My son has an LD (as mentioned before in HLC thread) and he has an IEP at school. His testing scores were not very good from Huntington Learning Center. I really don't see how we can afford the $8000 for the program at Huntington, so am wanting to approach my dh with the idea of a Homeschool program that we can work with our son during the summer that will help bring him up in his Reading/Comprehension and Math skills.
I don't know where to start looking and need help if any of you might have some help to give as to where I can find a program that will help us bring him up to 10th grade level (or close to it). I want to do the same thing HLC will do, start him out low, then work him up to a higher grade level of work over time.

Any help directing me to a good program will be much appreciated.

THANK YOU so much in advance!!!

You can first start checking with your local school district or county superintendent of education. They have access to homeschooling programs and, at least where I live, there is no cost, except for SOME of the materials. The district even supplies mentors and monthly monitoring and testing. My kids did/do not do homeschooling, but I know some people who do (and with very little if any out of pocket costs). At least that is a starting point.....

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I'm not sure if the homeschool program we used for our boys had an LD program but it's been 6 years since they've graduated, so I would think their program has evolved since then.

It's "Switched on Schoolhouse" by Alpha Omega Publications. Here's the link for you. I think they will send you a sample of their product. You can pick and choose what subjects you want to use.

Home School Curriculum - Alpha Omega Publications

It's a great program and I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to homeschool their children.

Great idea, I will call them.

I just wnat to do something for this summer and during the school year, and not take him out of the Public School system. I want to find a program that will help bring him up to grade level, or help him be very close.

Contacting your school district is a good idea. They probably maintain a list of teachers who are willing to do one-on-one tutoring in various subjects (for your DS, reading).

However, if it isn't part of his IEP plan/recommendations, you'll likely be on the hook for the costs. However, I don't think you'll incur anything like the $8,000 fee give to you by the HLC. Sounds well worth it, to me!

Good luck!

D

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I buy my books from Homeschool Supercenter. As I mentioned before my son had an IEP and I now homeschool him.He is younger than your son.But I just started at a level that would challenge him. I no longer go by grade level but ability.Example my son was in seventh grade but could only read on a fourth grade level.So I started him at a fifth grade level for reading.My son has a slow processing speed.I started last summer.He can now read on a sixth grade level. I now homeschool all three of my sons. They all work at different levels for different subjects.

Since your son has a IEP have you checked into whether or not he can get schooling durning the summer ? My son got it for the 1st time this year, However, he didn't attend because the teacher's were not the same ones he will be returning to in Aug. He has Autism and he doesn't at all take to changes anything thats "New" or Different than what he's been use too He goes into a total melt down. This might be something if you havnt already checked into might be what you are looking for.

I called the High School before we even considered HLC, and they said there were no tutors or any program for help during the summer. I even asked if they had a list of any teachers that did tutoring, and they said no.
Sooo... But I am going to call and ask further about the homeschooling programs that they might know about.

Bridgeway is a great homeschooling curriculum that they will develop based on children with special needs its what we are considering for DS because I am really really close to pulling him out of Public School due to the bullying and the fact he is the minority in his classroom, I am going to give him and the school the school some time, but Bridgeway was the best program I found that was approved by our State. I cant find the link on the PC I am now os it must be on the laptop which is acting up but will try to post it later I think the curriculum was around 1200 for the year.

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Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
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As an alternative, have you thought about finding a teacher who tutors in the summer (and/or after school once it starts back in session)? Several of my neighbors do this. They charge $20-25/hour and bring all the necessary materials. You could always have the teacher set up the program and work with your son a set number of hours/week and you could do the rest.

Sarah..........mom to Jason & Devin

itscc2u that is the same reasons I took my son out of public school.He was special ed and put in with kids that had behavioral problems.Also most of the kids could not speak English and my son only speaks English. I wish I had taken him out a lot sooner than I did.

I would be shocked if absolutely no summer services were available thru the school district. I personally think his IEP team dropped the ball on this one. Did you go to them and ask about services or recommendations to help you teach them? I have a high functioning Autistic dd and before school ended I ask for and received a summer reading list, a required reading list for the next year, web sites and resources to help my daughter and other helpful tips.

