I will like to share how my “Summer school” has been so far.

My son has progressed in his reading skills and his “dyslexia” is every day more subtle; when he reads words with several monosyllables (el, la, en), he has the problem, when he reads words with several syllables, he doesn’t have a problem. During the last weeks, he is trying to read every sign he sees and tries very hard to do it right (whoo hoo!). I am motivating him with, well, with what he likes (Bionicle, Legos, Transformers, Power Rangers, etc.) He acknowledges that he needs to write and read to understand better (I don’t think he realized this last year) and he feel proud when he finishes a sentence or understands what he is trying to read. Sometimes he won’t understand, but we started working on the Four Square Writing Method (first pages) and he finds it amusing. I hope this helps.

     When he was diagnosed with the “dyslexia”, I shared it with people who knew more than I about homeschooling special needs children (It’s great to have those people around!) and they told me that it’s not a simple dyslexia, but part of his condition. It scared me to not understand clearly my son’s core issues and realizing that this part of his condition. Maybe it’s because he has improved so much at his social integration and sensory integration that I thought I could treat him like a normal child, even academically.

      Re-reading Sharon Hensley’s article about having realistic expectations (in her book “Homeschooling Children with Special Needs: Turning Challenges into Opportunities!"), it dawned me that sometime on the way I “forgot” my son’s condition and expected him to “catch up” two years of school in a few weeks (as if!). I shared it with a group of friends, as part of what I learned about it and being in peace with his condition. I realized that is not that I didn’t accept the autism; it’s that I thought we had won the war. I realized we have won battles, but the war hasn’t ended. The war may never end! Its part of what my son is, a boy with issues (like many others) and with a family who supports him and prays with him to help him with these issues.

No, I am not playing the devil’s advocate, it just that the questions come this time of year of many parents that want to know the basic questions of homeschooling a special needs child.

            *In PR there is no legislation or regulation towards homeschooling;

            *Children that are receiving therapies by the Ed. Department will not lose their

            services because of homeschooling.

*It is recommended that you keep a journal and/or portfolio of your homeschooling to keep your                 records and if any legislation or regulation comes along.

   Many parents talk about curriculum and course of study. I often ask them if the child has a IEP (Individualized Education Plan) and most of them have, so I tell them to modify that in a one to one basis and adapt that with the course of study for the child’s grade.

    We have to look first to help the child with the “loops” he/she has in the basic skills to then look forward in the grade skills. For example, if a child has dyslexia, I think we have first to help him decode and comprehend better before telling him to read Don Quixote. It looks obvious, but sometimes parents think this way (ok, sometimes I do). Sometimes I forget my son’s condition and look at him as a normal child, until I face the wall of his autism and core issues within the condition. It’s hard to remember it, but it makes me understand that he is the reason and God has put me in this path to help him be the best he can be…

   So don’t forget, the main issue in homeschooling a special needs child is educating him to be a better human being WITHIN HIS/HER CONDITION and be confident that God will help you on the way.

Today I got the news that my son has dyslexia. Although this doesn’t surprise me, it gives me a new challenge, his autism is “on regression”, he is behaving like a normal 6 year-old (he is 8 yo, btw), and he is socializing well, but it answers his problems in reading. Now we have to look for possible new strategies to help him overcome this new obstacle. This summer, his reading is more fluid, even though he is still reading syllable by syllable; his math is almost at grade level and we are doing review in money concepts. So it’s not so bad!

   The therapist tells me that this is a normal situation with children with processing disorders (with he had a while back with language) but she wants to work it with him as she would with a typical child, not as a child with autism. I asked why and she told me that because he is a high functioning autistic child, most therapies for dyslexia/autism are prepared for children with moderate/severe autism and he is not the case.

    I agree with her as I remembered the last time he was considered a moderate autistic child. It was almost 4 years ago. As I said in a earlier post, his pediatrician asked for a re-consideration of his dx because he believes that he has surpassed all prognosis for an independent life. So, after all, maybe it can be the same situation with dyslexia. We will work with it one day at a time and see how to win it.

