Okay, everyone thanks for your help. I still am not sure whether I want to go with an ipad or kindle fire, but you gave me some stuff to think about. One more question, couldn't I buy an ipad and download the kindle app on it, and so have the best of both? Sorry if that sounds like an ignorant question. :sad:

Thanks for taking the time to reply. Just a quick question...is audible your main (only?) source for books. ~Jen

Hi, I haven't posted much on here but I have learned a lot from just lurking. :001_smile: My name is Jen. I have a 10 year old son who is severely dyslexic. We are going through Barton's...just finished level 3 and am waiting on level 4. He is in 5th grade this year and has been home schooled all his life. So far we have been doing all his classes together. History, science, bible, etc. I read him his textbooks and then we do all of his homework out loud. Which is okay for this year, but I am starting to plan for next year and was wondering if we couldn't do more in the way of assisted technology. Textbooks online. Text to speech. Speech to text. Etc. So I guess my question(s) would be. Any advice? I have been doing a lot of research online, but am just getting confused with all the choices. I am not even sure what device would work best for his needs. A Kindle? An Ipad? I love the idea of immersion reading and want to explore that as much as possible. If I understand right, the kindle fire HDX is the only one that works with that. Or am I wrong? Any experienced moms out there? Thanks in advance.

Thanks for your reply, Cat. That makes sense then.

I have a question for those of you who use Barton's Reading and Spelling. I have read online numerous times that you can resell the levels to finance the next one and by so doing go through the program rather cheaply. It even says that on the official website. Yet I have also read that you can't sell/buy except through an authorized dealer. I am confused as to how this would work, though, seeing as each level requires all the tiles from the previous levels and those are not included and can't be bought separately. Am I right with that? And if we resell to {authorized dealer}, she only pays about half of the original cost. (I called her and spoke directly to her and that is what she told me.) So going with that option, I would still pay over $100 per level (+$1000 for the whole program) which doesn't seem like "very little" to me. Am I missing something or not understanding how something works? I would really like to use this program for my son but am not sure how to make it affordable for us as a family. Looking on ebay, there are not a lot of levels being sold. None over level 3. Is that because it is technically illegal? I know that's a lot questions, but I really want to know what I am getting into before I commit myself to something and it seems like there is some contradictory information out there. :confused1: Thanks for your help. :001_smile:

I like your sense of humor, Elizabeth. I have a lot to think about, a lot to check out. I am going to start following the Decoding Dyslexia facebook page and also need to check out Susan Barton's resources. I very much appreciate her attitude....even from the little I know about her. I mean I know my son is special in so many ways, but it's neat when other people appreciate that as well. :001_cool: Thanks again for pointing me to her.

Thanks, Elizabeth, for the encouragement. I am strongly leaning that way myself. :001_smile: It would be neat if I could somehow schedule the evaluation at the same time as Susan Barton's visit to Billings.

Okay, we did the Barton's screening test. He got 100 on section A. 2 wrong on section B (syllables are especially hard for him) and then 100 on section C. I have been checking into Barton's. Thanks, Elizabeth for reminding me of them. I researched the program a couple of years ago when I first started suspecting that we might need something, but then dismissed them because of the cost. Went with Dianne Craft's program instead. As I see now, there are ways to do the Barton's program work that won't be too expensive. Certainly not when compared with private tutoring. So, I am excited. :hurray: Thanks again.

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. And the hugs, kbutton. :001_smile: Elizabeth, wow, thank you for taking the time to write that all out for me. It's given me a lot to think about. I can't remember the name of the test that I did on-line. It was a couple of years ago and apparently it wasn't very accurate, anyway. :huh: Yeah, I am resigned to the fact that I will have to drive somewhere. At this point, I don't really mind. I certainly don't want to waste any more time. I checked out the specialists listed under LearningAlly in my state. This is what it came up with: 1. Missoula - SPARKS Literacy Center Teacher, Certified Barton Tutor. 4.5 hours away 2. Billings - Masters of Education in Reading, Certified Elementary Teacher, Susan Barton Trained. 7 hours away. 3. Billings - Dyslexia Specialist, Screening and Tutoring Services. Could I just go to the one in Missoula for an eval, even if she doesn't say anything about screening or testing, or do I need to go with number 3? The closest Scottish Rite would also be in Missoula. Maybe I should start there first? Do they do evals? We have gotten his vision checked out, but never by a developmental optometrist. I will check into that. I will also check out Barton's....we will work on that this afternoon. Thanks again for all your advice. Oh, and I will check out our local public school. I don't hold out too much hope there, but, hey, maybe they will surprise me. :glare:

I am not new to the forums, but this is my first time posting. I am hoping that someone can help me figure out where to go next with my youngest son. We have been home schooling for 9 years...first 2 kiddos were a breeze, especially in the area of reading. Basically it seemed like they taught themselves to read after being given the basics. My third son is definitely a different story. He is very smart, catches on very quickly to new ideas/concepts, loves math and school in general, but can't seem to get anywhere when it comes to reading. He is currently 10 years old and in fourth grade, but reads at a first grade level. Because I only have the three and he is the youngest, I can spend as much time with him as necessary. I help him with all of his classes, reading directions, word problems, doing a lot of work orally. We have tried 4 or 5 different curricula in the last few years and nothing seems to help. This is what we have done so far: Beginning steps to reading for a couple of years. That's how I started my others and it worked great. He had a lot of struggles. Letter recognition especially. B, D, P....M, N, and U. Figured he was just a slow starter and not to worry too much. Second Grade: Still Beginning steps, but added lots of starfall and reading eggs since he loves being on the computer. By the end of the year, though, I realized that he really hadn't improved much. It was at this point, that I started thinking learning disability. Maybe you all think that I should have caught on earlier, and probably I should have, but I hated to think of "labeling" him. I did an online test which came back fine...that really confused me. Third Grade: No specific curriculum. Went back over phonics rules. Lots of flashcards. Lots of time spent reading together. No real progress. Spent the summer researching. Fourth Grade: Teaching the Right Brain Child by Dianne Craft. Lots of Midline exercises. Still no real progress, though, which is really frustrating. For example long vowel sound with e at the end of the word. I will tell him the rule. He can read 20 or 30 example words no problem, but in a real story whenever he gets to a one of those words, he will always read it wrong unless I quick whisper "long e". Same thing with 2 vowels walking together. I have to remind him of the rule for him to get it right. He has gotten really good at guessing and also it seems like the longer the word, the better chance he has of getting it right. He can read redemption, but not was/saw, or of/from, the/there. He still struggles with b,d,p....not when I point to a letter and ask him what it is, but when he tries to read it in a word. Reading is painfully slow. He gets his numbers confused as well, especially 2's and 6's and 9's. Like I said, he is really, really good at math, but long division is hard for him because he will write a 2 and later on come back and think it is a 6, for example. I am not sure where to go from here. We live in a very rural area so no trained teachers or professional help. And I can't help but think that as his mom and someone who loves teaching, I should be able to help him if only I knew what to do. Any thoughts? (Sorry this got so long) ~Jen

Totally agree. How can you enjoy a book (or a movie) if you are dying of suspense. I always read the end or look up the synopsis on google or ask my husband how it ends. I cannot stand not knowing. My husband so understands this about me. He'll often preview a movie for me so that I can stop along the way and quick ask him what happens next. It is the only way I can enjoy watching anything.:001_huh:

:iagree: Another vote for the alarm. We used Rodger's Bedwetting Alarm System. My son was six years old and wetting the bed almost every night. A very, very heavy sleeper. He loved the alarm...thought it was really cool. It worked in 2-3 weeks. It might not be the answer for everyone, but I think it's worth a shot.

Nancy, is there a more detailed description, (website? forum?) of exactly what you are doing? Congratulations, btw. (-: Good for you. ~Jen

Lucky you. Maybe I could get the same service if we did the same thing, but I don't think that's an option.

Maybe that's why I had such sticker shock.....having never had to do this before I had this tiny thought in the back of my mind that they would do it for free. :001_smile:

Aww, he is a handsome boy, isn't he? And I so agree with you. They are the best. :001_smile:

The jeweler did mention the beveled edge making things harder. :glare: Thanks, everyone. I'll definitely ask around then.

This recipe is the first one I thought of as well. I often bring it to potlucks and picnics and everyone just loves it. My husband most of all. :001_smile:

This is an awesome video about the subject. It is by Taylor Mali. http://www.wimp.com/speaktypography/ I have showed it to my children and they thought it was funny, but also very much saw themselves in it. I think it is so true.

My band has never fit me. Got a size 8 and should have been a 7 or even a 6 and a half. White gold. Beveled edges. Cost about $300. I never wear it because I am so scared of losing it. It flies off when I shake out laundry, etc. Finally went to the jewelers yesterday to ask about resizing and was kind of dismayed when he said that it would cost $100. Sizing up I could see how it might be that expensive, but down? It wasn't the same place as where we bought it (that was in NY and we are now in MT). Maybe they would have been cheaper? Should I bother getting a second opinion? or does this seem reasonable to you?

The only dog that we own is a German Shepherd. (see avatar). She is the best. She is extremely sweet, very gentle. Best friends with the kitten even though she wasn't raised with cats. I have even seen them eating out of the same scrap bowl. She loves people...never aggressive. I actually wonder a bit at this....she loves people so much that I could never imagine her threatening anyone. And we did get her for protection. She doesn't bark, not even when strangers come to the door....which is kind of strange, I think. (Just wanted to add that she is just over a year old, so maybe she will get more territorial when she get older.) She is extremely smart. For example, my husband taught her in 2 minutes that "load up" means to jump on to the bed of his pickup truck. Not too amazing in itself. But the first time that I told her to "load up" she ran around the driveway a bit and then finally ran over to the 4-wheeler and jumped on. I guess she figured that since I don't drive the truck and always use the 4 wheeler, that I must mean for her to get on the 4-wheeler. :D She is also the most beautiful dog in the world. JMHO, of course. :D

I am going to start September 6th....We are finally getting some awesome summer weather. I am not going to make my children start on school when they could be outside instead. I figure our winters are L.o.n.g. and D.r.e.a.r.y Plenty of time for school then. We will catch up with everyone else then. :D

1945 miles from my parents - hate that next door to my inlaws - love that

Ohh, so that's what happened to that thread. RATS! It was the last one I looked at last night before going to bed and I would have loved to see how it turned out. My first thought on reading the OP was "oh, no, here we go again". Then this morning when I couldn't find it, I began to think that maybe I had just imagined it. :001_smile: Too bad it was over so quickly..... I need to get a real life....:tongue_smilie:

:rofl::rofl::rofl: that's one of the funniest, craziest things I have ever read