When I saw them at the conference, I did ask both SWB and JB to autograph my copy of TWTM, and I almost started crying when talking to SWB (the whole idea of hs'ing was daunting to me, and TWTM really made me believe I could do it, and relatively well at that) because of gratitude. I have to admit that I was quite proud of myself that I was able to articulate my thanks yesterday, though I could've done a better job with eye contact... I think her aura of wisdom was too bright for me. ;)

I'm in the Historic Triangle (Jamestown, Williamsburg, Yorktown) in Virginia for a 3 day field trip/vacation with our family. We're having a great time, and the boys (12, 11, 7) are doing well, having fun, and actually learning. As if all of that wasn't enough, I ran into Susan Wise Bauer in the toy store! I was able to maintain my dignity (no gasping, no bowing and scraping, no crying) and have a normal - albeit brief - conversation with her. I have spoken with her at a conference before, but today it was just a "hi, and thanks for the curriculum and confidence your books have given me in our homeschooling journey." She was lovely and humble and seemed almost surprised that I would take the time to thank her. I guess I don't need to tell you what was the highlight of our trip for me! :)

My DS11 and DS7 present as classic ADHD kids. DS12 presents as ADD (he's distractable, but highly functioning). We had the younger 2 tested and they were diagnosed with ADHD, and it was suggested I put them on meds. I only wanted to do that as a last resort, and didn't have peace that ADHD was the right diagnosis (but I knew I needed help with them). Thanks to information I received on this forum, I put them on a modified diet (no artificial colors or flavors, no BHT or BHA, no high fructose corn syrup, no sodium nitrates or nitrites...and we have been eating organic and going to a chiropractor for several years), and followed the suggestions in Dianne Craft's Biology of Behavior . When I read the book The Out of Sync Child , I recognized my children. I took them to an occupational therapist, who diagnosed them with lots of sensory issues (which manifest as ADHD-type behavior). We are currently in our 2nd of 12 months of OT. ADHD is definitely real, and definitely over/mis-diagnosed. If you hear of families who can't get the right dosage or who have to play with different types of meds, the chances are that the child has a sensory integration problem, not ADHD. The average pediatrician, or even a developmental pediatrician, is probably not going to point you anything that smacks of "alternative" medicine. Mine didn't give me a hard time when I told them what we're doing, but they didn't show much interest in it, either. You will need to be the researcher and advocate in determining an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan for your child.

http://www.azoproducts.com/products/azo_standard My Dr. recommended this (as well as a prescription) when I had a raging UTI. You can get it at a drugstore. THere is also a cranberry pill she can take, which is better than the juice (full-on cranberry juice is sooo sour, and the juice that's diluted and sweetenend doesn't do the trick).

I'd be interested in seeing that list!

My kids set and clear the table.

:grouphug: Oh, yeah. My non-professional Dr. Mom diagnosis is sensory integration issues. My DS 7 just started OT today for it, and DS11 starts on Monday. FWIW, my pediatrician (who I generally really like and trust) was of NO help whatsoever on my road to discovery with my boys. So if you get nowhere with your ped., go to an OT yourself. The book The Out of Sync Child is a good resource.

The Kite Runner - I felt obligated to read it because everyone went on about it. I was nauseous while reading it and depressed for over a week afterwards. Too bad, too, because I thought his writing style was lovely.

*gasp* I thought I had clicked on the Books We Hate link, and I thought, "Mrs. Mungo! How brave and daring! But really? I thought I knew you..." Imagine my relief when I went back to the beginning of the thread to verify. ;) You're right; this book was a life-changer for me, too.

As a child: The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Rebecca's War, Anne of Green Gables Series, Little House Series, The Trixie Belden Series, Chronicles of Narnia, Little Women. Relating to time of life: Strong female characters, good friendships, adventures - everything a little girl wants to think she'll have/be in life. I still like them. As a young teen: Loved Judy Blume. Going out on a limb here and admitting that I loved the Flowers in the Attic Series. I blame my mother. I mean, where was she? She really should've been monitoring my reading. ;) Time of life? Judy Blume is obvious, but FitA? Hormones, maybe? As an older teen: Began lifelong love affairs with William Shakespeare, Sir Gawain, Beowulf, the Bronte sisters, and Jane Austen. I was clearly getting ready for a hero/prince/gentleman to come and sweep me off my feet. As an adult: The Shadow of the Wind, Redeeming Love, LotR (didn't think much of Tolkein when I met him in The Hobbit earlier), The Red Tent (I know a lot of people here didn't like it, but it did a lot to give me a more positive view of relationships between women), Ivanhoe As a mom: On Becoming Babywise, The Out of Sync Child, I Love You the Purplest (kiddie lit)

I loved that book right up until that page, and then thought, "Have some self-respect, woman! Cut the apron strings and let the boy grow up!" But I still love the sentiment behind it, so much so that I made the words into a song. My DS7 wants to hear it every night. :) I think I forgot to mention Moby Dick and The Handmaid's Tale because I blocked them from my memory. I hated them THAT much. Oh, and I have tried to read Vanity Fair and Portrait of a Lady several times, and I just can't do it.