     He is happy, he is talking a lot more, and requiring me attention: “Look at me, mom, I am talking” are some of his expressions that make me laugh and almost cry because I see my son big, alert and learning at his environment. The Lord has been good with us!

      I know that I have talked about putting him in a school, but after thinking about it and searching for an appropriate school, there is none! I believe in homeschooling and I believe that he is in the best environment to help him achieve these goals, especially when we are talking about children with special needs, in my case, autism.

     I see my children and I see hope…

     I see my children and I see acceptance…

     I see my children and I see progress…

     I see my children and I see a way to be near God and my way to holiness…

     I know I have to be more consistent with my schedule and with what my son will be learning, but I also know that I have to let him LIVE and LEARN with his environment.

    There are better days, we will start on it TODAY.

Hi you all! I have been away this blog for all this months for several reasons; (1) my time has been very limited with a lot of work from church and the children, (2) I have been battering a depression with prayer and good friends from the OCDS (Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites) at Caguas, Puerto Rico. (3)With this depression, I have been very unmotivated to tell you what homeschooling is helping my son, because I have felt that I was putting him behind.

      The search is not over, but neither are my feelings. I have been thinking in putting my son at school, because I have been having financial situations (it is not yet problems, but if I don’t do something, it will be) and I may have to work, but my heart is at homeschooling. Seeing and being part of this progress is a boost that no medicine can cure, but there is so much pressure to “help him socializing”! There are so much pressures  to give him a stability that all this time homeschooling was giving him!  And there is a economic crisis at PR,  what was enough to live by  isn't anymore!

     At this point, I should be secure of the benefits, of my beliefs, but I feel burned out at every aspect of my life. I know this will pass, but… it’s taking too long!

    I ask you to pray so I can make the best decision for his sake, not mine and that I can live with it…

Happy 2007! Well, the Christmas season has not finished in Puerto Rico; we still celebrate the Epifany on January 6. It's a tradition that is as important as Christmas because we see how Jesus Christ was presented to all, jews and gentils.

During the Christmas season we haven't not studied much, but enjoyed what Jesus has brought us during this time. We will try to start today... let's see if we can.

My son has worked several "autistic" issues during this time, including the fireworks on New Year's Eve. He was amazed by the lights and was not severely bothered by the noise (more than we were). That's a great success! I have always thought that the academic success will come if we work hard the issues that he has (hyposensitivity, obsessions, etc.) A friend that is a phychologist has told me that his ADHD issues are almost gone (that most of it is because he is an 8 years old boy and not because of the condition) and gives me the hope that he will live a "normal" life because his "autistic traits" are so mild at this moment. Now, it doesn't mean that I won't keep working. But there is always hope to a better day... Praise the Lord!

   I was last night making my son’s IEP evaluation this semester and I have to admit, his schooling is still basic but he has advanced so much! He is READING at last and although we are doing the process slowly, we are READING! We are adding and subtracting and we are SOCIALIZING and LOOKING FORWARD TO SOCIALIZE with other children.

  During this time of year, I always look back and try to look at the positive things we have done so far. Even our pediatrician thinks my son can be re-evaluated because he believes that he can change his dx. It was a great surprise for me! Not because I don’t see his improvements, but I never looked at that as part of our process. This is just the Lord’s work in our lives, nothing else.  PRAISE HIM!

  As a leader at my Church, I have been working hard to help to make a good Advent, but I forgot to work it at my heart. School, the kids, therapies, the Church was taking too much at me and left me such a bad mood that was leaving a bad flavor on my life and my children’s also.

    Then, last week, at the Feast of St. John of the Cross, founder of the religious community of my Parish (Discalced Carmelites), I received as a gift a book of Prayers, but it is not just a book of prayers, just the Divine Office, the Book of Prayers that the Church does and keep unity around the world. This book was a signal to me to slow down, to calm down and work for the Lord but with the attitude of the Lord, WITH PRAYER. I have said here before that I feel more like Martha and less like Mary, working and not enjoying the Lord’s Presence in my life. At this point, I decided to do just that, enjoy my life, enjoy my kids and enjoy the Lord during these last weeks of Advent.

