I'm going to try to jump in real quick in the 20 minutes I have before we start lessons and address your last post to me via this one! I hope I make any sense at all! Reece is resuming ballet class today after a year off and she was up all night last night brimming over with excitement. Should be really helpful considering the reason we took her out of ballet class last year was because she didn't have any emotional control - being tired is really going to help. LOL The reason I don't post much on the high school board asking for help about Austin is because just reading the high school board is so completely overwhelming and disheartening. There is a current thread right now (and one seems to come up every month or so) about how a 4 year degree is essential for success in this economy. How you can't even get in the door without one. And here am I trying to homeschool my kid for whom everything is so hard - the very basics that most everyone else's kids did in 6th or 7th grade, it seems. I feel completely inept and absolutely terrified. I can read posts about following a child's interests and using that to make credits, but I don't know where to begin. My brain doesn't WORK that way. And I have 2 other kids, including another one with more severe special needs. There is only so much of me to go around. I tended to let my NT daughter "teach herself" and I ended up with her test scores falling by 10-20 points this past year, because all SHE wants to do is become a professional dancer and sees no purpose in math or reading or history or science (or anything but dance). Most days I am just trying to get through the lessons and hope someone learns something, and maybe they will be able to remember it tomorrow. And I don't disagree with folks who say you need a 4 year degree now. My husband is 42 and has topped out at his job - he has no degree and he has no desire to get one. I have been looking for a part-time job for 6 months, but I have a teaching degree and have not worked for 15 years. I can't get anyone to call me back at all. But it's just hard to feel like anyone has anything to offer that is remotely helpful. I was going to use SWB's Ancients book for Austin this year but was told it was too hard for a 15 year old with LDs. But nobody offered any other suggestions. The ancients books on Ambleside are designed for middle schoolers, and I don't want to be guilty of dumbing-down our curriculum. So I'm just lost. I don't know which way to turn or what to do. Sometimes folks suggest spending extra years doing high school. He will NOT agree to that - his younger sister is 3 years younger and 2 grade levels behind. Because we held him back once he will already be 19 when he graduates (actually he'll be 18 and 11.5 months because I've agreed to do his graduation in early May, 2 weeks before his birthday). He's already so upset that the guys he knows that are 15 are 10th graders this year and he isn't. Perhaps that's not the best way to handle it, but you know Aspies. My mind just went completely blank. I had a point, I'm sure I did. But now it's gone. I wasn't just ranting. Maybe it'll come back to me later on - gotta get to the table now and start another glorious day of lessons. LOL

I have been having some symptoms, and mentioned them at my last annual exam a few weeks ago. Since I have a family history of early menopause, my NP said it wasn't worth it to draw blood to check hormone levels and to just assume I'm going through menopause (I'm 39 - my mom stopped having periods right around age 40). Since I am not open to any sort of medical treatment for my symptoms (erratic periods and horrific mood swings), I guess there isn't anything to do - except pray for my family - until it's done! LOL

Oh no. I just returned 2 items to CBD via Media Mail (because that's what CBD suggests on their return instructions). I hope they make it there. I really can't afford to be out the $70 for the books.

The more this thread went on, the more I realized that my son is not the sort of kid being discussed. He is definitely not '2e' - he is not gifted. He really, really struggles to learn. He has Aspergers and he has his LDs (that we can't figure out). It seems like most folks have kids who are very gifted, but not in the traditional sense (classroom-type gifted).

Good luck, Wendi! We started high school on August 3rd. We do a light schedule, building up gradually. My son posted on his FB at the end of that week, "Wow! High school isn't nearly as bad as I thought it was going to be." I had to reply, "Glad to hear it, but remember that you're not up to a full load yet! LOL" He replied, "So the worst is yet to come?" Cracked me up! I on the other hand have not slept through the night since we started. I am such a nervous wreck! High school has thrown me for a loop!

:iagree:

I thought perhaps we fit into this category but I'm not so sure now. My son is an Aspie but he's actually stronger in social skills than academics. At least, he's stronger one-on-one. And he's very reliable and dependable. If I ask him to do something, he will do it. Without a doubt, every single time. He loves small children and he is in a rock band. When it comes to academics, I can't figure out why he struggles. He has been tested numerous times and we get lots of "this is a child with processing issues" but we can't figure out that they are because he doesn't test with the standard results of the different processing problems. I love to read what Jenn did for her son and how he got into college with a nontraditional method. But I don't see that happening for my son, if I could even get my brain wrapped around how to DO it. Since Austin has begun 9th grade last week, I have not slept all night long once. I am a wreck. And I feel completely alone. Nobody has a kid like mine and they can't help me figure out what to do. All he wants to do is have a good job so he can move out and live on his own (well, right now he also wants his band to have a record deal and go on tour LOL). Right now he thinks he wants to go to community college and become a mechanic. So that's what I'm trying to do... get him enough math and science so he can go to community/tech college. On a side note, I do have a highly resistant child in Riley. I think she is quite intelligent, but it's hard to see. She took 2.5 hours to do a Horizons Pre-Algebra lesson earlier this week. She argues, screams, questions, debates EVERY. LITTLE. THING. She started Apologia General Science yesterday and she spent an hour telling me how absurd Jay Wile's definition of science is and how she thinks it's insulting to people who enjoy science but who don't come up with laws about the natural world as a result. I suggested that she write her own science textbooks and make lots of money for her family. If we had the money, she would be in private school. She consumes all of my mental and emotional energy. Our public schools are not good, so that is not an option. I'm not sure there would be a sub-group that fits me! LOL

Where would you draw the line on years of publication before you can write about something without a spoiler warning? I have participated in online forums when new books/movies come out in a series and I think they usually opened up spoiler discussion about a week after release.

Gee, thanks, Abbey.

