PANIC over 7th graders curriculum... suggestions?

[starwarsmomma]

My 12 year old DYSLEXIC son is about to enter 7th grade.

 

Anyway,

I need to make a "plan" of curriculum for him

Writing program

History

Science

Math (Using TT now, can stay wtih that, unless there is a NEED to switch)

Grammar ==Using Easy Grammar now, but can switch if needed.

 

I have a 7th grade state history already.

 

I need a good reading list/program to put him on that's 7th grade level.

 

Electives-- I need to put him in some elective, like robotics, computer programming, language, etc... Is there something online he could do for robotics or something?

 

 

 

 

I can TRY to get him in to a co-op, but they are kinda annoying here... I cannot seem to find anythign here that is just one or two classes. They're all everything or not at all kinda co-ops.

 

The one's that do one or two are $60+ a month, plus $100 a year signup fee-- kinda expensive for our budget! (this is not including the books and supplies, which I can budget for)

 

Hubby MIGHT be OK with an online school, but because of his Dyslexia and other issues, I really want it to be flexible. Some things we do have to adjust.

 

 

Now that I have asked for help, if you care-- here are my reasons for the Panic part.

 

Hubby and I have constant "discussions" about this, he wants son in Public, I want to keep home for 2 more years. Hubby is so opinionated, and annoyuing... He thinks homeschooling is not the best solution-- he's always argued this. (I really hate having to constantly argue FOR homeschooling!!!)

 

I do NOT want to send him to 7th grade public school this year-- Middle School-- after speaking to eh counselors, the "format" of our school is NO textbooks.

 

The format for History, Grammar, Science and MATH are:They are assigned to watch online videos of their lessons as HOMEWORK. In class, they are given worksheets and classwork (mostly paper busy work-- counselors words, not mine), to supplement the online videos they watched and to ask questions. If they don't understand, they are allowed to go to LAB before and after school for tutoring, but it's all done this way...

 

I don't think my 12 year old would do well with this at all... I'm VERY anxious about it! Seriously-- NO BOOKS!?!?!?

 

he's a typical 12 year old, and if he's not having someone keeping his attention, he's quick to daydream. He's gonig to miss SO much.

 

And, this school does no dyslexia help/tutoring, just accommodations... which actually don't seem to help (after talking to dyslexia mom's I know...)

 

And Texas has the state testing, which based on practice tests, he would NOT be able to pass-- and next year, it counts as 20% (I think that's the percent) of the grades!!! WHAT?!?!

 

I want to keep him home this year (he's been home since 3rd grade-- hubby argues it's likely "time" to send him back, I disagree...)

 

Hubby's "arguments" or complaints...

1-- he thinks middle school exposes him to things he's not getting at home-- the classroom experience, girls, etc... (we do PLENTY of church and scout activities for socializaiton!)

 

2-- he thinks son needs to "sink or swim" in real school-- that I'm too easy on him. (NOT true, but cannot convenice hubby)

 

3-- He thinks son needs to experience middle school, at the very least a classroom experience....

 

 

Son actually WANTS to stay home. After talking to friends (also dyslexic) about how things are at our local school, he has little interest in going!

 

So, can you please help me find good curriculum that is BETTER than local school, so hubby will be willing to choose the better option of homeschooling???

 

Sorry I typed so much! HELP! :D

Edited June 23, 2012 by joyfulheart

[Deniseibase]

Good heavens, that sounds like a DREADFUL public school option!! Honestly, it should not be hard to find curricula better than that.

 

Sounds like you already have a few things, so definitely stick with those. What has he done in previous years? It's especially hard to suggest writing or literature options for a dyslexic child without having an idea where he already is.

 

A couple things you might look at -

 

Writing program - Writing With Skill is very good, certainly adequate for 7th grade, but may be too advanced if this is an area where he struggles. My DD struggles with writing, but not due to dyslexia, and we did part of WWS last year and will finish it this year.

 

Reading list - go to your local library and ask them for their 7th grade reading lists from the local schools. Most libraries in my area at least have a long list from each local school. Go through and pick books that your son is likely to enjoy. Pick a LOT of books so your son can choose titles for himself. Then you can at least argue that these are the SAME books as the public schools are using.

 

Science - This tends to be the tough one when you are trying to do something comparable to public schools, because of the difficulty of providing the fancier sorts of labs, but it sounds like the public school option available to you doesn't do a lot of labs? If that's so, this will actually work in your favor. I personally haven't found a lot of homeschool curricula I like for science, but I know a lot of people who rave about Real Science 4 Kids and Science Explorer. We tried RS4K with a co-op class and found it kinda dull and expensive. Science Explorer is better, but I like to have ONE book as a spine, not a new book every few weeks.

