So after a year of HS. I gave up and called the district and asked that my #3 son be tested for a math Learning Disability. (LD) He does not get math concepts at all. We review the same thing over and over and unless he can use his fingers or a number line, he can't add or subtract. (And forget multiplying and dividing and he's in 4th grade) The school had us meet with a psychiatrist (who was great). At this first meeting he asked me to bring examples of Keegan's work BEFORE testing him. We went over the work and he saw "problems". He started talking dysgraphia and dyscalculia. We discussed keyboarding and Dragon speech to text software. (He will be tested next week.) And Keegan has strong points like reading, but he can't write (print or cursive, space pages or do math.) For example, we asked Keegan to draw a clock and he couldn't get the numbers right on the clock.) Dh and I had been arguing nonstop about this. He of course wanted to put Keegan back in PS. I was against it. I put my foot down and told him if Keegan couldn't do the school work pretty much 1 on 1 (I do have 3 other HS students) then there was no way he could survive PS. Well, I told the Psychiatrist, that we would consider putting Keegan back in PS IF he thought it was best. And he said "No way!" He told dh and me in very clear terms Keegan was better off at home and I had been doing a good job with him. (Some of dh's tactics weren't so great on the other hand.) I can't tell you how relieved I was. I get flack from my mom, my PS teacher sister and other family. I couldn't have been happier to hear this. Dh is now completely on my side. He said he was proud of me for sticking to my guns and standing up for our children even when everyone questioned me. We reviewed the kids work so far this year and I brought to his attention our oldest who gets bored easily in PS and starts sprouting pokemon and football facts is actually talking to him about literature, history and science. (We are filling his brain up with good stuff and not garbage.) My ds is out of work right now, so he has been with home for a couple of months and today he actually sat down and HS with us. He helped one kid, while I was helping another. (He even attempted grammar. When he complained about how hard it was, I explained that even I have to double check with the answer book.) (And to clarify my dh, has been semi-supportive with HS. Saying stuff, Like I know you are doing a better job then the PS. And if this is really what you want to do, then I'll support you. But he does have he moments when he gets frustrated and Keegan had pushed him to the point exasperation. He felt like we weren't doing good for Keegan and PS would be easier for us. So he had been dropping hints about PS.) I'm getting a bit off topic BUT I need resources for HS with a Learning Disability. I was looking for alternative ideas for book reports. (Books or websites.) Teaching keyboarding and any advice for kids who can't write. (Dragon may or may not be an option due to Keegan's age and voice.) We want to make HS "fun" and "easy" again for Keegan. (He will most likely go to the PS for Math and work with a teacher there. For now I'm setting the timer and having him do 15 minutes of math, no more. And he has promised to try his best during that time instead of the usual hoop-la that he had been doing.)
My Aspie's psychologist suggested Dragon for us, and he's only 6, so I suspect it would work fine for your 10 y/o. Keep an eye on Amazon. They had a daily deal on it about a week ago. We haven't bought it yet, but it's something we've considered. My Aspie is also gifted. Not sure if you suspect any giftedness in your kids, but either way, his psychologist says she always recommends a book called The Gift of Dyslexia. She recommended it back when we thought he had dyscalculia. (We now know he doesn't. His issues are because of Asperger's.) Sometimes a kid can have LD and giftedness at the same time. This book tells you how to work with the LD side and turn it into a gift.
Well, YAY, a psych that actually has a clue!!! About all I can recommend is what you're already doing. Interesting books, since he can read/comprehend just fine, oral discussions and projects, with maybe video (movies and educational videos) input. And if he needs to use his fingers, manipulatives, "cheat sheets" etc., for his 15 minutes of math ... LET HIM. All my best to you, mom, for doing a great job!
The psych said that with prepubescence boys that Dragon can be hit and miss due to the tone and inflection of their voices. And we actually have Dragon here at home. Dh bought it for me, b/c he thought it would help with my writing. But with everything else going on I haven't set it up yet. (All my stuff gets put on the back burners.) We are in the process of getting an office set up with two computers. (B/c dh is looking for a job and he spends a great deal of time on the computer which makes it harder for us to use it.)
I recommend Dianne Craft. She has a website that is her name with dot org. I have 5 daughters, one with ADHD and one with dyslexia. I have found the techniques she to be very helpful. Jennifer
You might find some good ideas here: http://www.littlegiantsteps.com/ They specialize in curriculum for kids with learning differences.
No suggestions, but GOOD FOR YOU!!! Isn't it great to find a public school employee whose number one concern is for the STUDENT, and not for the system!!!
Have you heard of Verticy Learning? According to the website, the curric is designed for kids with LDs. Looks like they have full curriculum options and also individual subjects. Don't know much about it, but it might be worth looking into! -PJ
This is a resource I found when searching for something for my ds. http://www.thehealthyhomeschool.com/dyslexia
