Posted on 01/17/2006 7:52:50 PM PST by luckystarmom
ping
No, it is now time to take SERIES action!!! :)
ping to homeschoolers
ping
Start by doing a Google search on 'homeschooling' + 'California'
That will give you a list of homeschooling organizations and concerns and state restrictions/requirements.
From that, you can look for more specialized information.
We started home schooling in the 80's. Mom didn't work, we didn't have much, but our children have blossomed as a result of her dedication.
I'll post some links this weekend, but I don't know much about CA law. As if public school administrators even bother to comply with the actual law.
The most important link you need is to the Home School Legal Defence Association.
http://www.hslda.org/
It was always the best $100 we ever spent.
You and your children will not regret choosing to learn at home. It can be the very best choice for your family if you are disciplined.
Ping
We use it with our Kindergartener (one semester total) and parents of 1st and 2nd graders are dropping their jaws at how much better he reads than their kids.
K12 makes it easy--every day has a lesson plan and materials. www.k12.com.
BTW, former Reagan sect'y of education William Bennet was involved in creating the curriculum. So far, it is devoid of the normal left-wing bias and green brainwashing you get in public schools.
http://www.hslda.org/
http://www.hslda.org/hs/state/CA/default.asp
I have homeschooled all of my children. No problem getting them into college. One is disabled. There are books that specifically focus on homeschooling kids with special needs.
If you are not working strictly with phonetics, start. There are inexpensive phonetics programs. We HS'd and taught our daughter that way. Successful beyond our wildest dreams.
Remember, with reading, the older she gets, the more difficult learning reading becomes.
And this I believe 100% to be true: If you can teach her to read well and enjoy reading, all else will follow. Her learning ability in all areas will benefit.
Best of luck. No one cares more about your child and what is best for her than you do.
I would check out NATHHAN. I think it is www.natthan.com. It is for disabled homeschool students. Our Neuropsychologist says that our son would have burned out at public school. He said the best thing we did was homeschool him. He is above the level the doctor expected him to be on. He is doing even better now. He just started formal Algebra (should have started him earlier because he is breezing through it)and he is making A's in Biology. Okay, I had to brag. ;)
Please do pursue special ed with the school district. Our school district has a special homebound program. My son has a medical need to be homebound and the school district has provided a tutor who develops the curriculum, coordinates with teachers at school and directs his education.
We are also a regular homeschooling family. I homeschooled my boys until they reached 9th grade. My special ed son is a junior.
Your child may need special expertise considering her condition. The school may be able to provide that.
Please check with the local childrens hospital as well. they may have special ed programs for children with brain damage that can be coordinated with your school district.
Good luck!
Best wishes on your decision to homeschool. I would second the HSLDA recommendation, and just add that it will be a good idea to link up with other home schoolers in your area. Maybe find a co-op or other group that meets regularly so that YOU get support. This is our second year home schooling, and the advice and friendship from others doing the same thing has been invaluable. Enjoy!
We use ABeka DVD program and love it. All lessons are planned out and professional teachers give lectures. Workbooks plus a teaching guide are included. All information is available through the website but I will be happy to help with any information I can provide.
And get ready for the idiots who will constantly question if you are doing the right thing........ ;^)
Find a support group for parents of special needs children - if you can find one for children with brain damage all the better. they can help you with a lot of resources even if they don't homeschool.
your district is obligated to provide your daughter with therapy related to her educational needs - speech, physical, occupational, even if you homeschool or send her to private school. It may be provided in the public school - you would have to bring her there - or in a private facility, and that is probably the school's call.
Prayers said for you and your daughter.
Mrs VS
My friend is just starting and I'm recommending that she pick up good math and phonics programs to start and just *play* with her kid for a few months. Rekindle that sense of wonder and love of learning naturally first, then bring in the books. Play with science experiments, tell history like a story, learn how to find the answers to "why?" questions.
But, I can honestly say, I've never seen a dedicated parent homeschool "wrong", no matter what their method.
Try not to be discouraged if you run into a homeschooling group that only welcomes "perfect" children. A lot of people do decide to homeschool because their children have problems (that would be me for instance), but there are these groups for the "perfect" kids out there...
Mrs VS
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