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motherdear

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    When did you first hear about homeschooling?

    in General Education Discussion Board

    Posted · Edited by motherdear

    Phil Donohue had a special on homeschooling. It was very controversial and there was a LOT of criticism by callers and in the audience. I think the "professional" may have been John Holt and I remember a very intelligent young (homeschooled) girl doing a wonderful job talking about (and defending) her parents choice.

     

    I later met my first homeschooling friends for the first time in 1990 and joined the bandwagon when my son became school-age around 1992?

    What do I do with my Aspergers son? Long – would love ideas. TIA

    in The Learning Challenges Board

    Posted

    My Asperger's son is finishing eighth grade this week. Honestly, I'd like to hold him back a year, but instead we're going to delve into high school at a slow pace. He's just finishing Teaching Textbook 7 (not quite mastery, but perhaps a C+ average and will be starting pre-algebra right away through the summer) I mentioned to him that he would probably take five years to finish high school (to avoid discouraging him about repeating a grade).

     

    He completed Apologia General Science this year, minus the testing. I really doubt he retained very much of the information. He lacks the ability to think abstractly, so most of his books have to be explained to him (again and again and again), making him very dependent on me. My husband and I don't see college and his future at this point, and we're trying to look for his bents and introduce him to a variety of "vocational" opportunities. Thankfully, he's a very hard worker physically. He also demonstrates skill in PowerPoint/sound systems/computer type things. Does every college require basic liberal arts courses to get a degree in these things? Academically, I'm looking for books that he can understand in the academic subjects. My plan for the summer is to continue the pre-algebra and go "gung ho" on developing his logic and critical thinking skills. This gets tiring and discouraging. I was kind of hoping someone may have high school level ideas at a simple level. I suppose it's like having a student in "track one," versus "track two" or "honors " courses. Does anyone have experience with Lifepacs? It seems to me that this is a fill-in the blank and answer questions studied rotely. Is this so? Now, I realize I'm rambling, but I lack the energy to develop a well-planned letter here.

    As I proof what I just wrote, a lot of what I said is actually quite encouraging. I mean his positive skills (his cheerful personality). But I think many of you know what I mean, especially if you have an Aspie learning delayed child. I just needed to vent I guess. Anyone with thoughts or ideas, I welcome.

    What is the best program you've ever used?

    in K-8 Curriculum Board

    Posted

    I've rarely hear people talking about it and I think it's a gem! I wrote this review: This year, I chose to use the program, America with my nine year old son. It has proved to be (in my opinion) among the most wonderful unit study programs out there. The program utilizes Peter Marshall and David Manuel’s The Light and the Glory trilogy. It's kind of funny that I always contemplated developing my own unit study using these books (there are so good!), only to find America quite by accident!. This unit study/book combination is a hidden treasure.

    Author Chris Rowe has supplemented the program with other "living" history books. Since the program is broken up into two levels (grades 3-4 and grades 5-6), some of the additional books are different for the different levels. In the lower level we are using books such as: The Mayflower Secret, Pedro's Journal, The Courage of Sarah Noble, and The Matchlock Gun, The Cabin Faced West, among others. The upper a level uses several of the same books minus a few plus a few. The daily guide is very user-friendly and there is VERY little preparation work for the parent. For the most part, you can pick up the book and go. All of the hands-on activities are very doable with things found around the house. We have been "notebooking" much of the written and art activities and are developing quite an impressive notebook. The Bible study/applications are very practical and thought provoking. Science is integrated in a biweekly form and even English is included in it! We are truly enjoying it! For those of you interested in checking out the scope and sequence and looking into this program, you can google Christian novel studies: America: an integrated approach. (I don't think I can post actual links here)

    BTW-there is a Year #2 which follows this study (up to present-day America, I believe), however you'll have to check the web site for details.

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