I wonder what he's thinking as he stands in quiet reflection? Or is he just working out the kinks to a mischievous plan to hop over the trail barrier and explore the stream below? I'm going to go with the latter. *grin* This morning we suited up in rain gear for a morning hike up at Mt. Washington. It was definitely wet but well worth it, the scenery was magnificent! It's hard to believe that just the other day we were melting in the heat and today I could have sworn we were teleported straight into fall. Now that I think of it I'm pretty sure that it always rains the first week in September just about the time school starts back up. It's a bit earlier this year but oh so welcome :)
Blessings,
McCain on Education Choice
Posted on Aug. 20, 2008 at 10:12 PM by Gena Suarez, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - 0 Notes - Leave a Note - Link
In case you were wondering just where McCain stands on homeschooling, vouchers, and school choice, you can view him HERE.
Problem solving with pasta, exploring possibilities with popcorn, and other delicious math lessons require students to use their noodles as they discover kernels of mathematical truths. This book includes an Appetizer section that dishes out the upcoming math concept; a Main Dish section with lesson preparations, management tips, reproducible activities, recording sheets, and a math journal; a Dessert section that tops off the main lesson with literature links; and more.
Minute to Minute - Help! I'm homeschooling an autistic child!
Posted on Aug. 20, 2008 at 9:55 PM by Gena Suarez, The Old Schoolhouse Magazine - 0 Notes - Leave a Note - Link
Minute to Minute
Readers Helping Readers
Greetings!
Thank you for joining the Minute to Minute Readers as they answer another special needs question this issue. Below you will read the stories of two women, both homeschooling autistic children. These homeschool moms have taken up the torch of homeschooling a special needs child. They know curriculum is hard to find, and they're hoping that some of you can aid them as they search for the right curriculum for their children.
As you read our Month of Special Needs Minute to Minute E-Newsletters, please also take the time to peruse TOS Magazine's Resource Room, filled with articles from the magazine and special web articles all geared to encourage and aid homeschoolers with special needs children. Also, be sure to purchase a copy of TOS Summer '08 Edition which focuses on special needs or download a FREE digital copy of TOS Magazine's Summer '07 back issue which includes a special section on Autism and Vision Therapy.
We hope you will continue to join us next time as we answer more special needs questions.
P.S. Don't forget about our E-Book Express Contest. We're only about 100 qualifying orders away from our first winner for a Sony Reader. Just spend $30 in the Schoolhouse Store with one E-Book purchase and you can qualify! Over 70 E-Books are 50% off or more right now so it's a great time to find those extras for your school year.
Something Special
What Curriculum Do I Use?
Dear Minute to Minute Readers,
I have a 10 year old son with autism. He is at a Kindergarten level, and he doesn't speak very well. He repeats what you say. For the past 6 years he has been in the school system, and I decided to homeschool him because I feel that God wants me too. The past three years at school he had a teacher who did nothing with him but art work. All of the early intervention that we started has been undone and for three years he stayed the same. My question is, what kind of curriculum do you suggest that I try? I have prayed about it, and my husband and I feel strongly about homeschooling him and his brother. But, I am so scared.
I am not very creative and that scares me because my sons are, and I want to be able to help both of them do well. My other son is 11 and is very excited about homeschooling. We decided to go with Alpha Omega life packs for Vincent, my 11 year old, but I don't know what would be good for my son with special needs. The homeschooling group that I'm going to is at my church, and they want you to have a Bible-based curriculum, which is okay with me because that is what I want to use. But, I am also limited in curricula options and what I can spend. Please help! I don't know where to start!
After reading last week's Special Needs Minute to Minute, I know what kind of math to use. I'm planning to try Math U See. But I'm still unsure what kind of program to use for language and science. My autistic son is 10 years old, at a Kindergarden to first grade level. On his tests, he is doing sight words and spelling words, and we read together--well, it's more like I read and he listens. I'm still not sure what to I do for science or if I should even attempt it at this point. Please help!
Homeschooling An Autistic Son,
Tina
What Worked For You?
Dear Minute to Minute Readers,
I want to thank you for all the advice you've given in the past. I'm considering homeschooling for my 5 year old daughter whose been diagnosed with high function autism, and I was wondering if there is any mom out there who's going through the same challenges in homeschooling. Basically, I want to know what curriculum is she using? Are there any speech therapy, OT, or other services out there that are pro-homeschooling, and do they work?