 

Personally, for middle school, I like to just get a standard public school textbook and supplement it heavily with Bill Nye videos and fun hands-on stuff. I'm using the Holt Science and Technology series because it has a lot of hands-on activities and labs actually in the student book, and a lot of them don't require crazy amounts of lab equipment, so I only had to buy the one book AND we are still able to do a lot of the labs! :)

 

Online elective - have you looked at http://www.codecademy.com/#!/exercises/0 ? That might do for learning some beginning coding. No idea on the robotics, sorry.

 

Hope that gives you a few ideas!!

[Momma_Bear]

I agree that does not sound like a good public school option! IMO I also think middle school is the worst time to send a kid to PS.

 

Writing- Write with the Best is my favorite!

Grammar- I'd continue with Easy Grammar, it is a solid program.

Spelling- I like either Spelling Power or R&S

Reading List- Look at AO, SL, HOD, Etc they'll have tons of books. I have this book list bookmarked.

Math- Teaching Textbooks, though there is some disagreement if it's 'behind'. What level is your ds on? There are some things you could add to supplement.

Science- What have you studied up until now? What does your ds want to study? Off the top of my head.. Ellen McHenry, Oak Meadow, Noeo and Exploration Education. We also do nature walks/journals.

History- You said your doing state history? I'm not sure how much more history you'll need. Maybe do US Geography. There's a trail guide to US Geography paired with Eat your way around the US would be plenty!

Electives..

Not sure about robotics, sorry mine take it at co-op. Landry Academy has quite a few classes, mine have loved all the ones they've taken. They are a little pricey though.

For art we like Meet the Masters.

I haven't found any music we really like, I just find books on composers and have them read them. They also each play at least one instrument.

You could have him do logic- The Fallacy Detective or Thinking Toolbox

You could do current events- Once a week my kids have at least one story write a summary and their thoughts and we discuss it. They have to either do research online or look through newspapers or watch the news.

For P.E- Each of mine are "required" (I say that lightly because they love it) to be in some type of physical sport. It can be dance, gymnastics, martial arts, soccer, basketball, etc.

 

Sorry for rambling, doubt that helped at all but..:D

[PeterPan]

Couple things. One, since you're talking dyslexia, I would visit the SN board. You'll get tailored advice there. Two, I was curious as to whether you've actually done neuropsych testing or whether that's an assumed label? Just asking. Sometimes there's adhd on top of the dyslexia, and it sounds like that could be some of what you're describing.

 

Three, it's not hard to top the ps, mercy. The real question is how you're going to help him flourish. I'm concerned with what you're saying that he would not pass the expected proficiency exam. That to me is a problem. If he has been under your teaching for all these years and isn't passing a minimum proficiency exam, then that's showing you some areas you need to target and remediate. Personally I would make that a big goal for the year. Have you done some standardized testing to know where those holes are? What holes are showing up on these sample tests you're taking. You want to make sure you have a game plan that addresses those.

 

Four, my question when I read your whole post is about what his passion is or where his interests are. Have you read "Dyslexic Advantage" by the Eides? Sometimes these kids will have a slant or thought process (narrative, whatever) you can harness. TT math really seems to be working for my narrative thinker history lover. If you know you have a dc who loves history, I would put even MORE time there. We put a lot of time into history because it's her thing. But you know maybe he has a different "thing".

 

Anyways, I'd use that thought process to help you figure out what your goals are before you create a curriculum list. Almost anything anyone here on the boards do will be stronger than your ps. However you want to make sure you're remediating any problem areas and are feeding his passions if at all possible. And if he doesn't have passions, well then you want to shake up how you've been doing things and see if you can throw something totally different at him that will spark something. It really only takes one *well-chosen* thing to catch them, kwim?

 

As far as online classes, I'm finding the instructor of the online LoTR class we're doing with MP is doing a great job of accommodating SN. I'm not sure of the prices of their regular classes. This is a one month class and it's free. The format is working well for her and with the accommodations she has been able to participate and have a great time. You need to be able to type for something like that. If he isn't yet proficient at typing, that would DEFINITELY be something to put on your hit list for this coming year. I finally switched my dd over to the Dvorak keyboard layout and have her using the Mavis Beacon lessons for mac. Huge improvement. If he struggles with midline crossing and the fine motor of typing, it's something to look into. Definitely work on typing, as it unlocks their writing for junior high and high school.

Edited June 24, 2012 by OhElizabeth

[starwarsmomma]

he has been officially diagnosed with Dyslexia at Scottish Rite, plus a few other -- minor-- LD's.

