Bonkers247
-
Posts
108 -
Joined
-
Last visited
Content Type
Profiles
Forums
Events
Blogs
Classifieds
Store
Posts posted by Bonkers247
-
-
40 states, including Hawaii
Singapore
Ireland
Northern Ireland
Canada
Later in the summer I'm going to Germany, Austria, and Iceland.
Singapore was the farthest from home.
-
Here goes:
Oldest will be in 9th but I'll include him anyway.
9th Grade:
Public school for Algebra II, Biology, and Art
Big History Project
Tutor for Spanish II
For English I've picked books, poetry, and two plays for us to work through together. He will also be working through a sentence diagramming book. I am working on what his writing assignments will be but they will be related to the books we read.
Driver's Ed in the spring.
7th Grade:
A highly tweaked Build Your Library for Science and History.
A Fresh Approach to Algebra
For English I have put together a similar program to her brother's. She's doing Analytical Grammar instead of the diagramming book.
A home-grown six-week cooking class.
Co-op classes.
Computer programming with her dad.
5th Grade:
Mostly the same as her sister.
AOPS Pre-Algebra
I found a bunch of books I thought she'd enjoy reading and found some activities/worksheets/writing assignments to go with them from Teachers Pay Teachers.
K:
Shiller Math
Time 4 Learning
Lots of science kits
Lots of reading
Co-op classes
No clue what I'm using to teach him to read.
Pre-K:
Tagging along with big brother
-
We sent our younger two to preschool this year. I agree with everything in your post. We needed to do it, but no one is going back next year. I felt like the cons outweighed the pros for us.
-
2
-
-
I would have thought the $10-15 range except that the OP said she'd prefer special needs or teaching experience. That means this won't be the person's first job and they're likely past college age.
In talking with others it would seem we should be looking for a college student who is maybe planning on going into a teaching career or a retired person who is just looking for something extra to do. I'm not sure which would be the better fit.
-
I have hired help easily for that sort of position.
I listed it as housekeeper/mother's helper.
The reason I listed "housekeeper" as the first thing on my listing was that I didn't want to have a situation where someone only wanted to babysit and wouldn't be productive/helpful when the kids were busy or sleeping or whatever. I always made clear that kids were the first priority, but I expected my helpers to run the laundry or vacuum or wipe down the kitchen, etc, when they were on the clock if the kids were busy and happy. When you are hiring household help, IMHO, the best thing they can do for you (besides the vital role of keeping kids safe and well) is to do anything that can save YOU and your dh time. There's no reason to have paid help "above" doing the crap that you, their pay-er, does day in and day out. If you *ever* want that employee to clean for you, you best make that clear from the get-go, otherwise, eventually you're gonna' be paying the helper to be on FaceBook for hours while your kids are watching a movie . . . In my world, unless you have otherwise already hired out all your routine cleaning, then having a paid person clean for you makes great use of their time . . . to buy you a little more time playing on FaceBook yourself, lol (better yet, reading to the kids, working out, etc.)
In my area, I could easily hire someone great for that role at 10/hr. (Most entry level jobs pay minimum wage here, which is 8.25 now here in WV.) The thing is, you are offering regular, guaranteed hours, on a good schedule.
IME, if you treat employees with respect and appreciation and can offer some flexibility in scheduling, you can have your pick of lots of great folks. I successfully hired 4 household employees over the last 12 years, and none left my employ until they moved cross country, had a family medical (long term) situation come up, or I no longer needed their help. All 4 are still friendly and/or now are good friends (even the two who moved across country). The trick, I think, was simply treating them respectfully. Low wage earners with low skill levels are often treated like cogs in a wheel in their work, so if you can treat them like an appreciated and vital part of your household, they will love working for you.
If you can make it "mom friendly" (or grandma-who-takes-care-of-grands friendly) by having the hours only during school days, then you'll have lots of great applicants to choose from, especially if you can offer some flexibility for the employee to take off for sick-kid, etc, issues. I needed people year round, but I was able to at least let folks schedule their shifts during school hours when school was in session, and that allowed me to have more choices than I would have if I was totally inflexible in the hours.
