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| It seems every homeschool family just started a new school year. The internet is filled with "not back to school" posts. It is the BEST time to go out and socialize with other homeschoolers, or just to spend time with your family. The public school children are not crowding the bowling alleys, restaurants, movie theatres and so on. Ahhhh. We have the world to ourselves again. Contrary to stereotype, we do a lot of "socialization." Tina Hollenbeck, homeschool mom and creator of The Homeschool Resource Roadmap, recently summed the "socialization" issue well: "When you ask a homeschooling parent about 'socialization,' what you're really saying to her is, 'I don't trust you.' Is that what you really want to communicate to your friend or family member?" Do please trust that every parent imaginable will ensure Junior moves out of Mom's basement by the time he is 40. Thanks. So anyway... here's our "NOT back to school" post: |
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| Emperor at work. You know how football games last hours and hours and take up a whole weekend with lots of snack foods and yelling at the screen? Chess is wayyy beyond that. Over a week-long game. Hours a day. The kid is glued to the ICC all the time to watch the Sinquefield Cup. Just as in any other game, they have sportscasters and play-by-play analysis. The only thing they do NOT do? Is that slow-motion replay of moves they do in other sports. And. No screaming fans. Sorry. |
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| Because Woodjie has a bit of trouble with the socialization thing (let's be honest, autism does that a little), I am very intentional about playing games and doing other turn-taking activities. I'm counting this toward math as children need to know how to plot coordinates, read maps, and so on. |
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| Rose learned that this is NOT a great strategy for hiding her ships. |
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| Now you know where we live. Woodjie has helpfully provided you with a map showing our home in relation to the doctor's office, grocery store, and local Pizza hut. Traffic lights are even included. We are going out several times a week and working very hard with Woodjie especially on his "community expectations." Be kind to the moms out there bringing their autistic children around town. Because, do you know that the only way these kids will do a better job and learn? Is by practicing. We are doing a lot of practicing. :) |
I can't believe how grown up Rose is! Good luck this year, Mrs. C!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Deb!
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ReplyDeleteHi Christine
ReplyDeleteHow did you get Woodjie to write. I often read your blog as my son is like Woodjie. He can read but writing is beyond him despite me using worksheets etc and al ll the TV teacher writing DVDS until l I almost went bonkers. I am interested in your tips on how you got Wodjie started on handwriting
Thanks Christine you are a marvel
Karna
Sorry about misspelling Woodjie's name
ReplyDeleteHi, Karna, and welcome!
DeleteWe did lots of rewards and praises over every little tracing and letter. LOTS of rewards. We would also change rewards frequently and then when he was pretty well writing one letter at a time would reward for two or three together. He still struggles a LOT and I don't want to make it look like I'm a miracle worker. We are still going through the first grade spelling list (does, would, can, and words like that) and eventually hope he will WANT to write short sentences and little stories like his sister does. :)
HI Christine
ReplyDeleteI will try that with Malcolm. He is 14 and I have struggled with handwriting now for ages with him. So frequent rewards it is. teaching any kid with autism is very hard work. For stories I have found the ipad note app is a good way to go but physical handwriting is a real pain.
Karna
Thanks Christine