And now for the simple plan when you hit your head edition...

[PeterPan]

So I hit my head in a cave in Mexico, and I thought I was fine because I just had a headache the rest of the week while ziplining like superman in the Roatan, etc. It was great. But now I've been back for two weeks, and the headache isn't gone. I've been to the chiro two times and cranial sacral two times and went to see my doctor (for other reasons) who also said just rest. And it is getting better. At first I couldn't even get out all my words (yeah, I really bonked it, but I was wearing a hardhat!!), and now I can. 

So what I'm trying to think through is a plan for ds. He's pretty much over his upper respiratory virus we got on the trip and he's getting bored. He's had SO much Nintendo switch and youtube, he's ready to work. Thing is, my brain is not durable enough right now to do much. I can do half a speech therapy worksheet at a time with him. I tried reading some of his Abeka 4 history text, and I can sorta do that. Nothing more creative or difficult.

My ideas?

-cooking--He LOVES to cook simple recipes. Either I use this Kids Can Cook book someone gave him for Christmas or buy the next level of Cooking to Learn. The Cooking to Learn is $70+ and perfect for him, using some premade substances and dropping the language level to about 3rd grade. I like the recipes in the KCC book, but the language is hard for him and it uses like 15 ingredients to a recipe. So I could try to make work what I have or buy the intervention level book. We used level 1 of the C2L so I'd be buying book 2.

-math--I have no clue. I need to continue working Ronit Bird with him, going through multiplication. I know he's 11, don't judge. He needs to finish going through the RB multiplication book. And I wouldn't care about being down another month (very probable), but I have these stupid portfolio reviews or year end assessment coming. I haven't found a person for that either. It's usually a pretty chilled process with a portfolio review, but they do like to see you did something, lol. It's not like oh slack off, even when you have 3 SLDS, ASD2, and an IEP, kwim? We've done a lot of Tang Math, but he's hitting some walls at the multiplication. I have some fractions things I've done with him (Hands On Equations, something using tiles from Didax, etc.) so we've already done a lot of that. I really don't think I could do that with him right now anyway. For real. My brain just isn't there. Too much at all fatigues it. I don't even think I could do a simple word search in this large print book I have for my pleasure/relaxation. But with his SLDs, he needs specialized instruction and doesn't tend to be incredibly independent. So I don't know. I have some Didax games books, but I don't know that I feel well enough to play them. Right now, I can beat him at Othello if we go slowly, or I can let him win by not thinking about the moves. But my brain is just not quite there to think and go quickly. Maybe videos for math? Maybe somebody locally has those old SL mathtacular videos? Or something on oddball topics about math that we could just stream? Like fractals, cool stuff, I don't know. I could just say this is your math, watch this streaming video. Gifted IQ, so anything cool or with war or engineering or complexity will interest him. It could bring in physics, no problem. 

-speech therapy worksheets--definitely need to continue those, as they're pushing forward his language that improves writing and reading comprehension

-40 book challenge--I want to do this with him and saw a form somewhere. At his level, that's like picture books, simple books. His language comprehension is holding back his reading comprehension. I thought it was a fun idea.

-typing--I'd love to make some headway on this. Maybe I could try him on Mavis Beacon with the Dvorak software and see if he can do it? He's had a really hard time.

-art--I wish I were doing this, and I'm not sure I can make it happen. 

-history--I can continue to read the Abeka 4. I was trying it as kind of an overview. He tolerates it and will discuss. I figured better to finish something.

-science--I can't remember what my great idea was, lol. If we got some math+ physics videos, we'd have that nailed too. I was reading him an Abeka science text to discuss, and he was sorta so so on it. I can't read two things to him. One is really going to max me out.

-drawing--I have some step by step drawing books, and drawing helps his visual motor integration, improving his handwriting. So that's a definite winner, always good.

