Co-op announcement....

[laundrycrisis]

May be printed on cards to hand out to other homeschoolers who come bearing advice:

 

1. Dyslexia, dysgraphia, visual processing problems and learning disabilities in general - yes they are real. They do not come from the imaginations of overly concerned, uptight parents who are "trying too hard" or "expecting too much".

 

2. LDs are not equivalent to a kid "not liking" to do something, and they are not caused by a kid "losing his joy" because "it wasn't FUN".

 

3. They having nothing to do with readiness. If I waited for readiness, my kid would still be illiterate by 18. And yes, that really does happen.

 

4. The problems are not going to *poof* go away one day as if by magic when he "finds a reason" to want those skills. The ground we have gained has come through perspiration, not inspiration. The inspiration to keep at it came after the initial hard work, with the exciting experience of real progress.

 

5. Religion-based memorization selections are not going to be "more helpful" than other selections.

 

Finally

 

6. Please don't don't :cursing: :angry::banghead::ack2: DON'T !!!!!!!!! tell me you understand because your kid also had some trouble with Bs and Ds and didn't like handwriting at first. You are talking to someone who is $6K and 1.5 years into therapy, who uses mostly remedial or below-grade materials and adapts everything else. (And sometimes I even adapt those. :sad:) You cannot imagine the challenges that the memory problems alone have created. This is not about Bs, Ds and pencil grip, and it is NOT about his interest level !! Do not approach me with this advice on your mind !

 

I came home and I swear I ate at least a dozen chocolates that didn't get handed out last night. :( I think I need my treadmill now.

Edited November 1, 2011 by Laundrycrisis2

[sixpence1978]

:hurray:

 

I love it!

 

And, hey, I probably came close to that number of chocolates last night WITHOUT the annoying co-op.

[ElizabethB]

:grouphug:

 

It sounds like you almost had enough chocolate!!

[Tokyomarie]

LOVE it!!!

 

I have considered handing out something like this:

 

"Just because I homeschool my 8yo child does not mean his learning disabilities are caused by me. I am well aware of what a neuro-typical child looks like, because I have five other children who learn just fine. And I do know how to teach a child to read, even though this one doesn't yet. I have already taught four children to read superbly, plus one who is currently learning. My 8yo just can't grasp the process, and it isn't because of me or because of my methods or because of homeschooling. And a child with a low IQ looks just as normal as someone with normal IQ. Just because you can't SEE his differences doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Oh, and if I haven't mentioned it already, it isn't because of me or because of homeschooling."

 

I've considered writing a similar statement. "I am perfectly capable of teaching my son and perfectly capable of arranging participation in group activities so my son has the opportunity to learn how to take direction from other adults and be socially appropriate with adults and peers alike. By the way, I have two young adult children whom I have parented & taught through the teen years. They have graduated from homeschool, earned academic scholarships to colleges, graduated from college, and are now married and participating as productive citizens in society. Do you still think my son is the way he is because of my parenting or because I homeschooled him?"

Edited November 2, 2011 by Tokyomarie
Deleted a few details