Question for Homeschooling parents, teachers, educators for kids with Aspergers

[PrincessKell]

Ok now that my long titled is over. I have a question for you.

My dd7 is in 2nd grade and is falling behind. We are having major issues with school and getting her on an IEP. So until that is cleared up and we get her an IEP she doesn't have any extra assistance in school. I want to help her at home but we are struggling. Its hard after a long day of school and me being a single parent its very trying. However, I will go to the end of the world to help my dd.

Is there any free homeschooling lesson plans or sites that might help get her back on grade level and focusing better in school. Or any teachers know of any websites that might help me in guiding her better in ways that she can grasp onto more easily?

Thank you for any info you might have. I need it. She needs it. Its such a struggle and I don't want to fight with her on it, I want it to be enjoyable and fun since she already has a TON of homework for 2nd grade. She loves the computer but we don't have sound until my brother gives us his old computer. so she really loves games just can not listen to them.

again thank you for all your help.

 

[Leajess99]

There are many sites with free programs and worksheets to help. For reading Starfall.com is a good one but sound may be necessary. There are games at http://www.apples4theteacher.com that can help with math and telling time and such. http://members.learningplanet.com/act/count/free.asp this site has games as well. For worksheets you can go to schoolexpress.com and print many free ones for different subjects. For some fun facts for her you can head to http://www.kidzone.ws/. Also http://www.primarygames.com/math/fishycount/start.htm is a good one for some free games. If you need more help please feel free to either PM or even email me at yahoo or aol with this name.

 

[PrincessKell]

Thank you so much. I will look at all those tonight after the Princess is in bed sleepin.

 

[princessmom29]

I have had several students with Aspergers come through my classroom over the years, and all of them had some kind of extra support at school. It ranged anywhere from a "study skills" class that they got credit for where a small group met with a SPED teacher to work on homework skilss, test taking skills, and how to study, to a full time aide that traveled from class to class with them. If your daughter has a diagnosis the school is required to make accomidations for her. period. I would be insistant on an evaluation for special ed services. Keep calling untill they cave.

 

[clori]

for spelling words www.spellingcity.com is good. The tests/teaching part won't work without sound but maybe some of the games will be okay. You input the spelling words yourself. www.abcteach has printable worksheets.

Here are some sites I have bookmarked though many I haven't tried most of them out in a long time. http://www.handwritingforkids.com www.enchantedlearning.com www.uptoten.com www.literactive.com http://funschool.kaboose.com/parent-teacher/kindergarten-2nd-grade.html
www.iknowthat.com http://www.abcya.com

When my dd9 was learning multiplication she preferred www.honorpoint.com
one of her favorite websites is www.kidsedwebsites.com though some of the games will be too advanced to start with

 

[Pembo]

It's not free but only $20/month I think...http://www.time4learning.com/ I used this site with my Asperger's 8th grader this summer and it really helped.

Best of luck to you....

 

[Schmeck]

For an IEP, it's not based really on 'falling behind', it's supposed to be because the student is not showing any kind of progress. Just had a class on this for professional development. The key term to get the ball rolling is to talk about 'lack of progress', not a comparison to the class as a whole. There will always be students ahead of the curriculum, right at the curriculum, and others behind in the curriculum, as we are not clones of each other.

So, if you supplement well enough at home, then progress will be made, and no support will be given in school. It's a tough decision to make.

 

[ebtbmom]

How did you guys know your children has Asperger's? What were the symptoms? I know I could look this up on line, but I prefer hearing about personal experience!

 

[Starr W.]

How did you guys know your children has Asperger's? What were the symptoms? I know I could look this up on line, but I prefer hearing about personal experience!

Send me a PM, my now 13 yr old was diagnosed at age 5. We had him diagnosed through our county's preschool program and had him medically diagnosed also through a local children's hospital.

He does well in school, A/B student. IEP is mostly to give him accomodations on the state test and he still gets adaptive phys ed in addition to regular gym class. He's in regular classes, though at our Jr High if you are on an IEP, you automatically get an "effective study" class with your intervention specialist.

We did about 4 yrs of private OT and ST, along with multiple social skill group sessions(finishing up another one now). Oh yeah, probably 2 yrs of a combo OT/ social skills group also.

