Being a homeschool family, it was only natural to bring L home to school, too. I prayed about what to do - send her to 1) hearing impaired K-5 class with the ps 2) mainstream in a small Chrisitan school 3) LD K-5 class or 4) homeschool. I kept hearing "homeschool". I thought "all right, God! We can do this."

You know all of the times when you think - Gee, did I hear God right? Is THIS what He wanted me to do? Well, I'm at the point   The last few weeks have really been a challenge.  There have been days when she & I both walked away in tears. Everyone keeps telling me that I'm doing what is best for her. Really?? Then why is it so hard?? We do have our GREAT days when I think "YES!! She gets it!!". Then......... back to square one. I've had to re-think my approach and go back to pre-k. We returned to pre-writing exercises, fine motor skills, etc. What really gets me upset is trying to figure out what they did with her for 7 months in ps last year  L doesn't even know which hand to write with or how to write on the paper - let alone write anything that you can make out. WHAT HAVE I DONE???????

D is doing awesome this year  He is really enjoying Teaching Textbooks (and I am too!). At least I don't have Alg. 2 to worry about. Oh...... the M we all know and love has been found!! I knew he was in there somewhere. In his defense though, he hasn't been feeling well. He (we!) has been battling major outbreaks of eczema. We have been to 4 different doctors in the last 3 months and I think we have found the one!! She had him cleared up in a few days. Praise the Lord! A continues to love school and all her new friends. Every day when I pick her up, her teacher tells me how smart she is. The other kids don't even get a chance to answer anything because A knows all of the answers! My goal is (was) to have L caught up enough that I can teach her and A together next year. The way things are going, A will be way past L

Welcome to our crazy homeschool days!

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Posted by 4sweetums

It is so hard sometimes. 9 years into our journey of homeschooling and having 3 kids with special needs I can tell you that you are doing the right thing. Everything just takes longer. I constantly have to back up and say to myself that I have to teach this before that. My dd 6 is really having trouble with the sounds of the ABC's yet her younger brother is already reading bob books. I had hoped to teach them together but it is not working out for phonics and math. I have switched to unit studies for a time so that Godilocks will get more out of the day.
Blessings,
4sweetums

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Posted by Jimmie

I saw that you added me to your friends list. Thanks. :-)

You said, "Everyone keeps telling me that I'm doing what is best for her. Really?? Then why is it so hard??"

Doing the RIGHT thing is usually NOT easy. Keep pugging away! Soon you'll look back and see you've got only three days LEFT in the school year!

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Posted by Rivergallery

In working with special needs kids, I found one idea is using large stencils, tape the paper to them. Another way is draw a large shape, and put glue around the edges so the crayon can not go out of the shape. Gradually change shapes and reduce sizes. One thing you can do also is write the color you want her to use in the color of crayon you write.

Eventually you can use the same method to outline letters when she goes to write her name :).
She will get there, just think little steps at a time.
Good luck!

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