Re: Homeschooling Aspie Teen

[Guest guest]

Was your son social at school before you started homeschooling? If yes then are

there any groups in your area outside of school that your son may be interested

in joining? Also, you should check to see if there are any social skills groups

in your area. Many private providers do run these groups. It's a bit harder to

find them for teens. There are alternatives to school for socializing. They're

just harder to find.

Caroline

>

> After 11 schools, my son was finally diagnosed with Aspergers. He is now 14.

I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection Academy

virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However, he is

missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school to be

social more important than good grades?

>

[Guest guest]

We did a virtual school for 2 years and it was wonderful for us, too. His grades were great......and he was better emotionally than he had bee.

He decided that he wanted to try to go back, though, for 8th grade.

Anywho - I don't think anything is more important than the emotional well-being of your kid.

If his problem was social before..........and his interactions were negative, then he isn't missing anyting , is he? That's how it was for us, anyway.

I guess you gotta think back to what the reasons were that he wasn't succeeding. Ya know?

Does he want to go back? It may be a lot different now that he has a dx and you could get an IEP.

Robin

From: UMgirl <chevinsea@...>Subject: ( ) Homeschooling Aspie Teen Date: Friday, February 25, 2011, 6:49 AM

After 11 schools, my son was finally diagnosed with Aspergers. He is now 14. I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection Academy virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However, he is missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school to be social more important than good grades?

[Guest guest]

Personally, I would say that social skills are as important as academics, but

not more important. Have you posed this question to your local school and

homeschooling group?

My son is at school but not making friends. He says the other kids are mean to

him (he's 5). I've been considering pulling him out, so I joined some local

homeschooling email groups on . They seem to have all kinds of field trips,

social get-togethers, etc. Plus there is the scouts, sports activities, etc., so

for me, I think I could put together a reasonably good social program for my

son, if I chose to go that route. Also, at your son's age you could think about

volunteer opportunities, and soon, jobs, that might allow him to meet people.

Hope that helps,

>

> After 11 schools, my son was finally diagnosed with Aspergers. He is now 14.

I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection Academy

virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However, he is

missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school to be

social more important than good grades?

>

[Guest guest]

Well, was he happy at school, or was he overwhelmed and depressed? How about signing him up for activities at the library or something so he can meet people? On Fri, Feb 25, 2011 at 7:49 AM, UMgirl wrote: After 11 schools, my son was finally diagnosed with Aspergers. He is now 14. I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection Academy virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However, he is missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school to be social more important than good grades?

[Guest guest]

Who feels like your son is missing out?...You or your son? It is important to know that opportunites for socialization are not limited to schools. I homeschool and there are endless opportunites for socialization...sometimes too many to choose from! It would be a good idea to find a local homeschool support group in your area (if you haven't done so yet) and get plugged in.

Also, ask yourself why you started homeschooling in the first place. Was your son happy in school? Did the other kids give him a hard time? What would you hope to gain by sending him back to school? What do you hope to gain by homeschooling?

By homeschooling your son and being able to choose the outside activites best suited to him, you are setting up the kind of environment where he is surrounded by love and positive influences. It will go far in building his self esteem.

I pulled my son out of school years ago, and I haven't looked back since. He will be graduating high school next year (with an official graduation ceremony in full cap and gown with several other homeschoolers:), and while his brain may still be wired a bit differently, he is a happy, smart, well adjusted young man.

All the best!

From: UMgirl <chevinsea@...> Sent: Fri, February 25, 2011 7:49:20 AMSubject: ( ) Homeschooling Aspie Teen

After 11 schools, my son was finally diagnosed with Aspergers. He is now 14. I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection Academy virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However, he is missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school to be social more important than good grades?

[Guest guest]

It really depends. The risk at home is that the kids get

dependent on their parents to organize stuff for them,

and to do things that are hard for AS kids. At public

school you are forced to be independent and remember your

own coat, and get your books and papers, and transition

in a timely way.

On the other hand school and espcially middle school

is very challenging and for some kids too much so.

If your son went to public school he still may not fit in

if his anxiety if high or he fatigues easily and wants

to get home and retreat after school.