When we started last year, my DS's were in 1st, 4th, and 6th. According to TWTM, they should have been in Ancients, Modern, and Medieval. Well, had DS4th stayed in his classical school, he would've studied Medieval - late Renaissance. Since he was ready for it, DS6th was "supposed" to be in it, and it was only 1 up from 1st grade, that's where we started. I wanted everyone in the same era because it was easier for me and our history field trips would make sense to everyone. This year, we're all doing late Ren - 1850. DS2nd has still not learned about the Ancients, but I don't think it will do him irreparable harm.;)

Me, too! I thought I was the only one who hated it. Could it possibly be more dysfunctional? I could see its codependency/selfishness even as a wee lass.

I hear you on The Hobbit. I forced myself through at least the first half of it before it grabbed me and didn't let go until I had finished The Return of the King. You don't have to read The Hobbit to understand and adore TLOTR. So maybe you'll try again??? And The Horse and His Boy...I love EVERYthing Lewis wrote, except this book. It's encouraging, though: even the Greats have a lemon now and then. ;) As for the math book ~ you're a better mom than I for even having attempted it. I think what will transform my approach to teaching math is having my kids graduate or go back to traditional school.

OH, THANK YOU!!! I thought I was the only person in the world who hated that book. You know, I liked her writing style, but could not get past the wake of devastated lives she left behind her (including her own) on her search for her own happiness. The first book I EVER hated was The Wind in the Willows. I get nauseous now - 35 years later - just thinking about it. I tried the Harry Potter series, but couldn't get through the first one. I am an avowed Tolkein and Lewis fan, but I just thought HP was boring. Maybe that's because I was expecting Tolkein or Lewis. Anyway, I've been told that the books get better, so I did just listen to the 1st one on CD with my boys ~ and I didn't hate it. Frankenstein I WILL NOT read anything that's a known depressant (so no Jodi Piccoult) or contains harm coming to children (no Shack, no Lovely Bones, no Jodi Piccoult). If I don't like the way a book's headed, I'll read the last chapter. If I don't like the way it ends, I don't finish it. There's not enough time in life to read a bad book. Did I mention no Jodi Piccoult?

I say, "Amen, and amen," to what Twinmom is saying. DS11 did a year of VT 4 years ago, with amazing results. He went from below grade level in reading comprehension to a few grade levels above. Because of his dyslexia, he still struggles with oral fluency, but not nearly to the same extent. He had many issues, focusing among them. After VT, he was focused more in life as well, and much of his hyperactivity disappeared. We were blessed in that our insurance at the time covered most of the cost. Just like physical therapy, VT can be exhausting for the kids. The homework was not fun. But it was soooooo worth it! He and DS7 are about to embark on a year of OT for their underlying Sensory Integration issues. Reading The Out of Sync Child showed me that SID was probably a more accurate diagnosis for my boys than ADHD. DS7 wasn't a VT candidate, even though I had him tested 3 times, hoping for another VT miracle. Unfortunately, we have different insurance now, so we are pulling money out of any place where we might have it squirreled away and will live on rice and beans for a year to pay for it (OK, that's a bit of an exaggeration). I highly recommend VT, but I also highly recommend Dianne Craft. I haven't looked at her vision program, but her Biology of Behavior CD changed our lives (and that's no exaggeration). If you can't afford the VT right now, I'm sure you won't regret looking into anything Dianne has to offer. We're also on a modified Feingold diet, which has helped, too. Be warned that the average cost for an OT assessment is $450, and I've been fighting with my insurance company (a tradition BC/BS plan) for 6 weeks to reimburse it. It's not likely that they will. OT's are often equipped to handle VT issues, so you might be able to do some one-stop shopping if your DD has SID issues as the underlying cause for the VT issues (very common). We don't regret doing the VT and are so very grateful to the OD who treated him, but if we had had the option to treat all of his issues at the same time and place, we would've taken it. By the way, kudos to you 6p, for doing the hard thing ~ drilling down to figure out what's making your DD tick. We just want our boys to be the best possible versions of themselves, and it sounds like that's what you want for your girl, too. Hang in there, Mom. :grouphug:

No, my other boys are in 2nd and 5th grades. But it's easier for me and for field trips, etc, if everyone's in the same historical period.

I have 2 other boys, and want to keep them all studying the same period of history, which is why I picked Omnibus III. The people at VP assured me last spring that I, II, and III are all at the same level of difficulty, and are recommended for 7th-9th grades. Omnibus IV, V, and VI are all at the same level and recommended for 10th-12th grades. DS7th is also taking Logic I and Latin II through VP, and I'm doing Math, Language Arts, and Chemistry with him. I like the group environment of the on-line class for this DS, because he's an introvert and needs to be exposed to as many teachers and classmates as possible. Kim, I have considered dropping Om. Secondary and doing that with him myself, and that might still be an option. I agree that he's just going to speed through the books as quickly as possible without absorbing much (he's bright and can handle the books, but he's not a speed reader). Since he's not in HS yet, not getting 3 course credits isn't a big deal at this point. It's the Primary writing assignments that are concerning me the most, but like I said in my 2nd post, it may not be as much of an issue as I feared.

