Lil Man makes progress

I am so happy yesterday we had a break through. Many of you may not know my kids, but you know some like them. They are the kids that slip through the cracks in the public schools. The ones who are exceptionally intelligent but with behavior issues that are deemed as annoying and not "really" a disability. They are the ones who know enough to get passed on but get through it so fast that eventually they will not retain it. They won't fail in school just later in life when it really counts, right. So because of this we homeschool.

We also homeschool for other reasons but I won't go into those today. For now I am sharing my pride in our trouble spot with Connor. Connor loves to tell stories but when it comes to writing it takes 45 minutes to write 4 words and that is with much crying and teethpulling. We have been doing lapbooks lately and even that smaller amount is really hard on him. But today he was awesome. His assignment was to write about the bullets and weapons of the American revolution on a 3 piece mini-book. He wrote in complete sentence format (without asking if he can only write the important words), he wrote in his own words (where I usually write the info on the board and he copies it), AND when I told him to add more to it  he happily did so with a short discussion of what he need to add. This was done in 10 minutes tops and done right.

The things that were different; I asked my oldest to take the answer sheet and using it as his guide work with his lil bro and help him, grandmother wanted to take them to lunch, we worked on our science project lab reports and then did our lapbook at our desks (which is a new thing). I am sure it had most to do with going to lunch BUT he did beautiful, nearly perfect work and did not rush through it. I am so proud of him and his bro for working together well, and for doing such an amazing job at school today.

What I did different today; read a World News Magazine while they were actively writing or left the room.  Hmmm wonder if that'll work again?  I love that God has given me this blessing. If he had been in public school this would have not been able to be celebrated and would have passed as just another day. If it even would have happened at all. 

Curriculum Part 1 - Spelling plans

I decided to go ahead and do the survey and placement tests for our spelling program now so I am prepared in the Fall to start our lessons. I think Connor tested right where I expected him but Brad tested lower than I thought he would. I am not surprised since I know how he writes and spelling is not his strong point but this was much lower than I thought considering his reading level is very high. 

I am hopeful that this program will benefit both boys and they will learn to enjoy spelling. I also am planning to somehow include Sequential Spelling for them both as a group lesson. I think they can both benefit  greatly from this course of relationships between words. It does not use traditional phonics lessons but shows the relationships instead a type of intuitive phonics if you will. I think they boys will respond well since it won't seem overly juvenile. I am starting with the first level and using the DVD with it so they can work together as I work with the baby. I really like that it is not a study type program which is the main reason I think it will work so well as a second program.

I plan on putting up some more of our curriculum we will be using this Fall. I am currently trying to reorganize our school room including our new desks for the boys. and will post on that when it is finished. We have about 3 more weeks of school before summer break is here and then things will get really crazy (and that's a whole other post)  so I am trying to get everything in order before August.