My daughter goes to a private small school and still

has no friends. She still hates school. She also

goes to a church drama program with her cousins and

is fine with the cousins but doesn't socialize with

anyone else. She goes to sunday school and ignores

all the kids in class. I know I am there as a co-teacher.

If school is going fine, I would find him a compassinate

church group that understand he has special needs

and includes him, you will have to talk to the director

of these programs to find a program where

he has a buddy.

Even if he doesn't socialize he can be encouraged to

do some sport (karate, bikeing, swimming) and to do

some charity work (so they think about others more).

Goal setting is important. their are so many traits

to develop in our kids.

best of luck with whatever you deceide.

Pam

>

> After 11 schools, my son was finally diagnosed with Aspergers. He is now 14.

I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection Academy

virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However, he is

missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school to be

social more important than good grades?

>

[Guest guest]

Hi,I wanted to tell you about my young adult daughter's educational experiences. Deborah was in Montessori school before she was two, and continued with that through 6th grade. Then, I decided to homeschool her, but she had other ideas! She is an avid reader, and while she refused to do any curriculum at all, she read 30+ books a week. She was really unschooled, and self-educated herself. Now, you're probably wondering how this could possibly have worked out?She scored at or above the 99th percentile on the SAT and achievement tests as a junior, applied to a number of schools that year, and was accepted to most of them (including the biomedical engineering program at Northwestern.) We decided to have her apply as a senior to some higher ranked schools. She applied to CalTech, Wellesley, Princeton, and Yale and was accepted to all four. She decided on Yale and now has a BA in History of Science, History of Medicine. She is taking the LSAT in June and applying to law school in the Fall!As for socialization, Deborah was a principal member of a children's theater group, sang in our a church choir, was an acolyte, participated in the church youth group, took art classes, and volunteered at our children's hospital. She found that most of the kids in art and theater were all a little quirky and just accepted her as she was/is. She made a number of friends at Yale, finding several whom I am sure were also on spectrum, as well as many who were neurotypical. Deborah has always talked to (or at) anyone and everyone of all ages (not always a good thing!) I think this helped her a lot, despite her still being a classic Aspie to this day.As for independence, Deborah was born independent! Yes, she was (and still is) dependent on me for many things, but her thinking is totally independent! Very few of the current young adults with Asperger's are ever able to live fully independently, and I think it is important that we (and they) are okay with this. Most end up in supervised group homes or staying with their parents. I certainly hope this will change for the kids getting earlier diagnoses and and intervention, but it is still the usual outcome today. (Deborah is trached and on a ventilator full time, so total independence wouldn't be possible even if she were neurotypical.) You can read more about her here:http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/deborahmesdagLet me know if you have any questions. Hope this helps!After 11 schools, my son was finally diagnosed with Aspergers. He is now 14. I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection Academy virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However, he is missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school to be social more important than good grades?

[Guest guest]

Social Skills are important, but not more important than the academics and most important your child's self concept and happiness. Many Aspies do not socialize in school. They are the target of teasing and bullying. Even many teachers do not understand their "differences" and segregate and humiliate them.

My son lasted an entire 6 weeks in a pre-school handicapped classroom before I pulled him out and homeschooled him the rest of his school career. We participated with the homeschool group in our area, went on trips, play days in the park, played sports, even attend the homeschool prom and high school graduation. The homeschool kids were more adaptive and accepting of his AS. In the early days parents were always there to monitor and assist in difficult situations. By high school he was just one of the guys...a little quirky sometimes but still part of the group.

He also participated in Scouts from Tigers through Eagle. He's still involved in a Venture Crew. Scouts definitely taught him to be prepared. While a Cub Scout, I helped a lot making sure he had everything he needed. All it took was one camping trip as a boys scout without his sleeping bag to teach him to be sure to pack his camping bag with all the necessities!

He graduated last June and now attends a Technical Institute studying computer networking and security. Now he's just the nerd of the class who always knows the answer and is always prepared with his assignments. He is maintaining a 4.0 GPA and is given additional projects within the classroom. He is currently creating a new network for the school because he is ahead of the class. No one in the school has any idea that he has a diagnosis of Aspergers. So far he as passed 4 of the six national Certification Exams to become a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator. His goal is to have the full certification before graduation.

