Hi all: My computer is repaired, so I'm back in business!

As I said in an earlier post, on July 13, we had public hearings about the Bill 2754 for the "recognition" of homeschooling in Puerto Rico. I was at the hearings and will give you a review of what went there...

   Please, before we continue, I must say that there are many homeschoolers opposed to the bill and many others in favor, so I will try to be objective so you can decide... I don't want any regulation (in my opinion), but we have to evaluate what we have at hand, one at a time.

    Bill 2754 is asking for a notice of intent for each homeschool family for accountability (with a registration charge of $125, which it was said at the hearing it would be free because of all the opposition to pay anything) and a portfolio presentation every 4 years to present corroboration that the child is being homeschooled. Other than that, it doesn't require anything else.

   At the hearing, there was the Justice Department, the General Education Council (that regulates private schools), the Education Department and T'CHERs a national organization for homeschoolers. The only one opposed to the bill was... the Education Department because they say homeschoolers are not certified teachers, but recognized that homeschoolers have better grades than public and even private schoolers.

    Now, as I said before, there is a large group of homeschoolers that are opposed to the bill, and we have to take them into account. Their reasons? Mostly because they say that it's restrictive and discriminatory towards homeschoolers.

What do you think? I would like to hear your comments and your experiences with regulations, if any.

Hello all:

    I have been "out of commission" because my computer got a virus and burned my hard drive. Sooooo, I am at my friend's house making up time away from you.

There is so much information I want to say about what is happening in Puerto Rico! We had Public Hearings about the new bill presented by Congress and there is more mis-information about what that bill brings. Many are in favor, but more disagree with the bill. I hope that I can have my computer back soon (it's in the repair shop, so it can take more days) so I can detail all the issues.

    See you soon!

    On June 15, a new bill regarding homeschooling was presented at Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives. This project (P.C. 2754) is said to “recognize” the educational alternative of homeschooling in Puerto Rico.

     It suggest a notification to intent homeschooling to the Puerto Rico General Educational Council (“Consejo General de Educación de Puerto Rico”) with a payment of $125; an evaluation every 4 years where the parent will bring a portfolio of their child.

     Puerto Rico doesn’t have any regulation about homeschooling, although there have been several attempts during the last 4 years for regulation. Homeschooling groups, from conservatives to liberals were opposed to previous projects. I am not sure if they will all that opposed t this new attempt.

    As a homeschooler, I am weary about any regulation, but there is so much ignorance about homeschooling in the governmental agencies that sometimes it makes me wonder; then again, (sorry about stereotyping) many governmental employees don’t know about their own requirements on the job.

     This is the first bill also that takes into account special needs children and that is a good thing, it just puts on writing that special needs students will have the same benefits that those on private schools regarding therapies and related services. That could put an end on the Educational Department rejecting homeschoolers to receive therapies or to end them because they are homeschooled.

    I am still evaluating the bill for a complete conclusion, but I would like to know… Those of you with mild regulations, what do you think? Those of you with severe regulatons, what do you think?  Help me take a objective position regarding this bill.

     Remember that in May I posted that the Government was in financial crisis? Well, the state budget has been approved on Sunday and without going into sterile political issues, the Ed. Department budget was cut $20 millions. To give you a hint, the Ed. Dpt. is the biggest department of PR government and it has the biggest budget and almost 85% of its budget goes to salaries. If there is a budget reduction, who do you think are going to be affected? You are right, the children, especially those with special needs.

    Many parents are mad and are going to protest this. I see this and praise the Lord I am homeschooling my son and this does not affect me “directly”, because I am outside the public school system. But this is not a situation that does not affect me, because this will affect the therapeutic services many children have with the Ed. Dpt. and that can be another situation.

The curriculum for PR students is very poor if you compare it to the ones in the states; but then again, if so many resources are implemented only for salaries, how much money can you spend in giving children an appropriate education?

    Our role as homeschoolers in PR and as parents of special needs children is to educate parents and show that homeschooling is an appropriate educational alternative to this situation. There are parents that still think homeschooling is illegal and that it is not possible, especially if they have a special needs child. We are having gatherings to show that it is a viable situation to this educational crisis and that there are major benefits in homeschooling (one to one tutoring, giving the child space to work in their learning style, etc., real socialization, etc.), but I think it’s important to expose this as an ALTERNATIVE, not the solution for everyone. We cannot impose what we think to others and giving the example is the best was to attract.

