This track is where our Solomon falls. For now.

As I mentioned in an earlier entry, Solomon has a lot going against him academically. Nine years of his life were spent with him almost blind.  A head injury of which we do not know the extent.  Malnutrition for the first seven years of his life.  A whole new way of life and culture that he's still taking in.

I don't know if he's technically learning disabled or not, but I've been schooling him for four years, and he is just now doing 2nd grade work, tho he tests on the kindergarten/1st grade level.

Solomon is very smart in all other ways, aside from academics. He's a mature, responsible young man, who has a good work ethic and respect for those in authority. Those two qualities are going to open up a world of opportunities for him, and we really concentrate on building him up in the area of character.  He is in Boy Scouts and is learning to be a leader, even at his young age. His troop just happens to be filled with boys who don't care, at least so far.  So Sol has taken the bull by the horns, and has stepped into the leadership position for his troop because no one else wants to.

Considering that Solomon lacks confidence because he can't read well and happens to be very short for his age, I consider this a blessing from God for him.

Assuming that things aren't going to change drastically for Solomon, we have him on the track that will prepare him for military, blue collar work, and possibly the opportunity to run his own small business.  That last is reaching for the stars a bit, since Sol has shown no interest in being involved in any business of any kind. But we want to try to train him and teach him so he can take that opportunity if he desires later on.

Sol's track looks like this:

Math:  General math until all the basic elementary school concepts are mastered as listed in my earlier entry.  When and if this is finished before the end of high school, we will pursue Business Math and Life Math.

Sciences:  No formal studies.  I'll read to him from the Apologia books in order but have him do experiments on his own and record them.  Teach him to take tests for these texts.  There is no time limit  on this subject. If Sol shows an interest or ability, we might change that. But science will be more of an experiential subject than an academic subject.

Literature:  Me or Jacob or Molly read 2-4 literature choices to Sol a year, to be discussed with Mom.

Writing: Writing Strands, as slowly as he needs to go, but ending up being able to fill out an application, write a cover letter and resume, write a short report with some technical writing, write professional letters, and possibly learn to write short newspaper type articles.

Spanish: 1-2 years

History: Like science, Sol will be riding the backs of one of the older students, listening in to out loud reading, and doing assignments as able from Tapestry of Grace.

Typing: Typing Instructor 1 year

Bible:  Kay Arthur studies all the way thru

What we want to have accomplished by the time Solomon is ready to leave our home is for him to have a reading level of at least 5th grade, be able to do general math so that he can do his taxes and balance a checkbook and figure out whether a home or a car is a good buy and possibly have some good business math under his belt to increase his opportunities, and to have a smattering of understanding of literature, the sciences, and history so that he can feel comfortable pursuing resources for further learning on his own.

With people like Sol, it isn't unusual for them to change tracks completely when they are in their 20s or 30s and have gained some life experience and confidence in themselves.  I want Sol to leave our home with a love for learning and an understanding of the wealth of knowledge that is available to him if he ever decides and is able to pursue his education further.