A quick little hello, just to let everyone know that I am still alive. This year has been a rather trying one, and we’re still working on all the things that need our attention.
Our son was sent home from school a few months ago because he was having such a hard time being in class that nobody could calm him down. He was a whole month at home before the school was able to formulate a plan, and is still only going half days since April. Life is upside down!
We’ve had him integrated into a regular classroom in our local school for six years now, but we’re finally feeling that it’s time to place him in a special needs school. Now comes the work of finding out what our options are, examining them, and then making applications…..
As if that wasn’t enough to be dealing with, we’ve also discovered that our two older daughters are both likely ADHD and possibly dealing with learning disabilities, as well. So, a battery of other tests and a formal diagnosis process lie ahead, and then adaptations once we have a better idea of where the specific issues lie. Thankfully, our psychologist is very supportive of homeschooling for special needs kids!
I’ve been spending my days learning more about the issues we think are going to come up, scouting out homeschool curricula that are designed for special needs kids or that work with a very multi-sensory approach, and trying to help the girls sort out all the new information they are getting about themselves. At the end of every day I am so tired, it seems it’s the kids who need to tuck Mama into bed. (Luckily, Daddy has always been good about tucking the kids in!)
There’s a lot going around in my head: connections between autism and ADHD; visuo-spatial learners, and their link to ADHD/LD/autism; links of any/all of these to giftedness (sometimes called being “twice exceptional”) ….
At the same time I’m also considering adopting some parts of the Montessori method – something I never expected to be doing, for a number of reasons. I’ve discovered that the manipulatives commonly used in Montessori settings might just be useful for my girls – a revelation that occurred as a result of us throwing a few handmade copies together to do the ShillerMath placement tests.
An online math learning program called DreamBox uses some fun manipulatives, too. I think they’re probably a little closer to RightStart Math, which seems to rely heavily on a specially designed abacus. It’s only been two days, but the kids are beginning to “get” the concepts, which are built in large part upon the skill of quickly recognizing groups of objects (“subsitizing,” for those who want to look into it.) I have got all four of my kids doing a two-week trial of the program, intended for kids in K-2, but entertaining/educational even for my 11 year old. I promise to write more about it in a couple weeks’ time, when we’ve had a better look at what it gives….
Anyway, when math goes from being a struggle to kids asking if they can please do some more math you know something is going right!
I have begun to look into Montessori. Baby steps, for now. I’m getting familiar with some of the manipulatives used for math, and beginning to grasp how the grammar ones work (very cool!) I’ve been talking with another homeschool mom who combines Charlotte Mason & Montessori, and it appears it is possible despite some fundamental differences in the two great ladies’ philosophies!
I’ve scouted out some books on Montessori, including one written by Maria Montessori & another intended for home use. They are now at the top of my list of books to check out (of course, I have about ten others “on the go” at the moment, but we’ll get there!)
As a comfort, I decided to revisit Anne of Green Gables, which I have much loved watching in my adulthood, but haven’t read in many a year. My old paperbacks have twice since fallen apart, so I got a sturdy copy from the library – bless the library – and I’m ever so much in love with that quirky little girl and her adoptive family, all over again! (Mom, please tell Auntie Ina I’m so happy she sent me those books as a kid! It’s one of the best gifts I’ve ever had :) )
We’ve also taken to watching Canada: A People’s History with the girls. I had seen many of the episodes when it originally aired on TV, but never got to see them in order. I’m finding I like the series a whole lot better this way! Dojogirl (11) understands most of it, especially when I take the time to preview an episode and then pause the action for discussion as necessary to emphasize a point that is being made, or to draw a connection to what we’ve learned in our readings. The girls both enjoy the re-enactments, especially the monologues read by actors in period costumes.
Dojogirl has discovered Samuel de Champlain, and much enjoyed the episodes about the founding of the Habitation at Quebec City. We read a fabulous book borrowed on a whim, Les aventures de Samuel de Champlain by Francine Legaré (Planète rebelle, 2008.) It comes with a CD of songs about Champlain’s life. The last one on the disc talks about the multicultural nature of Quebec today, and how Champlain would be surprised to see how his “little corner of France” in the New World now is full of people from all the four corners of the world. I looked to see if the library had the sequel, which they don’t. But they do have 41 entries by the publisher, many of which are books with CD. I believe we’ll be browsing through them over the summer…..
The girls are coming along absolutely swimmingly in French at the moment, and we are all reading like crazy! Have I mentioned that I’ve become a HUGE fan of the local library?
Dojogirl has read three novels in as many days (she loved the Jungle Book you sent, Mom!) and is just soaking up all of the historical books I had her check out of the library. A lot of them are from Donna Ward’s Courage and Conquest History Bundle #2, and seem to appeal to kids who like a sort of bits ‘n’ bites kind of approach – sort of like a Guinness World Book or something similar.
The Banana is finally reading chapter books without having to be cajoled into it. She can read from The Spiderwick Chronicles with adult help, and today picked up Little House in the Big Woods, which she seems to be managing with a minimum of assistance.
I have a stack of book reports on my desk to look through!!
OK, so I’m rambling now, and it’s time to get the Bug to bed. The girls are at Ju-Jutsu for what is expected to be a longer class than normal. One of the newer students is taking his yellow belt exam! Shihan says the jump from white belt to yellow is just about the hardest one, until the much more advanced grades. It’s a celebration! Dojogirl baked cookies especially for the occasion :D
It’s good to be back, dear readers. I hope I’ll be finding more time to share with you again soon, but please do be patient. As Sonya says, I’ll probably be writing in fits & starts. Lots of things to share with you, but so much more going on in the background! In the meantime, your thoughts and prayers are much appreciated. It’s been a long road so far, this year, and we’ve got much uncharted territory to navigate, still.
Solstice is this weekend, so happy summer to you all!
Ruby
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Tags: Special Needs
