Sandy Southwest - Homeschool Blogger

Speech Therapy II....

Mon, 17 Sep 2007 10:23:00 -0500

And so started our adventure with speech therapy...

A spent the next 6 years in speech. The first 2 years were still in Germany....with an American speech therapist. Aimee quickly learned sign language, while we were waiting for her hearing to develop and for her to start speaking.

At the age of 2, her hearing had improved - she now was 97% hearing in both ears. However, there were problems to deal with for her not being able to hear - most of the problems dealt with her inability to process sounds and noises. We spent many parties and activities outside with her - because her poor little brain couldn't handle the sensory overload. Even today, she still does not do well with excess noise and sounds - she prefers quiet.

A finally spoke at age 2 1/2! I don't remember her first words - but she was speaking! By the time she was 3, we had moved to our home here and she quickly was enrolled with the local school district for speech. She advanced quickly there - because of the wonderful therapist she had! Her therapist worked her hard each visit, and A quickly progressed!

Today, A has no difficulties with speech or hearing. She does, however, have a small learning difficulty with spelling, mostly due to what could be labeled an auditory processing dsylexia. However, it isn't severe, and I am teaching and working with her each day to overcome the problems from it. We have changed to a rule based spelling program - instead of requiring phonics and sounding out words, we work with words within each spelling rule.

But, lest we get comfortable, our adventure with speech therapy was to continue....

Oh, and today is library day! We love the library! We max out our cards each time!

Speech therapy

Sun, 16 Sep 2007 01:09:00 -0500

Our family's journey with speech therapy started about 9 years ago, with the birth of Big A. Born at 33 weeks, she was small, just 4 lbs. 11 oz., but she was healthy and perfect in every way. She had been sick during the pregnancy and was brought into the world early, because she was getting sicker each day she remained inside. She remained behind developmentally, which was totally expected. She was sick quite a bit - I believe that she had pneumonia 4 times that first winter. She was also diagnosed aplastic anemic at 9 months old. That was resolved wtih using iron supplements each day with her for 6 months. Though by age 1, she had caught up with most babies her age - she walked right after her first birthday! However, she wasn't speaking.

One day, Mike came home from work. Now, at this time, we were in Germany, living in a 3rd floor apartment, up 5 flights of stairs. Our stairwell echoed quite well, mostly due to the fact that it had marble floors and was very spacious in both width and height. We shared this stairwell with 5 other families. And when ever someone came home, you could here the big, heavy, metal doors slam shut (or the door open when they were leaving). So, Mike came home and "shut" the door - it slammed each time. No matter how hard you tried - the doors always slammed shut. The kids would rush up to greet him. Nothing out of the ordinary - until the day when Big A was sitting on the floor with her back turned the front door. Big M and Little M were behind her back when Mike rushed in and "shut" the door. M & M went running over to meet him. But, big A? She still sat with her back to the door.

I didn't think of it at the time. I just tucked in back in my mind to deal with at some later point. I picked her up and showed her Daddy was home!

2 days later, big A was sitting there again...with her back turned playing. I was vacuuming the carpet where she was and told her several times to get out of the way. She never moved! So, I bumped her with the vacuum to get her attention...

and I scared her death! She jumped high! Literally, jumped! She started screaming and ran into my arms. I had scared and surprised her when I bumped her with the vacuum!

Can you imagine the warning bells going off in my head now?

Immediately, we made an appointment with her dr. She then was sent to see the audiologist at the big military hospital. And there, we were given a diagnosis - she had a 100% hearing loss in both ears. The audiologist said that it was due to 2 causes: 1) her ears had not finished developing after she was born due to fluid in the ears and 2) the aplastic anemia had caused her ears to not develop - her body was trying to survive, and because hearing is not a vital necessity, the energy was directed elsewhere.

So, why wasn't this caught when she was born? Because standard hearing checks for newborns didn't become mandatory until 1998 - 6 months after she was born!

So, our sweet little daugher could NOT hear. Our options were 1) allow the doctor to puncture a hole to remove all the fluid or 2) use medication. The medication would take longer. We opted for the medication - mostly to avoid surgery at all cost! She spent 9 months on medication, drying up all the excess fluid in her middle and inner ear tubes.

She was able to hear within 6 months! And so started speech therapy....

New chore charts....