Anything else or any other ideas? It was a great trip, haha. I'm just going to be out of commission and sub par longer than I realized. I expected a week, and I think I've got 4-6 weeks here. So I need to write the plan, enforce the plan, boom. If I print it up, at least when my dh comes home he'll say hey jerk do your stinking work, and it will get done. But it needs to be at that level, where it can just happen like that. Right now my enforcement with him is more like a doting 80 year old grandma.

[PeterPan]

Adding: As I'm thinking about this, anything idiot proof that he can just DO I can throw it. But it needs to be a concise spine or a clear open and go resource. Like a series of art or travel videos where he watches one each day, kwim? Is there something like that for opera or Shakespeare? He'd be good with either of those. He likes light/lyric opera because we go to that in the summer. He'd be at a great age to do something like that. He's just not going to read the spine. I think we're talking a video series, a Teaching Company course, or youtube/amazon prime.

Edited February 21, 2020 by PeterPan

[Hadley]

Ignore me if you wish. I don’t mean to be an alarmist, but I almost lost my dad several years ago over a brain bleed that went undiagnosed because doctors kept sending him home without doing any real tests.  He hit his head and had a headache for six weeks.  He had been to three doctors who all sent home with no answer.  He passed out one morning at breakfast and was taken by ambulance to the hospital where he underwent emergency brain surgery.  Doctors did not think he would come out of the surgery alive.

He is now alive, but has lasting consequences from the injury.  It could have been avoided if someone had taken his headache complaints seriously.  

Please, if you have any doubts, get another opinion.  Again, I don’t mean to scare you, but I didn’t want to read your post and move on.  I hope you are back to 100% very soon.

[PeterPan]

8 minutes ago, Hadley said:

I don’t mean to be an alarmist, but I almost lost my dad several years ago over a brain bleed that went undiagnosed because doctors kept sending him home without doing any real tests.  

It's a good point. It's why I was willing to go to the doctor this time. On the plus side, I was wearing a hard hat when I hit my head. I did get a bruise, and it has gone down. And the headaches are about 30-50% better than they were. If they were staying high and not improving, yes I would definitely push for some tests. Totally makes sense. I have no doubt whatever I did was no good for my head. I mean, I literally was dropping language which is so not like me, lol. 

But thanks for the concern because it makes a lot of sense. I'm sorry that happened to your father and I'm glad he pulled through.

[hs03842]

-

Edited June 8, 2020 by JoyKM

[PeterPan]

4 hours ago, JoyKM said:

choose an intriguing artist from an art book to emulate. (For example, he chooses Monet, then researchers his famous works and techniques. Then he makes his own Monet-style painting—all done at very much a kid level).

We had somebody on the boards do this years ago, and I had forgotten. What a good idea!

And yes, we have access to BARD/National Library Service, so we can get seemingly unlimited audiobooks. And you're right, I could stack them, with a book on the artist and then the imitation.

Edited February 22, 2020 by PeterPan

[ieta_cassiopeia]

@PeterPan, that's a tough break :( If it seems to be improving, and you and your doctor are rock-solid sure that it's not a bleed or something... ...then it may well be concussion. Please go easy on yourself (to the extent practicable) for at least a week after the headache goes, and then build back up slowly. This is because sometimes a concussion can feel like it has gone, only to still be an issue when the brain is on heavy workload.

This is difficult to do given that you have a family and a homeschool to attend to, and I can see you have good ideas about how to approach this. Now is definitely not the time to be trying out an unfamiliar 15-ingredient-to-a-recipe cookbook, however. It is worth having Kids Can Cook on order for later, but for now, I'd suggest that this is a time to stick with Cooking For Learning. It's a known quantity to you and familiarity will definitely help. If you still don't feel 100% at the end of C4L 2, it might even be worth getting the last one in the 3-volume series before getting Kids Can Cook.

For similar reasons, sticking with the speech worksheets (splitting in two if you're only managing half a worksheet at a time) and Abeka 4 is a good plan.

I wish I could advise on maths, but I don't know the options.

40-book challenge in combination with audiobooks is great.

Best wishes with the more straightforward plan.