     I love homeschooling and it has been the difference in the progress of my son JM with his condition of autism. The road is still long and there will be bumps on it, but with God on our side, we will do the best for him. I hope that others can be blessed as we are…

Homeschool Math Blog is having a Blog Contest; María (the blogger)  is giving away a membership to Webgraphing.com and several math ebooks. 1) An A+ Membership to Webgraphing.com, good thru August, 2007. This is most useful for high school or beyond. 2) 3 copies of the ebook Multiplication 1 (multiplication concept and times tables) 3) 3 copies of the ebook Fractions 1 (Fraction operations such as addition, subtraction, equivalent fractions, mixed numbers) 4) 3 copies of the ebook Geometry (includes most topics of plane geometry for elementary grades). Get to her website to learn how to win the prizes!

     Our summer school has been very different from what I have planned.  Our homeschooling schedule has been trashed so many times, that sometimes it worries me. I just think that as more relaxed. The days that I study with JM reading skills, for example, if it’s a therapy day, he won’t work well in the therapy. And if he works well in therapy, he won’t at home. This is a situation that concerns me, but at the same time I feel that we are not being lazy, just relaxed. Today he wanted to work with lego blocks because he saw the movie “Cars” and he made cars with them. He drew parts of the movie, so I think we are not being irresponsible.

     It has been a very strange summer, one day is over 100 degrees and the other, a thunderstorm, it has been just like our homeschool in the summer. But each thing has its own beauty even when it’s different from what we think at the first moment.

   I am sorry I haven't post in a while, but we have been "living the summer". UH? I mean, since it's summer and we don't have many appointments as in the school year, we have been living and relaxing, even in school!

    The girls are getting up about 9:00 a.m. (even our dog Frida Josefa is getting up late!), JM even later (about 15 to 30 minutes after the girls) and after breakfast and doing our chores, they do some crafts (the in-style are the charm bracelets) and after that the pool (we have a 8 X 2.5 feet pool my oldest daughter got for her birthday last month). And they are there a loooooooooong time.

    If JM has therapy, we then leave and return late in the afternoon.

   I have also been giving some advice to new or potential new homeschoolers of special needs children, I feel so strange to being seen as a veteran. It seems like yesterday when I was searching for answers (I still do) and was looking around for someone to understand me and help me with homeschooling a child with moderate autism. Today, not only homeschooling has been a success, my son dx has improved to a degree where he doesn’t “look” autistic, he just is a kid. That is why I love the term “learning without labels” because that it my objective, to learn and live as God lets us, as His children, with our uniqueness.

   One of the major difficulties we have as homeschoolers is being sure if we are doing the right thing, are we at the right path with our children? Are we giving what is best for them? I feel that these insecurities are more palpable when we are homeschooling a special needs child, especially when we approach the end of the school year.

   As a parent of a “different” child, these questions come to me frequently, like when we meet other special needs children or children the same age of my ds. Sometimes I ask in my mind to my child: “What’s happening, boy?”, when I see a skill I want in my son in another. WATCH OUT FOR THOSE THOUGHTS! We have to remember that every child is unique and unrepeatable and that what has been a success for me (methods, therapies, lifestyle, etc.) can or cannot function for other families. Sometimes, as I have seen in my autism support group, in the desperate search of looking for a cure and a improvement in our children, we run towards the latest trend that help fulano or sutano and we feel frustrated when it doesn’t help our child.

    I worry when I think like that because I feel I forget that although my son needs treatment and services that will help him improve from his condition, he needs over everything from me ACCEPTANCE of his condition. And if he gets cured? Fabulous!, but I have and need to love him even if he doesn’t get cured and in my opinion, if I have problems with that, I haven’t accepted his condition totally.

   Support groups should be to share experiences, suggest some solutions, but overall, to support and celebrate the unique life of our children, with their trials and positive aspects.

    My son has improved since homeschooling two years ago, his major aspect improved? SOCIALIZATION. I feel full of pride (in a good way) when I see him playing with typical children, in his Cathequetical Group, he salutes anyone that does it to him and runs to give a hug to those who he has dear..

   I just want to say with this post that it is good to look for solutions for our children, but what is more important, TO LOVE THEM AS THEY ARE AND FOR WHO THEY ARE… our children.