I do not feel homeschooling hindered his ability to socialize nor his academic progress In fact, he had more opportunities to socialize while homeschooling because he didn't spend 6 hours a day ostracized. He socialized each day with the mail carrier, neighbors, store clerks, and any other people he encountered throughout the regular day, as well as the homeschooled children in our homeschool group who were more accepting allowing him to participate in the activities despite his quirks.

Hope this helps,

Blessings,

Tricia

>> After 11 schools, my son was finally diagnosed with Aspergers. He is now 14. I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection Academy virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However, he is missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school to be social more important than good grades?>

[Guest guest]

Tricia,

Did you use a specific curriculum with your son?

Robin

From: Tricia <bright4homeschool@...>Subject: ( ) Re: Homeschooling Aspie Teen Date: Sunday, February 27, 2011, 8:49 AM

Social Skills are important, but not more important than the academics and most important your child's self concept and happiness. Many Aspies do not socialize in school. They are the target of teasing and bullying. Even many teachers do not understand their "differences" and segregate and humiliate them.

My son lasted an entire 6 weeks in a pre-school handicapped classroom before I pulled him out and homeschooled him the rest of his school career. We participated with the homeschool group in our area, went on trips, play days in the park, played sports, even attend the homeschool prom and high school graduation. The homeschool kids were more adaptive and accepting of his AS. In the early days parents were always there to monitor and assist in difficult situations. By high school he was just one of the guys...a little quirky sometimes but still part of the group.

He also participated in Scouts from Tigers through Eagle. He's still involved in a Venture Crew. Scouts definitely taught him to be prepared. While a Cub Scout, I helped a lot making sure he had everything he needed. All it took was one camping trip as a boys scout without his sleeping bag to teach him to be sure to pack his camping bag with all the necessities!

He graduated last June and now attends a Technical Institute studying computer networking and security. Now he's just the nerd of the class who always knows the answer and is always prepared with his assignments. He is maintaining a 4.0 GPA and is given additional projects within the classroom. He is currently creating a new network for the school because he is ahead of the class. No one in the school has any idea that he has a diagnosis of Aspergers. So far he as passed 4 of the six national Certification Exams to become a Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator. His goal is to have the full certification before graduation.

I do not feel homeschooling hindered his ability to socialize nor his academic progress In fact, he had more opportunities to socialize while homeschooling because he didn't spend 6 hours a day ostracized. He socialized each day with the mail carrier, neighbors, store clerks, and any other people he encountered throughout the regular day, as well as the homeschooled children in our homeschool group who were more accepting allowing him to participate in the activities despite his quirks.

Hope this helps,

Blessings,

Tricia

>> After 11 schools, my son was finally diagnosed with Aspergers. He is now 14. I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection Academy virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However, he is missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school to be social more important than good grades?>

[Guest guest]

When I first started homeschooling I used Sonlight, http://www.sonlight.com/ a Literature based curriculum for the core of our studies,

I used ABeka http://www.abeka.com/ for Handwriting and Phonics, and Math. I loved the program, but I personally needed something to document my son's progress so I went to a full ABeka curriculum. It too was a great curriculum, but became too redundant for our needs. My son also has dysgraphia and the workbooks became overwhelming. In 3rd grade we started using Switched-On Schoolhouse a computer based curriculum. http://tinyurl.com/cm3v2z

Once we found SOS it was the perfect fit for my computer savy 8 year old. Everything was done on the computer, relieving the dysgraphia woes. It is designed to teach independence. Once the teacher sets up the student's school calendar and assigns the subjects, the program creates the lesson plans. Each day, your child logs in to their lesson book, completes the day's assignments and is finished when their work is done for the day. When we first started, I sat with my son to help keep him focused. About a month into the program, my nearly 8 year old said, "Mom, can I do this by myself. I can do it a lot faster and get done sooner if I do it on my own." And thus began his independence! The program grades most of the work as the student answers the questions so he always knew when he was right, and it gives students 3 tries to get the correct answer so if they miss a questions it immediately focuses them to search for the right answer. In high school my son preferred to work in modules where he would spend about a week working on just one subject, take the unit test, then move to the next subject. SOS gave us this freedom, too. We started using Teaching Textbooks for Pre-Algebra through Pre- Calculus http://teachingtextbooks.com/

SOS and Teaching Textbooks were a great fit for him. We also continued to use Sonlight's literature to enhance the SOS all through the SChool years because I wanted to instill a love for reading great books in my child's live.