Be sure to take the vetting/hiring process seriously. Take a couple weeks to advertise and get a dozen or more reasonable applicants. Choose carefully. Call all their references and at least their last 2 employers.
Since a big part of your job will be driving, I'd be sure to require a clean driving record and I *would* check it. I'd also check their criminal background and do a credit check.Be sure to decide and make clear how you are going to handle sick days, your own family days when you travel, holidays, etc. You might want to offer a limited number of paid hours off for sick days, or not, but that's up to you. Whatever you do, just be super clear. In your case, I'd suggest using HOURS of paid leave (maybe 1 hour paid off for every paid 20 hours worked would be reasonable, IMHO, to start with). And count up how many weeks/days you won't need help, and specify that (with a range) ahead of time. I.e., if you specify that you'll designate up to 8 calendar weeks per year that you will not need/want help, and that you will give at least 4 weeks notice ahead of time, and that these weeks will not be paid. For some folks, if they know they'll get several weeks (even unpaid) off at the holidays and summers, they'd love it, but for others, that would be a real hardship. In your case, I'd suggest specifying that any cancelled (by you!) shifts/days with less than 4 weeks notice will still be paid (without coming out of their paid leave if you offer any), but any shifts (single days or entire weeks) cancelled with at least 4 weeks notice are unpaid, up to, say 40 shifts/days per year (8 weeks). Whatever you do, make sure it is simple and clear.
If you are paying under the table, then it's easier to get away with low pay (minimum wage + up to a couple more dollars), because some people (undocumented immigrants, folks collecting SSI or other subsidies based on low/no income, etc) will only be willing to work under the table.
If you are going to report this as "legal" income (which I would do in your shoes given the number of hours you are talking about), you'll have to spend a little (maybe $500 to get set up and another $100-or-so per quarter if you pay the CPA to do the filings for you) to get all set up with an Employer Tax ID and figure out withholdings, FICA, workers' comp, unemployment insurance, etc. -- these things vary by state. I'd find a CPA or employment lawyer to help you. Then remember you'll pay 7.5% FICA on top of the wages . . .
IME, I would pay legally from the get go on anyone you expect to pay more than $1000 or so in a year. If you start under the table, then when you later decide you need/want to be on the right side of the law, there is a good chance that your employee will either quit or expect a LARGE raise (as in 30% or more -- as they'll want their after tax income to remain unchanged). This can be a big problem, so I'd be legal from the get go on a regular long term employee.
Thank you for taking the time to type all of this out. It's very helpful to hear from someone who has done this before.
-
1
-
-
you need to hire a Mom
:laugh:
That's what I'm telling people. I need another me.
-
2
-
-
It sounded like you wanted someone to help with teaching the kids in addition to around the house stuff.
Are you wanting someone mainly to help with household chores and cooking?
The main things are the chores, cooking, and errands (grocery shopping, etc.) I may need some help entertaining my two little boys while I'm working with the older kids with school but we'll see how that goes. I'm really trying to think through what I'll need help with the most. I'm hoping trying to answer questions here will help me clarify things a bit so keep asking them, please.
-
1
-
-
Job description-wise, that sounds like you are looking for a part-time nanny. If you are able to be a bit flexible with your scheduling to work around their school schedule, a college student might be ideal for the position.
I've always thought a nanny is someone who deals mostly with the kids. I am planning on doing most of that. Is there another term for what I'm wanting or does the term nanny still apply? I want to be as clear as possible in the job description.
-
Wanting the experience with special needs kids or teaching is going to up the expected pay rate, regardless of where you live. Is the person going to do all of the cooking, cleaning, shopping, shuttling kids? Or just some of it, as they support you in getting things done? Will you be present most of the time, with them as a support person? Or will they have authority over the kids? All of that should factor into job description. In a low cost of living area, without the special needs or teaching experience, probably around $15/hour (assuming this above board and you are doing taxes, etc since this is not just an occasional babysitter). With experience in special needs or teaching, you'll pay more.
They would be more of a support person. I will be around most of the time they are here. I'm not sure how to go about things as far as taxes go but we have someone prepare our taxes so I will be asking her what we need to do on that front.