  Yesterday was a day with surprises! My son's Occupational therapist and I have been looking (I forgot that the speech Therapist should be included) for some effective strategies so my ds can read. Wouldn’t you know? The OT asked her supervisor to observe him during therapy and HE READ! Even difficult words! The OT highlighted the words that he read and I was amazed… words that “normal” children get confused.

   We came to the understanding that ds is mature in his skills and just needs a little “push” to continue in the right road.

    I thank the Lord for this surprise and am happy to know this (I have to admit that I almost strangle him for cheating me all this time LOL); now, we will look for a more structured routine to help him read in summertime (we are in our 4^th week of summer school). My goal? To increase ds reading skills and to start comfortable 2^nd grade in August.

   Thank you for all your prayers…

   Since yesterday, I have felt overwhelmed and alone, even though I am aware I'm not. In hs terms, we started on May our summer classes (only 1 week of vacation) to keep the pace in a more relaxed way, but this weekend is my 8 yo daughter 1st Communion and although it's a happy event in the family, these are the times when the father figure is greatly missed.

   I am a single parent for almost 3 years; the reason? He says it was the lack of love, I say it affected us as a couple to have a special needs child. He cannot admit that our youngest and only son has autism. THAT IS A TABOO WORD IN HIS VOCABULARY AND ANYBODY WHO SAYS IT WILL BE PUNISHED! (It happened with my 8 year old dd, she was almost smacked because she said her brother had autism!). This affected our relationship because our visions to help our child were different; he said he will grow over it; I said we need to help him NOW! To make a long tale short, after a year, he decided to divorce me and we've been alone since then. I thank the Lord for his support with some special friends at that time and ever since.

   But when days like these come, and being a child from divorced parents myself, I can't help feeling sad for my children. My husband didn't come for my dd First Reconciliation last night (he did come for my oldest dd's 2 years ago and he live 15 minutes from our home). My daughter kept looking for him and her expression broke my heart. This morning he told me he didn’t felt well to go. I really don’t know if it’s true.

    It made me feel incompetent to keep my children happy, it made me mad that she had to feel that way that day. It made me feel guilty to let my marriage fail because maybe I didn’t try harder… Maybe tomorrow or in a few days I will be stronger and see things in the correct light, right now, I feel I let my children down…

   After 15 days, Puerto Rico's government opened today. Schools, agencies are open.

   Over 95,000 public servants came back to work today, but the problem is still there, a cash flow problem. In realistic terms, Puerto Rico's budget is 85% payroll, so for one task there is about 5 to 10 people to do it. That is a serious problem, but the unions are demandingh not to fire anyone, but to cut services. Is it fair? I think not. I am not saying that we need to fire people, but I think the government needs to re-prioritize areas of work.

   One crisis is over, another one starts.

It has been 9 days since the government closed several agencies and still there is no sign that there will be any change soon. People are desperate for money and the only ones with hope are the people with faith in the Lord.

   If I talk about the political situation in PR, you would think it's a novel or soap opera, but no!!!! This is the reality of Puerto Rico, politicians look for their benefit and boycot everything that can bring a solution to this crisis. Several bills were presented to overcome the crisis, but the leader of the opposition party denied every bill presented.

   Pray for us so that these people can open their heart and help the people they promised to serve.

   As I said during an earlier post, Puerto Rico's government is closed since May 1st because of financial problems. Schools are closed, many agencies are closed and over 95,000 people are without work. This is a sad week for the island.

   As for children, there are therapy services available because they use federal funds and are giving services without interruption. This is great news for those parents with special needs children (me included! ). It has given some stability to the chaos, but still some parents are asking for the payment of transportation because they are not in school. I do not know if this is appropriate in this situation, but that is their right.

   Puerto Rico’s school year starts in the first weeks of August and finish in May; that means that when this situation happened, schools were approaching the end of the school year (final exams, graduations, etc.). Students won’t repeat the year, nor have incomplete because of the crisis. I think that most parents are mad (in terms of school) because the “daycare center” will be closed. Many parents don’t know how to BE with their children in a daily basis; and those that work with the government are unemployed right now, so I am worried that children abuse may increase.

   Keep your prayers for us, we need it more than ever! Pray that the consequences in Puerto Rico’s families are minimal and that this situation will strengthen their bonds…

   Thank you for all your prayers.