On another note for posters not happy with their schools options, if you have legitimate complaints, your child can be moved to another school with a more suitable class for your child. Schools are required to have your child in the most appropriate and least restrictive environment and if that is available at another school 30 miles away, they are required to transport your child. Most special needs kids need the socialization of school and I think homeschooling them full time year round is doing them a disservice. How are they going to learn to socialize, problem solve and cope?

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Call your district's Supertindent's office and most also have a special education person there too. I have a feeling you might get a different answer.

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My sons get socialization through church and field trips with other homeschooling families.They are also able to participate in any after school activities.I think each family has to do what is right for their child. My son was getting further behind every year and more frustrated.He basically had no self esteem left.Now because we have no time restriction on a subject he can take his time.He is so proud when he finally masters it.

Sometimes a not so obvious solution is to help the child develop a hobby or activity that is not academic.

For example, my son's self-esteem and grades have gone up significantly since he's been in martial arts classes two nights a week after school and through the summer breaks.

It is also great exercise.

My son is learning disabled, age 11.

There are a lot of extracurricular activities that could be pursued: guitar lessons, piano lessons, horseback riding lessons, walking dogs at the humane society, holding preemies at the hospital, helping out at the food bank, etc.


Just my thoughts based on similar experience.

Heres the link for Bridgeway Homeschool, Homeschooling, Homeschools-Accredited Curriculum

Hope it helps you

__________________
~ Christine ~
Grammie to Trinity Lorayne Jean Keens Born June 9, 2011 Loving my awesome guitar picking 100% Country Boy boyfriend Kenny !
RIP Daddy~ 01/24/1930-06/01/2007 I miss you !
Dont Think you Can .. know you can ~ Jeff Hardy

Oh, don't get me wrong, I think we've afforded him many opportunities (especially in the last few years.) Ever since he was in Kindergarten we have had him involved in activities..Scouting, Soccer, Football for 4 years.
Now that he's older it's changed a bit: He takes Guitar Lessons weekly and has done so for the last two years, he is in Boy Scouts and Venture Crew (as a matter of fact he is going to Michigan this weekend for a weekend outing) and we bought him a beautiful Horse almost two years ago and hired a personal trainer to work with him weekly. We just sold her in November, because he lost interest and while I loved her, I just couldn't devote the time she needed to not let the few thousand dollars we had spent on training go to waste.

That is why my dh doesn't understand why I want to homeschool or try a different route. He says we have spent so much money on other things for him, why would we even scoff at $8K fwhen it concerns helping him succeed in his educational future?

My argument? Cause the economy is bad, and I think I might be able to do just as good of a job. I am afraid at this point of spending the money to not see such drastic results as the amount of money would lead me to expect to happen.

Maybe my dh is right. (confused).

Thank you!!!!

Hugs...

I know that this is hard. It sounds as though you have exhausted some other avenues without seeing the results that you wish for. I hope that it didn't come across as sounding like I didn't think that you'd not already tried some of these things... without knowing the child and his age, it makes it harder for me to brainstorm with you.

Hopefully, the home schooling will produce the results that you wish for. I surely didn't mean to go off topic. I do work with special needs kids/adults and have my own and so I am speaking from experience.

Sometimes parent(s) expectations can wreak havoc on a child's self esteem and so finding the child's strengths and not dwelling on the *almighty* grades can be such an important piece in the puzzle.

Our expectation for our son is that maybe he'll end up attending technical school (we don't picture him as college material)... although some who do not know him may think that we are setting goals for him that are *below* him, we see it as setting the goals high -- for sure he will be an independent citizen with excellent self esteem (!) some day! His teachers always comment on how well we have him 'pegged'... heh.

Cuthie,
No, I didn't take it the wrong way.. I really appreciated your advice. Thank you so much for your wonderful posts-you are so gentle and caring! Your son is mighty lucky to have you as a mom!

It is frustrating, because as a parent one always wants to do what is right. I just wish I had a crystal ball (been wishing for about 21 years now..LOL) so I could know what works and what won't.

You really gave such a wonderful reminder, however. To be careful not to allow his "shortcomings" take away from his self esteem. I think that sometimes we as parents (meaning dh and I) have done this without even realizing it!!

Thanks again for all of your advice.