Summer learning.....should I? Or shouldn't I?

I am currently trying to decide how much or if I want to continue Ry's schooling throughout the summer months. Tomorrow, he graduates from Next Step and will we have the whole summer ahead of us. My initial gut response is HALLELUJAH! NO MORE SCHOOL! After getting that out of my system, I calm down a little and reasonably need to consider our situation. Because of ADHD, the memory retention for Ry is lower than other children. He "forgets" information more quickly. So, technically, if I want a successful year of homeschool Kindergarten, I should start next week, so that there is no learning gap. However, my dilemma is this: Ry is so very burnt out from this past year. It was hard work for him, very frustrating, very trying and emotionally exhausting. I really feel he needs a break - a chance to just be a kid. As his new teacher, I also am emotionally exhausted, tired and sick of school myself. Logically, it would seem best to take the summer off. But then, will school in the fall be more difficult and will I have to re-teach a lot of what he's already learned?? Hmm....I just am not sure what to do. Mr. ADD says NO SCHOOL! He feels that Ry should have the whole summer off. I am leaning towards either taking 2 months off and starting in August or having school/refresher classes 1-2 days a week, for just a brief time on those days. Any homeschooling moms out there want to lend a voice? Are there those who school year round? Or is it very important to have the summer off? I'd love input from those who have been there, done that! Especially if your child is ADHD also!

"Oh, bother" as Pooh would say! Decisions, decisions!
Mrs. Mom

Curriculum Woes

I am currently in the throes of indecision when it comes to choosing a curriculum for our first year of home schooling. I vacillate between being sure I've got the right one to totally second-guessing everything I've read, researched and visually seen about it. Then I begin to look at other options, and pretty soon I'm over my head in new books, workbooks and supplies I didn't even know about. Mr. ADD and I attended the CHAP convention in Harrisburg yesterday. We went there about 99% sure we had a solid idea about exactly which curriculum we are going to use. We left having totally discarded that one and 100% sure about another. After arriving home, I once again found myself unsure as I further researched pros and cons to it. For those that aren't familiar with curricula, you don't want to make too many mistakes in purchasing supplies, because supplies are quite costly! To buy something, and not have it be right for your child, would be a pricey mistake. So I want to be as confident as I can be that the one we choose will work for Ry, knowing full well that I will never be completely sure of the success of the curriculum until we officially start working on it.

At the convention, we also were privileged to attend several excellent seminars. One in particular, entitled "Helping the Distractible Child" went a long way in boosting my confidence. The speaker is a mother of not just one, but two ADHD children, who have succeeded in homeschooling. In fact, they are graduated, one a teacher and the other a writer. Listening to her experience, her advice, tips and suggestions was an amazing blessing! A definite answer to prayer and further affirmation that this decision to home school is truly the Lord's leading. Her website is www.headsupnow.com and offers a variety of techniques and manipulatives that she has proven has helped ADHD children succeed at learning!

What incredible resources we have at our fingertips! I'm so amazed by this huge network of home schooling information, support groups and options for success! Pray for us as we continue to discern which curriculum will best help Ry succeed!

TTFN (Ta-ta for now, for those unfamiliar with Pooh terms)
Mrs. Mom







 
 

Going on an Expotition

My hubby and I, hereto after referred to as Mr. ADD (for obvious reasons) and I, have made an enormous decision in the last 6 months. We have decided the public school system is not the best choice for Ry, our 6 year old son. Ry was diagnosed with ADHD in this past year. Because we did not feel he was ready for Kindergarten last year, we held him back a year and enrolled him in a program at our local YMCA that targets children who need one extra year before Kindergarten. It's called Next Step class. Next Step has been a wonderful and horrible experience all at once. Ry has thrived socially, becoming more outgoing, developing strong verbal and communication skills. He has learned so much academically as well. He is on the verge of beginning to read. He surprised me by identifying numbers to 100 the other night and is really doing well with beginning addition. He has surpassed my expectations for this year. The horrible aspect of this past year was hearing from his teacher all the things he has NOT been doing. Things "normal" kids do with no problem. Insert sarcastic roll of eyes. I am rather tired of listening to a diatribe of faults of my child, when I happen to think he is amazing, just the way he is. I am also very tired of work being sent home because "he works better with you" or "see if you can help him". I am tired of being told, "I feel Ry's IQ is incredibly high, BUT....insert yet another "fault" my child has. Hence, since our public school system has offered us absolutely no solution for helping an ADHD child succeed in a typical classroom setting, coupled with the fact that numbers of teachers are being cut in half due to budget cuts, putting classroom numbers well into the 30's, we have decided what we should have decided a long time ago. Ry is going to be home schooled. YIPES! I can't believe I just spilled all that out for the whole world to read. Yes, my frustration is high and my tolerance is becoming increasingly low.

So here I am, clueless, frightened, angry, excited, nervous and overwhelmed by the prospect of educating my child. Will I succeed? Will I fail? Will I make the right decisions? Will he learn? Can I help him learn to help himself overcome his weaknesses due to ADHD? Will he hate me forever? Will we have fun? Will I choose the right curriculum? Will we be accepted into CHIA (Our local homeschooling co-op)? Am I NUTS? What about ~drum roll~ socialization issues?? Frankly, if I hear one more well-meaning person (but other-wise clueless) express "deep concerns" about Ry playing with other children, I may (1) punch them in the mouth (2) vomit violently (3) stare vacantly into the distance and chant "Love thy neighbor as thyself" repeatedly (4) weep uncontrollably or (5) all of the above. I'm honestly concerned that I'll never ever have my family to myself again, as we participate in a plethora of community, educational, and church-related activities, not to mention time with family and friends. As a certified home-body, this home schooling business is going to push me out of my comfort zone socially. It exhausts me to think of so much action! But ah, I am going way out of my comfort zone in the very act of beginning home schooling. So why not do it up right?

I've designed this blog in hopes that my own creative writing side might have a voice, that I may be able to share my successes and failures as "Mrs. Mom" (my new home schooling title), gain wisdom and insight from other homeschooling moms out there and just have an outlet for the joys and frustrations of this process. If you would enjoy walking this new journey with me, please log on frequently to see my blogs. We're going on an "Expotition"......come along for the ride!


P.S. Yes, I know "Expedition" is spelled wrong. According to Winnie the Pooh, however, an "expotition" is very exciting, an adventure into the unknown! "Sing Ho! For the life of a bear. Sing Ho! for the expotiton!" Home schooling here we come!