wish us luck, homeschooling here we come

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
wish us luck, homeschooling here we come
10
Tue, 11-14-2006 - 2:51pm

I'm putting in the homeschool application this week. I was going to wait until Christmas Break, but there was an incident at school today. My DS threw a book at a kid (a kid who teases DS, BTW).

I'm tired of it. When I see my son at school, I hardly recognize him. He's very disconnected, very overstimulated. The school found him eligible for autism services, but have refused to give him an autism placement (that is a bizarre, long story).

I decided I could spend all the money I have and all the money I don't have to fight the school system. Or, I could homeschool him and make sure he learns how to read and do math. He's working below grade level in his current placement, plus getting in trouble and disturbed without the proper supports.

He's really bright though and I'm not worried that he won't learn at home. It just feels weird to realize my child can't go to school like everyone else. I wonder about the future and if he will gain independent living skills.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Tue, 11-14-2006 - 4:49pm

Best of luck to you and DS. We homeschooled briefly (3 months at the end of 1st grade) until the right placement opened up for DS. I would do it again in a heartbeat if I felt like he wasn't getting the support he needs at school. Does your DS get any services at school? We were able to keep going to OT, speech and social work while we were homeschooling since he already had those services in place. I hope you will find the right balance.

Misty

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Registered: 01-20-2006
Tue, 11-14-2006 - 5:09pm

Good luck! My kid with AS was homeschooled from age 13. He's 17 and preparing to leave for far-away college next fall. I am firmly convinced that he used up tons of energy just surviving in an uncomfortable school environment, and that bringing him home freed up attention and power. He has been putting together his transcript, and you know, I don't believe he would have down half as much if he had been in school.

When J was labeled with AS at age 13, the neuropsych strongly urged us to try homeschooling. We worried that he would become an hermit, but he actually blossomed socially! Suddenly he was having sleepovers and taking part in teen group events just like a "normal" kid. He was still quirky, but he finally had more than one "sort-of" pal. It was a huge change for him.

I still have days when I worry that he'll be 35 and single and living in our basement. We just try to do our best to prepare him for the world, and pray that he'll find a good woman who will overlook his deficiencies.

best of luck-

Lys

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Tue, 11-14-2006 - 7:21pm

My DS is getting some OT and they just approved language therapy (he should had that 2 years ago). The school has said that he should be able to receive those related services when I homeschool him, but we've had so many problems with the county that I'm not really counting on it.

I'm already looking into private OT and language. I've got some names of people in the area who can train me to set up some home therapies for language and behavior stuff.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Tue, 11-14-2006 - 7:25pm

This is a wonderful post. Thanks for sharing your experiences. I set up a college fund for my son when he was born and I'm not giving up on it :) It's my goal to see him finish college someday and make a life for himself.

Best wishes for your son.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-20-2003
Tue, 11-14-2006 - 11:51pm

Best wishes to you.


I really feel badly for kids who can't get a good placement, but I'm happy that your son has an alternative.

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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-13-2006
Wed, 11-15-2006 - 12:01am

I wish you luck, too.

iVillage Member
Registered: 10-03-2004
Wed, 11-15-2006 - 7:42am

Giid luck to you. We have found homeschooling to be better than a bad placement, but very challenging. However, we are also both working fulltime, so that adds to the difficulty. For us, we find keeping his schedule full and engaging is the biggest challenge, as he would happily sit and play computer games all day if we let him. OK, the BIGGEST challenge is dealing with dh's and my constant high, high levels of exhaustion.

But having him happy and enjoying learning is way better! If this goes on a long time, we hope to connect with all the other homeschoolers, as we know they form study groups and go on field trips, etc.

yours,

Sara

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Registered: 06-30-2003
Wed, 11-15-2006 - 9:14am

I'm a single working mom. My parents (thankfully they live right down the street from us) will do instruction during the week. Saturdays will be my teaching day. Plus, there will be some instruction during the evenings.

Being a single parent is exhausting. Everything falls on me. There is no help with the dishes or laundry. I realize homeschooling will make my days even longer. It's one more thing I'll have to do. I'm planning curriculum, even if when my parents will be doing the teaching.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Wed, 11-15-2006 - 9:19am
Thanks. I'm really hopeful to see an improvement with the home instruction. My DS appears more autistic when I was seeing him at school. He was spinning and stimming during the school day, plus aggression. Those behaviors don't happen so much at home. For now, I need him to learn some academics and he can do it when he isn't having the behaviors.
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-29-2004
Wed, 11-15-2006 - 12:49pm

I had all of the issues you described. My son also told me that school is way too noisy. Before the evaluation, the school thought he was OCD and ADHD. Now they know it isn't. Current teacher has made visuals for Sravan and he has to self monitor him. He marks 1 for staying focused inside a square and for not outside. At the end of the day, he can measure. The first day he had very little inside the square and now it is improving tremendously. We also sent him a head set if the noise level was too much. Since Sravan's behaviour stems from low sugar issue, I have packets of popcorn for this.
But until this year, I was so thinking of HSing him. In CA, there is virtual academy, which is free. You can become a member and get all lesson plan from them. For starter, you should look for something like that till you get your feet wet. You mail them back the work and you don't have to do correction.

Good Luck,
Anandhi