Homeschooling An Autistic Daughter,
Merlyn
Homeschooling Resource
E-Book: Nurturing Your Asperger's Child contains useful suggestions on how to parent your Asperger's child, including our "point system," our chore chart, the rubber chicken game, social skills coaching, dealing with bullies, when to consider homeschooling and when not to, and plenty of recommendations for further reading.
If you or anyone you know homeschools a child with autism, please email us and share your personal accounts, curriculum suggestions, and insight with Tina and Merlyn. Emailing or otherwise responding to this email constitutes permission for The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, LLC to publish, post, reprint and distribute part or all of your response in the Minute to Minute E-Newsletter, the print, digital and online versions of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, on Company websites and in other Company publications.
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 9:14 PM by Amy Verlennich - 2 Notes - Leave a Note - Link
My little one loves sitting in the walker since he can play with the toys on the tray... however, he's a little "short" and his feet don't touch the ground yet... I know it won't be long when those feet hit the ground running and so with that... I took my camera and captured a moment that will be gone too soon...
We played with the Rosetta Stone free disk last year. I really liked it but it is SO expensive! I have watched eBay numerous times trying to get one at a decent price to no avail. Guess what, I found something better that is FREE!
On this free website you can learn to read, write and speak multiple languages fluently. This is how it works- you create a profile, choose a language, and a starting level. Then you do the different exercises to learn the language. Some of the exercises get evaluated by other people. Who are those other people? They are other users of that program which may become your "friends". Think of it like blogging. Some other blogger sees your blog and profile, leaves comments, and if they like you they add you to their friends list. That is how this works. If you wish, you may also evaluate other people's exercises as they try to learn a language that you know well.
Some of the exercises work like Rosetta Stone where a picture appears on your computer screen, you hear words being spoken and you choose the correct word. These type of exercises are automatically graded by the website. What Rosetta Stone can't do for you is let people evaluate your spoken sentences and written paragraphs! Did I mention that this program is free?!
Now here is the catch... (not really)... I am not going to tell you the name of the program unless you send me a personal message, leave a comment or email me. The only reason I want you to do that is because I will send you the link. If you register through that link than I get points. It really isn't a big deal. It just means I might have more points than an other member and I have issues with winning and being number one. That is it!
Therapy update
Posted on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 at 4:49 PM by Foxvalleyfamily - 5 Notes - Leave a Note - Link
We had some good news on the therapy front....
The O.T. said that she will only need to see Katie a couple more times, (unless we notice another regression of her fine motor skills.) Katie is doing wonderfully with all of her fine motor skills and activities.
The PT said that Katie's flexibility is improving, but that she still has strength issues in her calves and feet that we need to work on., but...we can do most of our exercises at home, and then 'check-in every 3-4 weeks! (This will be a tremendous relief! I was so worried that we would be running to therapy 4 or more times per week, and now we can cut it down to once or twice per month!)
And...we also went for an evaluation with the hospital speech therapist...but when she heard that Katie was already going to therapy 2x/week at our local school... she said.. ..." I think more therapy would be overkill."
And so we postponed the evaluation until Katie 'ages out' of the public school system when she turns 6.
I am so relieved that Katie can get the help she needs, and yet it won't be the huge burden on our schedules that I was so worried about.
Isn't it wonderful when we just turn it all over to Him...and He takes care of the details?!!!
Apples to Oregon is a delightful tall tale of how apple trees were first brought to the Willamette Valley. Based on a true story, this book by Deborah Hopkinson gives an exciting twist to history.
Not only is this just a fun read, it's an excellent book to add to your Oregon Trail studies, giving your students another look at what the pioneers chose to bring with them. You can even do a unit study from this book, found here.
At the end of the book, the author and the illustrator share what their favorite apples are. I like all apples and can't think of a favorite at the moment, but my favorite apple recipe is Birds'-Nest Pudding and it can be found in The Little House Cookbook. It's delicious, and I'm sure the main character in Apples to Oregon would think so too!
Hello and Welcome to my blog.
My name is Rachelle and I am a Christian homeschool mom to my four precious daughters -
Rebekah(18), Bethany(16), D(9), H(7) and sweet baby boy(J). We have homeschooled from the beginning.
My sweet husband and I have been married for 20 years. :)
