Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Hi guys, I know there are some homeschoolers on this board, and I'm wondering if there's a good online group or some good books that could offer guidance to someone who's thinking about doing it? I've never homeschooled before, and while the whole idea of it is really attractive to me, I'm also pretty intimidated by the thought of being solely responsible for my non-verbal autistic son's education. So I want to learn more about it, what it's like day-to-day, what kind of problems to expect, how to make sure he gets enough socialization and structure, etc. Thanks for any suggestions! Soraya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Congradulations! Home schooling is awesome! You will be great! And there are plenty of resources out there. We do Veritas, a classical Christian approach and the school has 1 day a week campus with certiified teachers. Our other social activities nclude playing sports at the local churches, clubs, etc. You can contact local churches and groups for more info. I highly reccomend Googling Corby at autism solution center in Cordova Tn. She has helped many non verbal children speak again. She also explains why they become non verbal. Just an awesome devoted person on a mission to let the world know this is recoverable. It's a more natural approach. You will love homeschooling. My children are well ahead of public school children in same grade. To me, public school is so nstitutionalized and the bullying these great kids deal with can do more harm than good. We NEED to be the ones who watch our children's education and social activities. And yes I do work and do this. EASY NO! WORTH IT YES! Always Call Christie Gravatt We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience! Subject: OT: HomeschoolingTo: "mb12valtrex" <mb12valtrex >Date: Friday, May 4, 2012, 8:25 AM Hi guys, I know there are some homeschoolers on this board, and I'm wondering if there's a good online group or some good books that could offer guidance to someone who's thinking about doing it? I've never homeschooled before, and while the whole idea of it is really attractive to me, I'm also pretty intimidated by the thought of being solely responsible for my non-verbal autistic son's education. So I want to learn more about it, what it's like day-to-day, what kind of problems to expect, how to make sure he gets enough socialization and structure, etc. Thanks for any suggestions!Soraya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 I homeschool my PDD-NOS girl (9) for 2 years - she is learning and maturing so much faster than in school. She is high functioning and we do regular curriculum. We do different grades for different subjects. Last year I discovered RPM by Soma http://www.halo-soma.org. She developed it while teaching her autistic nonverbal son. Check it out. They have lesson plans online. Write me if you have more questions. Elen > > Hi guys, I know there are some homeschoolers on this board, and I'm wondering if there's a good online group or some good books that could offer guidance to someone who's thinking about doing it? I've never homeschooled before, and while the whole idea of it is really attractive to me, I'm also pretty intimidated by the thought of being solely responsible for my non-verbal autistic son's education. So I want to learn more about it, what it's like day-to-day, what kind of problems to expect, how to make sure he gets enough socialization and structure, etc. Thanks for any suggestions! > > Soraya > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Thank you for the encouragement, Christie I'm curious how you homeschool and have a career--can't imagine. I will check out Ms. Corby, thank you!Soraya Congradulations! Home schooling is awesome! You will be great! And there are plenty of resources out there. We do Veritas, a classical Christian approach and the school has 1 day a week campus with certiified teachers. Our other social activities nclude playing sports at the local churches, clubs, etc. You can contact local churches and groups for more info. I highly reccomend Googling Corby at autism solution center in Cordova Tn. She has helped many non verbal children speak again. She also explains why they become non verbal. Just an awesome devoted person on a mission to let the world know this is recoverable. It's a more natural approach. You will love homeschooling. My children are well ahead of public school children in same grade. To me, public school is so nstitutionalized and the bullying these great kids deal with can do more harm than good. We NEED to be the ones who watch our children's education and social activities. And yes I do work and do this. EASY NO! WORTH IT YES! Always Call Christie Gravatt We are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience! Subject: OT: HomeschoolingTo: "mb12valtrex" <mb12valtrex >Date: Friday, May 4, 2012, 8:25 AM Hi guys, I know there are some homeschoolers on this board, and I'm wondering if there's a good online group or some good books that could offer guidance to someone who's thinking about doing it? I've never homeschooled before, and while the whole idea of it is really attractive to me, I'm also pretty intimidated by the thought of being solely responsible for my non-verbal autistic son's education. So I want to learn more about it, what it's like day-to-day, what kind of problems to expect, how to make sure he gets enough socialization and structure, etc. Thanks for any suggestions!Soraya Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 I will check out the Soma website, Elen, thanks! That's encouraging that your daughter is doing better at home than at traditional school. My son is in public school now and he seems to really enjoy it. He's attached to his teacher and aide but I don't know how much he's learning. And there are parts of his day that are nearly too much for him sensory-wise, like PE and recess and lunch in the cafeteria with 200 other kids, although his new Bose noise-canceling headphones help some. I just want something better for him, but the idea is pretty scary right now. Soraya I homeschool my PDD-NOS girl (9) for 2 years - she is learning and maturing so much faster than in school. She is high functioning and we do regular curriculum. We do different grades for different subjects. Last year I discovered RPM by Soma http://www.halo-soma.org. She developed it while teaching her autistic nonverbal son. Check it out. They have lesson plans online. Write me if you have more questions. Elen > > Hi guys, I know there are some homeschoolers on this board, and I'm wondering if there's a good online group or some good books that could offer guidance to someone who's thinking about doing it? I've never homeschooled before, and while the whole idea of it is really attractive to me, I'm also pretty intimidated by the thought of being solely responsible for my non-verbal autistic son's education. So I want to learn more about it, what it's like day-to-day, what kind of problems to expect, how to make sure he gets enough socialization and structure, etc. Thanks for any suggestions! > > Soraya > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Hi Tammy, I know you homeschool so I was hoping you'd write. I'd love to know what a typical day is like for you and your child. And I need to find out what the different options are for having my son in a co-op or in his local school for a few classes like tech or music. What makes it a little tougher is that I'm thinking of starting this next year when we relocate to the San Diego area. We're in land now. I don't want to move cross-country and plop my son into a new school that I'll only be able to see a few times beforehand. Plus, I've always felt rather detached from what my son is being taught at school even though I observe and volunteer and there are IEP meetings. I think my son could do well at home as long as things are structured and he knows what to expect. I don't know, I have lots of questions and it would be a big change on top of a big move, although a new school would be a big change, too. Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Hi Soraya,I have been homeschooling my three since before we had a diagnosis. I knew that they would drown in school, and my oldest (9) had a kindergarten teacher who thought he would do better at home. As many of you sweet friends noted, school has allowed you to be in awareness of issues that otherwise would have remained unknown to you. I agree that is certainly an issue for homeschoolers -- lack of objectivity. But, there are so many blessings that more than make up for it. Soraya, in my family, we follow the children's interests, and pursue what they like, without worrying about the traditional three "R"s. We generally follow the philosophy of Holt -- "unschooling" or "freeschooling". I am a trained Montessorian myself, with a master's in linguistics, although, at this stage, I believe formal training can be more of a hindrance than an asset, LOL!I guess what I am saying is that the first year of homeschooling requires a period of "deschooling" so don't expect too much in terms of sticking to a curriculum or a schedule or so, especially that first year. My kids are middle to high functioning, but score very well academically on the state required tests, and yet they do no schoolwork whatsoever! Something to consider. You might want to read the work of Holt, a brilliant educator whose work is widely available. Also the book "Hold on to your Kids" by Gabor Mate. Wonderful!Love and light to you!Jean Hi Tammy, I know you homeschool so I was hoping you'd write. I'd love to know what a typical day is like for you and your child. And I need to find out what the different options are for having my son in a co-op or in his local school for a few classes like tech or music. What makes it a little tougher is that I'm thinking of starting this next year when we relocate to the San Diego area. We're in land now. I don't want to move cross-country and plop my son into a new school that I'll only be able to see a few times beforehand. Plus, I've always felt rather detached from what my son is being taught at school even though I observe and volunteer and there are IEP meetings. I think my son could do well at home as long as things are structured and he knows what to expect. I don't know, I have lots of questions and it would be a big change on top of a big move, although a new school would be a big change, too. Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Im on my kindle and its so hard to write extensive messages on this stupid thing. I will def write you this weekend. I think you've mads a great choice! Especially since your move is to CA. They've recently become pretty aggressive with their vaccine laws : ( Talk to you soon! Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 4, 2012 Report Share Posted May 4, 2012 Jean, Awesome! Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Sent: Fri May 04 21:39:20 EDT 2012 To: " mb12valtrex " <mb12valtrex > Subject: Re: OT: Homeschooling Hi Soraya,I have been homeschooling my three since before we had a diagnosis. I knew that they would drown in school, and my oldest (9) had a kindergarten teacher who thought he would do better at home. As many of you sweet friends noted, school has allowed you to be in awareness of issues that otherwise would have remained unknown to you. I agree that is certainly an issue for homeschoolers -- lack of objectivity. But, there are so many blessings that more than make up for it. Soraya, in my family, we follow the children's interests, and pursue what they like, without worrying about the traditional three "R"s. We generally follow the philosophy of Holt -- "unschooling" or "freeschooling". I am a trained Montessorian myself, with a master's in linguistics, although, at this stage, I believe formal training can be more of a hindrance than an asset, LOL!I guess what I am saying is that the first year of homeschooling requires a period of "deschooling" so don't expect too much in terms of sticking to a curriculum or a schedule or so, especially that first year. My kids are middle to high functioning, but score very well academically on the state required tests, and yet they do no schoolwork whatsoever! Something to consider. You might want to read the work of Holt, a brilliant educator whose work is widely available. Also the book "Hold on to your Kids" by Gabor Mate. Wonderful!Love and light to you!Jean Hi Tammy, I know you homeschool so I was hoping you'd write. I'd love to know what a typical day is like for you and your child. And I need to find out what the different options are for having my son in a co-op or in his local school for a few classes like tech or music. What makes it a little tougher is that I'm thinking of starting this next year when we relocate to the San Diego area. We're in land now. I don't want to move cross-country and plop my son into a new school that I'll only be able to see a few times beforehand. Plus, I've always felt rather detached from what my son is being taught at school even though I observe and volunteer and there are IEP meetings. I think my son could do well at home as long as things are structured and he knows what to expect. I don't know, I have lots of questions and it would be a big change on top of a big move, although a new school would be a big change, too. On May 4, 2012, at 2:01 PM, Tammy wrote: Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 5, 2012 Report Share Posted May 5, 2012 Soraya, I can tell you with certainty that a typical day looks NOTHING like what I originally intended it to be. When we first started, relied heavily on routine and a schedule so we would start at the same time every day. There were a few mistakes I made at the beginning. I should have timed each lesson and showed him exactly what we would be doing because most of the time, he was more worried about when we'd be done as opposed to learning the actual lessons. So we tried a few different things until we found something we are both comfortable with. His preference is for me to write his assignments on a piece of paper then he picks and chooses in which order he wants to get them done. If there's a lesson or field trip involved or project that includes my younger son, he understands that sometimes things have to be done out of the order that he might prefer it to be in. With that said, our days are pretty laid back. We wake up naturally, I make breakfast and eventually we get to our work. We live right across the street from an elementary school so we used to start school when we heard their bell, but over time I've come to realize that a) they are more receptive to learning and I'm more patient if we do things in our own time. Sometimes they really drag their feet about getting started -those days I just have to light a fire under their little a**es. Stress plays a major factor in their level of functioning (both of them)- so we take our time and I try not to be too intense. If they are learning something new or difficult, I try to keep the rest of the day light. What might be a good idea for you is to search the web for homeschool chat and support groups in the area you're moving to. That way, you will have good insight as to what to expect from the school department. Our city is very open to homeschoolers and pretty much mind their business. Other districts can really give people a heck of a time. So you will want to be well prepared before hand. Some states (or districts) offer free on-line curricula for homeschoolers, others have "partnership programs". Both are great if you agree with the curricula. I believe it would be anybody's right in any state or district to arrange to have your child go to school for music, art, gym, library etc. etc. You do pay for it, after all. I'm not opposed to doing it, we just don't. We may some time down the road. I might look into my son joining the fifth grade chorus next year. If your son would require an IEP or special services to go to school for the extras, that's where things might get sticky if the school district isn't homeschool friendly. (or services -friendly for that matter. lol) Now, curricula. If you look on-line, there's a thousand sharks out there in the water just waiting to take your money. (Being autism families, we are used to that, right?!). Some people prefer to use them if they're unsure where to begin and feel uneasy about making lesson plans. Here is what I do: our city posts an outline curriculum on- line for each grade along with materials and resources used. I go by that to judge where he "should be" and adjust accordingly. If I like it, I use it. If I don't, I skip right over it. Mostly I do skip-overs. lol. We had alot of catching up to do as far as language skills, grammar and comprehension so it will be some time before he's up to par with writing at his grade level. Math, he's a bit ahead of the game with calculations and such. But he struggles with word problems and they are important for every day life. So you can see how we are all-over-the-board. That's the beauty of homeschooling. We can fly right through the stuff he gets and take a year if we need to to get through something he finds difficult. You can find some pretty cool "big books" of comprehensive curriculum. This will give you a general idea of what grade level work looks like for each subject. Then there's oodles and oodles of websites out there full of free downloadable printables for more practice. There is so much out there. Once you get a handle on what they need and what you would like them to learn, it should cost you next to nothing. We do a lot of hands-on. Especially for science. We do fun projects,museums, zoos, hikes, etc. etc. Our library, museums and audobon always have cool stuff going on. Lots of places have facebook pages now so we know when cool stuff is coming up. Some cities have Co-ops where different families take turns teaching certain classes or doing workshops. We're not quite there just yet, but hope to be able to join other local families soon. This gives parents a nice break and allows kids to meet and make new friends. Tom is super involved in sports so this is where he gets most of his social time. is forced to hang out with the little brothers of the kids on Tom's teams. lol. doesn't care for sports. We'll try Boy Scouts. Next year he will be old enough to join the homeschooler's Lego Team. I hope he'll be interested. We have to find his niche. He has no friends to speak of and is not terrible social. I have a feeling that if we can find something he really likes, he'll become more receptive to people with the same interest. It's a work in progress. Church groups can be a great place for kids to socialize. Homeschoolers often get together to hand out at the park or go on field trips together. We're far from perfect,and there's probably a hundred things I'm doing wrong. But I can tell you that Tom has come a loooooooong, long way from where we started a year and a half ago. We're not conventional. I don't believe in sitting them down to memorize information. My goal is to teach them to learn and investigate. Of course, I do expect them to be proficient in reading, writing and math. And I want them to have an understanding of the world around them. But for now I'm just trying to get them to a point where they are proficient enough that they can really start to dig their hands into the things that interest them and picque their curiosity. For now, I would find out the expectations of the new school district and proceed from there. I was so worried at first, but found it to be way easier than I ever imagined. First I wrote a letter of intention to homeschool to the school department. They sent me a form to fill out which asked me to list which textbooks and resources I'd be using for each subject. (You can make life very easy for yourself by telling them you'll use the school's that way they can't argue with your choice of materials : ) I am also required to keep a record of attendance (figure that one out! lol) and at the end of the year, I have the choice to produce a report card, hand in a written evaluation, produce a portfolio of work or have the kids tested. I hand in a report card. It's that simple here! But every district is different. That's all I can think of for now. Yes, sometimes they drive me crazy. But all the freedom is worth it. Getting started is the scariest part, but once you settle in you will never look back! Good luck! You will be an AWESOME teacher!!! Write me anytime. Tammy To: mb12valtrex Sent: Friday, May 4, 2012 2:01 PMSubject: Re: OT: Homeschooling Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time.You are the best teacher your child will ever have!What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 Hi Soraya,here are some more ideas.I have really liked the natural flow of homeschooling also.I have found the MOORES http://www.moorehomeschooling.com/article/9/moore-foundation way of homeschooling outstanding.I also incorporate superb books and ideas from the ROBINSONS          http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/           way of homeschooling.    The best thing I ever did for my son.                 Tammy F.  Soraya,  I can tell you with certainty that a typical day looks NOTHING like what I originally intended it to be. When we first started, relied heavily on routine and a schedule so we would start at the same time every day. There were a few mistakes I made at the beginning. I should have timed each lesson and showed him exactly what we would be doing because most of the time, he was more worried about when we'd be done as opposed to learning the actual lessons. So we tried a few different things until we found something we are both comfortable with. His preference is for me to write his assignments on a piece of paper then he picks and chooses in which order he wants to get them done. If there's a lesson or field trip involved or project that includes my younger son, he understands that sometimes things have to be done out of the order that he might prefer it to be in.  