Homeschooling

[Guest guest]

Hello, everyone,

I agree so much with what has been written about homeschooling.

Remember a couple of days ago when we were talking about our children

acting out violently and we decided that some were harder to teach in

that area than others? Our son used to have tantrums when he was five

and I was first learning to homeschool him according to his own learning

style, but he stopped having them that often at age 6 and they happen

very seldom now at age 9. I believe a lot has to do with his stress

level being low, learning at home. We have about five children's groups

we socialize with weekly, but those are only for several hours, not all

day events. There are many moms around to nip any inappropriate behavior

in the bud. I guess that that is what would frighten me about public

schools--the huge class sizes so that not only can't a teacher deal with

teasing and bullying as soon as it happens, but she isn't even aware of

it happening in most cases.

Our son is very happy with who he is, autism and all. In Summer

Bible Time this year, he sat next to an ADHD boy and told him, " The

reason I move my hands like that is called stimming. I have autism and

stimming helps to balance my brain. " The little boy with ADHD tried it,

then pronounced his decision that " it balances my brain, too. "

For those concerned with needing teaching aids if they were to

homeschool, there are many, many wonderful off-the-shelf curricula out

there at homeschool stores and fairs. There are also tests of a child's

learning style so that, for example, I can teach my very kinesthetic

learner kinesthetically.

If you are at all interested in the possibility, I would suggest you

try it for a year. Sure you may have more gfcf peanut butter sandwiches

than usual that year (or their equivalent), but many, many moms of ASD

kids have found homeschooling to be a huge part of the picture in helping

their child be who he/she is meant to be. It's not for everyone, but for

those who are curious, but timid, maybe it is worth a try!!! Love,

M.