Brainstorming here. I'm thinking that children in general with theDX named have different shut down or coping mechanisms when over whelmed. Do you see the same shut down pattern in other anxiety situations? Sometimes it's really hard to sort out what the cause is. For us when I saw shut down, we had a problem solving plan already in place that this child had bought into and saw as likely to work. We did this with the techniques in CPS, collaborative problem solving. I would try to build up multiple positive endings from small frustrations first. My goal was buy in. I wanted my child to believe they could be successful in problem solving. Now when we run into frustrations with school work. We can even talk in the common area of the house. The problem can be named. This page looks overwhelming. It was 20 long division. We cut the page in half for a few days then twice a day half a page etc slowly building up. Today it was a page full of errors. My child was frustrated and tired but was able to say I can't do this. I need help. I smiled and waited until they calmed. I see there's a missing piece you need. Let's find it and rework these six. The other 12 can wait till tomorrow. We had success. Child felt successful. Other tools: A journal of successes. Dynamic communication and waiting pauses from me. Overall, it may or may not be curriculum. Many problems can be solved by communication and breaking frustration into many small successes. Hugs from a fellow traveler

Sequential Spelling done online through Spelling City? We went from ETC to Sequential Spelling. It's quicker for us just to take 10 minutes 4/5 times a week and test the list of words by writing them. The words build from side to presidential. I make it fun by making up silly sentences.

Beyond Five in a Row might work for Lit and history or FIAR. It would depend on the writing ability of each paragraphs for Beyond, sentences for FIAR. MFW history isn't exactly boxed, but it should be able to cover both ages.

EasyGrammar Plus teacher's edition This has a section that lists all of the comma rules and worksheets to practice just comma rules.

We bought a used MALEM through ebay and then resold it on ebay after using it successfully on 2 boys. Feel free to pM me questions.

Just brainstorming. The fellow travelors in the special needs board talk about similar problems. They might could point you in the right direction.

KWO's are best started with a paragraph that's at the super easy level but 5 + sentences. Use anything at hand. Child's encyclopedia. Model the process side by side with your child. Sit next to the child each with a paper copy of the paragraph. Each of you circle 3 important words per sentence. Next day write the words into the KWO/ outline and "read" each other your own paragragh in your own words. The next day type or write the paragraph for the child as they narrate it to you or write as they write. The yahoo group has many free files that helped me get started.

likes: _"cliffnotes" for the history each week. Detailed discussions for D that let me lead a socratic discussion with 30 -45 minutes of work a week on a topic I know next to nothing about. -Read alouds that we all enjoy _quarterly unit celebrations to enjoy and make memories with -integrated geography ready to print and go -integrated vocabulary -flexible writing assignments I can use with IEW Better than others: I don't know. I've only used SL preK, and FIAR before stumbling on TOG. It's better if it meets your goals and needs. I bought in early while kids were in LG. Each year of history is getting used nine times at the minimum. I'm free to focus on high school credits, extra curriculars, job skill analysis etc. We're currently using TOG for our 6th year straight and are in yr 2 our second time. feel free to Pm specific questions.

I guess it would depend on who was behind. If it was my 14 year old who was behind, I'd be looking for that sweet spot. I would want the maximum workload possible while still being efficient and avoiding burnout. Anything out of the house would need to really add to after highschool goals. I'm thinking scholarship goals, work skills, apprenticeships. Anything on the funside would be on the weekend if the other was done. I'd also like to include a 14 year old in planning tentative highschool plan and what they need to get there based on whether they wanted the option of going to college. The main thing that helps me decide how much extra is a twice a year goal planning for each kid. We need to do math 7x a week, spelling 4, writing 4, history 2, science 2 etc., to move forward. Then we schedule out a week and see what's left over. Sometimes academic gives way to "non-academic." An example would be character building from our own internal issues, or a funeral, or learning patience playing with younger kids, or cooking skills. Goals help, Especialy goals made with longer goals in mind.Hugs, Melody

Just brainstorming here. My oldest is 13 and one who might be similar is only 11. So I'm not there yet, just studying and thinking for my crew. I'm thinking I would work on cause and effect. I might start with something more concrete like a factual comparing chart of Plymouth vs Jamestown. This is how TOG does it at the D level. Then explore with, "I wonder why Plymouth had greater success and less starvation." I wonder statements and lots of time with me silent 3+ minutes. Or I wonder how Galileo might have thought differently if he had been born in blank time and been reading blank while looking at a timeline we've been building. In general difficult skills need to be practiced with easier material. In literature analysis with junior high, we start with familiar picture books. In looking through 4 years of TOG at D and R level, I saw a lot of venn work, comparison charts, timelines, plays with philosophers. I'm guessing that all of this concrete work each week prepares the way for the discussion time. I'm just beginning with the 13 year old. I ususally pick one or two connections I want to lead this student to discover. The following week one of these discoveries turns into a paragragh that has a thesis statement and 2-3 supporting points and why these points explain the thesis. Hugs and hope for more feedback as I'm learning here too.