With that said, our days are pretty laid back. We wake up naturally, I make breakfast and eventually we get to our work. We live right across the street from an elementary school so we used to start school when we heard their bell, but over time I've come to realize that a) they are more receptive to learning and I'm more patient if we do things in our own time. Sometimes they really drag their feet about getting started -those days I just have to light a fire under their little a**es. Stress plays a major factor in their level of functioning (both of them)- so we take our time and I try not to be too intense. If they are learning something new or difficult, I try to keep the rest of the day light.  What might be a good idea for you is to search the web for homeschool chat and support groups in the area you're moving to. That way, you will have good insight as to what to expect from the school department. Our city is very open to homeschoolers and pretty much mind their business. Other districts can really give people a heck of a time. So you will want to be well prepared before hand. Some states (or districts) offer free on-line curricula for homeschoolers, others have "partnership programs". Both are great if you agree with the curricula. I believe it would be anybody's right in any state or district to arrange to have your child go to school for music, art, gym, library etc. etc. You do pay for it, after all. I'm not opposed to doing it, we just don't. We may some time down the road. I might look into my son joining the fifth grade chorus next year. If your son would require an IEP or special services to go to school for the extras, that's where things might get sticky if the school district isn't homeschool friendly. (or services -friendly for that matter. lol)  Now, curricula. If you look on-line, there's a thousand sharks out there in the water just waiting to take your money. (Being autism families, we are used to that, right?!). Some people prefer to use them if they're unsure where to begin and feel uneasy about making lesson plans. Here is what I do: our city posts an outline curriculum on- line for each grade along with materials and resources used. I go by that to judge where he "should be" and adjust accordingly. If I like it, I use it. If I don't, I skip right over it. Mostly I do skip-overs. lol. We had alot of catching up to do as far as language skills, grammar and comprehension so it will be some time before he's up to par with writing at his grade level. Math, he's a bit ahead of the game with calculations and such. But he struggles with word problems and they are important for every day life. So you can see how we are all-over-the-board. That's the beauty of homeschooling. We can fly right through the stuff he gets and take a year if we need to to get through something he finds difficult.  You can find some pretty cool "big books" of comprehensive curriculum. This will give you a general idea of what grade level work looks like for each subject. Then there's oodles and oodles of websites out there full of free downloadable printables for more practice. There is so much out there. Once you get a handle on what they need and what you would like them to learn, it should cost you next to nothing.  We do a lot of hands-on. Especially for science. We do fun projects,museums, zoos, hikes, etc. etc. Our library, museums and audobon always have cool stuff going on. Lots of places have facebook pages now so we know when cool stuff is coming up.  Some cities have Co-ops where different families take turns teaching certain classes or doing workshops. We're not quite there just yet, but hope to be able to join other local families soon. This gives parents a nice break and allows kids to meet and make new friends.  Tom is super involved in sports so this is where he gets most of his social time. is forced to hang out with the little brothers of the kids on Tom's teams. lol. doesn't care for sports. We'll try Boy Scouts. Next year he will be old enough to join the homeschooler's Lego Team. I hope he'll be interested. We have to find his niche. He has no friends to speak of and is not terrible social. I have a feeling that if we can find something he really likes, he'll become more receptive to people with the same interest. It's a work in progress. Church groups can be a great place for kids to socialize. Homeschoolers often get together to hand out at the park or go on field trips together.  We're far from perfect,and there's probably a hundred things I'm doing wrong. But I can tell you that Tom has come a loooooooong, long way from where we started a year and a half ago. We're not conventional. I don't believe in sitting them down to memorize information. My goal is to teach them to learn and investigate. Of course, I do expect them to be proficient in reading, writing and math. And I want them to have an understanding of the world around them. But for now I'm just trying to get them to a point where they are proficient enough that they can really start to dig their hands into the things that interest them and picque their curiosity.   For now, I would find out the expectations of the new school district and proceed from there. I was so worried at first, but found it to be way easier than I ever imagined. First I wrote a letter of intention to homeschool to the school department. They sent me a form to fill out which asked me to list which textbooks and resources I'd be using for each subject. (You can make life very easy for yourself by telling them you'll use the school's that way they can't argue with your choice of materials : )     I am also required to keep a record of attendance (figure that one out! lol) and at the end of the year, I have the choice to produce a report card, hand in a written evaluation, produce a portfolio of work or have the kids tested. I hand in a report card. It's that simple here! But every district is different.  That's all I can think of for now. Yes, sometimes they drive me crazy. But all the freedom is worth it. Getting started is the scariest part, but once you settle in you will never look back! Good luck! You will be an AWESOME teacher!!!  Write me anytime.  Tammy   From: Tammy To: mb12valtrex Sent: Friday, May 4, 2012 2:01 PM Subject: Re: OT: Homeschooling  Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 Thank you so much for your insights, Tammy. This is awesome. I'm so encouraged by your positive attitude! Maybe I can do this! Well, I know I can. I have some time to get organized. I'll look up the curriculum resources you sent. I've been on meetup.com and found 2 CA homeschooling groups there, and I've joined a Christian homeschool yahoo group, so that will help, too. I'm definitely of the mindset that I want to work at my son's pace and to focus on his strengths as well as life skills--laundry, counting money, grocery shopping, tying shoes, etc. I'll want to get him tested first, right, to see exactly where his strengths and weakness are so I can tailor his curriculum? And another thing I'll do asap is find out about the laws in CA. Thank you so much for sharing how your family homeschools. It helps a lot, because I really had no idea what exactly people do with their kids all day. I remember briefly talking with you on the board a few months ago about how people get a break when they're homeschooling everyday. I believe you said you don't really get a break but that it's been fine, not too tiring? My little guy is hyper b/c we don't really have him on a good diet yet, and he has a few behaviors. I've been worried about burning out if I homeschool him b/c honestly, being with him for hours can be exhausting sometimes. I'm getting old. But I think what I'll do is hire a few babysitters when the time comes to take him out in the late afternoons to do something active and fun for a few hours. I haven't worked out what I'll do about an outside job yet. I'm halfway through a master's program and my plan was to start a career when I graduate. Not sure how I'll do that and homeschool too, but I'm thinking about that. At least my husband is very supportive of the whole homeschooling thing. If you think of something else you think I should know, please email me, and I'll email you with a few more questions as they come up, if that's ok. Take care!Soraya Hi Soraya,here are some more ideas.I have really liked the natural flow of homeschooling also.I have found the MOORES http://www.moorehomeschooling.com/article/9/moore-foundation way of homeschooling outstanding.I also incorporate superb books and ideas from the ROBINSONS http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/ way of homeschooling. The best thing I ever did for my son. Tammy F. Soraya, I can tell you with certainty that a typical day looks NOTHING like what I originally intended it to be. When we first started, relied heavily on routine and a schedule so we would start at the same time every day. There were a few mistakes I made at the beginning. I should have timed each lesson and showed him exactly what we would be doing because most of the time, he was more worried about when we'd be done as opposed to learning the actual lessons. So we tried a few different things until we found something we are both comfortable with. His preference is for me to write his assignments on a piece of paper then he picks and chooses in which order he wants to get them done. If there's a lesson or field trip involved or project that includes my younger son, he understands that sometimes things have to be done out of the order that he might prefer it to be in. With that said, our days are pretty laid back. We wake up naturally, I make breakfast and eventually we get to our work. We live right across the street from an elementary school so we used to start school when we heard their bell, but over time I've come to realize that a) they are more receptive to learning and I'm more patient if we do things in our own time. Sometimes they really drag their feet about getting started -those days I just have to light a fire under their little a**es. Stress plays a major factor in their level of functioning (both of them)- so we take our time and I try not to be too intense. If they are learning something new or difficult, I try to keep the rest of the day light. What might be a good idea for you is to search the web for homeschool chat and support groups in the area you're moving to. That way, you will have good insight as to what to expect from the school department. Our city is very open to homeschoolers and pretty much mind their business. Other districts can really give people a heck of a time. So you will want to be well prepared before hand. Some states (or districts) offer free on-line curricula for homeschoolers, others have "partnership programs". Both are great if you agree with the curricula. I believe it would be anybody's right in any state or district to arrange to have your child go to school for music, art, gym, library etc. etc. You do pay for it, after all. I'm not opposed to doing it, we just don't. We may some time down the road. I