   Puerto Rico's Goverment is in financial crisis. There is the real possibility that schools and many other public agencies will close on May 1st because there is no money to pay neither teachers nor other public servants. This crisis has been the worst in PR since the Hispanic-American War in the 19^th Century.

    If there is no schools, many parents in the private sector cannot work because they need day care services; those in the pubic sector won’t work (they wouldn’t be paid for it), and children that receive therapeutic services by government funds(Speech, Occupational, Physical and/or Psychological) won’t have more services until the crisis is over. My son JM is one of them. For homeschoolers, the crisis depends on the family and their reality.

     There is chaos.

     More than saying that one political party or another is responsible, it is important to see that the people, the ones that put them in their position are the ones suffering. The Governor has been clear and started downsizing his cabinet, giving the example. I am not fond of being from a political position, but it amazes me that people will let a nation collapse because we think different from another.

    I would like to ask you to pray for my people and my country if you can. We need your prayers to help our leaders to understand what they are doing to their constituents, from those with resources to cope at this time to many other that can lose everything because of this collapse.

    I promise to keep you posted when something happens.

   I think I am picking up the pace in "blogging"!

Seriously, I am having a little difficulty with teaching phonics to my son JM. He reads slowly, but it looks like he doesn't care about reading yet. Some people tell me that that’s normal, especially for a person with autism. But I feel I have to keep trying until I find the technique that “clicks” with him. I don’t want to pressure him, but since the traditional techniques are not effective (we are working language arts in Spanish, this is our main language), it giving me some stress. In math he is at age level, adding and subtracting, working even with coins. But everything that involves reading and writing, he doesn’t care. What to do?

   Homeschooling a special needs child -in my case, a child with autism- is a huge challenge. Many parents in PR don't think it's appropriate because they have fear the situation will go worse. In my case, my son JM has been more functional because of homeschooling.

    In PR, as in many states in the USA, we have a registration system for children that receive therapy services from the Department of Education. In many cases, as it has happened to me, if you say you are homeschooling and your child already receive services, teachers and administrative staff of the Dept. of Education may say you are not eligible to receive more services. This is false! It took me a year (that I had to let my son stay at school because of it) to make them see they could not discriminate my son because he was homeschooled. The lack of information in the government agencies about homeschooling is scary, because their ignorance can be discriminatory against homeschoolers.

    The best scenario is to receive private sessions of therapy for our child and not involve in our life any government agency, but the reality is that because this is a money issue and it can be as low as $20 a week or as expensive as $150 to $200 per week to have private sessions to a special needs child, many parents that homeschool asks for therapy sessions from the government. Most recently, the Special Education section of the Department of Education have mentioned to consider homeschooling as private education, so we can receive the same services as private schools and end discrimination towards homeschoolers. This is a huge step, because until now, there is not an official mention from the government about homeschooling, not pro, not con.

    As a homeschooler for a special needs child, therapy services can be as high as $125 per week for my son, plus his music lessons for fine motor skills (he plays the “cuatro” a typical (folkloric) instrument and plays it well!) it is about $650 per month and I am a single SAHM, so I need the services to be paid by the Government. The new Secretary for Special Needs in the DE is very attentive to the needs of the children (he has only been in the position for 2 months) and I hope we don’t need any legislation; only an administrative letter or decision about what homeschooling is… a REAL EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVE.

     As for me, it is a way of life.

     I have to admit.... for the last days I have been browsing several blogs to see what to write about in mine (copycat!). Then I received TOS magazine yesterday and it had a great article about blogging and it gave me security about what to do. Maybe, because I am translating from Spanish, it gives me more insecurity in writing.

     I have told you about my son JM with autism; my daughters (8 and 10 years old) are in private school (it’s not as expensive as in the States). My 8 years old was homeschooled until JM was diagnosed and the eldest haven’t been homeschooled. She has been BEGGING me to start homeschooling, but since my divorce almost 3 years ago, I have been postponing it. She is determined (under that delicate a humble appearance) and told her father that she will make a deal: she will finish elementary school in her school (she is in the 5^th grade right now), but she will start homeschooling at 7^th grade, because that is what she wants! Her father and I (at different moments) have told her to think it over, as this is a major decision in her life. I will honor my word and I will support her decision. It looks like I will continue homeschooling for a long time…

     I have been very insecure in homeschooling my "normal" children and very secure about homeschooling my "special needs" child. Maybe it is because I feel that he doesn't have any better alternatives, but do my normal children have? They want a happy learning environment, to get up when their body asks to, to enjoy life and books... to go to field trips (this year I haven't been able to go to any). En fin, even I feel cheated because of the time limitations of being in 3 different schools, I really look like a school bus! Between therapies, schools and daily chores, I cannot do any fun stuff lately.

