The spelling teaching is folded into the whole program. The whole program was the best thing I could of done for my oldest. If spelling is all your looking for I think other programs might be a better choice. Stevenson is pretty good at sending samples if you ask for them.

Dreambox is well liked around here... but my kids already love Math.

We used a section from book 3 when dd was working through book 1 with no problems. It was helpful for dd to be able to spell the words she was trying to use in her writing.

I've been happy with other hearbuilders products. You might get better feed back in the learning challenges board.

My little girls are hard of hearing/deaf, adopted at 4 and 3 unDX recovering from large developmental delays. My eldest is a very unique learner and over laps some autism traits. For my kids it takes time to learn the patterns of school/curriculum. MP workbooks simple (blunt) pattern to their layout is similar through the levels. For most subjects a days work is on the back and front of pages (page 2 & 3) in workbooks making it possible to lay it out and see all the work at once. Two of my kids loose track at page turning so this is great for us. Each subjects lesson is laid out in the same way minimizing frustration from change of patterns common in other curriculum (like done to create interest). Discussions and questions can be taken deeply or simple as the particular child needs. We stagger the start of different subjects so our weeks looks nothing like MP plans. Our school year is around 40 weeks which makes it easy to supplement and possible to take the time a struggling child needs. My Jr K doesn't transition between subjects well so she does 2 to 3 lesson of the same subject and ends her school day. My Kinder is my most challenging child, she doing better than I imagined, once she got the pattern. We still have melt downs from gaps in her knowledge but it not the curriculum. Our read-alouds are selected from MP lists but not their order, one picture book and one chapter of a chapter book a day. My kids favorite right now is The Saturday from the 3rd grade list. 1st is an after school extra in our home. 2nd is my normal child who doesn't like writing but is doing more than surviving. My eldest was given choices from MP curriculum to make a core. Her choices prove the strength of MP components for special needs kids. She is taking most of the 3rd grade stuff at double pace because she really wanted the Greek Myths study. We added large sections of memory work for her and hope to have her on MP grade level in less than 2 years. (Currently old 4th or very young 5th) Astronomy, Latin and Math are her favorites. (She does have the maturity and Latin background for FFL) DD is a perfectionist and out grown melt downs when she'd find out she had a spelling mistake. We use a spiral notebook for working on answers that I correct and she copies into the workbooks. Quite time with books is also required daily in our house. My Dh was right that the move to MP would free up my time (lesson planning). Part of the reason I found WTM was I want a beautiful education for my kids. The problem for us was my custom plans were better planned for my special kids and my normal child was missing out. He likes flying under the radar and everything comes easily for him. DH can take over the core teaching for every child at the drop of a hat. (Something that couldn't happen before) Everything I created is still usable for following children as a supplement. I rotate through my kids with lots of one on one time during the school day. School for us starts around 9 and doesn't finish until about 5:30 for me with Astronomy and Christian Studies readings happening before bed once a week. Jr K may take 1 1/2 hours 3 days a week plus hours of detail coloring of her finished pages. Kinders picked up her speed recently but won't stop unless little sister is done. She currently getting more supplements. 2nd is my only child that likes wasting time. A timer is set and if he waste his time he gets homework and an earlier bed time. (Favorite excuse right now is he's tired) My eldest has set high goals for herself but learned/learning that she does her best work when she has breaks. (I allow because she tends to use them reading aloud to little sisters) This child hyper focuses so breaks minimize her frustrations. Eldest and 2nd could finish their work in less 4 hrs if back to back. We hit brick walls from time to time and regroup. I haven't finished Simply Classical as my time is spent consuming books on teaching the deaf to read, Helen Keller and ASL. What Cheryl has done for her kids sounds wonderful. And I like her daughter's poetry.

MP is the first and only boxed curriculum I've ever used. Before I piece custom plans for every child in a WTM fashion. Dh liked what was going on but felt like missing the idea of my day to day plans. We are using MP as a core with our choice of Math and (Science for upper grades). Currently we are using Jr K, K, parts of 1st, 2nd, 3rd with 4th lit & First Form Latin. There is a change from 2nd to 3rd but MP products still have the same simple layout. The levels flow nicely together and don't seem to have large jumps. Each level is designed to be challenging but over the top. The program is easy to supplement but does require it. I'm amazed at how well this program is working for our special needs kids.

Friends that did this recently had the judge add it to court paper work at the time of adoption. This sped up the process as government agency seem to move faster with a court order. 12 to 18 weeks seem to be the going time table. This is a nightmare if the childs SSN has already been compromised but it can and should be done. The down side for the child is that their SSN is not issued in their birth year causing issues for some safety systems in place. The child will likely have to get SS to verify their number for opening bank accounts. Some states use these check systems for drivers licences so the child will likely have an extra hoop to jump. Many SW aren't up on rights and options of adoptive parents. The process to meet the new requirements can cost and be a hassle.

My husband is active military on a joint base. The civilians that are mission critical for him are paid out of a different branch so they are all off. Not good...

Rosie, my training differed due to having both hearing and non-hearing children. It's part of the learning curve to be able to talk and not ruin your ASL grammar. ASL grammar came naturally for me and I struggle at times with English grammar. It's like listening to someone go back and forth in two languages with different grammar structures and not ruin them both. I'm guessing few master it. We've moved 3 times since DD diagnosis and every area deaf culture differed greatly. Enjoy and learn the culture in your area. DD has a hard time with deaf jokes not working everywhere.