might look into my son joining the fifth grade chorus next year. If your son would require an IEP or special services to go to school for the extras, that's where things might get sticky if the school district isn't homeschool friendly. (or services -friendly for that matter. lol) Now, curricula. If you look on-line, there's a thousand sharks out there in the water just waiting to take your money. (Being autism families, we are used to that, right?!). Some people prefer to use them if they're unsure where to begin and feel uneasy about making lesson plans. Here is what I do: our city posts an outline curriculum on- line for each grade along with materials and resources used. I go by that to judge where he "should be" and adjust accordingly. If I like it, I use it. If I don't, I skip right over it. Mostly I do skip-overs. lol. We had alot of catching up to do as far as language skills, grammar and comprehension so it will be some time before he's up to par with writing at his grade level. Math, he's a bit ahead of the game with calculations and such. But he struggles with word problems and they are important for every day life. So you can see how we are all-over-the-board. That's the beauty of homeschooling. We can fly right through the stuff he gets and take a year if we need to to get through something he finds difficult. You can find some pretty cool "big books" of comprehensive curriculum. This will give you a general idea of what grade level work looks like for each subject. Then there's oodles and oodles of websites out there full of free downloadable printables for more practice. There is so much out there. Once you get a handle on what they need and what you would like them to learn, it should cost you next to nothing. We do a lot of hands-on. Especially for science. We do fun projects,museums, zoos, hikes, etc. etc. Our library, museums and audobon always have cool stuff going on. Lots of places have facebook pages now so we know when cool stuff is coming up. Some cities have Co-ops where different families take turns teaching certain classes or doing workshops. We're not quite there just yet, but hope to be able to join other local families soon. This gives parents a nice break and allows kids to meet and make new friends. Tom is super involved in sports so this is where he gets most of his social time. is forced to hang out with the little brothers of the kids on Tom's teams. lol. doesn't care for sports. We'll try Boy Scouts. Next year he will be old enough to join the homeschooler's Lego Team. I hope he'll be interested. We have to find his niche. He has no friends to speak of and is not terrible social. I have a feeling that if we can find something he really likes, he'll become more receptive to people with the same interest. It's a work in progress. Church groups can be a great place for kids to socialize. Homeschoolers often get together to hand out at the park or go on field trips together. We're far from perfect,and there's probably a hundred things I'm doing wrong. But I can tell you that Tom has come a loooooooong, long way from where we started a year and a half ago. We're not conventional. I don't believe in sitting them down to memorize information. My goal is to teach them to learn and investigate. Of course, I do expect them to be proficient in reading, writing and math. And I want them to have an understanding of the world around them. But for now I'm just trying to get them to a point where they are proficient enough that they can really start to dig their hands into the things that interest them and picque their curiosity. For now, I would find out the expectations of the new school district and proceed from there. I was so worried at first, but found it to be way easier than I ever imagined. First I wrote a letter of intention to homeschool to the school department. They sent me a form to fill out which asked me to list which textbooks and resources I'd be using for each subject. (You can make life very easy for yourself by telling them you'll use the school's that way they can't argue with your choice of materials : ) I am also required to keep a record of attendance (figure that one out! lol) and at the end of the year, I have the choice to produce a report card, hand in a written evaluation, produce a portfolio of work or have the kids tested. I hand in a report card. It's that simple here! But every district is different. That's all I can think of for now. Yes, sometimes they drive me crazy. But all the freedom is worth it. Getting started is the scariest part, but once you settle in you will never look back! Good luck! You will be an AWESOME teacher!!! Write me anytime. Tammy From: Tammy To: mb12valtrex Sent: Friday, May 4, 2012 2:01 PM Subject: Re: OT: Homeschooling Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (15) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 You will be shocked by how much you can accomplish in one day. Not even close. In fact, sometimes I worry that the boys arent getting a true picture of what "real life" looks like. But they are being taught responsibility so if all goes according to plan (ha ha ha), it should all fall into place. Once you get settled into your new place, maybe you could try to see if he qualifies for a respite worker? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Sent: Sun May 06 21:44:16 EDT 2012 To: " mb12valtrex " <mb12valtrex > Subject: Re: OT: Homeschooling Thank you so much for your insights, Tammy. This is awesome. I'm so encouraged by your positive attitude! Maybe I can do this! Well, I know I can. I have some time to get organized. I'll look up the curriculum resources you sent. I've been on meetup.com and found 2 CA homeschooling groups there, and I've joined a Christian homeschool yahoo group, so that will help, too. I'm definitely of the mindset that I want to work at my son's pace and to focus on his strengths as well as life skills--laundry, counting money, grocery shopping, tying shoes, etc. I'll want to get him tested first, right, to see exactly where his strengths and weakness are so I can tailor his curriculum? And another thing I'll do asap is find out about the laws in CA. Thank you so much for sharing how your family homeschools. It helps a lot, because I really had no idea what exactly people do with their kids all day. I remember briefly talking with you on the board a few months ago about how people get a break when they're homeschooling everyday. I believe you said you don't really get a break but that it's been fine, not too tiring? My little guy is hyper b/c we don't really have him on a good diet yet, and he has a few behaviors. I've been worried about burning out if I homeschool him b/c honestly, being with him for hours can be exhausting sometimes. I'm getting old. But I think what I'll do is hire a few babysitters when the time comes to take him out in the late afternoons to do something active and fun for a few hours. I haven't worked out what I'll do about an outside job yet. I'm halfway through a master's program and my plan was to start a career when I graduate. Not sure how I'll do that and homeschool too, but I'm thinking about that. At least my husband is very supportive of the whole homeschooling thing. If you think of something else you think I should know, please email me, and I'll email you with a few more questions as they come up, if that's ok. Take care!Soraya Hi Soraya,here are some more ideas.I have really liked the natural flow of homeschooling also.I have found the MOORES http://www.moorehomeschooling.com/article/9/moore-foundation way of homeschooling outstanding.I also incorporate superb books and ideas from the ROBINSONS http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/ way of homeschooling. The best thing I ever did for my son. Tammy F. Soraya, I can tell you with certainty that a typical day looks NOTHING like what I originally intended it to be. When we first started, relied heavily on routine and a schedule so we would start at the same time every day. There were a few mistakes I made at the beginning. I should have timed each lesson and showed him exactly what we would be doing because most of the time, he was more worried about when we'd be done as opposed to learning the actual lessons. So we tried a few different things until we found something we are both comfortable with. His preference is for me to write his assignments on a piece of paper then he picks and chooses in which order he wants to get them done. If there's a lesson or field trip involved or project that includes my younger son, he understands that sometimes things have to be done out of the order that he might prefer it to be in. With that said, our days are pretty laid back. We wake up naturally, I make breakfast and eventually we get to our work. We live right across the street from an elementary school so we used to start school when we heard their bell, but over time I've come to realize that a) they are more receptive to learning and I'm more patient if we do things in our own time. Sometimes they really drag their feet about getting started -those days I just have to light a fire under their little a**es. Stress plays a major factor in their level of functioning (both of them)- so we take our time and I try not to be too intense. If they are learning something new or difficult, I try to keep the rest of the day light. What might be a good idea for you is to search the web for homeschool chat and support groups in the area you're moving to. That way, you will have good insight as to what to expect from the school department. Our city is very open to homeschoolers and pretty much mind their business. Other districts can really give people a heck of a time. So you will want to be well prepared before hand. Some states (or districts) offer free on-line curricula for homeschoolers, others have "partnership programs". Both are great if you agree with the curricula. I believe it would be anybody's right in any state or district to arrange to have your child go to school for music, art, gym, library etc. etc. You do pay for it, after all. I'm not opposed to doing it, we just don't. We may some time down the road. I might look into my son joining the fifth grade chorus next year. If your son would require an IEP or special services to go to school for the extras, that's where things might get sticky if the school district isn't homeschool friendly. (or services -friendly for that matter. lol) Now, curricula. If you look on-line, there's a thousand sharks out there in the water just waiting to take your money. (Being autism families, we are used to that, right?!). Some people prefer to use them if they're unsure where to begin and feel uneasy about making lesson plans. Here is what I do: our city posts an outline curriculum on- line for each grade along with materials and resources used. I go by that to judge where he "should be" and adjust accordingly. If I like it, I use it. If I don't, I skip right over it. Mostly I do skip-overs. lol. We had alot of catching up to do as far as language skills, grammar