Questions About Homeschooling

I feel that homeschooling is the best way of education. This isn't even a discussion in our house, since we feel so strongly for it. I heard a thing on MidDay Connection the other day about nothing but homeschooling. Go to this website
http://www.mbn.org/GenMoody/default.asp?sectionID=CBD5EDA...
and click on the 10/24/06 broadcast. She goes over many different things about homeschooling and I think that her book may help you. Also, check into other homeschooling groups in your area. One great source is the Seventh-Day Adventist church. This church has many homeschooling families and many may be able to help you with your question.

You need to do what's best for your child.

However, as a former Special Education teacher in the public school district, I would encourage you to have a clear understanding of your child's disability, adaptations that will enable him to be successful in school, and have a clear/effective plan set before you even consider homeschooling. While I have seen homeschooling a child with special needs be successfuly, unfortunately I normally see a parent pull their child into an unorganized, unplanned home situation and the behaviors/concerns are only worse. It's confusing and frustration for the child and overwhelming for the parent.

Do your research - set up a good plan - consult with the school - and then do what's best for your child.

I am registered with the home school legal defense association. They have a division that is specially targeted for special needs children. I use varied curriculum with my son.

The only homeschooling I can help you with is (Pa.Leadership Charter "Cyber School".Goes from K-12,They provide the computer,brand new books and what ever kind of supplemental kits that go with his grade level they'll send to you.He'll have a teacher who teaches through our chat times. you don't have to pick out his curriculum,,they'll pick them out for you up untill he's in the 6 grade.they'll supply the ink for the Faxer/scanner/printer all in one.We go on multiple trips but you don't have to go to every trip.I'll give you the web-site and phone number,& also I think they started pre-k this year! I have seen "special kids" one with no legs and others.Sorry don't know the proper word for special ed. The web-site is www.Palcs.org and the number is ####-###-#### All this is tuition free,the computers and things go back upon graduation or your withdrawl of student.(hope this helped)

L.,

In PA we have cyber school. We are actually considering it for our son who is Autistic with moderate ADHD. We have researched it and found that children with special needs tend to have a better school career with the cyber school, because these children almost always do better with one-on-one. The cyber school provides everything for the child too as far as the computer. I would check into to. It sounds like it might be just the thing for you and your son. Your son would have an actual teacher and you wouldn't have to try to be mom and school teacher to him.

I hope this helps. Good luck to you and your family.

B.

First and foremost, if you spend any amount of vacation time wondering when school will start again, don't even consider Home Schooling.

Home Schooling is an idividual decision. If you feel you can handle your child and the manifestation of his disabilities on a full time basis, without the "break" offered by the school day that's great. However you will need to have and stick to a schedule every single day, no exceptions at all.

Additionally, even if the child is home schooled the local school district should be involved, you should still have an IEP, and if you want, some classes you can't realistically provide can still be taken in school or through the IU.

There are some practical noneducational things you should seriously consider about your child's development before you make a decision...

1. Social skills: most ADHD children lack them, how will you deal with the need for him to learn to socialize with peers? and the lifelong learning of socialization?
2. Authority: most ADHD children lack the ability to acknowledge and respect the authority of adults and professionals, does your child have the proper respect for you to be educated by you? How will you teach your child a respect for others in authority to carry him into adulthood and the workplace?
3. There are a host of counseling issues that are actually addressed in behavior contracts and Special Education Classroom settings. Are you prepared for counseling aspects of Home Schooling a Special Needs Student?

It takes a greal deal of patience, understanding and redirection to do what you are considering. Make sure you make time for yourself so that you don't burn out.

Good luck, A.

A friend of ours is an educator and she has opened her home and is doing homeschooling with her kids. We moved here from Texas and homeschooling is very popular. I will call my girlfriend and try to send any info your way. Also a few years ago I read a book it was called "Sugar Busters for Kids" and it had great studies about adhd. I also just read another article and if I can find it I will send it to you. My brother grew up with adhd and the school district made alot of accomadations for him. There is a law and it states if your child has any disability that have to make provisions.www.livegreeneasy.com

Hi L.,
God has blessed you with an incredible child! I believe that it is our responsiblity to teach our children and to have them grow with good morals and ethics. I have 6 children, 4 of which are school age and I can tell you that we have all kinds of issues but in the end, it will be worth it all!
I am not saying it will be easy but with a lot of Prayer and Gods help, you can do anything. You will be happy you took the time to have that one on one. There are so many curriculums out there to help you with those special needs. YOu can start by checking into homeschool curriculums under GOOGLE. I have found an awesome curriculum called "MY FATHERS WORLD" It is very easy to teach and very hands on so your child will truly enjoy working and it helps them focus when they are interested. Also, It also helps to send your child outside to play and burn some energy before sitting to do school. This helps them focus also. When you go to a school, they can not cater to every person individually but as a homeschool mom, you can! Thats one of the best things about homeschooling.

Like Summer said, one of the greatest things about homeschooling is that you can adapt to your child's needs in ways that public schools never could. My son is calmest in the bathtub, so we do phonics/spelling at bathtime using foam letters that stick to the walls.

If you DO decide to pull your son out of school, expect an adjustment period - plan for it. In that time, really observe your son and figure out what situations stress him out most and which ones help him calm down and focus. Then think outside the box to come up w/ some creative ways to help him learn. Learning doesn't just happen when you're sitting at a table w/ a book in front of you. Especially for boys w/ ADHD - they need to move and DO.

This piece of advice is probably coming in way to late but for anyone else who reads...

I am taking it easy figuring it out but one thing I've discovered is that everything is better in the evening or where it's "closed in" like the bathroom. His handwriting is just beautiful in late afternoon but in the morning it's jiggley and squiggley. Reading happens so easily later, and in general he's just more compliant and more easily engaged. So don't get scared if you have to do things unusually to "get him educated". I'm not using a set curiculum. I've considered cyber-school. If you homscool, even just to try it, keep in touch.

It's still hard to figure this out but I strongly advocate it. And if you feel passionate about parenting or even just want to try it do it you have every reason to.

I still haven't signed up with HLD but the application is here on the desk and I was told it's worth it.

Peace