You can attend a free webinar to learn more about Switched-On Schoolhouse http://tinyurl.com/685swva

---------------original message

Re: Homeschooling Aspie Teen

Posted by: " and/or Robin Lemke" jrisjs@... jrisjs

Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:11 PM (PST) Tricia, Did you use a specific curriculum with your son?

[Guest guest]

Thanks sooo much. Much of the SOS sounds like when our oldest did a virtual school. We loved it.

Having the "school choice" choice over with now, I wanted to have a good backup in case we take our other son out of school.Thanks, again.

Hugs.

Robin

From: Tricia <bright4homeschool@...>Subject: ( ) Re: Homeschooling Aspie Teen Date: Monday, February 28, 2011, 8:27 AM

When I first started homeschooling I used Sonlight, http://www.sonlight.com/ a Literature based curriculum for the core of our studies,

I used ABeka http://www.abeka.com/ for Handwriting and Phonics, and Math. I loved the program, but I personally needed something to document my son's progress so I went to a full ABeka curriculum. It too was a great curriculum, but became too redundant for our needs. My son also has dysgraphia and the workbooks became overwhelming. In 3rd grade we started using Switched-On Schoolhouse a computer based curriculum. http://tinyurl.com/cm3v2z

Once we found SOS it was the perfect fit for my computer savy 8 year old. Everything was done on the computer, relieving the dysgraphia woes. It is designed to teach independence. Once the teacher sets up the student's school calendar and assigns the subjects, the program creates the lesson plans. Each day, your child logs in to their lesson book, completes the day's assignments and is finished when their work is done for the day. When we first started, I sat with my son to help keep him focused. About a month into the program, my nearly 8 year old said, "Mom, can I do this by myself. I can do it a lot faster and get done sooner if I do it on my own." And thus began his independence! The program grades most of the work as the student answers the questions so he always knew when he was right, and it

gives students 3 tries to get the correct answer so if they miss a questions it immediately focuses them to search for the right answer. In high school my son preferred to work in modules where he would spend about a week working on just one subject, take the unit test, then move to the next subject. SOS gave us this freedom, too. We started using Teaching Textbooks for Pre-Algebra through Pre- Calculus http://teachingtextbooks.com/

SOS and Teaching Textbooks were a great fit for him. We also continued to use Sonlight's literature to enhance the SOS all through the SChool years because I wanted to instill a love for reading great books in my child's live.

You can attend a free webinar to learn more about Switched-On Schoolhouse http://tinyurl.com/685swva

---------------original message

Re: Homeschooling Aspie Teen

Posted by: " and/or Robin Lemke" jrisjs@... jrisjs

Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:11 PM (PST) Tricia, Did you use a specific curriculum with your son?

[Guest guest]

When my DS hit sixth grade, all of his social interactions at school consisted

of being teased or physically assaulted. He had no friends, nor had he made any

friends in 4th or 5th grade when he had to change schools. We received very

little support for academic needs and no support to protect him once he hit 6th

grade. He threw up daily for months until we pulled him out and started

homeschooling him. Too many people assume that socialization at school is a

positive experience.

My DS gets his socialization with friends he meets during the Aspie social

skills groups that he attends. In our section of the county, there isn't much

of a homeschooling group to socialize with. But you may well find a large group

near you. Using , you can probably find lots of information on what

other homeschoolers are doing in your area.

Bronwyn

I have been homeschooling him for the past 2 years using Connection

> Academy virtual school. His grades are the best they have ever been. However

> he is missing the social element that school can offer. Is going to school

> to be social more important than good grades?

> >

>