He has a problem with fine motor skills, but can type at a 9th grade+ level last tested.

 

His problem with the skills testing is actually more of 1-- anxiety of skills testing (The teachers make such a HUGE deal about it he locks up), and 2-- he has a problem with testing -- I can ask him a question, and he can spend 20+ minutes with minute details explaining the answer. I can ask him to answer the exact same question on paper, and he has trouble getting it from his head to an answer. 3-- anything that requires composition is another problem. He has trouble getting it from his head to paper and making it coherent. If I ask him verbally, it's perfect.

 

HE KNOWS the material, he has trouble getting it onto paper, and the testing does NOT allow him to do anything but put it on paper... So, yes, he would do badly on the testing.

 

These are ALL things we are working on to fix, but this is where he's at-- RIGHT NOW.

 

Hubby is aware, but convinced he will be fine... I disagree.

I think if I can get him enough "cool" programs that are BETTER than ps, then he will agree to keep him home.

 

I just need to get very creative. :D

[starwarsmomma]

dumb question-- LoTR is lord of the rings?

What is MP?

[PeterPan]

Yup, LoTR=Lord of the Rings and MP=Memoria Press. Was it a psychologist that did his testing at Scottish Rite? You realize after the Texas text your next issue is standardized testing... Sounds like you're talking dysgraphia. If not dysgraphia, then so close it's almost. Again, go to the SN board and start a thread on that and ask for help.

 

Hate to make you repeat anything you've already shared, but have you gone back and worked on really foundational skills of copywork, dictation, narration (you scribe, trying to transfer it over), etc.? Have you worked on working memory? If he *types* his narration does it come out better? If he does a keyword outline or mapping or graphic organizer of the content does he find it easier to get out the writing? Have you let him give his narration/composition into a tape player and then let him transcribe/type it?

 

That's great that his typing is going so well! That definitely helps.

[starwarsmomma]

yes, diagnosed with Dyslexia, Dysgraphia, Dyscalculia, plus some extras, etc... by a specialist-- psychologist at Scottish rite (sorry for spelling errors, my iphone isn't cooperating, LOL)

 

Yes, we are doing intervention/skills training. But this is where he's at right now.

 

I will try to get on teh SN board tonight or tomorrow. Hard to do on phone.

[...................]

Your hubby might feel better with an outside teacher grading some if his work. Hewitt does this for several subjects for 7th and 8th graders. I would ask your hubby about it.

 

Another idea is Calvert Scholastic with ATS- which means your son will be enrolled with them as a distance private school student. This is a great choice if you think your son can do it with his LD's.

 

I hope you and dh can get on the same page

[Paisley Hedgehog]

nm

Edited November 22, 2012 by Shari
:)

[lillehei]

We have LDs in our family, which is one of the many reasons we pulled them from public school. My dh (a PhD at NASA) had his doublts, but now we both want to homeschool them through high school! We have had so much fun these last couple of years and the kids seem genuinely happy for the first time since publlic school What a blessing this year has been!

 

I wanted to bring your attention to Learning Language Arts Through Literature (LLATL). We are getting rid of all of our writing, lit., vocab, reading comprehension, editing, and spelling in one fell swoop. We may have to supplement spelling, but we will see. I have scoured the books, as have the kids, and we love them!

 

For Math, I would stay with TT since it is working.

 

Science could be really fun this year for your son. My daughter is taking Winter Promises' Equine Studies over the next few summers and for the school year we are doing Science Fusion. I would check out a ScienceFusion modules that he would find interesting. It takes about 3 modules to make a school year. My son is doing a Thames and Kosmos Electricity program for science over the summer and ScienceFusion Grade 4 for science.

 

There are several computer programming curricula out there. There are also Lego clubs through First Lego League all over the US. Or just get him a Lego mindstorm and he can program it himself.

 

I would just make this and next year as fun and educational as possible. It sounds like schooling him through high school is not an option, so I would make his last couple school years just awesome. Homeschool in the Woods has great American History Unit Studies,Cadron Creek has great liturature studies that include most subjects. I see you have a state study but is there anything he is particularly interested in that he enthused by? Unit Studies can be fun. I like Amanda Bennet's 1 month unit studies a lot but for something more heavy, I would look at Homeschool in the Woods, Cadron Creek or look on the boards here for some suggestions.

 

Maybe if your dh saw how much fun your ds was having, how much he was learning, etc., he might change his mind I may stand alone here, but I think you, as the mom spending most of the day with your kids, you see more of what is best for your dc than dh does. Maybeyou and your ds could fill out a pros and cons chart tgether and show it to dh.

 

GOod luck and God Bless!