   As a homeschooler, we slowed down because the girls were at final exams at their schools and it was difficult to keep track without interruptions, so we worked was Christmas meaning is and I had a lot to work because my son just viewed Christmas as when Santa came and gave us gifts (he didn’t had the conscience about what Christmas means until last year) and had to change that to Jesus’ birthday and change Santa Claus to St. Nicolas, so we had work in including Christ in Christmas in his life. Since his birthday is also on December, I told him that he has his birthday with Jesus and was so happy for it!

   So, at least we are heading to the correct direction, I will keep you posted to how our road goes.

   It's that time of year in Puerto Rico, private schools reservation payments!

At this time, we have to reserve the seat for next school year. I hate this! My daughter always whines (and I follow her) with all the complaints: why she can’t be homeschooled, it’s so difficult, she wants to have a “normal” social life (she’s only 11).

I support her, but because I am divorced and with a special needs child, my husband doesn’t feel appropriate to homeschool all 3 children. He never was that fond of the idea, but discovered that it was a great solution for our son and keep on being a great solution. (Did I told you that the reservation payment is $1115.00 and a monthly payment of $215.00 for Middle School and for the other child $700 the reservation payment and $285 the monthly payment? That will be a total for both girls of $1815 for the reservation and $500 in monthly payments of the schools.) I have been thinking in having a distance learning program for my 11 yo for 7^th grade and keeping her home and another for my 9 yo for 5^th grade. My son still is on a remedial program for second grade and reading at a kinder / early first grade level. I just hope I can convince my husband to take a leap on our children’s education!

   By the way, he had a dictation today and… cheated the last two words! I had the answers on the back of my notebook and he looked! I know you are thinking, why are you celebrating? I was laughing because I just forgot he has autism and most autistic children are not aware of situations like this (well, those I know at least).

   Yesterday my son had his 6 month evaluation from his Occupational Therapist. Although in paper his progress can look disapointing, I am so proud of him! We had to ask for a re-evaluation, because his fine and gross motor skills are above level. But his academic skills (staying still for 30 minutes, consistency on the pencil grip, hold the paper properly) are still developing. His therapist says that she is very proud of him because he is progressing. She says that most of her patients with autism are at the same level for large periods of time and that she finds that homeschooling has made a difference with him (she has been working with him for 4 years, before homeschooling).

    I just so proud!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

     I belong at the Puerto Rican Autism and Other Developmental Disorders Aliance (Alianza Autismo y otros desórdenes relacionados de Puerto Rico). They have asked me to promote homeschooling for special needs children at the Family Day at the Peace Pavillion (Pabellón de la Paz) at the Muñoz Rivera Park in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The day will be Sunday November 12 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

     This is the 3rd year of the Familiy Day; but it's the first time we (Learning without Labels Support Group) will have a table to promote the alternative of homeschooling our special needs children. I'm excited and scared because this activity brings about 3,000 to 5,000 people and I don't know if we can handle it. Please pray so we can help and communicate effectively to other parents about the benefits of homeschooling our children.

    I think that homeschooling is a life process, and part of that process is to talk to other homeschooling parents. I gave a portfolio workshop last Saturday and within everything, it went well.

    Sometimes we forget that other parents have similar or more difficult situations that also need attention and we want to dominate the scenery. I pray everyday to not be a “needy person”, but that particular Saturday was my 34^th birthday and although I don’t usually celebrate my birthday, I felt so sad because I felt like no one cared! It sounds stupid and childish, but not even my best friends remembered! Not even my family! It was a hard day, but at the end I offered it all to my Lord, so I can be near him and not work so hard to impress people and to keep a “nice face”.

    This is one of those complicated issues people are about, and if you add homeschooling a special needs child, raising 2 daughters at school and alone, and not having appropriate ME time, I just feel burned out.