 

[mousygirl]

As a teacher, most of the kids I encounter with Aspergers do well academically, but have a terrible time socially. They find it difficult to sit still or follow the rules.
What are her specific weaknesses? One of the best things you can do at home is just read to her. Pick a book a little bit above her current reading level and read it out loud every night. If she starts to enjoy reading, this may help at school. There are a lot of fun series for kids her age. My son likes Bad Kitty series. It is a bit silly, but he wants us to read it every night. If you look on the back of children's book, it will often have the reading level.

For math, you could have her help you measure for cooking or have her double a recipe.
While you are waiting for the IEP, the best thing you can do is try to make learning fun at home. If she feels good about learning, school will be more tolerable.
Good luck!

 

[Luv Bunnies]

When you have the IEP meeting, it's best if you know what accommodations you want to ask for. Start thinking of what kinds of things would make classroom learning easier for your DD and write them down to take to the meeting. The school district may not agree to all of them, but it's worth it to try.

For example, my DS14 has Asperger's. We now have him in a specialized school (which the district agreed to pay for after a long fight, long story). Prior to that, he was in mainstream middle school classes. Taking test in a large classroom environment is difficult for him so his IEP said he would go to the resource room to take tests (especially the longer standardized tests) and be given extra time to take them. The other thing we discovered is that he cannot stand reading many types of fiction books. He just doesn't relate well to reading fictional stories (although he does fine with fictional movies). He does, however, love reading non-fiction. He also doesn't work well in groups since they involve discussion with other students. We're working on this skill but he's not there yet. The teacher agreed to let him read an approved non-fiction book and write a report on his own instead of being assigned to read a fiction book and do a book club report in a group. We had this written into his IEP as an accommodation. We also added that he should be seated at the front of the classroom and at the edge of the room so he didn't feel he was surrounded by people.

So start thinking about what kinds of specific accommodations would help your DD and ask them to be included in her IEP. It is a legal document and the school is required to follow it. Don't let them tell you they'll do certain things without putting them on the IEP. Be sure they're written down. And be sure to review the document carefully before you sign it. Sometimes, they'll put it in front of you at the end of the meeting. Everyone is anxious to leave and they might try to rush you through signing it. Take your time reading it. You can even take it home and review it carefully before signing it and sending it back. Good luck!

 

[PrincessKell]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. DD is very smart, just doesn't focus well. She is very much in her own world in class. They have moved her twice to help her focus. She is in the front (second row) now. But in the middle of the action. I am going to bring this up at our student study team meeting thursday. I think its a good idea for front row edge so she doesn't have the distraction.

She asked to be in a small class, which I agree would be the best for her. However, its not something the school has to offer. She has said that she would like someone to help her in class when it comes to math, reading, spelling. She just needs to be pulled away from the class at the back table with someone to stay focused. If she is not over stimulated she can get through her work in no time at all! Its just the rest of it. Its at home when she has so much overload from school and has such a hard time doing homework. We have tried so many different things to relax first for 10 minutes or what have you before starting. Setting a certain time on the timer (the timer is our best friend). We had been going to the park to do home work and after it was done she got to play. With it getting colder and wet out, this will be ending soon.

She gets on these subject kicks where she will get books, look at websites,etc and learn everything she can on them. First it was China, then it was Walt Disney (one of her hyper focuses is Disneyland...its her go to when she gets to overwhelmed) last one was Indians. Right now its Italian. She is taking learn to speak Italian after school.

I have written down so much stuff to bring up on Thursday. Thank you all. If you have anymore ideas or suggestions I would take them all in.

I wish we could afford to get her the help she needs (OT/Speech for social interaction eye contact and such, skill building, coping skills) but with no insurance and lack of support from the county or resources from our Regional center its frustrating.

 

[Indiana Rose Lee]

Our insurance never covered speech or OT. It really stunk.

If she is able to research the subjects, and get into them so deeply (my friend's son is rewriting a movie history) then is it a case of not being able to perform, or is it a case of it not being what she is interested in, and is not of consequence to her? Forgive me if I misuderstood your post.