and comprehension so it will be some time before he's up to par with writing at his grade level. Math, he's a bit ahead of the game with calculations and such. But he struggles with word problems and they are important for every day life. So you can see how we are all-over-the-board. That's the beauty of homeschooling. We can fly right through the stuff he gets and take a year if we need to to get through something he finds difficult. You can find some pretty cool "big books" of comprehensive curriculum. This will give you a general idea of what grade level work looks like for each subject. Then there's oodles and oodles of websites out there full of free downloadable printables for more practice. There is so much out there. Once you get a handle on what they need and what you would like them to learn, it should cost you next to nothing. We do a lot of hands-on. Especially for science. We do fun projects,museums, zoos, hikes, etc. etc. Our library, museums and audobon always have cool stuff going on. Lots of places have facebook pages now so we know when cool stuff is coming up. Some cities have Co-ops where different families take turns teaching certain classes or doing workshops. We're not quite there just yet, but hope to be able to join other local families soon. This gives parents a nice break and allows kids to meet and make new friends. Tom is super involved in sports so this is where he gets most of his social time. is forced to hang out with the little brothers of the kids on Tom's teams. lol. doesn't care for sports. We'll try Boy Scouts. Next year he will be old enough to join the homeschooler's Lego Team. I hope he'll be interested. We have to find his niche. He has no friends to speak of and is not terrible social. I have a feeling that if we can find something he really likes, he'll become more receptive to people with the same interest. It's a work in progress. Church groups can be a great place for kids to socialize. Homeschoolers often get together to hand out at the park or go on field trips together. We're far from perfect,and there's probably a hundred things I'm doing wrong. But I can tell you that Tom has come a loooooooong, long way from where we started a year and a half ago. We're not conventional. I don't believe in sitting them down to memorize information. My goal is to teach them to learn and investigate. Of course, I do expect them to be proficient in reading, writing and math. And I want them to have an understanding of the world around them. But for now I'm just trying to get them to a point where they are proficient enough that they can really start to dig their hands into the things that interest them and picque their curiosity. For now, I would find out the expectations of the new school district and proceed from there. I was so worried at first, but found it to be way easier than I ever imagined. First I wrote a letter of intention to homeschool to the school department. They sent me a form to fill out which asked me to list which textbooks and resources I'd be using for each subject. (You can make life very easy for yourself by telling them you'll use the school's that way they can't argue with your choice of materials : ) I am also required to keep a record of attendance (figure that one out! lol) and at the end of the year, I have the choice to produce a report card, hand in a written evaluation, produce a portfolio of work or have the kids tested. I hand in a report card. It's that simple here! But every district is different. That's all I can think of for now. Yes, sometimes they drive me crazy. But all the freedom is worth it. Getting started is the scariest part, but once you settle in you will never look back! Good luck! You will be an AWESOME teacher!!! Write me anytime. Tammy From: Tammy To: mb12valtrex Sent: Friday, May 4, 2012 2:01 PM Subject: Re: OT: Homeschooling Soraya, Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. You are the best teacher your child will ever have! What state are you in? Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (15) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 6, 2012 Report Share Posted May 6, 2012 Oops! Part of my message disappeared. I was trying to say that we dont require 6 hours a day to get through our lessons. Not even close. Tammy Sent from my Kindle Fire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 Our flow of the day is pretty similar. My daughter is 9. We wake up around 7-8, have breakfast, talk, plan the day. We start school work with books around 9. We always have reading, writing, math. Sometimes geography and science. When we started I used a lot of materials from Super Duper Inc for reading. I always ask her to narrate (retell) the story. I like Charlotte Mason's approach to learning. Amblesideonline.org is free curriculum based on it. It is too intense for us though. My main goal is to teach her how to think. Around 11-12 school work is done and we have lunch. We cook it together. We do sports/arts with other homeschoolers. Usually classes are around 12 or 1 and kids play after class. If there is no class she has free time to do whatever she feels like. When we started I was afraid of this " down time " . Now I see how it let her creativity and initiative develop. Around 4 or 5 we start cooking dinner, play in the park, watch youtube, make videos, run around outside. Evening is similar to average family evening. We do school work all year, sometimes on weekends. If we feel like skipping a day we skip a day. I get all " services " private. Professionals in her school were not very qualified. Hope this helps, Elen > > > Hi Soraya,here are some more ideas.I have really liked the natural flow of homeschooling also.I have found the MOORES http://www.moorehomeschooling.com/article/9/moore-foundation way of homeschooling outstanding.I also incorporate superb books and ideas from the ROBINSONS http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/ way of homeschooling. The best thing I ever did for my son. > > > > Tammy F. > > > > > > > > > >> > >> Soraya, > >> > >> I can tell you with certainty that a typical day looks NOTHING like what I originally intended it to be. When we first started, relied heavily on routine and a schedule so we would start at the same time every day. There were a few mistakes I made at the beginning. I should have timed each lesson and showed him exactly what we would be doing because most of the time, he was more worried about when we'd be done as opposed to learning the actual lessons. So we tried a few different things until we found something we are both comfortable with. His preference is for me to write his assignments on a piece of paper then he picks and chooses in which order he wants to get them done. If there's a lesson or field trip involved or project that includes my younger son, he understands that sometimes things have to be done out of the order that he might prefer it to be in. With that said, our days are pretty laid back. We wake up naturally, I make breakfast and eventually we get to our work. We live right across the street from an elementary school so we used to start school when we heard their bell, but over time I've come to realize that a) they are more receptive to learning and I'm more patient if we do things in our own time. Sometimes they really drag their feet about getting started -those days I just have to light a fire under their little a**es. Stress plays a major factor in their level of functioning (both of them)- so we take our time and I try not to be too intense. If they are learning something new or difficult, I try to keep the rest of the day light. > >> > >> What might be a good idea for you is to search the web for homeschool chat and support groups in the area you're moving to. That way, you will have good insight as to what to expect from the school department. Our city is very open to homeschoolers and pretty much mind their business. Other districts can really give people a heck of a time. So you will want to be well prepared before hand. Some states (or districts) offer free on-line curricula for homeschoolers, others have " partnership programs " . Both are great if you agree with the curricula. I believe it would be anybody's right in any state or district to arrange to have your child go to school for music, art, gym, library etc. etc. You do pay for it, after all. I'm not opposed to doing it, we just don't. We may some time down the road. I might look into my son joining the fifth grade chorus next year. If your son would require an IEP or special services to go to school for the extras, that's where things might get sticky if the school district isn't homeschool friendly. (or services -friendly for that matter. lol) > >> > >> Now, curricula. If you look on-line, there's a thousand sharks out there in the water just waiting to take your money. (Being autism families, we are used to that, right?!). Some people prefer to use them if they're unsure where to begin and feel uneasy about making lesson plans. Here is what I do: our city posts an outline curriculum on- line for each grade along with materials and resources used. I go by that to judge where he " should be " and adjust accordingly. If I like it, I use it. If I don't, I skip right over it. Mostly I do skip-overs. lol. We had alot of catching up to do as far as language skills, grammar and comprehension so it will be some time before he's up to par with writing at his grade level. Math, he's a bit ahead of the game with calculations and such. But he struggles with word problems and they are important for every day life. So you can see how we are all-over-the-board. That's the beauty of homeschooling. We can fly right through the stuff he gets and take a year if we need to to get through something he finds difficult. > >> > >> You can find some pretty cool " big books " of comprehensive curriculum. This will give you a general idea of what grade level work looks like for each subject. Then there's oodles and oodles of websites out there full of free downloadable printables for more practice. There is so much out there. Once you get a handle on what they need and what you would like them to learn, it should cost you next to nothing. > >> > >> We do a lot of hands-on. Especially for science. We do fun projects,museums, zoos, hikes, etc. etc. Our library, museums and audobon always have cool stuff going on. Lots of places have facebook pages now so we know when cool stuff is coming up. > >> > >> Some cities have Co-ops where different families take turns teaching certain classes or doing workshops. We're not quite there just yet, but hope to be able to join other local families soon. This gives parents a nice break and allows kids to meet and make new friends. > >> > >> Tom is super involved in sports so this is where he gets most of his social time. is forced to hang out with the little brothers of the kids on Tom's teams. lol. doesn't care for sports. We'll try Boy Scouts. Next year he will be old enough to join the homeschooler's Lego Team. I hope he'll be interested. We have to find his