so my dd1 says Mom I want to be homeschooled...

[Tansy]

During our nightly struggle with the Homework issue. As she pours over "new" math lattices that mystify her and concepts like triple doubles. Instead of 3*6=18 its 3+3+3 =9 which you double =18 (& if you write 3*6 = 18 it's wrong, who knew!).

She says Mom I have like 125% of not knowing this stuff. I just don't get it... I want to be normal And have fun.
So I asked her Do you want to be homeschooled sooner as in next month or later as in 5th grade? Mom I want sooner I don't feel "not normal" at home. And I want to be able to Play!

So I have DD1 who places half way in preparing and has been doing stuff that falls into CTC in p/s school but it's over her head. She falls far closer to bigger in grammar, but probably places closer to CTC for dictation. I will be using a reading program and math program designed by her Neuro therapist, so I do not have to think about that for the moment.

Her sister is in Bigger for 2nd grade. I modify it down in quantity of writing.. but that is it...
Now they both have stated they want their "own" curriculum but seriously...
DD1's therapy is 2.5 hours with her every week day, leaving weekends to be "normal." (I won't have any excuse to slack off is she is home).
I don't want to do 8 hours of schooling/therapy, My life will not get more manageable if that happens.

I'm open to suggestions. Any ??

Bigger with extensions? And DD1 only listening in on the right side and science?
Or Preparing for her but mixing bible, story time, music?
Should she be doing creative writing and grammar cause she needs them.. or am I pushing and I should relax?
She writes all the time its just not functional...
AHHHH the choices I so want to do what is best for them.

Some info to help you My dd1 is 11 years old, & has auditory processing issues, developmental delays, short term memory issues, and is a sensory mess. On a great day she functions on a 9-10 year old lvl, on a good day she is 8-9, and on a bad day she's just 6..

DD2 is 8, Loves homeschooling is a math wiz. She's the ideal compliant child, only has issues with Daddy, her biggest gripe about sister possibly coming home, is she doesn't want to share me. And doesn't want me yelling... Oh wait honest too. I think I'm past the yelling bit but we'll see we'll see... I told her she can give me 3 strikes then I'm out. Then I have to have a time out in my bed room (to which she laughed and said only if it's without your computer Mom!)

Help!
Slightly freaking out but happy Mama...

[Tree House Academy]

"Triple doubles" is that crazy "new math" thing, isn't it?? Ugh! I LOATHE that!

With the developmental delays she has, I would honestly put her in Bigger, maybe with extensions, and let her do the fun things along with her sister...as long as the basics are on level for her. I would not "push" at all. For one thing, coming out of PS, she needs some down time. I would let her get used to the curriculum and have some fun first and then begin to add in where you feel she is missing (by that, I mean making it age/grade level appropriate if you need to via extensions and or extra writing).

[my3sons]

Hooray, Tansy! I'm so glad your dd wants to come home. Home must be a pretty great place to be in her mind - and that is certainly largely due to you - so I'm happy for you! I agree that Bigger would be a good place to start with her. I think you can add extensions too, if she is willing and able to do them on her own. You could get the PHFHG manual for the dictation, and perhaps to have younger dd alone for something, you could do the Bigger Hearts Bible part just with her, and the PHFHG Bible part just with your older. The math and the reading sound like they would be separate too, so then this would give your younger dd the sense she still had you all to herself for some of the day. Those are just a few things to consider.

If you get going and it is just proving harder to school them together, you can always get the PHFHG materials, and possibly start half-speed. You'd still finish PHFHG at the same time with her as you would have had you done Bigger with her. You have lots of good options to weigh though, so I pray the Lord leads you to the right one!

In Christ,
Julie

[mrskturner]

My daughter is 10 and we are using Bigger because she has delays as well. We have been told she has dyslexia, specifically auditory and visual processing disorder. She is LOVING school this year and is really doing well. It still bothers me that she is behind for her age, but I just keep reminding myself that she is learning and growing spiritually. From reading her medical files, she also had two head injuries as a child, so this may play into some of the challenges I experience with her. For example, when I told her it was time for poetry this morning she ask me if that meant Science. We do poetry EVERY day and I have no idea why her brain would have connected the word poetry to science???

[Carrie]

Tansy,

I'm excited for you to have your little sweetie back home with you. From what you've shared with time for therapies on your plate each week, I'd likely lean in the combining in Bigger Hearts direction too. However, if the girls don't mix well and each want you all to themselves, which I do have going on here as well, you could always consider doing both Bigger Hearts and Preparing Hearts at half-speed, doing the younger in Bigger and the older in Preparing. This would give you special time with each one without adding too much to your day. Anyway, you could always combine for a month or so and see how it goes and then separate if needed. Or, if you can see from the go that this will be a negative for both girls, then start out both at half-speed in separate programs right away instead, upping one or both or none to full-speed based on how the year is going.

Hope that helps!

Blessings,
Carrie

[Tansy]

Well so far it's going well. I made a schedule/next thing list. And split up the therapy things dd1 can do on her own while I'm schooling dd2,
then we come together and do history, Science, bible, LA, Poetry (which is awesome cause I can use it for a therapy thing we need poems for so we do that during school), and what I call "The box under History".

Then we leave dd2 alone to "study" her spelling, cheerful cursive, and perfect any note-booking page she has. While I work on therapy math, and reading stuff, this take us to lunch at 12:30-1pm so far... I'm hoping to get it 11:45-12 for lunch. Then I give them a recess, After which I work on the therapy, and dd2 plays computer learning games reading mansion and the math castle thing and does chores. So far I have been done by 3 just in time for the after school care kids to arrive. Now I can make dinner with out being wildly distracted.

I think I will add the science extension Exploring Planet Earth for her (I had her read the science book to her sister today, since she complained "I've read that all ready Mom!" tho She loved it, Her sister hated it, so that is a never do again). I love some of the extension books, I think I will add the Guns for George Washington, Edison book, Tolivers secret, and Bud & Me to "Therapy reading" so she gets some of her own books, just not do them so aggressively.

I'm just at a loss for writing, at the moment I'm taking her "therapy reading, narratives" and helping her make them more "normal" We re-write them since she says things very disjointed, so we fix awkward sentences and correct grammar and punctuation. Then I'm having her copy them into her own notebook, for handwriting practice. (she's already copied out half the poetry and I saw some resistance when I mentioned it, so I don't want to start that.... since she has a very good point! ) I just hope that is enough writing, not to much so its not fun... but not to little that she loses practice.
I do want to Add in Preparing's Dictation eventually, she so phenomenal in spelling I'm wondering if it will be challenging enough for her.

Thanks For the suggestions it got me started on a my "plan" It still needs tweaking. I'm needing to be much more scheduled with her, to make her feel secure... its just not my personal style... But it makes for a better day overall.