ClassicMom Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Anyone willing to look at our lineup for fall? I have an autistic son who will be 9 in September. He functions pretty high but struggles with reading/language skills. This summer we have made some progress in that area using Phonics Pathways. He has been in the PS system through this past spring. I feel like I have chosen too much but I have gone through the goals of his IEP. I welcome input from the hive-mind. MFW-Adventures Phonics - Phonics Pathways Spelling - Spelling Workout A (he chose this and I thought it would help him remediate the phonics as well Grammar/Narration - FLL 1/2 Vocabulary - Wordly Wise 2 Math - Saxon Math 3 Earobics Art - Artpac 2/ Weekly Artist Study/ Possible Homeschool Art Classes Mustic - Weekly Composer Study Karate/Homeschool Gym Classes Computer - Typing Instructor for Kids Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stacy in NJ Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 (edited) I'd probably NOT do the Wordly Wise unless he likes workbooks. It'll just be busy work, but if he likes that kinda thing - go for it. Also, you might want to be a bit flexible in your math selection. Saxon is fine but can be a bit dry. If he's stronger in math than language arts, you might want to go with something like Singapore. Third grade math is all about learning to multiply and divide single digits and add and subtract multi-digits, so drilling math facts is important. This program is wonderful for an easy way to learn those facts: http://www.citycreek.com/Times-Alive-CD-ROM-p/sotnowmac.htm Also, rather than a typing program, and since he's having some reading issues, I'd suggest Read, Write and Type - both reading and typing in one. http://www.talkingfingers.com/ I don't think typing is an all that important skill for kids these days. Because most have access to computers early and often they learn to type without instruction. Consider some fun computer games like Fritz and Chesster (beginning chess instruction), Zoombinis (logic) or Where in the World is Carmen San Diego. If you don't already have a lot of these in your home, I'd get some puzzles and board games. In my limited experience, ASD kids learn a ton from games like UNO and Sorry! - use whatever games are ability appropriate for him. These puzzles are great for developing fine motor skills and learning geography at the same time: http://www.amazon.com/GeoToys-Africa-Middle-East-GeoPuzzle/dp/B000K3C2QC/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1311171547&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Play-Chess-Fritz-Chesster/dp/B0000950SM/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1311170866&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Where-USA-Carmen-Sandiego-JC/dp/B00005NTJ0/ref=pd_sim_vg_1 http://www.amazon.com/The-Learning-Company-380933-Zoombinis/dp/B00005LBVU/ref=sr_1_1?s=software&ie=UTF8&qid=1311171006&sr=1-1 Most of all, enjoy your son!:001_smile: ETA: Although handwriting might be hard right now, do use a workbook for that. I'd suggest HWOT: http://www.amazon.com/My-Printing-Book-Jan-Olsen/dp/1891627597/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311172069&sr=1-1 Anyone willing to look at our lineup for fall? I have an autistic son who will be 9 in September. He functions pretty high but struggles with reading/language skills. This summer we have made some progress in that area using Phonics Pathways. He has been in the PS system through this past spring. I feel like I have chosen too much but I have gone through the goals of his IEP. I welcome input from the hive-mind. MFW-Adventures Phonics - Phonics Pathways Spelling - Spelling Workout A (he chose this and I thought it would help him remediate the phonics as well Grammar/Narration - FLL 1/2 Vocabulary - Wordly Wise 2 Math - Saxon Math 3 Earobics Art - Artpac 2/ Weekly Artist Study/ Possible Homeschool Art Classes Mustic - Weekly Composer Study Karate/Homeschool Gym Classes Computer - Typing Instructor for Kids Edited July 20, 2011 by Stacy in NJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Also, you might want to be a bit flexible in your math selection. Saxon is fine but can be a bit dry. If he's stronger in math than language arts, you might want to go with something like Singapore. :iagree: Generally, I think of Saxon as as tending to be a better fit for more traditional, left-brained, auditory-sequential learners, while other programs are better suited for right-brained, visual-spatial, "different" learners, which often includes people with autism. I might consider something like Singapore or MM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicMom Posted July 20, 2011 Author Share Posted July 20, 2011 :iagree: Generally, I think of Saxon as as tending to be a better fit for more traditional, left-brained, auditory-sequential learners, while other programs are better suited for right-brained, visual-spatial, "different" learners, which often includes people with autism. I might consider something like Singapore or MM. Wow. So many people have recommended Singapore Math. I will have to take another look at it. Math mammoth is what we are using this summer but it's not going too well. I really appreciate so much input. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicMom Posted July 20, 2011 Author Share Posted July 20, 2011 I'd probably NOT do the Wordly Wise unless he likes workbooks. It'll just be busy work, but if he likes that kinda thing - go for it. Also, you might want to be a bit flexible in your math selection. Saxon is fine but can be a bit dry. If he's stronger in math than language arts, you might want to go with something like Singapore. Third grade math is all about learning to multiply and divide single digits and add and subtract multi-digits, so drilling math facts is important. This program is wonderful for an easy way to learn those facts: http://www.citycreek.com/Times-Alive-CD-ROM-p/sotnowmac.htm Also, rather than a typing program, and since he's having some reading issues, I'd suggest Read, Write and Type - both reading and typing in one. http://www.talkingfingers.com/ I don't think typing is an all that important skill for kids these days. Because most have access to computers early and often they learn to type without instruction. Consider some fun computer games like Fritz and Chesster (beginning chess instruction), Zoombinis (logic) or Where in the World is Carmen San Diego. If you don't already have a lot of these in your home, I'd get some puzzles and board games. In my limited experience, ASD kids learn a ton from games like UNO and Sorry! - use whatever games are ability appropriate for him. These puzzles are great for developing fine motor skills and learning geography at the same time: http://www.amazon.com/GeoToys-Africa-Middle-East-GeoPuzzle/dp/B000K3C2QC/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1311171547&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Play-Chess-Fritz-Chesster/dp/B0000950SM/ref=sr_1_1?