like how her methods connect a visual image to the word. That fits wonderfully with the Davis method my son did and really draws on his strengths. I often feel like a lone ranger as I really don't work on phonics with my son, yet his reading continues to progress. He isn't very good a word decoding, but he does learn the words visually, based on their size and shape and overall look. I've been wondering if I'm the only one who uses these types of strategies?
Spelling:
Reading:
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Three things are working for us right now:
MUS
Right Start card games (we use in place of timed drills)
City Creek Press materials (we are using Addition the Fun Way book and audio CD plus subtraction clue cards)
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No advice, but he sounds like one smart cookie!
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I recently got the 8gb clip zip and love it! It has separate sections for books and music, which I think is a great feature. If you live near Costco, check them for price. I got the 8gb there a month or so ago for $40 after instant coupon at the checkout. I don't think they have that deal anymore, but thought they still had some kind of promotion making it around $45. That's a great price for the 8gb size.
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My 7 yo is also finishing Alpha and memorizing facts was a struggle. I am not switching from MUS though, as I feel it does an excellent job showing concepts and he loves the hands on blocks. I think he would struggle with memorization with any curriculum.
Like other people have mentioned, I think you have to find the right kind of drill for your child. My son does not like rote drill activities - like Xtra Math and the drill on the MUS web site where the facts are just presented. He also freaks out with anything timed.
I've found 2 things that work for him for fact memorization - Addition the Fun Way from City Creek Press and the card game set from Right Start. He listens to the Addition the Fun Way audio in the car and now remembers all of the math fact stories. He has an incredible narrative memory so this is a perfect fit. We do the card games for fact practice at home, and he likes that waay better than worksheets or computer drill.
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Wow, so happy for both of you! Congrats!
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Also, there is some evidence that dyslexia and autism spectrum diagnoses are incompatible at an anatomic level. So it's possible that one of your son's diagnoses is incorrect.
Could you say more about this line of thinking? I had not heard this before and am curious.
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Just wanted to say thanks for posting that presentation about distractable kids. I really enjoyed it!
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I have both very religious and atheist friends (and family) and many in between too. (FWIW I am in the in between category.)
My observation is that most atheists are fine with whatever other people believe - i.e. they do not feel it is their mission to make other people atheists and take no actions to try to change others. Many very religious people seem to want others to share their beliefs, and may take steps to try to make that happen (ie talking with the person, praying for them, etc.) As many have pointed out, this is usually done out of love or concern, in that person's mind.
Please know I am not saying everyone fits these descriptions, obviously they can't. But I think that is why atheists ask not to be prayed for - it implies they are not okay the way they are and somehow flawed. It's not the praying act that is insulting, it's the view from their friends or family that they need to be changed.
Personally I do not see it as my mission to change anyone's religious beliefs. With regard to our children, we are sharing our beliefs with them but when they are adults, they can make up their own minds and that is truly just fine with me. When they are older I would like them to explore other spiritual and religious beliefs and use their critical thinking skills to choose what makes them happy and able to be their best.
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My DS7 has shared an awareness that he is different than other kids and wishes he could meet more kids like himself. He has dyslexia and dysgraphia and a high verbal IQ. I was thinking that a pen pal who has some similarities might be nice for him. Not to mention it would be a more fun way to practice handwriting. He likes taking anything and everything apart, mechanics/electronics, Star Wars, tractors, camping and cats. Would anyone be interested? I know there is another forum for pen pals but thought I would ask here first.
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Just wondering if anyone here has and/or uses an Alphasmart Neo? I read something about it recently and was intrigued if it might be a good fit for my dysgraphic, totally techie child. I thought it said the newest model has word prediction too.
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We listen in the car a lot. Short trips to the store, library, etc and longer trips if/when we take them. I bought a Sansa Clip Zip mp3 player from Costco then finally sat down and ripped the CDs I had into mp3 format. I loaded the MP3 player up, and in our car it plugs right into the sound system. Works great!
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If you haven't already, you should join the Yahoo group for parents of dyslexic children. Lots of great info there too. Two inexpensive phonics-based programs that I see recommended a lot there are Reading Reflex and ABeCeDarian. You might also look at The Gift of Dyslexia by Ron Davis. The Davis program is pricey as well but you can do some of it at home. Claying letters can help a lot of kids and could give you some idea if the picture thinking approach is a good fit for your child. ITA that you do have experiment a bit and see what your child responds to. My dyslexic 7 yo now reads above grade level, though slowly, and I've done no phonics work with him at all.
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My 7 yo has it. I am still in the learning stages of how to work with it. The biggest thing that is working for us is to clearly separate handwriting practice from writing composition. I have been scribing stories for him. For handwriting practice, I have him copy and/or write on Bright Lines paper which helps a lot. We've also done some FLL minus the actual writing part.
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Just wanted to offer some hugs. Sorry you are feeling down. My 7 yo son sounds very similar to yours. We had neuropysch testing last fall and the diagnoses are dyslexia, dysgraphia, dyscalculia and ADD. So the part about him not writing a story makes total sense to me. My son would have reacted very similarly. You are not doing things wrong at all - you are just trying your best to help him! Hopefully your DH was just in a know-it-all mood. Hang in there and just keep at it!