I'm not sure. I mean, technically speaking, these are the new high school graduation requirements for the state as well. At least, I know they are for math. So all students are supposed to have these math classes when they finish high school.

This is a new set of standards. The first students under this requirement will graduate in the spring of 2012.

We are going to shoot for statistics. But he is going to have to work his butt off for the next 4 years to get caught up in math to take the four maths he will need to graduate and go to public technical college in Georgia.

I have one from Pampered Chef that I bought at least 10 years ago. It's wonderful!

I finally ordered on Monday. For me, it was denial. Austin will be a 9th grader this fall and I'm terrified. :( And Riley and I had a really rough school year last year and I'm not looking forward to battling with her again this year. But I finally ordered and was hoping I'd feel better. But I don't. But that's OK! LOL

I just found BetterWorldBooks thanks to Abbey, and they have worked very well. Also, if you are interested, many of the Ambleside books are available for free or very inexpensive on Kindle. My kids just aren't careful enough to use a Kindle for school yet - and they can't have mine! ;)

I'm 39 and have been having periods every 21-25 days for a couple of years now. Then BOOM this summer, nothing. Even though my dh had surgery in 2003, and I simply can't be pregnant because of personal fertility issues, I still took a pregnancy test when I was 2 weeks late. It was, obviously, negative. But still, the wondering. Finally started on day 66 - and it was a doozy! I have my yearly exam next week and I'm going to ask about menopause. My mom was done by the time she was 40, which is less than 9 months away for me.

This book, The Musician's Handbook - A Practical Guide to Understanding the Music Business: http://www.amazon.com/Musicians-Handbook-Revised-Practical-Understanding/dp/0823099709/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1310994772&sr=8-2 All. Summer. Long. He and his band mates are trying to get the funds together to record an EP, and they are trying to figure out how to get more gigs. Sure wish he would read some fiction! LOL He's also read The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars and the 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. Perhaps I should design a "History of Rock and Roll" course for him?! LOL

I just noticed that Open Texture has the complete Elementary Greek set on sale for an incredible price. It says it can be used as self-teaching for high schoolers or adults! Regular price for the 3 levels is $181, but it's on sale right now for $99.95 with free shipping! Here is the link to check it out: http://www.opentexture.com/products/greek/ Hope this helps someone out! :)

I just noticed that Elementary Greek in on sale for a great price at Open Texture! The complete set is usually $181 and is on sale for $99.95 with free shipping! Here is the link to check it out: http://www.opentexture.com/products/greek/ Hope this helps someone!! :)

Absolutely I do! CM meshes more solidly with the educational/developmental theory behind our autism therapy, but there are many areas where I use WTM materials and methods to give me a few extra "step by step" instructions that I can't seem to find in CM's writings. And I find that, as my children get into the upper years of CM (we follow Ambleside for most of our materials), WTM and CM get closer together in terms of expectations.

Austin played travel/select ball for one season and it was a nightmare. I am not a competitive person and it was astonishing to watch folks we had played ball with for years turn into completely different people when we started traveling to tournaments. My husband has coached Austin for many years, mostly because when he first started playing ball, he needed someone to help him with self-regulation (the asperger's thing). But he's turned into a fine coach and does not get as wrapped up in the drama - though it has gotten worse as the boys get older. But the tournaments were on Sundays and my husband is the music minister at our church so he couldn't go. Which left the other coaches in charge, and that wasn't good. And then I had to bring Reece to the ball field with me, which was difficult. Someone also mentioned the expense, which was the nail on the coffin for us. So we went back to rec ball, and it's been wonderful again! In fact, Austin only has 2 seasons left (this fall and next spring) before he ages out of the league and it makes me sad. :( We looked into the local homeschool varsity team, but it's travel on steroids, and lots of money, and Austin's on the small side. And now he has the rock band so it's not quite so sad. Baseball used to be his life, but now it's just a fun thing to do when they don't have gigs! ;)

I had to vote other... we call them "hair bows". I don't even know why! They aren't bows at all. I think when I was growing up we called them "pony tail holders". But now my girls and I call them "hair bows". We're so weird.

Having 2 autistic kids (one being a 9 year old girl) plus another child, this story hits way too close to home. How heartbreaking for that family. And how frightening for families who have children with autism.

Have you ever had a child with autism? My daughter's nickname used to be "I swear she was just right here!" One time I asked a good friend to watch her at the ball field so I could go to the bathroom alone. She was 7 at the time. I reminded the friend that Reece likes to wander in public and you MUST keep your eyes on her all the time. When I came back, she was gone and they were looking for her. "I swear I just took my eyes off her for a second!" They can be incredibly fast. Just a few days ago, my friend's 10 year old autistic son climbed their fence (which is top with barbed wire), went into the neighbor's house, stripped down, and climbed into the bathtub and ran himself a bath. If you haven't dealt with it on a personal level, you really can't imagine.

I'm not anti-college. Not at all. But I am pro-options. Do any of you know what it's like to have a child for whom traditional college is not an option? A child with an LD or other condition that makes the idea of a 4 year degree unrealistic? If not, then you have no idea how disheartening and downright scary it is to think that your child won't even have the opportunity of working hard to support themselves, let alone a family, just because they have been born with some neurological glitches. My son is a great kid and a hard worker. He is kind, loves little kids, and is very polite to everyone. He WANTS to live on his own and have a family. He wants to have a decent job so he can work hard, move out, and support himself. Watching him struggle with school has always been hard for me, but to watch him over the last few years come to terms with his limitations, especially when "4 year degree" is all that's preached to kids these days, has been nothing short of heartbreaking. It's sad to me that there is no middle ground anymore. Austin knows he has a hard road ahead of him as he begins high school work this year. He's willing to work as hard as he needs to, but there are some things that might be beyond him.