My son is taking Omnibus III. He did all of the required reading over the summer. Since my initial post, I've heard from someone at Veritas regarding the work load and I have a better understanding of what's actually graded vs. writing assignments given for conversational purposes. I haven't had a chance to look at the syllabus in this new light, but once I do, I can make a more informed decision about dropping the class or not. I'd still love to hear from people who are homeschooling Omnibus, rather than doing the on-line course!

I'm asking for advice from those of you who have used the Omnibus text to teach your kids. I have signed up my DS7th for one of Veritas Scholars Academy's Omnibus Primary and Secondary courses. He's had 2 days of secondary and one of primary and I'm already so overwhelmed by the work they're requiring that I want to cry. He's not quite as overwhelmed, but he hasn't looked ahead to see what's coming... I've agonized for months about this course for him. He tests as gifted in language arts, yet hates to write and is not a speedy reader. This is our 2nd year hsing. Last year, I followed TWTM's guidelines for 6th in reading and history, and it was OK. I don't think it's enough for him this year, but I really think the on-line Omnibus is too much. I just have never had peace about it. Soooo... today I thought that maybe I could use the Omnibus text and teach him myself. I know I won't do as good of a job as the professionals on-line, but I can s-l-o-w the pace down quite a bit. I really wanted the discussion and interaction between the teacher and the students for him, so I'll be sorry to lose that if we drop the on-line course. So what can you tell me about teaching Omnibus? What's worked/not worked for you? How do you pace it? etc, etc. Thanks! Becky

Gracious, your 3 boys truly are wonders. It would be the best day of my life if my 3 could accomplish those subjects in that period of time. I'm green with envy. As far as the question at hand, I consider the 3 R's (reading, (w)riting, and 'rithmetic) and spelling to be the essentials. Grammar has a high priority, and then history and science. We do Bible every day, too, but that's not a priority for all families. There are lots of other subjects we do daily or several times/week, but the 3 R's and spelling have the most weight in our schedule. Good luck with your big year!

I posted this on the special needs board last night, but then remembered as I was falling asleep that the information I mentioned in the post was gleaned from this general board and not the special needs board. So here's the link to last night's post. I hope it reaches the right people. http://www.welltrainedmind.com/forums/showthread.php?t=202560

I thought my kids were the only ones in the world with Disney issues! Even though I structured our time there as much as possible, they still asked, "Can we please never go back to Disney?"

I'm not sure who it was who posted information that has changed and will continue to change my family, so I'm just putting a general thank-you out there. I started homeschooling a year ago, partly because my children have issues and school was a struggle. Even though they did well academically, it came at too high a cost for our family. For a little over a year, I've been researching their issues (3 DS's, currently aged 12, 10, and 7). They have ADHD type behavior, some Oppositional Defiance, blah, blah, blah. From this forum, I learned about Dr. Daniel Amen, whose book convinced my husband that my children's issues (and my DH's own issues) were truly a problem. From this forum, I learned about Dianne Craft. Listening to her Biology of Behavior CD and taking her advice on supplements were the first big steps my family took towards sanity. From this forum, I learned about the book, The Out of Sync Child, which convinced me that the ADHD diagnoses and the road to meds were not the correct way for my children. Today, my DH and I spent 2 hours getting the results of our DS10's and DS7's OT assessments. Who would’ve thought it would be music to my ears to hear that my kids have issues? My fears of “we can’t help you,†and “this is all your fault†were not realized, thank God. The owner of the practice described our children and their struggles to us as if she knew the boys intimately (she’s never met them; someone else did the assessment). She told us the whats and whys of their behaviors and thought processes, the sensory/nervous systemic reasons behind them, and most importantly: how they can help us. She said that she gives the boys lots of credit for doing as well as they are in school and life, that the “acting out†behaviors show that they are trying to compensate and engage rather than shut down and block everything out. She expects that therapy will take about a year. We know that it will be very expensive (there goes the new carpet, once again!) and time consuming, but well worth every penny and precious second. I am so thankful that God did not give me peace until I found this answer. It’s going to be an interesting year (I don’t know how much curriculum we’ll accomplish apart from math and reading); we’re already in a better place than we were last year at this time, and I have hope (for the first time in a long time) that a year from now we’ll be even better. So thanks for encouragement over the last year as I sought answers to our issues. You didn't even know that you were encouraging me, but just know that I believe God used this forum and some of your struggles with your own children to minister to me. For my family, there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and I think it’s the sunshine and not a train. J

She has been quite unavailable to me when I've needed her this month. :glare::tongue_smilie: And since I always do what she tells me to do, I've been both bereft and adrift...turning to total strangers who happen to have great ideas. (Do you have some special radar thing that lets you know when I post? ;))