Thu, 9 Aug 2007 10:46:00 -0500

Not a very catchy title, huh? But hey, this is what it is - new chore charts. After spending the morning on the phone with my mom (as she was helping me overcome my frustrations and limitations on being able to do it all anymore), she helped me re-work our chore system.

The previous chore charts are listed here in the blog - I loved the system! I made it up - with kitchen, house and bedroom zones. It has worked wonderfully for while I had so many young children! The kitchen was divided into small, easy workable chores for everyone as was the house. But, about 1 month ago - I had to stop it...

I asked my 2 teenagers to help me one day - no big deal; one would assume...However the conversation went like this:

Me, "Matt, please unload the dishwasher please." Matt, "NO! That's NOT my chore. My chore is table. It's done!"

Me, "Lina, please pick up the family room." Lina, "NO - my chore is bathroom!"

So, that day, I tossed the chore charts in the filing cabinet and a little "family" meeting with my kids! It was actually more like a "you listen and Mom talks" meeting. I informed my little nay sayers that as of this moment that there would-be no more chore charts - just Mom telling what and when to clean up! So, my sweet little children have been practicing obedience this past month!

So, yesterday, in the midst of my tears and anguish, my mom helped me re-do the system for having older children. Here it is:

Daily Chores: Unload & Table - Load & Counters - Kitchen Trash & Floor - Bath & Hall - Family Room - School Room & Office Area - Floors & Vacuum

To be done on Saturday mornings: Laundry Area - Mop Floors - Hercules’ Yard (the dog) – Dusting - Fridge & Microwave - House Trash - Porches

To be done 1st Saturday of each month: Garage – Blinds - Doors/Door Jambs – Baseboards - Garbage Cans

So, is this going to work? It will! The new system quits using a micromanaged system for having little kids – it now requires everyone to do a little more. I assigned Matt, the oldest a permanent job of unloading the dishwasher and table. The reason is this – he attends a public high school and as such, he is out the door for seminary at 6:15 am (thanks to me driving him – how much longer until he turns 16?) – So, he has this permanent chore – thereby making it easier for the rest of us!

When Michael returns, then he will get a permanent chore also – most likely the trash and floors.

The chart is the same – I have chores going across the top with names along the side. Chores are rotated out once per week – every Monday morning they change. The littlest ones get help from me with the chores.

The weekly chores will be assigned/”volunteered” each Sat morning with 2 children doing each one. Same with the monthly chores.

The kids are excited to try this – though apprehensive – I mean, “loading and cleaning off the counters? That is tooooo much work, MOM! <insert big sigh and shoulders dropping here>

Please.

Coping Skills....or How to not eat chocolate when stressed

Wed, 8 Aug 2007 20:11:00 -0500

Today, I lost it. I had enough. I woke up with a slight headache and realized that it was from stress. So, what stress could be causing it, I thought?

I came up with the following list: deployed husband for over 1 year, 6 kids, a large house to clean, a yard to clean, a garage to clean, a bedroom to finish painting, a bathroom to re-tile, children who aren't always willing to help with chores, and most important -

I am tired of being alone - of being the sole parent and provider for 6 children.

So, I did what any woman would do - I called my MOM!!

And while I was crying, she and I worked on the chores list for in the house - we found a new way to try - slightly more condensed - and then she just listened to my me cry and cry and cry.

And then - I made the children put away all the laundry.

I scrubbed my kitchen table - very hard.

And then we cleaned the garage (the bane of my exsistence!) - it seems to be the black hole that NASA was looking for. If you are missing anything, just ask - it might be in the black hole in our garage.

So, coping skills for the day: crying, putting away laundry, scrubbing the kitchen table, and cleaning the garage. Oh, and Mom and I looked for houses in our dream state! We plan on moving our families there when my husband returns home! Nothing like looking at beautiful homes on acreage that is all green! (compared to the brown, dusty color of the southwest desert).

And I didn't go near the chocolate chips!

2007 - 2008 School Schedule

Mon, 6 Aug 2007 20:01:00 -0500

So, with Big M finishing summer school (he got an A-B in Algebra!), we have been hanging out and working on new projects in the house (actually outside the house - we are trying to re-landscape the front to get rid of the grass).

I also have been trying out a new school schedule - we have only been doing "school work" for 3 hours per day. This doesn't include reading times or piano. It seems to be working - we have a definitice block of hours for school. No appointments, etc are being done during that time. It seems to be working and the kids are getting more school work done in a shorter amount of time.