niche. He has no friends to speak of and is not terrible social. I have a feeling that if we can find something he really likes, he'll become more receptive to people with the same interest. It's a work in progress. Church groups can be a great place for kids to socialize. Homeschoolers often get together to hand out at the park or go on field trips together. > >> > >> We're far from perfect,and there's probably a hundred things I'm doing wrong. But I can tell you that Tom has come a loooooooong, long way from where we started a year and a half ago. We're not conventional. I don't believe in sitting them down to memorize information. My goal is to teach them to learn and investigate. Of course, I do expect them to be proficient in reading, writing and math. And I want them to have an understanding of the world around them. But for now I'm just trying to get them to a point where they are proficient enough that they can really start to dig their hands into the things that interest them and picque their curiosity. > >> > >> For now, I would find out the expectations of the new school district and proceed from there. I was so worried at first, but found it to be way easier than I ever imagined. First I wrote a letter of intention to homeschool to the school department. They sent me a form to fill out which asked me to list which textbooks and resources I'd be using for each subject. (You can make life very easy for yourself by telling them you'll use the school's that way they can't argue with your choice of materials : ) I am also required to keep a record of attendance (figure that one out! lol) and at the end of the year, I have the choice to produce a report card, hand in a written evaluation, produce a portfolio of work or have the kids tested. I hand in a report card. It's that simple here! But every district is different. > >> > >> That's all I can think of for now. Yes, sometimes they drive me crazy. But all the freedom is worth it. Getting started is the scariest part, but once you settle in you will never look back! Good luck! You will be an AWESOME teacher!!! > >> > >> Write me anytime. > >> > >> Tammy > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> To: mb12valtrex > >> Sent: Friday, May 4, 2012 2:01 PM > >> Subject: Re: OT: Homeschooling > >> > >> > >> Soraya, > >> Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. > >> You are the best teacher your child will ever have! > >> What state are you in? > >> Tammy > >> Sent from my Kindle Fire > >> > >> > > > > > > Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic > > Messages in this topic (15) > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 Hats Off to all you moms who are courageous and hardworking enough to homeschool their kids. I can't even find the energy to explore this option. I have been silently following this thread as I had nothing to contribute. Your strength amazes me. It needs a selfless devotion and all of you are awesome. Maybe some day I will get as strong as you are! is > > > > > Hi Soraya,here are some more ideas.I have really liked the natural flow of homeschooling also.I have found the MOORES http://www.moorehomeschooling.com/article/9/moore-foundation way of homeschooling outstanding.I also incorporate superb books and ideas from the ROBINSONS http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/ way of homeschooling. The best thing I ever did for my son. > > > > > > Tammy F. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > >> Soraya, > > >> > > >> I can tell you with certainty that a typical day looks NOTHING like what I originally intended it to be. When we first started, relied heavily on routine and a schedule so we would start at the same time every day. There were a few mistakes I made at the beginning. I should have timed each lesson and showed him exactly what we would be doing because most of the time, he was more worried about when we'd be done as opposed to learning the actual lessons. So we tried a few different things until we found something we are both comfortable with. His preference is for me to write his assignments on a piece of paper then he picks and chooses in which order he wants to get them done. If there's a lesson or field trip involved or project that includes my younger son, he understands that sometimes things have to be done out of the order that he might prefer it to be in. With that said, our days are pretty laid back. We wake up naturally, I make breakfast and eventually we get to our work. We live right across the street from an elementary school so we used to start school when we heard their bell, but over time I've come to realize that a) they are more receptive to learning and I'm more patient if we do things in our own time. Sometimes they really drag their feet about getting started -those days I just have to light a fire under their little a**es. Stress plays a major factor in their level of functioning (both of them)- so we take our time and I try not to be too intense. If they are learning something new or difficult, I try to keep the rest of the day light. > > >> > > >> What might be a good idea for you is to search the web for homeschool chat and support groups in the area you're moving to. That way, you will have good insight as to what to expect from the school department. Our city is very open to homeschoolers and pretty much mind their business. Other districts can really give people a heck of a time. So you will want to be well prepared before hand. Some states (or districts) offer free on-line curricula for homeschoolers, others have " partnership programs " . Both are great if you agree with the curricula. I believe it would be anybody's right in any state or district to arrange to have your child go to school for music, art, gym, library etc. etc. You do pay for it, after all. I'm not opposed to doing it, we just don't. We may some time down the road. I might look into my son joining the fifth grade chorus next year. If your son would require an IEP or special services to go to school for the extras, that's where things might get sticky if the school district isn't homeschool friendly. (or services -friendly for that matter. lol) > > >> > > >> Now, curricula. If you look on-line, there's a thousand sharks out there in the water just waiting to take your money. (Being autism families, we are used to that, right?!). Some people prefer to use them if they're unsure where to begin and feel uneasy about making lesson plans. Here is what I do: our city posts an outline curriculum on- line for each grade along with materials and resources used. I go by that to judge where he " should be " and adjust accordingly. If I like it, I use it. If I don't, I skip right over it. Mostly I do skip-overs. lol. We had alot of catching up to do as far as language skills, grammar and comprehension so it will be some time before he's up to par with writing at his grade level. Math, he's a bit ahead of the game with calculations and such. But he struggles with word problems and they are important for every day life. So you can see how we are all-over-the-board. That's the beauty of homeschooling. We can fly right through the stuff he gets and take a year if we need to to get through something he finds difficult. > > >> > > >> You can find some pretty cool " big books " of comprehensive curriculum. This will give you a general idea of what grade level work looks like for each subject. Then there's oodles and oodles of websites out there full of free downloadable printables for more practice. There is so much out there. Once you get a handle on what they need and what you would like them to learn, it should cost you next to nothing. > > >> > > >> We do a lot of hands-on. Especially for science. We do fun projects,museums, zoos, hikes, etc. etc. Our library, museums and audobon always have cool stuff going on. Lots of places have facebook pages now so we know when cool stuff is coming up. > > >> > > >> Some cities have Co-ops where different families take turns teaching certain classes or doing workshops. We're not quite there just yet, but hope to be able to join other local families soon. This gives parents a nice break and allows kids to meet and make new friends. > > >> > > >> Tom is super involved in sports so this is where he gets most of his social time. is forced to hang out with the little brothers of the kids on Tom's teams. lol. doesn't care for sports. We'll try Boy Scouts. Next year he will be old enough to join the homeschooler's Lego Team. I hope he'll be interested. We have to find his niche. He has no friends to speak of and is not terrible social. I have a feeling that if we can find something he really likes, he'll become more receptive to people with the same interest. It's a work in progress. Church groups can be a great place for kids to socialize. Homeschoolers often get together to hand out at the park or go on field trips together. > > >> > > >> We're far from perfect,and there's probably a hundred things I'm doing wrong. But I can tell you that Tom has come a loooooooong, long way from where we started a year and a half ago. We're not conventional. I don't believe in sitting them down to memorize information. My goal is to teach them to learn and investigate. Of course, I do expect them to be proficient in reading, writing and math. And I want them to have an understanding of the world around them. But for now I'm just trying to get them to a point where they are proficient enough that they can really start to dig their hands into the things that interest them and picque their curiosity. > > >> > > >> For now, I would find out the expectations of the new school district and proceed from there. I was so worried at first, but found it to be way easier than I ever imagined. First I wrote a letter of intention to homeschool to the school department. They sent me a form to fill out which asked me to list which textbooks and resources I'd be using for each subject. (You can make life very easy for yourself by telling them you'll use the school's that way they can't argue with your choice of materials : ) I am also required to keep a record of attendance (figure that one out! lol) and at the end of the year, I have the choice to produce a report card, hand in a written evaluation, produce a portfolio of work or have the kids tested. I hand in a report card. It's that simple here! But every district is different. > > >> > > >> That's all I can think of for now. Yes, sometimes they drive me crazy. But all the freedom is worth it. Getting started is the scariest part, but once you settle in you will never look back! Good luck! You will be an AWESOME teacher!!! > > >> > > >> Write me anytime. > > >> > > >> Tammy > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> From: Tammy <t.lynn28@> > > >> To: mb12valtrex > > >> Sent: Friday, May 4, 2012 2:01 PM > > >> Subject: Re: OT: Homeschooling > > >> > > >> > > >> Soraya, > > >> Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. > > >> You are the best teacher your child will ever have! > > >> What state are you in? > > >> Tammy > > >> Sent from my Kindle Fire > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic > > > Messages in this topic (15) > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 Yes! I probably should have mentioned that we go all year, too. I find it keeps the ball rolling. We usually don't do "school work" on weekend because of a busy sports schedule. Because of that, Mondays suck. And I mean S-U-C-K. I can't imagine trying to get back into the swing of things after a whole summer off. I also find that it's hard for them to stay on track on days when my husband is home. So those are sometimes our "days off" or field trip days, or days we do chores as a family around the house. I'll throw stuff out there as I think of them, Tammy To: mb12valtrex Sent: Monday, May 7, 2012 12:30 PMSubject: Re: OT: Homeschooling Our flow of the day is pretty similar. My daughter is 9.We wake up around 7-8, have breakfast, talk, plan the day.We start school work with books around 9. We always have reading, writing, math. Sometimes geography and science. When we started I used a lot of materials from Super Duper Inc for reading.I always ask her to narrate (retell) the story. I like Charlotte Mason's approach to learning. Amblesideonline.org is free curriculum based on it. It is too intense for us though.My main goal is to teach her how to think.Around 11-12 school work is done and we have lunch. We cook it together.We do sports/arts with other homeschoolers. Usually classes are around 12 or 1 and kids play after class. If there is no class she has free time to do whatever she feels like. When we started I was afraid of this "down time". Now I see how it let her creativity and initiative develop.Around 4 or 5 we start cooking dinner, play in the park, watch youtube, make videos, run around outside. Evening is similar to average family evening.We do school work all year, sometimes on weekends. If we feel like skipping a day we skip a day.I get all "services" private. Professionals in her school were not very qualified. Hope this helps,Elen> > > Hi Soraya,here are some more ideas.I have really liked the natural flow of homeschooling also.I have found the MOORES http://www.moorehomeschooling.com/article/9/moore-foundation way of homeschooling outstanding.I also incorporate superb books and ideas from the ROBINSONS http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/ way of homeschooling. The best thing I ever did for my son. > > > > Tammy F.> > > > > > > > > >> > >> Soraya,> >> > >> I can tell you with certainty that a typical day looks NOTHING like what I originally intended it to be. When we first started, relied heavily on routine and a schedule so we would start at the same time every day. There were a few mistakes I made at the beginning. I should have timed each lesson and showed him exactly what we would be doing because most of the time, he was more worried about when we'd be done as opposed to learning the actual lessons. So we tried a few different things until we found something we are both comfortable with. His preference is for me to write his assignments on a piece of paper then he picks and chooses in which order he wants to get them done. If there's a lesson or field trip involved or project that includes my younger son, he understands that sometimes things have to be done out of the order that he might prefer it to be in. With that said, our days are pretty laid back. We wake up naturally, I make breakfast and eventually we get to our work. We live right across the street from an elementary school so we used to start school when we heard their bell, but over time I've come to realize that a) they are more receptive to learning and I'm more patient if we do things in our own time. Sometimes they really drag their feet about getting started -those days I just have to light a fire under their little a**es. Stress plays a major factor in their level of functioning (both of them)- so we take our time and I try not to be too intense. If they are learning something new or difficult, I try to keep the rest of the day light.> >> > >> What might be a good idea for you is to search the web for homeschool chat and support groups in the area you're moving to. That way, you will have good insight as to what to expect from the school department. Our city is very open to homeschoolers and pretty much mind their business. Other districts can really give people a heck of a time. So you will want to be well prepared before hand. Some states (or districts) offer free on-line curricula for homeschoolers, others have "partnership programs". Both are great if you agree with the curricula. I believe it would be anybody's right in any state or district to arrange to have your child go to school for music, art, gym, library etc. etc. You do pay for it, after all. I'm not opposed to doing it, we just don't. We may some time down the road. I might look into my son joining the fifth grade chorus next year. If your son would require an IEP or special services to go to school for the extras, that's where things might get sticky if the school district isn't homeschool friendly. (or services -friendly for that matter. lol)> >> > >> Now, curricula. If you look on-line, there's a thousand sharks out there in the water just waiting to take your money. (Being autism families, we are used to that, right?!). Some people prefer to use them if they're unsure where to begin and feel uneasy about making lesson plans. Here is what I do: our city posts an outline curriculum on- line for each grade along with materials and resources used. I go by that to judge where he "should be" and adjust accordingly. If I like it, I use it. If I don't, I skip right over it. Mostly I do skip-overs. lol. We had alot of catching up to do as far as language skills, grammar and comprehension so it will be some time before he's up to par with writing at his grade level. Math, he's a bit ahead of the game with calculations and such. But he struggles with word problems and they are important for every day life. So you can see how we are all-over-the-board. That's the beauty of homeschooling. We can fly right through the stuff he gets and take a year if we need to to get through something he finds difficult.> >> > >> You can find some pretty cool "big books" of comprehensive curriculum. This will give you a general idea of what grade level work looks like for each subject. Then there's oodles and oodles of websites out there full of free downloadable printables for more practice. There is so much out there. Once you get a handle on what they need and what you would like them to learn, it should cost you next to nothing.> >> > >> We do a lot of hands-on. Especially for science. We do fun projects,museums, zoos, hikes, etc. etc. Our library, museums and audobon always have cool stuff going on. Lots of places have facebook pages now so we know when cool stuff is coming up.> >> > >> Some cities have Co-ops where different families take turns teaching certain classes or doing workshops. We're not quite there just yet, but hope to be able to join other local families soon. This gives parents a nice break and allows kids to meet and make new friends.> >> > >> Tom is super involved in sports so this is where he gets most of his social time. is forced to hang out with the little brothers of the kids on Tom's teams. lol. doesn't care for sports. We'll try Boy Scouts. Next year he will be old enough to join the homeschooler's Lego Team. I hope he'll be interested. We have to find his niche. He has no friends to speak of and is not terrible social. I have a feeling that if we can find something he really likes, he'll become more receptive to people with the same interest. It's a work in progress. Church groups can be a great place for kids to socialize. Homeschoolers often get together to hand out at the park or go on field trips together.> >> > >> We're far from perfect,and there's probably a hundred things I'm doing wrong. But I can tell you that Tom has come a loooooooong, long way from where we started a year and a half ago. We're not conventional. I don't believe in sitting them down to memorize information. My goal is to teach them to learn and investigate. Of course, I do expect them to be proficient in reading, writing and math. And I want them to have an understanding of the world around them. But for now I'm just trying to get them to a point where they are proficient enough that they can really start to dig their hands into the things that interest them and picque their curiosity. > >> > >> For now, I would find out the expectations of the new school district and proceed from there. I was so worried at first, but found it to be way easier than I ever imagined. First I wrote a letter of intention to homeschool to the school department. They sent me a form to fill out which asked me to list which textbooks and resources I'd be using for each subject. (You can make life very easy for yourself by telling them you'll use the school's that way they can't argue with your choice of materials : ) I am also required to keep a record of attendance (figure that one out! lol) and at the end of the year, I have the choice to produce a report card, hand in a written evaluation, produce a portfolio of work or have the kids tested. I hand in a report card. It's that simple here! But every district is different.> >> > >> That's all I can think of for now. Yes, sometimes they drive me crazy. But all the freedom is worth it. Getting started is the scariest part, but once you settle in you will never look back! Good luck! You will be an AWESOME teacher!!!> >> > >> Write me anytime.> >> > >> Tammy> >> > >> > >> > >> > >> To: mb12valtrex > >> Sent: Friday, May 4, 2012 2:01 PM> >> Subject: Re: OT: Homeschooling> >> > >> > >> Soraya,> >> Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time.> >> You are the best teacher your child will ever have!> >> What state are you in?> >> Tammy> >> Sent from my Kindle Fire> >> > >> > > > > > > Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic> > Messages in this topic (15)> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 7, 2012 Report Share Posted May 7, 2012 Hi Elen, you must live in an active homeschool community. I'd love to be in a situation like that once (if) I start homeschooling where there are other kids and families to hook up with during the day. Are there special needs kids in your groups too? Can I ask what state you live in? Are there many state requirements that you have to deal with?Soraya Hats Off to all you moms who are courageous and hardworking enough to homeschool their kids. I can't even find the energy to explore this option. I have been silently following this thread as I had nothing to contribute. Your strength amazes me. It needs a selfless devotion and all of you are awesome. Maybe some day I will get as strong as you are! is > > > > > Hi Soraya,here are some more ideas.I have really liked the natural flow of homeschooling also.I have found the MOORES http://www.moorehomeschooling.com/article/9/moore-foundation way of homeschooling outstanding.I also incorporate superb books and ideas from the ROBINSONS http://www.robinsoncurriculum.com/ way of homeschooling. The best thing I ever did for my son. > > > > > > Tammy F. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > >> Soraya, > > >> > > >> I can tell you with certainty that a typical day looks NOTHING like what I originally intended it to be. When we first started, relied heavily on routine and a schedule so we would start at the same time every day. There were a few mistakes I made at the beginning. I should have timed each lesson and showed him exactly what we would be doing because most of the time, he was more worried about when we'd be done as opposed to learning the actual lessons. So we tried a few different things until we found something we are both comfortable with. His preference is for me to write his assignments on a piece of paper then he picks and chooses in which order he wants to get them done. If there's a lesson or field trip involved or project that includes my younger son, he understands that sometimes things have to be done out of the order that he might prefer it to be in. With that said, our days are pretty laid back. We wake up naturally, I make breakfast and eventually we get to our work. We live right across the street from an elementary school so we used to start school when we heard their bell, but over time I've come to realize that a) they are more receptive to learning and I'm more patient if we do things in our own time. Sometimes they really drag their feet about getting started -those days I just have to light a fire under their little a**es. Stress plays a major factor in their level of functioning (both of them)- so we take our time and I try not to be too intense. If they are learning something new or difficult, I try to keep the rest of the day light. > > >> > > >> What might be a good idea for you is to search the web for homeschool chat and support groups in the area you're moving to. That way, you will have good insight as to what to expect from the school department. Our city is very open to homeschoolers and pretty much mind their business. Other districts can really give people a heck of a time. So you will want to be well prepared before hand. Some states (or districts) offer free on-line curricula for homeschoolers, others have "partnership programs". Both are great if you agree with the curricula. I believe it would be anybody's right in any state or district to arrange to have your child go to school for music, art, gym, library etc. etc. You do pay for it, after all. I'm not opposed to doing it, we just don't. We may some time down the road. I might look into my son joining the fifth grade chorus next year. If your son would require an IEP or special services to go to school for the extras, that's where things might get sticky if the school district isn't homeschool friendly. (or services -friendly for that matter. lol) > > >> > > >> Now, curricula. If you look on-line, there's a thousand sharks out there in the water just waiting to take your money. (Being autism families, we are used to that, right?!). Some people prefer to use them if they're unsure where to begin and feel uneasy about making lesson plans. Here is what I do: our city posts an outline curriculum on- line for each grade along with materials and resources used. I go by that to judge where he "should be" and adjust accordingly. If I like it, I use it. If I don't, I skip right over it. Mostly I do skip-overs. lol. We had alot of catching up to do as far as language skills, grammar and comprehension so it will be some time before he's up to par with writing at his grade level. Math, he's a bit ahead of the game with calculations and such. But he struggles with word problems and they are important for every day life. So you can see how we are all-over-the-board. That's the beauty of homeschooling. We can fly right through the stuff he gets and take a year if we need to to get through something he finds difficult. > > >> > > >> You can find some pretty cool "big books" of comprehensive curriculum. This will give you a general idea of what grade level work looks like for each subject. Then there's oodles and oodles of websites out there full of free downloadable printables for more practice. There is so much out there. Once you get a handle on what they need and what you would like them to learn, it should cost you next to nothing. > > >> > > >> We do a lot of hands-on. Especially for science. We do fun projects,museums, zoos, hikes, etc. etc. Our library, museums and audobon always have cool stuff going on. Lots of places have facebook pages now so we know when cool stuff is coming up. > > >> > > >> Some cities have Co-ops where different families take turns teaching certain classes or doing workshops. We're not quite there just yet, but hope to be able to join other local families soon. This gives parents a nice break and allows kids to meet and make new friends. > > >> > > >> Tom is super involved in sports so this is where he gets most of his social time. is forced to hang out with the little brothers of the kids on Tom's teams. lol. doesn't care for sports. We'll try Boy Scouts. Next year he will be old enough to join the homeschooler's Lego Team. I hope he'll be interested. We have to find his niche. He has no friends to speak of and is not terrible social. I have a feeling that if we can find something he really likes, he'll become more receptive to people with the same interest. It's a work in progress. Church groups can be a great place for kids to socialize. Homeschoolers often get together to hand out at the park or go on field trips together. > > >> > > >> We're far from perfect,and there's probably a hundred things I'm doing wrong. But I can tell you that Tom has come a loooooooong, long way from where we started a year and a half ago. We're not conventional. I don't believe in sitting them down to memorize information. My goal is to teach them to learn and investigate. Of course, I do expect them to be proficient in reading, writing and math. And I want them to have an understanding of the world around them. But for now I'm just trying to get them to a point where they are proficient enough that they can really start to dig their hands into the things that interest them and picque their curiosity. > > >> > > >> For now, I would find out the expectations of the new school district and proceed from there. I was so worried at first, but found it to be way easier than I ever imagined. First I wrote a letter of intention to homeschool to the school department. They sent me a form to fill out which asked me to list which textbooks and resources I'd be using for each subject. (You can make life very easy for yourself by telling them you'll use the school's that way they can't argue with your choice of materials : ) I am also required to keep a record of attendance (figure that one out! lol) and at the end of the year, I have the choice to produce a report card, hand in a written evaluation, produce a portfolio of work or have the kids tested. I hand in a report card. It's that simple here! But every district is different. > > >> > > >> That's all I can think of for now. Yes, sometimes they drive me crazy. But all the freedom is worth it. Getting started is the scariest part, but once you settle in you will never look back! Good luck! You will be an AWESOME teacher!!! > > >> > > >> Write me anytime. > > >> > > >> Tammy > > >> > > >> > > >> > > >> From: Tammy <t.lynn28@> > > >> To: mb12valtrex > > >> Sent: Friday, May 4, 2012 2:01 PM > > >> Subject: Re: OT: Homeschooling > > >> > > >> > > >> Soraya, > > >> Yes! Yes! And yes! I will write you this weekend. It 's only intimidating for a very short time. > > >> You are the best teacher your child will ever have! > > >> What state are you in? > > >> Tammy > > >> Sent from my Kindle Fire > > >> > > >> > > > > > > > > > Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic > > > Messages in this topic (15) > > > Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (20) Recent Activit Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2012 Report Share Posted May 9, 2012 We are in northern New Jersey, commuting distance from New York city. We have absolutely no state requirements, and I love it! I would not lie to you, it is a major challenge for pdd-nos kid to have a good social life. I found 2 local homeschool groups on Yahoo and one on meetup. From moms there we learned about homeschool figure skating, homeschool gym in YMCA, library meetings, museum art class, park days. Someone always organizes holiday parties. I know 2 moms with autistic nonverbal boys. I choose classes for her where kids are staying after class playing. I would not pay for the class where kids come - kids learn - kids leave. My daughter is mito kid, she is always low energy and everything it too much for her. She joins the game, then after 10 minutes she feels tired. I would love to see her asking girls for phone numbers and playdates - but it has not come yet. In 2 years she found 4 close friends and about 10 kids her age she remembers. And she knows their moms and siblings too. She does not do socially well with other special needs kids - but her best friend she met at art class is pdd-nos too. When she was in award-winning highly rated school in New Jersey it took her 2 month to remember one person from her class. She was there every day! Teachers thought that it is normal... After I pulled her out of school many people noticed better communication and speech right away. I know that I am doing better than our school. It definitely keeps me going despite her obvious social problems. Elen > > > > > > Our flow of the day is pretty similar. My daughter is 9. > > > We wake up around 7-8, have breakfast, talk, plan the day. > > > We start school work with books around 9. We always have reading, writing, math. Sometimes geography and science. When we started I used a lot of materials from Super Duper Inc for reading. > > > I always ask her to narrate (retell) the story. I like Charlotte Mason's approach to learning. Amblesideonline.org is free curriculum based on it. It is too intense for us though. > > > My main goal is to teach her how to think. > > > Around 11-12 school work is done and we have lunch. We cook it together. > > > We do sports/arts with other homeschoolers. Usually classes are around 12 or 1 and kids play after class. If there is no class she has free time to do whatever she feels like. When we started I was afraid of this " down time " . Now I see how it let her creativity and initiative develop. > > > Around 4 or 5 we start cooking dinner, play in the park, watch youtube, make videos, run around outside. Evening is similar to average family evening. > > > We do school work all year, sometimes on weekends. If we feel like skipping a day we skip a day. > > > I get all " services " private. Professionals in her school were not very qualified. > > > Hope this helps, > > > Elen > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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