-
I've posted before about what my next school year looks like. My dh and I have decided to hire someone to help me out. I need someone who can cook, clean, and shop, with a good driving record to help drive the kids to and from activities and appointments, experience with special needs kids or teaching is a bonus. It should be about 4-5 hours a day, Monday through Friday. We're in a fairly low cost of living area and also need to figure out what a reasonable hourly rate would be for this. Any input?
-
I don't like sand so bought some cheap rice for dd at that age. She could only play with it on a splat mat and had to clean up her mess. We had laminate floors but you might need to limit it to just tile areas like the foyer.
Lots of colored pencils (none of mine ever liked crayons) and blank paper. Dd would sit in front of the abc wall chart and copy the letters.
Kumon books were awesome! R&S PreK wkbks were loved, too. I think we used A, C, and the cut and paste ones only. She did them each twice!
Lots of art stuff- stickers, etc. and let him go at it.
LEGOS!!!
PlayDoh
Computer Stuff:
www.starfall.com. They have a math one now but it isn't free I don't think.
K12 has a fun interactive set of things but you have to pay $250 for 12 month access. They do have monthly plans.
Time4Learning is fun too and costs much less.
pbskids.org
Videos:
Letter Factory
Magic SchoolBus
Wild Kratts
any other science ones your library has
Blue Planet
Planet Earth (but you do see animals eating other animals)
Life of Birds
Can you tell I have science fiends?
HTH!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This is a great list! Thank you for your recommendations.
-
moon sand
playing in the sink with various things
Kumon workbooks (the cutting and paper craft ones are fun, but some of that may require help)
Letter Factory videos
magnatiles
Is moon sand fairly neat? I can image it ground into my carpet and stuck to my blinds...
I have the original Letter Factory dvd somewhere...
He loves the magnatiles at the children's museum.
I'll have to see what Kumon workbooks he might like.
Thanks for the suggestions!
-
Wow, looking at your signature, you have quite the range!
It's never dull here, that's for sure!
-
1
-
-
My 5yos liked these last year:
Rush hour Jr
Snap Circuits Jr (I explained the 1st few times, then he went to town with them, at the table with us, under my eye)
Zoobs
Bunch'ems
Tons of "games" I printed off/made from teachers pay teachers, etc (animal sort by habitat, rhyming words)
maze books
dot to dot (1-100 book from amazon)
tanagrams (put magnets on the back and use a cookie tray)
Pattern blocks and building challenge cards (check pinterest, tons of free printables)
playing with a scale and weighing things (I have this bucket scale: http://smile.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Primary-Bucket-Balance/dp/B000296LRK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1463337509&sr=8-1&keywords=learning+scale and these weights, http://smile.amazon.com/Hexagram-Weights-Set-LER-4292/dp/B000URFT3G/ref=pd_sim_229_1?ie=UTF8&dpID=41KAs-b4w6L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=0G1FVA43MA7SJM7ZGH9D )
These all look like things my son would love! His birthday is coming up soon and I think I know what he's going to get!
-
You can clone yourself by having your insurance or whoever is paying for your ds' ABA provide an ABA tutor. Some kind of in-home provider who is there for chunks of time. Ours is coming 3 hours, 3 times a week. And then the behaviorist comes weekly. That gives me chunks where I can deal with other stuff, run an errand, whatever.
Just because you're at home doesn't mean you have to do it all yourself. It IS more than you can do alone. If you can expand your team, that would be good.
Btw, maybe the behaviorist for the ds3 can come to your home and sort of make the overall flow work better and help everyone, kwim? If your insurance will cover it, obviously.
I'll have to look into my options with the ABA. This one is new to me. I'm familiar with speech and OT but dd10 hasn't needed a behavioral therapist. Thanks for giving me ideas on what to ask for.
-
1
-
-
:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:
I think your mindset as far as making it all fit in is that the therapies take a number one slot in the calendar and the academics are fit in around those. I would try to get as many therapies for as many kids combined on days/times as possible and if there is someone in your life (grandma, friend) who can take one of the dc to a routine therapy appointment, take advantage of that. When I was in a similar position, my father took my son to his therapies. I attended important meetings, but my dad took him to the weekly therapies, and it was a huge help to me.