Here is the tentative schedule of our next year:

	Matt	Melina	Aimee	Ammon	Jacob	Josie
6-7	school	breakfast, dress, bedroom	breakfast, dress, bedroom	breakfast, dress, bedroom	breakfast, dress, bedroom	breakfast, dress, bedroom
7-8	school	chores	chores	chores	chores	chores
8-9	school	free	free	free	free	free
9-10	school	spelling 7, writing, grammar	spelling 5 writing, grammar	spelling 1 writing, grammar	phonics, writing	structured play
10-11	school	saxon 7/6 & algebra 1/2	saxon 5/4	saxon 2 & 3	saxon 1	number play
11-12	school	pathway reader silent reading	pathway reader silent reading	pathway reader silent reading	read w/mom	read/mom
12-1	school	lunch	lunch	lunch	lunch	lunch
1-2	school	history & science review	history & science review	piano, reading	piano, reading	nap
2-3	school	piano, reading	piano, reading	history & science review	history & science review	nap
3-4	homework	free	free	free	free	play
4-6	boxing	swimming	free	free	free	play

Ammon has speech on Wednesdays and Fridays - thus making our afternoon schedule movable - reading can go with us, as can history and science reviews (though I am still trying to figure out if the piano will fit in the van )

Matt attends public school - so his schedule is set for him - he is taking: English 10, Geometry, German 1, Biology, ROTC, World History/Health.

Hopefully, this will work!

The new uncluttered (and moved around) Family Room, School Room and Office area!

Sat, 30 Jun 2007 12:34:00 -0500

So, the way our house is set up is like a big U with a room right in the middle (14'x16')! Originally I had my formal table, couch, and hutch in there. And then 1 part was the kitchen, the next was the kitchen table area and family room (9'x26'), and then the school room was the last part of the U, about 9'x20'.

After much delibration, and the need for more space with 2 teens now, I decided to forgo the formal room. I sold everything but the hutch and then re-painted it!

So, here are the pictures of it before:

So, things are a bit cramped, right? Here are the new pictures!

Everything is much bigger - with less furniture! It feels very nice - we also decluttered (again!) while we did it!

And now it doesn't feel like we are crammed in the house!

Do you fit in?

Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:10:00 -0500

Have you ever felt that you no longer fit in someplace? I have been part of a homeschooling board that is LDS for about 3 years now - and lately I find myself having problems with being there. I find myself wondering if the people there truly care about me? Are they concerned like the feign to be when I ask for help? Or are they just saying those things to appease me?

I find this board to be uplifting at times. However, at other time, I find it to be a HUGE source of contention. It seems that at times, even when one asks for advice or for prayers, that the women there feel that it's necessary to interject their opinion about your problem or situation! Which then makes you feel even worse.

And then there are the ladies who choose to stir up contention - no matter what the subject. I'm afraid that I don't understand the need of some women to either debate every subject (Oh, I know! They are trying to impress us with their intellect.) or they must have something negative to say about your problem/situation.

So, over the last month, while I go and read this board, I have not posted (but 3 times) - I find that while I may have something to say about it in my head, that my heart has no desire to speak that thought aloud - let alone write it down and put it into cyberspace.

I have found another board to talk with people at times. Another homeschooling board. Where the women are not judgemental. You ask an opinion - you get many - and no comments along the lines of:

pray about

read your scriptures more

my child would never do that!

go to the temple more

or my personal favorite: you are using the wrong homeschool cirruculum - you need to use Thomas Jefferson Education!

Why I choose this classical method I will discuss in a different post. But needless to say, getting beat down every time you have something to say can wear thin on the soul.

I have made 2 friends from this previous board - that I talk with privately through e-mail. However, I have noticed that they are the only 2 that miss me - but not from the board itself - they miss me when I don't write to them every few days.

And no, no one has missed me from the LDS board...it seems that like I was in high school - I tend to not be remembered nor recognized as someone important with something to say.

I refuse to be debating or ugly or cause contention. As women in the world, we should be raising each other up - not tearing each other down.

So, I don't fit in again...and such is my life.

Do working parents contribute to truancy?

Fri, 20 Apr 2007 09:30:00 -0500

Interesting question, yes?

i believe that it can. The family having 2 working parents leave that leave the home before school and requiring the child to get themselves ready for school and then to get there leaves concern that the child will choose not to go to school that day. Too much freedom being given.

