Okay I'm officially homeschooling....

iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Okay I'm officially homeschooling....
17
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 6:04pm

Any advice?

My oldest Christopher has fallen apart when its come to school. He has rage issue's and he will freak out so bad I just can't take it anymore. I know its because of the pressure of school, finding his dysgraphia disability so late in the game and his teacher being a total biotch and doesn't give a dangnabit about his neurological issue's.

I simply can't get him to school. I know he's basically trying to avoid a negative social situation, and its up to me to help him.

I called the principle and she agreed as this problem is getting worse and worse. And it looks like this is a must as the Deputy from the truancy office contacted her this morning and asked what was up with Christopher. He has missed 23 days since february.

She gave me a number for a charter home school but they are booked up. The guy said he will call me back with other choices.

I decided this morning to include my 1st grader in the home school thing too, as I believe has Tourettes and his tics are all over the place. Kids are teasing him, getting mad at him and I'm afraid that he's also getting in trouble at school for them.

This morning I had to physically carry him downstairs to eat before school and he head butted and scratched at my arms the whole way down. I just can't do this anymore.

Anyway any advice you can throw my way ? :)

Lainie

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iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 6:42pm

wow Lainie.


I am sorry it has come to this, but I so admire you for taking this huge step for your kids!.


I don't have much in the way of sage advice. I was never brave enough to homeschool.

-Paula

visit my blog at www.onesickmother.com
iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 7:18pm
Thanks Paula! Support is just as good as advice :). I went over and started reading the h'schooling board but didn't know about the other one. I'll go check that out now.
iVillage Member
Registered: 07-12-2005
Tue, 04-24-2007 - 7:23pm

Lainie, you know I'm here for you. I give you a call (if I can find your number in my caller ID, lol)

I lurk a lot on the homeschooling board. I used to be very involved over there, but haven't been for a few years. BUT, if you start posting I'll start posting and we'll have fun with it. **grin** It's a great board with a lot of great ladies and ideas.

~Candes

APOV on Autism

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 12:53am

(((Lainie)))


I might be following you shortly.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 2:12am

Hi Lainie,

and well, we understand here! We haven't yet given up on idea of finding a school that will work for Malcolm but we are running low on options and may be continuing homeschooling next few years. And doing the home schooling part is very fun, learning can be just great when you are relaxed and life is under control!!!

But Malcolm misses kids SO much. Should we continue, that will be the next big time-consuming step, finding other homeschool kids and coordinating getting together often during school day hours. So I will have to work even less, and that for us will be a real struggle financially.

ANYWAYS, we also used "What Every 4th Grader Should Know" as a guide, found lots of online websites he can use, used lots of great reading material, took field trips, made up assignments for writing, etc., also bought big curriculum books for his age range just so he can always be doing math, english worksheets on parts of sentences, spelling, comprehension.

School is not the end-all-and-be-all and when we have to waste all our time fighting to have our kids' education work, well, is it really worth it? Not always, I say.

Sara

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-11-2003
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 8:18am

Lainie,

HUGS. The first thing you should do is relax, take a big breath, and know its all going to be ok and there is no hurry. I'd probably just let them start their summer vacation now. My homeschool supervisor calls this detoxing. He says for every yr of public school the kids need 1 month of detox (just having fun) but if it was a bad public school experience they may need longer. We let Hannah have time off after her bad experience. She really needed it. There was no way she was going to anything remotely close to school even at home. We didn't give Kyle a break period though. He didn't need it. I think you'll know if your kids need to detox or not.

I love this homeschool site http://www.homeschooldiner.com/ They also have a yahoo group, the link is on the main page to the left hand side.

Right now we are using www.time4learning.com Its on the computer. They have math, language arts, science, and social studies. We also did the free trial at http://www.explorelearning.com/ for Kyle. He loved the gizmo's and wants me to buy it. Hannah is learning her mutliplication tables playing Timez attack http://www.bigbrainz.com/index.php

I hope that helps some.

Samantha

Samantha
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 10:36am

Lainie,

Wow, I thought you were going to do an independent home contract through the school district to make it through the end of the year. Are you thinking of making this switch permanently or temp. If temp then you NEED to make sure that the IEP is completed. If you switch schools it may get lost in the shuffle. Just be sure they do finish regardless because even if you are homeschooling you can get some special ed support.

Next, check out charter schools. There are loads of charters down here that do either homeschooling or a mix. I have friends with ASD kids who go 2 days to school and 3 days home. There are field trips, curriculum and even an allowance for PE type activities that is provided. My SIL takes her kids there too.

Renee

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iVillage Member
Registered: 11-28-2006
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 12:16pm

Thank you everyone for your knowlegde, support, advice and of course links! I will check them out today. I read about giving them a break and so far are just having them do the tour or examples on time4 learning (I remember that site from you sara :) ). I do think thou I'm going to sign up today so they have something educational to do in a fun way. I won't be that strict, as I want to get them into a positive experience with it.

Debbie, I have heard of those books and might look into our local used book store. If Chris is in 5th grade, should I look for 5th grade or go the grade up?

Renee, see I guess I have lots to talk to you about. I don't quite understand. Yesterday the principle gave me the number for the public charter school. Their all filled up and he gave me other schools to call. Its just I'm looking for something thats different than traditional curriculm and learning, as I think my kids would learn better than something different than how the school has been teaching them. And yes I only want to do this right now until the rest of the year because things have gotten so bad.

I want to complete the assessments with the school system so he has an IEP set up for next year. The principle knows I want him to go back next year but with full supports and all. Mainly I'm trying to help my kids, and trying not to go to jail since the deputy contacted the principle yesterday morning you know?

So if I sign up for a private school, doing it just on my own, I will loose the IEP?

Lainie
"Holding hands on head shaking back and forth saying "I'm so confused......" lol

Edited to say, I tried to talk to the principle about half days or part time, but she said she's never done that before and didn't even know where to start..... I would definetly see if that would work first if I could "both boys are already driving me crazy lol"

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-19-2007
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 3:22pm
Home-schooling is the only way. I homeschooled my son for 6 years since he had asperger syndrome. Whenever he was schooled at home he was completely calm and nothing happened.
He went back a couple of times and always something happened so I would immediately pull him back home. Just go for it, kids naturally learn so dont get caught up in how to teach him.
He will be fine, you can even just buy books from your local school supply store if you dont know what else to do. The most important thing is that he is in a protective environment.
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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-27-2003
Wed, 04-25-2007 - 8:12pm

I just wanted to wish you luck and I admire your choice. I have thought about homeschooling on more than one occasion. I have found a great small private school that my boys are thriving in.

I lurk on the homeschooling board and they seem like a great group of women.

Susan, mom to Sam 8 and Connor 5


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Susan, mom to Sam 11 and Connor 9

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