Re: grieving, that is part of the SN process, and I know you know that. I don't know that it ever really goes away completely. For me, it comes and goes in waves. I allow myself to be sad about my SN kid's struggles and my kid with a birth defect's struggles. These are life-long things that will affect them. Nothing can change that. Parenting these two has changed me and will continue to. You are in good company, mama. :grouphug: I will say that it is impossible to predict your ds3's functioning in ten years at this point. He will be a completely different child. Not to say that he will not have things to overcome, but he will be in a completely different place in his functioning because he is so little right now.
Thank you for your encouragement. I wish I had someone to help take them to appointments but I have no family here and my friends are all working moms. My dh might be able to help some because he works from home but I can't see that happening too often.
I'm hoping to get appointments grouped together but it seems highly unlikely to happen. Right now it's at least looking like Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. I don't know when ds3's speech and behavioral therapy appointments will be yet. There is some concern that insurance won't pay for the behavioral therapy until he's 4. I'm confused about that because he needs it now. He's so young. Doesn't that make it easier to change the behaviors?
Can you tell I'm a little overwhelmed right now trying to figure all of this out?
-
Two years ago my DD10 was diagnosed autistic (high-functioning) and ADHD. We were also told she is exceptionally gifted. She goes to the autism center to see a counselor and a psychiatrist. She is supposed to be getting speech therapy, too, but the speech therapist quit and they haven't hired a new one yet. Speech therapy should resume next month or the month after.
A month ago I took DD12 and DS3 to go through testing. DD12's results came back saying she is gifted but has severe anxiety. She sees a psychologist every other week and a psychiatrist every other month.
DS3's results show he is moderately autistic and will need OT, Speech, and Behavioral Therapy.
I plan on homeschooling all five of my kids next year but am really struggling with how it is going to work with so many different appointments. Any tips on how to make it work?
Also, I'm still reeling from DS3's diagnosis. He's a lot worse off than I expected. His social deficits seem insurmountable. I am grieving. Any advice on dealing with my emotions over his diagnosis?
-
I will need to keep my kindergartner occupied while I work with his older siblings. I'm looking for lots of educational toys, games, and videos for him for next school year. He's the type of kid that gets into trouble if not occupied. Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
-
1
-
-
Here's the thing. You are trying to find the ideal for each of your children while creating a life that is wildly not ideal for you. That, ultimately, is the least situation for your children.
I am saying the next thing coming from a family which had many profoundly gifted people. Your son is more than old enough to be bored in a class without failing. He can do it and be okay. All of the highly gifted folks in my family did it and are okay.
Even your rising kindergartener can do it. If he can go on a bus to school, I think you should send him and your high schooler. One year of boredom will not destroy them.
You must take care of yourself. You are the heart of the family. And if you teach them that their giftedness trumps your mental health, that is a terrible lesson.
I hear you and I do understand what you're saying. I am trying to figure out my limit. I think I can manage if I can get the appointments all on one day. We'll just homeschool at the autism center that day. I'm already trying to think about what I have planned for homeschool next year. The history/science plan I have for my daughters can be stretched to two years easily. I realized last night that it really doesn't hurt my oldest if we take longer to get through his stuff as well. He will be doing DE his junior and senior years so he should get plenty of credits for high school. Some of the literature I am using for dd12 can be used with ds14. Obviously I would expect a higher level of thinking in his answers but it should work. I'm really only responsible for teaching three of his classes. Any more than that and I think I'd go crazy. I need lots of fun and educational things for the little two to do on their own. I really only have about a hour to work with the kindergartener. I'm looking into toys, games, and videos for him and his little brother will just tag along. I purchased fairly independent programs for math for the girls so I'm hoping I won't need to spend too much time with that. The ten year old won't need any help from anybody on math.
Sorry that this is a bit rambling.
-
1
-
-
A few thoughts:
1. I would try to switch the kids in to the same providers (i.e.--speech for your 10 yo and 3 yo at the same facility at the same time), likewise get everyone seeing the same psych. See if you can get a set schedule going. You have way too many appointments and needs to have any type of sizable chunk of time to homeschool as life is currently set up.
2. I'd let go of ideal. You need to triage needs. Be flexible. If services can't come to you, can you put them into an educational setting where they can receive them? We recently relocated in part because I was spending way too much time in the car driving to appointments. I'd been making the drive since 2009, and the stress and expense of it all became too much.
