We are working through some things with our daughter, who is currently 6.5 and working at 1st grade: verbal apraxia of speech, language delay, articulation delay/disorder, dyslexia (not the stereotypical seeing letters backwards, but more in the scope of comprehension, concept imagery, gestalt principle of seeing an understanding the whole picture, etc.), ADHD (unmedicated)... SHORT STORY: I need some ideas for curricula for my daughter for next year. LONG STORY: She was in traditional kindergarten last year but felt that her average scores were holding her back from receiving the help she needs, and we feared that once 3rd grade hit and she would have to "read to learn" and not just "learn to read" that she would begin falling behind. We are currently using a mix of curricula in the language arts area: Growing with Grammar 1, BOB Books, Open Court decodables, plenty of the step 1 books, sight words, MCP Phonics, spelling from our living books as well as other subjects, read-alouds with me, some reading comprehension workbooks from the Gifted and Talented Workbook series, Mind Benders from The Critical Thinking Company. She just had her annual reassessment at Lindamood-Bell where we found that she is still lagging behind in the areas I mentioned above with regards to reading (as well as math). She has inconsistent "holes" with some areas being right on target or a few months ahead of target and others being low. Since we are still paying last year's Lindamood Bell biils and with an upcoming move out-of-state, L-B is not an option, so I will be purchasing the manuals we need and complete the program at home (Visualizing and Verbalizing and On Cloud 9 Math). I am going through the tons of LA curricula out there, from Sonlight to Dianne Craft (thanks to some searching here!) and beyond. I am honestly SO overwhelmed and still finding my way. Thank you for ANY suggestions!
I'm using Sonlight right now, however I'm questioning using it next year with my guys. A couple of reasons. 1. My 10 year old is being tested for a LD and the writing aspects aren't working with Sonlight. The Reading and History portions are good but I use separate grammar and vocabulary. (And I had to buy writing workbooks b/c the writing assignments were not working with him.) It seems expensive just for a Reading/History program. 2. 7th graders are required to take WA history in our program, so he is taking 2 history classes as he works through the Sonlight program. While this is working well with #1, (he does get overwhelmed time to time) though I can see 2 history classes being an issue with #2. 3. I like to make changes as we work through things. With Sonlight I sort of feel "stuck" with the lesson plans and such. I'd much rather pick and choose as I see what is working and what is not.
My dd has a lang. processing disorder...she's been in speech since age 3 (she's 7 now) and I did a ton of research on dyslexia lang. arts curriculums since that is most similar to her issues. We settled on click-n-kids phonics online and we use Five In a Row. She's doing great with her reading...next year I'm going to focus on writing b/c that is a huge struggle for her right now. HTH...it's so hard!
martablack, thanks so much for sharing your experiences with Sonlight with me. I was having some doubts, but to hear your experiences makes me think I should find a program better-suited to my little girl. I really appreciate the information! Openminded, thanks for the link - always nice to have more information from a been there, done that parent! sahmof2, you are not the first who has mentioned Click'n Kids Phonics. I think we are going to try it out. Do you also use their spelling program? I should check out FIAR - I have heard the name mentioned a lot, but have not looked into it. I would love to hear your plans for writing - we also struggle with this (with both dyslexic kiddos).
We do not use the click-n-spell program...I think my dd would rebel against it...we do the practice words and sentences and phonics everyday and that takes us almost 45 minutes. When she finishes the program (she's on lesson 76 now), we're going to switch to All About Spelling. I have been super pleased with click-n-kids, we just need a change. I haven't picked out what we are going to do for writing yet...if you have any great suggestions I would love to hear it! We've been using FIAR since K and I just ordered the books for vol. 3. Both my kids love the stories and my dd enjoys the activities.
I was going to recommend The Gift of Dyslexia, but then I noticed a review of it on the same site you mentioned. It sums it up better than I can: http://www.thehealthyhomeschool.com/tgodbookreview.html.
Wow, thanks again for all the terrific responses. I really need to check out FIAR, I see! Does it include a grammar component? From my reading, I see that for kids with dyslexia, a separate grammar program is not recommended; simply teaching grammar in the context of the other LA curricula is said to be best. Not sure I am ready to give up Growing with Grammar or not, lol!
I just bought Saxon phonic intervention for my daughter. She is 6 and dyslexic. I haven't started but I was excited to read through it and think it will help her a bunch. We are going to be starting on Monday. I plan on it taking an hour a day x 4 days a week. It has vocabulary, spelling, and reading. They talk about going from learning to read to reading to learn. One of the best things in the intro was a suggestion to " go as fast as they can and as slow as they must" I also bought a couple of Brian Cleary's grammar books. Because they are funny and she can remember a story like that but not a list or worksheet. We are going to do mad libs too. Then I get my grammar in, and she doesn't revolt. Did you read about the Brain Gym book? That is on my list of things to buy. I think there are some youtube videos too.
I have only just heard about Brain Gym this week. Honestly, I am so incredibly overwhelmed and unsure of where to begin and how to coordinate services and program for her with our challenges that I am not sure where to begin! I have just begun The Gift of Dyslexia and am about to purchase the Lindamood-Bell program recommended after her annual re-eval last month (she did great with the program last year but we are about to move and cannot do it at the center again). It sounds like I need to add Brain Gym in there, too! I will check it out a bit further, thanks!
I have heard that Craft's book is based on Brain Gym ( they both have the 8's exercises) There is a place on HSLDA's website where Craft wrote something about learning gates and it was really helpful to me. http://www.hslda.org/strugglinglearner/sn_checklists.asp I also have a really good friend who is dyslexic. I have been able to pick his brain for so much insider information that is priceless to me. He was homeschooled and had no idea why learning was so hard for him. He recently figured out he was dyslexic, and he is in his 30's. So he has compensated for it in many ways and it has been the best for me. Because he had to learn how to learn on his own. So he know how he did it, he knows how and when he learned to read. A lot of what he says goes along with the information that talks about making links between the two sides of the brain. Like with a picture and a site word on one flash card. Or different colors on the flash cards to make the word stand out and things like that. I completely understand about being overwhelmed the dyslexia folder on my bookmarks list is stuffed full! I feel like I don't know where to start and only have a short while to become an expert on it. But in reality what my friend said was the best. He told me that he is functioning and doing just fine in life ( not reading much but doing fine) and that if I can do anything to help my daughter learn to how to learn, what has taken him 30 years, by the time she is 10, she will have the whole rest of her life to really learn the details.
Wow - thanks so much, Aggie! I am going to research a little more the Diane Craft the site. I spent quite a lot of time last night looking over the Brain Gym - it would be a perfect fit for our days, as DH wakes with the kids to exercise for 20-30 min every morning. Between the books and tons of YouTube videos out there, I know that can be a fun part of the day. It is interesting to hear about your friend and his firsthand experiences. This has been such a struggle for me, because school came too easily (except Calculus, ugh!). With the many diagnosed challenges DD has, there is information a-plenty, so hearing real experience is golden! Thank you again for sharing - I am going to look more into Craft and will be ordering Brain Gym with my next order!
I am glad that I could help. It is hard for me, because I did great in school as well. My first son is exactly like me. He is a quick learner and reads way above grade level. So it is a huge struggle for me to change my ways and understand that I have to work harder to help her succeed. My friend has really been a God thing, because he is so open with me. He is even going to come and watch her do school and see if he can help me more. Please PM me and let me know how things go, or if you have questions. My friend is ADD too. I might be able to ask him questions if you have any specific things. I don't always get a chance to peruse the forums.