[serendipitous journey]

Friend, so sorry you are dealing with this.  At the least, it must be a concussion.  I hope you can eat well (lots of veggies, good fats, proteins), get enough rest, get some gentle movement, get outside a bit when you can.  Try to take good care of yourself for us 🙂  though it is never easy: hugs!  and I'm glad you are advocating for good medical care for yourself. 

Not sure what will fit your son and what won't, but here's a few ideas:

1. Math
   1. Beast Academy online: get a trial subscription, or maybe a month worth, and have him start near the beginning and do what's fun.  At least some of it may engage him, there are even sections (If he can find them) with no arithmetic.  The puzzles can get very challenging, even at level / grade 2, so it may not suit him if he has a low tolerance for frustration.
   2.  Here Come the 1-2-3s! by They Might Be Giants, that's the youtube playlist you can put it to autoplay.   Simple but I really like it 🙂 
   3. These other videos are at a much higher level.  My older one likes them but the younger often doesn't care so much.
      1. BBC "Mathematics"
      2. BBC "Secret Rules of Modern Living: Algorithms"
      3. The Story of Maths – This is actually a series that was created in Britain. Over four episodes, it teaches about the history of mathematical thought and how its developments affects the world today. It’s available both on Netflix and through clips on Youtube.
      4. BBC: The Code – The Code is yet another BBC created series about math and its interaction with the world. This time it explores the interaction between math and life.
      5. The Story of 1 – Monty Python’s Terry Jones puts a humorous twist on mathematical theory, focusing on the development of arithmetic in Sumeria, the Pythagorean theory, and the development of zero.
      6. Between the Folds – This documentary looks at one of the most forward-thinking aspects of modern mathematics – folding. Its focus on a concrete outcome can connect with and inspire students.
      7. PBS: The Great Math Mystery – This is a PBS documentary that explores whether math is a man-made invention or a natural part of the universe.
      8. NOVA: Fractals – Hunting the Hidden Dimension – This NOVA episode explores fractals and how they appear in nature.
      9. NOVA: The Proof – This is another NOVA documentary, this time with a focus on Fermat’s last theorem and the people who have tried to solve it.
      10. The Colors of Infinity – This is an older documentary on fractals, but its visually stunning illustration of the concept is sure to keep students engaged.
2. Shakespeare: have you seen the BBC Animated Shakespeare? 
   1. Here at Amazon: all of them, but spendy.  Maybe your library system has some?
   2. Some of them are in this Youtube play list.
3. Science
   1. Youtube playlist for Here Comes Science by They Might Be Giants.  Just fun, not too complex, has some cool ideas.

   2. Making Stuff (this is great) + Making Stuff 2 (also great)

   3. This is a list of videos I have for our current terms.  Haven't watched them all, and the URLs won't paste: sorry. 
      Mythbusters Season 5: (Walking on Water; Newton/Birds in Truck; Pirates 2; Pirates double episode; Confederate Cannon; [Wild] Western Myths; Hindenburg; Grenades & Guts)
      Absolute Zero (Nova)
      Percy Julian: Forgotten Genius (Nova) — 5 stars
      Mystery of Easter Island 30” (Nova) (scientists & volunteers test theories RE stones)
      Kaboom!  The Sizzling Story of Explosions (Nova)
      David Pogue: Hunting the Elements (Nova, 2 hours)
      Uranium: Twisting the Dragon’s Tail (Nova)  
      Mystery of Matter: Search for the Elements (Nova) (We’ve watched this before)
      How the States Got Their Shapes: Season 1
      How the States Got Their Shapes: Season 2
      Cracking the Maya Code - NOVA