Now, my mom was not a working mom - she choose to stay home and raise us. But I still found a way to skip school...

I tried skipping school several times in the 10th grade....granted, I detested living in Kansas - my brother and sister joke with me that we only had to live there for 364 days - not even for a whole year. We didn't enjoy Kansas whatsoever. Nor did we like the schools! It was not an easy year.

And I had early morning seminary! Scary - even though we lived across from the building on the post where class was held - I hated going - I hated having to be up that early (can you say 5 am?) each day. I wanted to SLEEP - not learn about the gospel from some boring dad!

I would take the bus to school and then leave! But wouldn't you know it - after the 2nd time, the school would call my mom - or even worse - they would call my dad - at WORK! Calling my dad at work was a bad idea! He ws at Command and General Staff in Kansas (a school for officers in the military) - so interrupting him was interrupting his class he was in! Bad idea!

I would come home on the bus - and pretend that I had been in school all day....

until the day the school called my mom. And she met me at the door. I don't have to tell you about how embarassing the following conversation was, do I? It went sort of like this:

Mom: How was school today?

Me: Fine.

Mom: That's interesting...

Me: (walking right into this!) Why?

Mom: Because the school called and said that you weren't in classes all day. Did you have an appointment that I forgot to take you to? Did you have to walk?

Me (now I know I'm dead - or at least grounded until I'm 30): n-n-no...

Mom: That's what I thought too.

Me: oh.

Mom: So your dad and I have come up with a solution! Want to hear it?

Me (no, because I know that they are going to kill me!): sure...

Mom: As of tomorrow, I will drive you to school myself! And I have arranged for the school to call me if you are not in class. That way we both will know if you are not school! Sounds great, huh? And then I will pick you up from school each day!

Me: um...okay...

What she didn't tell me was that she had arranged for the school to call her if I was even 5 minutes late for class! So, now she not only knew if I was skipping school, but if I was tardy!

Needless to say - I didn't skip school again. Ever!

And yes, my mom dropped me off - and picked my up to the end of that school year.

To watch or not watch?

Thu, 19 Apr 2007 19:19:00 -0500

I get so frustrated at times! I know that watching tv can be good - there are so many educational programs out there that benefit my family. And yet, i get so frustrated because the little boys only want to watch cartoons!

And AM wants to do the same - veg in front of the tv until her eyes pop out!

So....I got this wonderful thing - a tv allowance box - it works...but....

they still want to waych tv instead of read!

We already only allow GameCube on Friday nights and Sat afternoon (after chores)...

and know I'm thinking that I'm going to have to do the same for tv - no tv except for friday...

but how do you work with the toddler? She watches 3 tv shows - Little Einsteins, Mickey Mouse and The Wiggles. And it keeps her busy! Especially while I'm trying to help with math or reading with the older ones...

And why can't she watch it? Because the tv has all those magnetic properties! And once it attracts 1 child - it's going to attract the rest of them! No matter the age - they all end up watching her tv show!

AAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!

okay, now I feel better - on to changing the code and having a talk with everyone about too much tv!

Does life get in the way?

Sun, 15 Apr 2007 12:23:00 -0500

Somedays we get school done.

Somedays we don't get school done.

And sometimes we go for 2-3 weeks without schoolword - just like the last 3 weeks!

We spent 1 week helping Nana and Pop get their house ready for all their company (my grandmother, 2 aunts, 1 uncle, 1 cousin, 1 brother and 3 nephews! ).

We then spent the next week with everyone here...

and then it took me the last week to catch up on laundry, home cleaning and spring cleaning - things I had put off to help out Nana and Pop (can you imagine that many people coming into your home for 7 days?) - I'm glad that they stayed there and not here at my house.

It was an interesting visit - my grandmother's 80 birthday. Lots of things were done and said - and I'm not sure if they were good or bad - especially the comments directed to me about my number of children - or all the comments made about my homeschooling decisions.

Anyway - everyone left - and life returned to normal. We did our spring cleaning, and some organization (mostly my sewing room/shed) and went through clothes. We did some shopping for clothes - of course giving the older ones a budget and having them get what they needed within their budget.

we did do some reading - and then just rested and played and relaxed.

And I'm glad that we are starting school on Monday! Children can only go so long without constructive things to do...

My goal for this month - to eliminate everyone's tv time until after 7pm (except the toddler - Little Einsteins keeps her still while I teach math and reading).