OK, Here's how it's played out for us. Adults pat my kids on the head. My kids speak up and say, "I'd rather shake hands." When they're younger they'd scowl and back up. I supported them even while feeling embarassed for the other adult who didn't have better sense. We would talk later. "I really liked how you handled how Mr. B patted you on the head, or Mrs. H ruffled your hair." You are free to tell people when you don't like something. Obeying rules played out differently. Another parent asked their kid not to run in an area I let mine. It was a younger child. I asked my kids to not run while it was causing a problem for the younger child. My goal is that my kids see boundaries and rules change based on location and people's different needs. summary: Look for when your child is uncomfortable and give them some freedom and support. Look for when your child can apply new rules to the same location to adapt to others needs.

Seconding Alpha Phonics, use it for handwriting copywork of the sentences too. Copy what is several weeks back as review. Use something like Donnayoung.org for working on a problem letter. After all the short a words in alpha phonics start adding in some sight words. google dolch words or 1st and second grade sight words. Miquon math progresses farily fast conceptually and is easy to speed up by skipping mastered concepts and moving on to the next level. It also basically starts at 1st grade. There are probably some other math programs similar. I'd avoid anything that cost $$$ for just K or has a lot of review that may not be needed. FIAR is flexible and one book can flex between 1-3rd grade easily. This is a sweet time to explore together and for Mom to read up on different homeschool philosophies, TWTM, Charlote Mason Companion, I.E. what do I want out of homeschooling and what might fit my family? Hugs, Melody

Bible Monthly Hymn study Daily Memory Work Family goal- to read Bible entirely through every ninety day for those who read well. Small Talks Vol 1 and 2 Missionary Bios Reading Alphaphonics/ Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons with little readers CLE Readers- Monday-Thursday McGuffey Readers-Fridays Read through a family list of important books ( what would you include here for your family) Here's where we use a 4 year history cycle using books from ambleside online, TOG. SL, and All Through the Ages We usually have a read aloud, then the k-2 have a literature or a history chapter book, 3-6 have history and literature, 7th + history 2+ and literature Spelling Natural Speller Sequential Spelling Grammar I am totally undecided, but have leaned towards doing Simply Grammar or Rod and Staff (if I did Rod and Staff I would do alot orally) First Language Lessons 1-2, Sentence FamilY 3rd, Daily Grams 4-8th, Shurley Sentence labeling only 4-6th Writing I am totally undecided on this one! IEW 1-10th Math Mastering Mathematics- M/W/F Singapore Math Tues/ Th Life of Fred Elementary Read aloud for enjoyment and worked out together. We have also enjoyed CLE math grades 3 and 4 so may add that if we hit a block somewhere. Khan Academy, 1/4 mile CD, used Lial's prealg, alg. and alg 2 from Paperback swap Key to Series with Life of Fred Fractions and up. Science Apologia Science scope used for guiding occassional units outside of Apologia. Science Biographies History All Through the Ages- for reference and as a basic guide to add age/ topic appropriate books. Diana Waring CDs and maybe activity books I have also leaned toward using the Greenleaf Guides. Art Artistic Pursuits Music Piano lessons Classical Kids Teacher guides and cd Opal Wheeler Biographies and cd Literature analysis Progeny press guides cd Typing in 5th grade and advanced computer skills in middle school. Tons and Tons of BOOKS! Brenda Some folks here like to be free to follow plenty of rabbit trails, others need a topic or time limit to keep things moving along. I ended up with TOG because I needed to have thoughtful discussions with my 7th grader about how and why events and people in history are related. Do you have a good memory review system? The memory box system I found here has helped us tremendously with verses, poems, and vocab. We love our nonconsumables. They fill a linen closet. It's like Christmas every time I pull out a "new" box of books for the next 9 weeks. The books get read again even though they read them 4 years ago. :drool5: