*** Homeschool List ***

[4girlsmom]

Thanks JMS. Those are very helpful suggestions.

 

[disneymom3]

Using a mouse on a computer is different (the mouse is on the left side of my sister's computer). So, if your child is using the computer a wireless mouse might be a good investment so they can move the mouse to the left of the keyboard where it is more comfortable.

Just wanted to throw out there, that according to DH who is a lefty and a computer programmer, the kids may as well learn to use the mouse with their right hand as when they go out into the world, the mouse is going to be on that side of the keyboard. Through the years, he has worked on many other people's computers and it would be difficult if he couldn't use the mouse on the right side. He also learned to play the guitar in the traditional way because a friend of his when he was like 12 and first learning told him he looked stupid if he turned it the other way. (Kids are soooo nice to each other aren't they? )

Anyway, just something to think about from this mom and wife of lefties.

 

[laceemouse]

I too am so happy to not be sending my kids back to school in a couple of weeks. Still, we need to get started following a stricter schedule and hit the books. Mostly we have just been reading, watching educational videos, going to museums, swimming, and having fun this summer! We have a trip to the Dells booked later in September, and a Christmas WDW trip! Also, dh is looking for a new job and we hope to be moving sometime in the near future. It would be nice to move and not have to worry about/research the schools!!

 

[sweet maxine]

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[JMSMommy]

I have a question about Spelling Power, just got it for DS6 (1st grade age, 2nd grade academically). DS6 has seemingly inherited his Dad's "bad speller" gene.

So, he's easily reading 3rd-4th grade stuff, and I've been doing "spelling" lists with him (oral test) and he gets some right sometimes and then will spell it wrong later. I was planning on starting him with Level A in Spelling Power and did the "survey and placement tests" just to see (I know he's spelled all the words on placement test A at some point correctly)...well he MISSED 15! The code at the bottom says he's not ready to start formal spelling yet. I mean, he spelled come - com (he's spelled that one correctly a ton), the - teh (okay so I type it that way often...but he's spelled that one correctly too lately), and his - has (and he commented that he spelled HAS not HIS and that was what he was going to do). I looked at the word flow list for Level A (list 1) and he can spell all of those I know (whether he does when writing them down or not is a different story).

So, would you follow what the book says and NOT start the spelling at this time (it would free up time I could use on math or science)? Or would you start with the first list and progress as fast (or slowly) as he can?

 

[disneymom3]

Carla
At six years old, I would give him another year before I worried about formal spelling. Right now, let him focus on reading which he must enjoy if he is that far ahead. Just let him read read read. I find that with DD her reading outpaces us on spelling and she ends up going for weeks without getting a word wrong, but if I put her up a level she starts getting all of them wrong. It's crazy!

Your son is just solidifying these words and sound blends in his brain. I would give that some more time to get in there solidly and then test him at the beginning of your next academic year. In the meantime, you could do fun word activities like word searches, mixed up word letters, and things like that to help him with some of those basic rules. Then when you test him next year, he will probably be able to enter Spelling Power at a higher level than right now anyway and have more success with it. I also feel like 6 is pretty young to be working on the 10 step review and the reinforcement activities.

 

[nuzmom]

JMSMommy: I, too, would recommend waiting a while and agree that when you do start, he may end up starting at a higher level.

Are you still doing a phonics program? My DS always tests at least 2 grades higher on language, vocabulary, and reading (sometimes up to 4 grades higher - scary), BUT we continued with Phonics until he completed the 3rd grade level. It was relatively easy, but he enjoyed having an "easy" subject, and it did introduce grammar and spelling. We used Modern Curriculum Press and I totally recommend it. It's a workbook type curriculum, which isn't as intimidating as Spelling Power, and it goes over phonics rules in gradual steps.

If you don't have a phonics program, I'd recommend continuing with one which incorporates spelling (and grammar) and hold off on Spelling Power.

 

[TNKBELL]

Last year Ds8 was in 2nd grade and I gave him the CAT he did great in math, reading, comprehension but horrible in spelling and punctuation, even though we had been over many of the words. He reads on a 7th grade level now and his spelling is definately improving, we have been using spelling workout which is pretty good, a friend of mine told me not to let them study or even see the list and just ask them to verbally spell the words, then you'll have a better idea what they need to work on, this helped me a lot because Ds always got them right, of course it was after being able to study them, but then the next week he got them wrong again!! Ds6 is just a natural speller and he just gets it, every kid is different, I hope this year when I test them these subjects improve for Ds8.

 

[cathyz]

Hi! Please add me to the list. I'm starting with DS13 this year. He is mildly Aspergers with ADD, otherwise a wonderful and sweet child with lots of potential! This is a very exciting time for the both of us. I'd love to have a board just for homeschoolers.

 

[laceemouse]

Cathyz, do you have a diagnosis from a doctor for your son? We just pulled our 10 year old son out of ps. He was miserable there. He is very smart, an excellent reader and speller, loves science, but he has fine motor issues and was drowning in paperwork at school. They tested him for everything but he never met any of their qualifications. He looks a little like ADD, but also non-verbal LD, and possibly Aspergers. He also has some sensory issues (bothered by certain smells, food textures, ect.) He is pretty good at home, but he hated the crowds at school. He is a sweetheart. I think he will do much better at home, but am wondering if I should seek a diagnosis privately or if any services are needed. Welcome to our homeschool discussion.....hope we get our own forum soon.....I feel like a broken record saying that! BTW, we have 3 other kids and all of them are now coming home to school!!

 

[sweet maxine]

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[cathyz]

Laceemouse,

1st of all - . Dealing with an 'Aspie' (or even just 'Aspie' symptoms) is not an easy experience!

After 12 years, I finally did get an actual 'diagnosis' from a Developmental Pediatrician and also from a Developmental Psyciatrist. Although at this point it doesn't really make that much difference. It does help, though, to actually have it in writing from a professional (for my piece of mind).

DS has always been a little 'odd'. He had trouble playing in playgroup (age 2 -3) and even would become quite agitated. He is very easily obsessed with things - Capain Hook & Pirates was the beginning. Now we're onto World War II. He also has some motor skills issues, very poor muscle tone. THis makes it difficult for him to participate in Sports or Gym Class. He's just too uncoordinated. THis combined with his obvious social issues makes him the target of bullying and teasing and just plain miserable. And, as for actual learning, I always wind up 're-teaching' him half of the time anyway. I really don't have a problem with the teachers or the school, per se, it's just not the right way for HIM to learn.

Hope I didn't ramble too much.

 

[disneymom3]

Hey guys--know what I noticed? There is a new board for Virtual Magic Kingdom posts. Maybe we are just being too confined here and if we started posting homeschooling questions all over the place, we would get some attention and earn our own board!!

 

[laceemouse]

cathyz, thanks for the reply. My son was also a "bully target" in school. Most boys are just so into sports that it is hard for any boy who is not to fit in. I know what you mean, a class room with 28 kids was just not the best learning environment for my son. The 4th grade teacher even told me so. My oldest daughter is high IQ and the way school is done is not really right for her either. We are really excited about starting our homeschool adventure.

 

[4girlsmom]

Sweetmaxine, my DDs learned D'Nealian writing at their private school. It makes for a smooth & easy transition from printing (which they call "manuscript") to cursive. I will be using it at home w/ my 2nd grader.

Disneymom3, thanks for your lefty tips, too.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I would like to hear opinions about the writing program that starts off K-5 age with cursive instead of print. Is it really a waste of time to teach printing?

We are doing D'Nealian--the print--looks like the cursive letters are just separated. I like it b/c the strokes are more fluid---pencil stays in contact with the paper except in the places where lifting is necessary (crossing the "t", dotting the "i").

DD5 loves the handwriting. We have the Kindergarten level workbook and she is enjoying it.

You might try that. We picked up the workbooks from Rainbow Resource--and we happened to find handwriting sheets at wal-mart that are geared towards D'Nealian (with "speed" bumps on the blue lines).

 

[disneymom3]

I would like to hear opinions about the writing program that starts off K-5 age with cursive instead of print. Is it really a waste of time to teach printing?

Don't know about this one. We have had an interesting road in our handwriting curriculum. DD started off with D'Nealian per my sis's urging. I never felt that DD had very good writing whereas her best friend who goes to Parochial school and does the "stick and ball" regular printing method, had excellent printing. In third grade we moved to cursive and DD's was pretty atrocious. I actually stopped having her work on cursive and we went back to printing--just straight old printing--for her writing assignments and spelling and such. By the end of the year, she was doing much better. We started cursive again this last week adn she is doing beautifully. Really nice work so far.

So, DS will be using straight printing. The other reason being that his curriculum uses it and I just don't think his writing would work with the extra "curviness" of D'Nealian. He has a hard enough time writing just plain old stuff.

 

[TNKBELL]

In response to the cursive from the start approach, I don't think it's logical or practical, in our adult lives printing is very much a needed skill. I use some of A Beka books in my curriculum and they are wonderful, but I strongly disagree with the fact they only teach cursive starting in Kindergarten! Cursive is an important part of our education, following "The Well-Trained Mind" and Laura Berquist approach I started cursive in 2nd grade, after printing was fully developed. IMOHO

 

[sweet maxine]

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[disneymom3]

Maxine--Some ideas that I am really having fun with right now withDS5 who has atrocious writing skills--make the shapes of the letters or actual shapes with playdough--this allows him to get a 3D feel for the letters and use his whole hand in getting the feel of it. We do writing shapes and letters in shaving cream too. Oftentimes I just make some random marks, like a squiggly line in my shaving cream (right on the table or on a tray) and then have him copy it. You can also trace letters in sand, sugar, oatmeal or rice. I also write an outline of the letter we are working on and have him color it in. These are fun more tactile and physical ways of learning letter shapes and DS sticks with them a lot longer than he does paper and pencil.

Make it fun (as it sounds like you are doing a great job of) and the development will come.