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1311170866&sr=1-1 http://www.amazon.com/Where-USA-Carmen-Sandiego-JC/dp/B00005NTJ0/ref=pd_sim_vg_1 http://www.amazon.com/The-Learning-Company-380933-Zoombinis/dp/B00005LBVU/ref=sr_1_1?s=software&ie=UTF8&qid=1311171006&sr=1-1 Most of all, enjoy your son!:001_smile: ETA: Although handwriting might be hard right now, do use a workbook for that. I'd suggest HWOT: http://www.amazon.com/My-Printing-Book-Jan-Olsen/dp/1891627597/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1311172069&sr=1-1 EVERYONE has suggested to dump Wordly Wise so I have. While I agree that typing is not an important skill, he does enjoy writing stories but handwriting is laborious for him. His handwriting is beautiful but it takes him so long. I thought if he could type he could do his narrations and write his hearts content on the computer. We use a lot of games and puzzles in our home but I have checked out the ones you have suggested as well. Thank you for all of your links. They are all great! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wapiti Posted July 20, 2011 Share Posted July 20, 2011 Wow. So many people have recommended Singapore Math. I will have to take another look at it. Math mammoth is what we are using this summer but it's not going too well. I really appreciate so much input. What, in particular, is not going too well? Is it something that can be tweaked? Is it too incremental, or is he not understanding the instruction? Layout? Just thinking out loud. MM's not perfect, but I love it, because I can work with it. DD likes it, but has her days when she doesn't want to have to turn on her brain to read the instruction, and requests that I simply "tell" her :glare: (in which case it may go in one ear and out the other, so to speak. I ask her to read the instruction first, and then we go over it together. Usually, once she's finally read it, she tells me to go away, LOL). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rafiki Posted July 21, 2011 Share Posted July 21, 2011 . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicMom Posted July 21, 2011 Author Share Posted July 21, 2011 Oh, another thing I have found helpful is to pick a focus area for the next three months, such as social skills, safety skills, conversation skills, etc. VERY good point Michele!!! Thank you! :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 If MM isn't going well, then I'd look at BJU or MUS. Singapore is going to be pretty similar and not really change anything as far as helps for you. But you're right that it does take some trial and error to find the right fit with math. Some kids do ok with Saxon. If you do that and want to spice it up, just add some games, kwim? Like the others, I would dump the Wordly Wise. The typing is great, definitely do that. But he's not going to get fast enough any time soon to type his assignments (my guess, our experience). Don't be afraid to take dictation and do the typing for him. All you do is make *him* give you everything. He gives you the punctuation, the caps, even the spelling on longer words. And you can work together on the writing. For instance at the start of the year he writes the first sentence, you write the rest by dictation. Next week he writes the first *2* sentences and you write the rest. And so on. Has he had an OT eval? I've obviously missed a whole bunch of context here. He may be low tone and need some OT and exercises to help with that painful/unpleasant writing. Don't wait on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClassicMom Posted July 22, 2011 Author Share Posted July 22, 2011 Elizabeth, He's been in PS since PreK and has had OT/speech all along. However, they haven't done a lot of OT with him. The felt it wasn't "necessary" since he could print. That was good enough for them. The fact that it is labor-intensive for him doesn't seem to matter. Yes, he does have nice handwriting but the fact that it wears him out wasn't a fact of concern. I'm having him evaluated myself and praying that I can get some help with insurance. Basically, OT consisted of 2-3 sensory breaks a day to keep him from having total meltdowns in the classroom and disrupting the flow of the rest of the class. That was pretty much it. I found a homeschool conference a days drive away so I'm going to drive down tomorrow to see some of the materials that have been mentioned. I did homeschool my older children through high-school. We used a variety of materials including Saxon and MUS. Dealing with autism is a whole new ballgame for me. Reading/Spelling and Composition are his big areas of concern and the areas that I need to focus on the most as language skills are his weakest points. Thank you so much for replying. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeterPan Posted July 22, 2011 Share Posted July 22, 2011 Oh mercy, absolutely he would benefit from some good OT! And the nice thing about OT, if you get a good one, is they can show you things to do at home. In fact, you *want* them to tell you things to do at home. Our OT had a whole scad of things we could do to help with dd's writing fatigue. Well enjoy the convention. But don't put your money into curriculum. Put it into OT. OT can make SUCH a huge difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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