    Well enough complaining! Got to start working, have a nice day!

     I am very fortunate in many ways. My son (JM 7 years old with autism) has progressed in his daily living skills a lot; he is more sociable, he enjoys comics and picture books, he likes to add and subtract and animals (not my favorite hobby this days, but that is another entry!). I sometimes forget he has special needs.

    This is a good thing and a bad thing; it is a good thing that he is improving, that he has open his way to be the best human being he can be and this scares me as a parent (it may sound silly) but it puts my expectations higher and I am afraid to do it; not because I cannot do it, but I don’t want to ask more that he can do. God has blessed me with major positive surroundings where he is accepted as a child of God and as “one more”, not different. I see him and see a happy child with his Lego figurines, his Power Rangers, his books and his big smile. He fights with his sisters and at the next moment, he hugs them and tries to kiss them whether they like it or not.

      This is autism awareness month and it’s a very special month for me as I meditate about my goals and objectives for my son; homeschooling has been vital in helping him be himself, looking for ways to maximize his strengths and helping him work his difficulties, but trying to maintain his personality intact at all costs. As I begin to “close” the school year, I see that there are more goals completed or nearly completed. This makes me look at the boy I promised myself on Mother’s day 2002 (2 days before he was diagnosed with autism) that I would do my best to give him a good life and help him be himself, with or without autism. I have started to see the fruit of my labor… and I am happy. There will be days (and there have been many) where I can’t see if I am in the right track, but for now, I will just enjoy how fortunate I am right now. My son is progressing!

    One of the main benefits of homeschooling is to maximize the strengths of our children. When homeschooling a special needs child, there are in my opinion two types of parents --those that want to make their child "normal" and those that accept their child as they are and let them be themselves. I do believe that using both strategies in a moderate way is positive in helping our children be better human beings.

     Parents that homeschool to "normalize" their special needs children may fall in the trap to force a change that it won't happen and have unrealistic expectations; there can be disappointments and having a bad homeschool experience. On the other hand, parents that accept their child with their diss-ability may fall in being too conformist and not expecting more of their child, we have to motivate them to being the best they can be.

    I think that every parent push too much sometimes and sometimes doesn't push at all. We just need to do our best in helping our child be the best they can.

Part of the Homeschool movement in PR is divided because of recent legislation towards regulation for homeschooling. Since 2002, we have faced incompetent legislation that has not gone more than mere hearings.

   Today, there are 4 projects that involve homeschool regulation in the State Congress. We, as homeschoolers, stated that we are opposed to any legislation that affects the natural rights of parents as educators. HOWEVER, (and I don’t mean this as being in favor, just being realistic of the situation here in the island) there is great ignorance of what is homeschooling and how legal is it, especially if there are children with special needs. For some reason, there is the common thought that a parent with a special needs child is more incompetent to homeschool than a parent with “normal” children.

    We have done during 3 years a lot, making homeschooling available in information to the governmental agencies and to the public; making Conferences and Regional Meetings in all over the island and still, my personal opinion is that we are still in diapers.

    Every week I receive about 3 to 6 e-mails about homeschooling a special needs child; costs and all the fears that we all have before making the first step. Most parents still think that they cannot do this by themselves, that they need some kind of “expertise” (i.e. a educational degree) to help their child succeed.

     I do not approve any legislation, but I think that we are in the verge of a new reality; the reality of having homeschool regulated. Do I think this will be the solution? NO. Do I think this will help special education children? Maybe, but I wouldn’t bet my money on it. There is a lot of legislation that the government do not follow themselves. But there is something certain, that special education students need help and schools are not providing it to them. WE HAVE TO TAKE CHARGE and help them or we, as parents, will suffer the consequences because we have not been able to enable our children to have complete and realistic lives from the perspective of their condition.