     Since my last post, there have been many situations that has been in my mind. A spiritual desert, where I had been very tired emotionally, spiritually and of course, physically has dominated my life during the past months. I have struggled and I have prayed to be more a Mary than a Martha (using as an example Lc 10, 38-42).  My life is very, not complicated, but with so many things, that maybe that could be the problem; so many hats, only one head…

     In our homeschooling adventure, we had to change again! our reading books, looking for better results. I found some books from when I was little (it’s like the Spanish version of Dick and Jane) and today he read 7 pages at once! Praise God! I had been looking for these books for over a year and my son’s occupational therapist found them and borrowed them to me. I copied them and made a sort of lapbook for my son. He liked it! Hope not to discourage him with this technique.

     On another note, my dear 4 year-old miniature dachshund (black double dipple long haired) Frida Josefa had 4 puppies on September 30^th. One girl died at birth, the last one, so we have right now 2 girls and 1 boy. I will post some photos to show them. They are terribly cute!

As the girls work their schedule and we start school full throttle, I am feeling like my son is falling behind. HELLO! He is going to be 8 years old and even if he has autism, he is a very bright child. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I am very, very aware of his condition, but I feel like he is very comfortable not doing more work that the one he already knows. I support him and know he can do it, but it gets a little frustrating to keep in the same page for “secula seculorum”.

     In math, science and social studies he is at grade level; he does his copywrite fair and legible, why he doesn’t want to read? More patience, more patience, but I have to be firm.

    Talking about other things, we started a local group called… you guessed, Learning without labels for homeschooling parents with special needs children. Recently, there is a growth in this area of homeschoolers and there is no information or proper support for us. As soon as we start meeting, I will inform you all. Thank you for your support…

     I was thinking during the public hearnings of Bill 2754 in the House of Representatives this week "why am I here?" I was there because my son with autism voice has to be heard. I was there because many parents homeschooling children with special needs need to be counted and our suppport groups sometimes forget that we are part of the hs community. I was there because the truth of parents like me need to show up and speak up.

   I think that after a while, I was glad I was there.

  We started homeschooling a week ago and it has been very good so far. JM has been working with a review of 1st grade concepts and it has been receptive. I hope we can continue this atittude during the year.

   Starting again with school/homeschool/therapy routine has been very tiring. I hope I am not sick, but I don't have the strengh for that much activity this wee; maybe later on, I can find that strengh. I pray that I can. My kids needs me.

     I took the advice of a fellow blogger and made my homeschool schedule of six weeks with a week of “vacation” or “free”. We are in this week right now. But this week has been when my son JM is more interested in learning. Why I am not surprised? When you provide learning experiences in everyday situations has been enriching for my son with autism.

     In Puerto Rico we are in back to school mode, my other daughters are preparing to start school next week (this was an arrangement my ex-husband and I made in our divorce so my son could have individualized teaching… how I regret that I didn’t fight so all my children would be homeschooled then!), so we will be back into “machine mode”. JM has been included in the back to school progress, because he will be the first to start school on the 7^th (I may change this because the girls will start on the 8^th and the 10^th). He has new clothes, a backpack for his therapies sessions, new workbooks (he will use his sister’s old books). He starts therapy on the 16^th, so we may take about two weeks to get back to schedule and with the girls’ schedule, adjust the housework around this.

     I am trying to maintain a FORMAL schedule for JM, and I have to stay around it because I want to maximize his learning. One of the mayor changes I am making this year is to give him Thursday off of formal schooling and making that day (he has Occupational Therapy that day) a experimental day, where we apply what we have learned that week. Science experiments, field trips to the park or museums are ideas I have to give him an opportunity to get out of the house and with other children in a more “scheduled” matter. I hope this works. I can’t go to any support groups meetings because of JM and the girls’ schedules; most support groups my area are on Fridays from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., JM has speech therapy until 11:30 a.m. and I have to pick up AM at 1:30 p.m. and J at 2:40 p.m., so it’s difficult.

      I will keep you posted how we start, and if this schedule works for us.