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We use MUS and are really happy with it. We plan to continue. I did however recently buy the Right Start card games kit, and it's been great. We do the MUS lessons and use the games for more variety in practicing. The games have gone over so much better than drill-type web sites.
The other thing we are using is Addition the Fun Way by City Creek Press. Can't say enough good things about it. We have the book and audio CD and listen to the audio in the car a lot. I admit I was skeptical, but when DS can't remember a math fact, he can remember the story and get the answer.
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My state also allows special education services regardless of enrollment status (in public school, homeschooled, or dual enrollment). Here if you are not dual enrolled with a specific school, you would just contact the district to get started. I do know that when my son went from full time enrollment to homeschool with dual enrollment, I had to get special permission to homeschool him because he had/has an IEP. It wasn't a problem for me, but I'm sure that could depend on the district. I would try to read through the district homeschool handbook if you can, paying special attention to the amount of control they can exert if you accept their services. Also one other thing to consider - my district doesn't do any kind of diagnostics. They gather data over a period of time to determine if a child is discrepant from his/her peers in specific areas. If they are, they are entitled to services. But that is all done without diagnostic labels. I'm not sure if this was what you were looking for, but hope it helps.
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I guess what I am asking is this: am I right to believe that they are just fine the way they are? Personally, I don't really care how long it takes them to get there...as long as they are working at their own pace to get there. Their current reading level is a problem but not a failure on their part or mine. Their writing level is even less on my radar at the moment...I am trying to develop happy, healthy, well rounded little people here, not little scribes. They will write when they are ready. Glad to have the reading help, for sure. Just not in the mood to freak out because they are not able to be "on grade level" (ie, like everyone else) right now. I like them fine the way they are!
I couldn't agree with you more! I have been thinking about this very thing so much lately. IMHO you are not at all wrong to think they are just fine how they are! They will develop in their own time.
This is a bit of a rant, but I have been very irritated by standards lately. Yes, I know they are necessary. But they really box children in to developing on a certain timeline, and no, not everyone does!
I feel similarly irritated when moms of neurotypical kids freak out (on my behalf) if they become aware of my son's handwriting difficulties. Oh my goodness, aren't you worried about how BEHIND he is? Well, it's not great, but he's dysgraphic, so it is what it is! Yes we work on it, but no I'm not freaked out. He is still very bright and a great kid.
Recently a mom friend of mine with kids in public school was lamenting about how BEHIND her DD is in one subject, despite working grades ahead in all the others. She's been working with her nonstop this summer and the poor girl is miserable. All I could think was, really? Are these standards worth stressing your child out? She will get there in her own time.
Okay, end of rant....
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I don't have any great words of wisdom but also wanted to say your daughter is very lucky to have you. I think you will make peace with the diagnosis but give yourself time.
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I totally agree with the pp that what works for one may not work for yours. That's what makes it so hard! My son is 7 and dyslexic, and what worked for us is the Davis Dyslexia program. It relies on the right brain learner's strength of making and manipulating mental pictures. It is not a phonemic awareness program.
If you want to do a phonemic awareness program, some of the other programs I've read that others have had success with are Barton, ABeCeDarian and Reading Reflex. ABeCeDarian and Reading Reflex are relatively inexpensive. You should also look at Dianne Craft's web site - she has some great right brained phonics ideas.
The best advice I can offer is to read as much as you can about all of these approaches. You know your child best, and f you can learn about the various programs, you will hopefully get a sense of what the best fit will be. Trust your instincts. Many of these programs are time and $ intensive, so I wouldn't choose one just based on one or two people saying they worked for my child.
On another note, I personally believe, based on my son and my own research, that many right brained children are labeled learning disabled when in fact, the majority of teaching and curricula is totally against their nature. My son learned to read partially with clay. Seriously. It's not how I learned at all, but IMO it's no better or worse than phonics. What if everyone was taught that way? Well, then my DD would have a learning disability, because she sounds words out, and clay and visual imagery would make no sense to her. Just my two cents...
Good luck with everything!
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It might not, but for some I think the Irlen Lenses are all that is needed. I have a friend whose son uses them and they've been like a miracle for him. You just never know, so like I said I'd do both evals. We are currently paying about $100/session of VT, so I feel your pain! It's been hard to swallow, but it really has been worth it. I would try not to think about everything down the road and just get the evals first. If VT is needed, our place takes Care Credit (interest free credit) and does do payment plans, so maybe there would be options for you.
Should I correct every missed word?-Dyslexia?
in The Learning Challenges Board
Posted
What home_mom described is the Davis model of dyslexia - picture thinking kids. I don't know if it fits all dyslexics but it sure fit mine. The Davis program has kids build clay images for those words that don't have images associated with them - like the, on, because, etc. Sounds weird to left-brainers like myself, but my son totally got it and loved doing it. If you haven't you should look at Davis's book The Gift of Dyslexia.