bumping b/c I'm interested too :)

thank you, Hunter. I needed to hear that.

I normally have all my curriculum planned out for September by February, not this year! I am stumped and need suggestions, for everything. This year has been very hard on me. I hoped for a fun year this year, but it's been rough. Let me see if I can quickly summarize my situation and my needs: Kiddo #1 - 9 years old going into grade 4. He is having some testing but is likely gifted w/ a LD of written expression. He also has behavioral issues which are also being assessed (has dx for ADHD, SPD and anxiety but may have ASD). He is short fused when it comes to school work, anything that appears difficult or time consuming will set him off. He wants lessons that he can get through quickly. He is unable to work independently as he can not understand written directions. He hates workbooks but will tolerate them if it means he can get his work done quickly. He is very creative and loves to write stories, but only when it's his own idea. He loves using technology. He really enjoys being read to. Due to his behavioral issues, he is working well below his potential. Kiddo #2 - 6.5 years old going into grade 2. He is a very busy/active boy. Hyperactive perhaps but can focus well when he wants to. He's a hard worker and a fantastic reader who is many years ahead in terms of literacy, he needs some work w/ vocabulary and math isn't his strong suit but he's still doing well. He wants to work independently and likes to figure things out on his own. He enjoys workbooks, programs w/ lots of manipulatives often distract him. While he loves reading, he can not sustain much attention when being read to so our read alouds need to be kept short. I want to combine these 2 kids as much as I can but they are totally different so it's hard. My oldest boy wants school to be done from start to finish in about an hour. My other boy could probably work most of the day. I'm looking for suggestions for everything. Next year will be our 4th year homeschooling and I still don't feel like I've found the right program for us. Rightstart is too spiral, MCT too figurative, AAS too distracting, TT is ok but not perfect, LLTL is good but too much read aloud that my kids aren't paying attention to. R&S spelling has been good b/c #1 can get it done quickly and I do believe it is sticking w/ him despite his LD. We've enjoyed SOTW, Artistic Pursuits and surprisingly R&S when used orally (we've used their Health and manners books). I'm finding my oldest takes so much of my energy that we've had little time for the fun stuff this year. He really enjoys history and science but everything is a battle. I don't want to battle. How can I make school fun? Ideally, I'd like to throw LA and math away and spend a year focussing on history, science and art but that would be bad...right? So...all that said. What do I do? Kiddo #1 really struggles w/ writing so I feel that is where our focus always is but he's literally made zero improvements. I'm so thankful that kiddo 2 can work well independently b/c #1 usurps all my attention. There is also a #3 and a #4 in tow, #4 has some development and weight issues so there are lots of scheduling interruptions due to appointments and such so I feel like we are always just treading water. I have a budget of $2000 for the year. I may also have extra money for an iPad if something like that would be beneficial. If you've read all this...you are amazing :) Thank you!! Please please please give me some advice!! I can't do another year like this year, I'll go crazy or have to put the kids back in school. One or the other. This year was bad, bad, bad. :cursing:

There is a screening tool that I brought into my ped, she found it very helpful. For some reason, I can't copy and paste it but if you google "Sohn-Grayson online" it should come up.

Thanks for the encouragement. I spoke w/ the psychologist who is doing the psych-ed and she said she will definitely redo the ASD assessment if she feels it's necessary. I am sending in more documentation from organizations who have seen my son in social settings and witnessed his quirky behavior. He may behave alright one on one w/ the psychologist but he is not ok in a group of kids. I hope we get better answers this next time. Next appointment is coming up in June/July. Our school is lodging a complaint regarding the way we were treated by the psychiatrist. It seems they feel it's not cool to dismiss parent's concerns regarding their children's inept social behavior as a "lack of practice due to homeschooling"!!

I think you are right to be looking into this. She sounds very similar to my son who just turned 9 whom we are seeking an ASD dx for. I have a post in this section entitled "what could this be", you can check it out to see what our journey has been and see if you see any similarities in your dd. I would encourage you to sit down and write out all your concerns. I made a document that I brought to my ped w/ all my son's social, emotional, educational and physical concerns. I also documented his prenatal and early developmental history and brought it all in to my ped. She took it very seriously. I think if you go in prepared, w/ your concerns all on paper they understand that your concerns are serious. Parents know their kids. They know when something is up. If you think something is different about your child, well then you are probably right. Have you read the Tony Atwood book?

Thank you everyone, I've been feeling pretty rotten but I did expect this. In my area, autism comes w/ big funding dollars and I'd been warned that the government does not like handing out diagnoses. I was not pleased w/ the evaluator and am glad I didn't have to pay for it. He didn't look at any of the supporting documents I brought in, he forgot our names, he kept cutting us off and he had obviously not looked at our file. He also barely spent any time w/ our kid Not good enough to get a full picture of his behaviors. I'm really disappointed. I'm dealing w/ family now who are all "I told you so" and that makes this all that much more worse.