In hard of hearing culture, perhaps, but full Deaf? In the US many of the deaf community read lips very well. This helps them correct and encourage people that are learning ASL. It has nothing to do with listening, just gives them add context. You do stop speaking about the time you've mastered the basics of ASL.

Every area going to have their own take on signs so think of it as an accent. Many signs will differ greatly from what is formally taught so be willing to adapt. My deaf DD (5) get very frustrated when adults or kids try to get her to match Sign Times signs. Finger spelling take a shape so slowing it down can be very hard and confusing. Practice in a mirror to minimize hand bouncing during signing. Many deaf don't want to mess with people who have a quick lived interest in sign. Note commitment in deaf culture looks like pure over the top stubbornness in our culture. Communication come before time in deaf culture. Living ASL has it own grammar structure. Unless told otherwise speak when you sign because it helps maximize communication. It's a large learning curve but worth it. I was in your shoes when DD was diagnosed. I didn't have the hoop of commitment because I'm a mom but I did have to watch friends go through it.

Anyone got any good resources? Most of the ones I have are on flight behaviors. Off handed comment made more since than what current therapist (OT and speech) are thinking. DD5 is making great progress but I think the reason behind most of her behavioral issues is anxiety. I need a better way of addressing the behavior if it is anxiety related. DD live in survival mode unDX with hearing loss before we adopted her. I've been to a RAD clinic and its not what we see in DD. My notes are starting to show the pattern of behavior around communication.

This is and isn't an arduino but it works well for my kids creative. http://makeymakey.com/ It still might be to steep at 50.

Those red (bed time) green (day time) visual clocks are great for kids that are having anxiety issues. I agree with cutting the sugar as it does create issue for many.

Thank you for the help. I've got her working on "whiskers on kittens". I never thought of looking at songs since this child can't hear them. I will try to use all of them. Elizabeth, I wish she was in a place to start on your resource. Hopefully in the next year... More are always welcome.

I need to come up with three word phrases to practice orally with my deaf/hard of hearing daughter. My brain is retrieving wonderful 4 word phrase but having issues with anything smaller. The wider the variety the better it is for DD. Multiple syllable words are welcome. Note dd(nearly 5) understands everything but oral skills don't come easily and you can't makeup 4 years without aids in a year(adoption). Dd speech therapists thinks if we can get dd to understand oral word spacing more of what she say would be understandable. carrots and peas bananas in pajamas home sweet home thanks for checking let's shoot marbles Thanks for you help :)

:iagree: Many teachers don't follow this one outside of read out loud but if your child ever has a behavior problem due to cold calling it helps sort it out. You need to add a limit to amount of time spent on homework/ take home work. Rule of thumb around here is 30 min over schools policy for homework. I would add right to video tape or record lecture. I'd remove the #6 so if the 504 last longer than the software you child isn't tied to an old version or level of help. Software is changing and improving all the time. This needs to be written so that it your child's choice because option sounds like something the teacher will get to decide. Access to writing support during assignments class time need to be addressed. I've seen many exceptional kids not allowed tools during their school day but everyone else has a chance to work on the assignment. You might need to provide the technology but this would get it in the door.

Which level covers multiplication and division of fractions?

I'll agree with friends and siblings aren't the same but I think she trying to put a band-aid on a bigger issue. Kids do learn to control their issues/hide them around friends but for many this means more issues at home. I've seen kids go into super explosive meltdowns after time spent with friends/peers. Sorry you didn't get better help.

This is hard on the child and they had no choice. My best friend went through this with her birth mom. She still wishes there was some sort of middle man so she could get medical records. I also think the emotional response including anger is normal but it should not be a surprise that a child(adult) looks up birth parents.

Vision therapy was a blessing for my dd, who has dysgraphia. It doesn't solve everything but it did help the act of writing. We use Montessori movable alphabets, magnet words and now pocket chart with very large word banks. Learning to type as soon as possible is good too, or using a computerized speech to text program is also a possiblity.

The blocks are a bit different but you should be able to use the math-u-see blocks. Your kids shouldn't have issues unless they get confused easily with the different systems. My kids have no issue but they are both math crazy. I'm sure they will pick one of the programs as their favorite.

We use light weight drawing paper from dickblicks when we need something better than printer paper. My kids love the folds outs you can make with larger paper.

I'm think we're looking at lots of AP and dual classes as dd is not in 8th yet. I like the idea of a challenging 4 years of high school not simpler due to spreading classes over more years. I just don't want to limit her options due to not claiming the credits. The state we currently in requires current high school classes for their dual cc programs. We know of at least one family that could not get them to wave the requirement (9th grade class that was skipped). Its a balancing act figuring out the right amount of challenge for any child. I don't want everything to be a breeze for her or she won't know that she can work. What I've seen of the ps around here, WTM higher logic stage is more demanding than their 9th and 10th grade classes. (DD classes aren't local)

Does a section for credits earn before high school meet standards? Credits are accredited from a state college. We're a military family so we have no idea where we'll be when she graduates. (we choose an accredited solution for pre-highschool classes to minimize questions on level of course work) And should these classes count in GPA calculations?