4. Art
   1. I think there's no finer intro to art than Ed Emberley's Fingerprint Drawing book.  To make it open and go:
      1. If you can spare a baking sheet, then set one aside.  On it, store
      2. the book,
      3. some fingerprint art pads,
      4. paper,
      5. pencils or fine markers/ballpoint pen to add detail,
      6. a sponge & a cloth to make it easy to clean fingers.  Just wet the sponge at art time and let the child at it.   
   2. I'm stuck for good art history videos for kids.  Don't like the ones I've seen.  😞
   3. ETA: some of the very best artists work in picture books, and since the child will do picture books, this might be a great option to get a ton of exposure to good composition, line, color, and so on.  Plus you can almost always get these at your library.
      1. David Wiesner has several completely wordless books with great plots; I still love his "Tuesday".  Here's his Amazon page.
      2. Aaron Becker does, too, including his wordless trilogy Journey/Quest/Return.  His Amazon page.
      3. Jerry Pinkney is the one of the best artists living.  Here's his wordless Lion & the Mouse; his Amazon page. 
      4. If your child doesn't think it is too babyish, you could expose to a variety of styles by checking classic alphabet books out of the library.  This site lists a few for older boys -- incl. Allsburg's awesome "The Z was Zapped" --  and I like Mary Azarian's Farmer's and Gardener's alphabets.

Hope something is of use.  Hang in there!

Edited February 22, 2020 by serendipitous journey

[ktgrok]

Khan academy for math? Free, fairly low frustration, pretty independent. 

And agree, this is a concussion and the more you do now the longer it will take to get better and the higher the risk it WON'T get better all the way. 

[PeterPan]

8 hours ago, serendipitous journey said:

Hope something is of use. 

Wow, those lists are the bomb, thank you!!! Yes, that's exactly the kind of stuff I was wanting to find. Super, super helpful.

Also I think I have a lead on a provider who can give us some inhome hours using our disability scholarship funding. That would help immensely, and I think they have immediate availability. So if it works out and I like them when we meet, I have someone who can implement plans.

11 hours ago, ieta_cassiopeia said:

Now is definitely not the time to be trying out an unfamiliar 15-ingredient-to-a-recipe cookbook, however. It is worth having Kids Can Cook on order for later, but for now, I'd suggest that this is a time to stick with Cooking For Learning. It's a known quantity to you and familiarity will definitely help. If you still don't feel 100% at the end of C4L 2, it might even be worth getting the last one in the 3-volume series before getting Kids Can Cook.

For similar reasons, sticking with the speech worksheets (splitting in two if you're only managing half a worksheet at a time) and Abeka 4 is a good plan.

Yes, I hate to spend more money, but that's what I had kind of been thinking too. Familiar, easy to implement. And if I hire the intervention specialist/tutors I'm looking at, they'll like the C2L materials better anyway because they have integrated language arts.

Thanks ladies! 

[PeterPan]

5 hours ago, Ktgrok said:

Khan academy for math? Free, fairly low frustration, pretty independent. 

And agree, this is a concussion and the more you do now the longer it will take to get better and the higher the risk it WON'T get better all the way. 

Yeah, that's pretty much what the doctor said too, that it's a mild concussion. I hadn't thought about Khan Academy, hmm. I'll look at the lists here and my stash and see. I'll want to pick something the intervention specialist can't butcher. He might have a math SLD, but he doesn't HATE math. And I'm not going to let someone who doesn't love math try to teach him and kill it for him. 

[ktgrok]

16 hours ago, PeterPan said:

Yeah, that's pretty much what the doctor said too, that it's a mild concussion. I hadn't thought about Khan Academy, hmm. I'll look at the lists here and my stash and see. I'll want to pick something the intervention specialist can't butcher. He might have a math SLD, but he doesn't HATE math. And I'm not going to let someone who doesn't love math try to teach him and kill it for him. 

Khan was great for my kid with PANDAS when he was in a flare. He did the "missions" version of it, and liked seeing his progress, etc. And each mission is really short, so if it is a bad brain day you can do one, and then do something else. MUCH less overwhelming than a whole page of problems staring at you. And it auto adjusts so that if they get a concept right twice they don't have to keep doing it, other than every now and then as review I think. But if they get it wrong they will continue to get those problems until they get it right twice. And he can rewatch the videos whenever he needs to. And you can print out a screen shot of his progress for his portfolio as proof he was doing something. 

Edited February 23, 2020 by Ktgrok