Another update....we had his government funded assessment and it was a joke. The psychiatrist spent 30 minutes w/ my son and judged him to not be ASD despite the interview strongly suggesting otherwise. He said my son was too well behaved and creative. He caught him on a good day. We were told his social problems are due to him not having practice socializing since he's homeschooled. He told us to put him in programs and have play dates. He told us to put him in school. The psychiatrist obviously thinks we live in a homeschooling bubble where we don't leave the house or invite others in. He is mistaken. The dx we got was ADHD-unspecified (despite him telling us that he doesn't meet the criteria for ADHD), GAD, SPD, giftedness and a LD. He didn't test for giftedness or LDs. While he was conducting the ADOS he told my son that he needs to go back to school. I'm not impressed. I think the clinician is biased. We have a psycho-ed coming up in a few months and will ask the psychologist for a full evaluation. I want a second opinion.

Update: I took my kiddo to meet our new doctor. She got to experience him full throttle. She dx his vocal sound as a tic and is sending us to a ped for further evaluation to see if an assessment is recommended. If the wait is anything like it was w/ our older son, we'll be seeing the ped in about 3 months. She asked me to compose a list of concerns, which we did. It all has an ASD flavor. We'll see what our ped has to say. I'm feeling exhausted and overwhelmed.

Handwriting is a big issue here too. The only handwritten work I require of him is copywork. I scribe everything else. He enjoys writing his own stories on the computer, though his keyboarding skills need a lot of work!

Great, thanks for the suggestion! Anyone else?

We did it this year and I'll never do it again. The only exception is that I would have a lesson on a Friday morning as we don't do school on Fridays.

Just as the title suggests, I'm looking for a gardening book written for kids. I'm looking for something for my nearly 9 y/o, something colorful and interesting that he can read by himself. TIA!!

Thanks, CPSTAnne. I will update and feel free to update too. I'd like to know how things go w/ you too. I had a discussion w/ one of the SE people at our school and she agreed that we are seeing some red flags but suggests that we wait until after our first son's assessment is complete before proceeding w/ this next guy as it could be the same thing just presenting in a different way. She also pointed out some sensory issues that I wasn't even aware of. Our resource teacher has also noticed a change in his behavior and ways of relating so I feel reassured that I'm not nuts. My family is always downplaying the situation and suggesting it's something as simple as being a middle child, but I don't think so. I'm meeting w/ a new NP tomorrow so I will probably let her know that I'm concerned. Our oldest son's assessment is next month so we will go from there.

I get it. I totally get it. :grouphug:

I think you have a good plan. What you are describing sound a lot like my kiddos who've had reflux and food allergies. But like others have said, it could be something else. Good idea to have it investigated. What are her poops like? I found my kiddos allergy poop to be yellowish, mushy (sort of scrambled eggs like), sometimes mucousy. Very foul smelling.

btw, there is a lot more going on then just that. It is one of the pieces, but not the whole puzzle. I'm feeling really judged here.

Our appointment is scheduled. It's in April.

The length of time is mainly due to some evaluations we are having conducted on our child as he is being assessed for autism. My dh wants to be off until our son's dx is determined and we get settled in our new reality. It's not to just hang out.

As a mom to a small baby, if her rate of growth is dropping centiles I would investigate. What doctors have you seen so far, what have they had to say?

I am looking for some feedback as my hubby has hit break point at work and wants to take a paid stress leave. We are both struggling to keep things together and it wouldn't surprise me if we are both suffering from depression (I have unmedicated PPD). He has 5 months of paid sick time. He wants to take 3. My fear is that 3 months off won't change anything and then he'll be right back to rock bottom with most of his sick time drained. My mother keeps advising me to encourage him, but I am completely stressed myself. I try to be encouraging, but I've got my own issues that I'm trying to deal with. I can't do it all. I've always been the sort who just sucks it up and keeps on trekking, and my husband is the same way. But now, it just feels impossible. Advice?

This about sums up the negatives for me as well, but I will also add that spending so much time on just 1 area just about bored me to death. After 20 weeks of animals, I never want to see another animal again. The kids haven't minded that though, just mom. I have almost finished the Bio level, all we have left is plants and then we'll probably move on to something else. Not sure what at this point but I might let science be interest led, or I might try Sonlight. I just don't know. OTH, science did get done. So that is a huge plus. They say the best curriculum is the one that gets done and this one did. But I stopped doing the cut and paste narrations and instead just had lots of discussion. I also only did an experiment here and there when it seemed to fit b/c it often made no sense (or didn't work!).

I so hear you, sister! I am in the same boat. Life is crazy and I can't stay afloat much longer. ETA: My coping mechanisms are shopping and wine. Not very healthy, I know. I have unmedicated PPD. I need to go back to my doctor cuz I'm really not doing great.

Thank you for the feedback! I'd love to hear from more users :)

Hits: TT3 R&S Spelling 3 Phonics Pathways is still tried and true to us SOTW 1 (w/ the audiobook and activity guide) LLVY LLtL Leading Little Ones to God Misses: RS C just wasn't cutting it for my older boy. I'm using B w/ my younger and so far it's ok Sadly MCT didn't work for us. My kids are just too literal thinkers.