[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/bbcode.php on line 113: preg_replace(): The /e modifier is no longer supported, use preg_replace_callback instead
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 5312: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3925)
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 5312: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3925)
[phpBB Debug] PHP Warning: in file [ROOT]/includes/functions.php on line 5312: Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at [ROOT]/includes/functions.php:3925)
Homeschool World Forum • HELP ~ reading, spelling, math... dyslexia?
Page 1 of 1

HELP ~ reading, spelling, math... dyslexia?

Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:55 pm
by ontheprairie
I feel so frustrated most days. I homeschool 3 children ages 11 {grade 6} age 10 {grade 5}, age 6 {grade 1} and have a 3 year old running around.

Our 10 year old daughter {now in grade 5} has been a struggle since she started school. I thought her to be bright and social before she entered the school system. She knew all her colors, letters, numbers and was writing her name without help before she was 3. She started talking at 9 months of age.
Three months into the public school system we were told she was under average and was having social difficulties. I couldn't believe it. She continued to be barely average in most courses but below average in reading and spelling through grades 1-3. She was also acting out on the playground... she did not have lasting friendships and even on occation stole something from the teachers desk {candy}.
At home she was pleasant enough... I knew how to handle her complaints about her siblings so all was well.
We started to homeschool at the beginning of her Grade 4 year {she was 9}. I noticed almost immediatly that she was not understanding what she was reading most of the time, she couldn't read many of the words because she had never been taught phonics, she struggled in math, and only did well in spelling when it was oral.
I quit doing spelling lists/tests and worked on teaching her kindergarten phonics throughout the rest of her first homeschool year. I also paused many times in math so that she could grasp subraction, etc. She managed, me managed to survive our first year of learning together and socially she excelled.
We are now into our second year of homeschool. I decided to change over to Sequential Spelling {we use ABeka Book for the rest of our curricullum} and she is doing well {except she still always mixes up her ds and bs} and I have decided to forfit the weekly quizes in every subject so that she can focus more on remembering the details and doing better in tests. For the first few weeks she was not getting any better than 40% on any quiz... then I offered her a toonie for everytime she could get a 80% or above and she has now achieved it twice {on history test and science test}.
We are struggling terribly in math right now. I worked so hard to teach her subraction last year and yet she has forgotten how to borrow - she doesn't understand the 0.... that flows over to multiplication as well.... the zero causes many issues. She is not understand placement.... ie. 100 millions, 10 millions, 1 millions, 100 thousands, 10 thousands, 1 thousands, hundreds, tens, ones. I have tried to simplify it for her and right now she is struggling with multiplying two sets... 27x51.... she wants to multiply the 1 x 7, and the 5 x 2 and doesn't understand even when I show her and explain it.

I know this is a long post. I want you to understand her a little. And, understand me a little. I love her. I love homeschooling her. I love to teach. I try to teach as simply as I can. I don't expect from her what I expect from her siblings because I they are easy learners. I just don't know what I should do.
Should I not expect her to learn and understand what others in her grade level are? How should I help her to understand? etc. etc.

Thanks so much.
~ Eva. :cry:

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:04 am
by Lily
I think your expectations should follow what your daughter is able to accomplish. Since she does struggle in different subjects, have you considered branching out more from Abeka?

I have a child who struggles more in one subject than others. His writing skills have been below "average" every year of his life, but that's just who he is. I think this year we finally found something that works with him - it's short, hands on, and stairstepping. Oh, and he's starting in a book meant for children two years below him. So what? It's what he needs right now.

You may want to switch out your math curriculum, too. I know there are several others that work hard on teaching placement and such in very visual ways. We switched over from Saxon to Math U See and it was like a lightning bolt change. There's also Shiller Math and a few other Montessori based ones that require whole child involvement.

Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:59 am
by ontheprairie
Thank you Lily.

That was just the answer I was looking for. I was struggling with ~ do I keep her at grade level just so it looks good on paper, or do bring her a few grades down but build her self esteem and help her understand/learn?

My husband and I talked about it last night and he agreed, as you did, that the last option is the best for her. At the rate we are going she will hate school in no time {just as my husband did because he had the same struggles and ended up dropping out in grade 9}.

I will check into the maths you have suggested. I love ABeka... it works well for the other kids but for her it is not the right program. I have already switched her to Sequential Spelling. Math is next.

If anyone else has insights or struggles with a child with similar disabilities I would love to hear from you.

~ Eva

Re: HELP ~ reading, spelling, math... dyslexia?

Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 3:41 pm
by menehune

Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 9:25 am
by roma
I am a home and public school tutor. I am often given the children teachers have decided to fail. Fifty percent of children are hands on learners. These are the children that shine when it is anything that is hands on. They are the first to learn to ride a bike, or master a game. But when it comes to the formal style of learning used in the school system they fall short. From what you said, this sounds like it might be your child. Here are two articles that should help with reading and Comprehension.

Teaching Comprehension the hands on way
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-to-Teach-Reading-Comprehension&id=2080406

Teaching Reading and Phonics the hands way
http://ezinearticles.com/?id=1983272

for Math I recommend Math U See