3. There's nothing wrong with being bored and gifted. Frankly, developing a rich inner life is key to survival. Find niches of time for them to pursue their interests, but learning to persevere through boredom is the key to surviving college, grad school, and much of working life. :)
I am really focusing on #1 right now. This has been a process but all services except one will be at the same location. I have informed their psychiatrist that there is no way I can handle all of the appointments being on separate days and times. The problem is that this is really the only place for autistic kids to receive services and they are extremely busy. I am hoping they will work with me but right now I travel 30 minutes each way three days a week. I have had a request in to move an appoinment since January and it hasn't happened yet. I know I need to be patient but I really need everything on one day. That will free up 4 hours a week of driving.
-
I would make the high schooler decide between full time homeschooling and full time high school, or possibly just decide on full time high school for sanity's sake. The three classes are frustrating but not a deal breaker to me because he is entering 9th, not 10th.
Then, instead of dh driving him there, he can take over one appointment per week.
Like Storygirl, I would consider putting some of the other kids in school for the year as well. I would lean toward the ones with autism, especially for the youngest, because we have some good programs here. If you don't have good programs, I'd probably send the kinder to school, particularly if he can ride the bus. The one with severe anxiety probably needs to stay home for sure.
Basically, I would sit down and write out a few different scenarios. What does the schedule look like if Kid A and Kid C go to school? What if Kids B, D, and E got to school instead? What are the biggest pros and cons of each scenario? It can help to see everything in black and white, as opposed to having it all swirl around in your head.
Good luck! You have your plate full no matter what.
I have thought of different scenarios. Full time public high school, as they are willing to deal with my son, does not meet my educational goals for him. He is gifted and putting him in classes he's already taken will probably result in failing grades out of boredom. His Spanish II for next year will be a tutor twice a week. She comes to us. That will help take a little of the load off.
Dd12 cannot handle the stress of public school. Period.
Dd10 is exceptionally gifted but behind socially because of the autism. There is no where to put her where her needs will be met.
Ds4 has been bored out of his mind the last half of preschool. He is most likely gifted as well. He would be miserable in public kindergarten. I can see putting him in a Montessori school but there are no buses and I'm looking at taking him and picking him up every day. That is not sustainable for me. I'm trying to be home more, not less.
Ds3 going to preschool creates the same problem that I had this year. Three days taking him and picking him up. Not gonna happen.
-
I'm confused and hoping someone can explain something to me. If I'm not putting the kids in school what good will going through the headache of getting an IEP do me? I thought it was just for public school use.
-
FWIW, most high schools will allow a student to test out of math courses and that is exactly what I'd ask for, for both geometry and algebra. No high school I know will simply accept that the student completed them without some form of placement testing. Email the head of the math dept and ask! I would not take the word of a counselor. I'd be shocked if they didn't allow end-of-course testing - they have kids moving into the school at various grades all the time. If they agree, definitely have him prepare for the test - find out what text the school uses (Common Core? the CC sequence adds some topics to traditional alg 1; ask the math department person what text - teacher emails are usually available on the school's website).
I have spoken with the head of the guidance department and the registrar. He is not allowed to take any tests to prove mastery. It is only because he is homeschooled. They would let him if he was transferring from another school but not if he's homeschooled. They are very unfriendly, even hostile, toward homeschoolers.
-
1
-
-
I agree.
What 3 classes are they wanting him to repeat? I think it's probably fine to let him repeat the classes if that's what's necessary. I think the only area where I would be upset is being forced to repeat Algebra. I would let all the other classes go under these circumstances.
If it's Algebra, I would be fighting to simply have him placed in Geometry. It doesn't matter whether he has the Algebra credit; math credits taken in high school are all that matters. Do they have an end-of-course exam he could take to prove mastery? Would they be willing to look at ACT math scores? Would they be willing to accept accredited high school credits from other institutions? It would be a hassle, but theoretically, he could take an accredited Algebra class this summer in order to get on track with the school.
They want him to repeat Geometry, Earth Science, and Spanish I.
wayfair return--anyone btdt?
in The Chat Board
Posted
I just returned something. They do not pay return shipping but other than that it was painless.