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Some background, DS, 7, has always had a rough time in group settings, he gets overwhelmed, frusterated, cries, gets stomach pains, headaches, etc.<br>
He complains everyday that everyone hates him, says he just wants to be alone, says he has no friends and so on.<br>
He has a very hard time grasping letter and number recognition, remembering letters and words he's just learned, so reading and math are a nightmare for him. He was in an intense daily reading session, and although he did make some progress it's nowhere near where he should be.<br>
On the other hand though, he's incredredibly bright when it comes to remembering facts that he has been told, or read to by us, or watched on tele. particularily non fiction. His teachers have told us repeatedly that they know that they can bring up the most abstract subject and everytime DS will start spouting information about it. His teacher had him explain the solar system to the class, which he did, then came home and built a scale model of it to hang in the classroom.<br>
And he's so imaginative, when he has to write sentences for spelling words, he'll create a huge story intead (I write it down and he copies it) with all the spelling words in it.<br>
He's a great little artist (enjoys painting and sculpting), loves fishing and tae kwon do, and is an excellent sailor.<br>
He's a smart kid.<br>
But.....he was just diagnosed with a learning disability by the school pschologists. This came as a shock to us as well as his teachers.<br>
They're now talking of adapting his learning program to suit his needs for 2nd grade.<br>
I'm really unsettled about this.<br>
I do not want him lableled, or set apart from the other students.<br>
I'm also not sure if I even want him in the system next year.<br><br>
Before he was born we had made a plan to homeschool him/her. We lived on our boat and traveled extensively. So that's how he grew up, until he was 5. During that time our twins came along and by the time school age popped up I was thinking I'd be nuts not to send these kids off to school ( if anything for the break for me!)<br>
Now I'm not so sure.<br>
The twins aren't an issue, they're doing great in school and I'd be doing a disservice to them if I pulled them.<br>
However, it's at the point now that DS is sobbing every morning before school, he's become very moody, very down, spends a lot of time alone, has increasing headaches and stomachaches. He seems depressed/stressed.<br>
I must add though, his teachers are amazing, they are doing everything they can to help him cope with his emotions, we're in contact almost daily, one of them gives up her lunchhour almost everyday to do extra math work with him. They've just been incredibly supportive.<br>
I have, lately been keeping him home the odd day, I set it up like a school day, although I have a home daycare so it's sometimes a challenge to get the right balance. He usually ends up at our kichen bar, away from the little ones but still within my range of vision. We mainly focus on the reading and math and he'll follow me around spelling words that I shout out to him or counting/adding/subtracting sums that I invent (ie;there are five babies standing in the kitchen, one falls down on his bum, two roll under the table, how many are left standing?) He comes along with us to the playground and brings a book that we both read. At lunchtime he eats from his lunchbag. In the afternoon he rides his scooter for a while, then he chooses geography or science topics to explore while the babies are napping. He ends his day with a documentary of some sort on the mini DVD player in his bed tent (a huge deal in this house) And the thing is, he seems to be 'getting' it. He's relaxed, he's smiling, his chatter is positive. And he's starting to really like books!<br>
So I'm really, really leaning towards keeping him home next year. The thing is I'm terrified of 'messing him up' or 'ruining him' , and I don't want to offend his teachers who are working so hard for him.....I know that sounds weird.<br>
Anyway, just my rambling thoughts.......<br>
anyone else here been through this or similar?<br>
Thanks : )
He complains everyday that everyone hates him, says he just wants to be alone, says he has no friends and so on.<br>
He has a very hard time grasping letter and number recognition, remembering letters and words he's just learned, so reading and math are a nightmare for him. He was in an intense daily reading session, and although he did make some progress it's nowhere near where he should be.<br>
On the other hand though, he's incredredibly bright when it comes to remembering facts that he has been told, or read to by us, or watched on tele. particularily non fiction. His teachers have told us repeatedly that they know that they can bring up the most abstract subject and everytime DS will start spouting information about it. His teacher had him explain the solar system to the class, which he did, then came home and built a scale model of it to hang in the classroom.<br>
And he's so imaginative, when he has to write sentences for spelling words, he'll create a huge story intead (I write it down and he copies it) with all the spelling words in it.<br>
He's a great little artist (enjoys painting and sculpting), loves fishing and tae kwon do, and is an excellent sailor.<br>
He's a smart kid.<br>
But.....he was just diagnosed with a learning disability by the school pschologists. This came as a shock to us as well as his teachers.<br>
They're now talking of adapting his learning program to suit his needs for 2nd grade.<br>
I'm really unsettled about this.<br>
I do not want him lableled, or set apart from the other students.<br>
I'm also not sure if I even want him in the system next year.<br><br>
Before he was born we had made a plan to homeschool him/her. We lived on our boat and traveled extensively. So that's how he grew up, until he was 5. During that time our twins came along and by the time school age popped up I was thinking I'd be nuts not to send these kids off to school ( if anything for the break for me!)<br>
Now I'm not so sure.<br>
The twins aren't an issue, they're doing great in school and I'd be doing a disservice to them if I pulled them.<br>
However, it's at the point now that DS is sobbing every morning before school, he's become very moody, very down, spends a lot of time alone, has increasing headaches and stomachaches. He seems depressed/stressed.<br>
I must add though, his teachers are amazing, they are doing everything they can to help him cope with his emotions, we're in contact almost daily, one of them gives up her lunchhour almost everyday to do extra math work with him. They've just been incredibly supportive.<br>
I have, lately been keeping him home the odd day, I set it up like a school day, although I have a home daycare so it's sometimes a challenge to get the right balance. He usually ends up at our kichen bar, away from the little ones but still within my range of vision. We mainly focus on the reading and math and he'll follow me around spelling words that I shout out to him or counting/adding/subtracting sums that I invent (ie;there are five babies standing in the kitchen, one falls down on his bum, two roll under the table, how many are left standing?) He comes along with us to the playground and brings a book that we both read. At lunchtime he eats from his lunchbag. In the afternoon he rides his scooter for a while, then he chooses geography or science topics to explore while the babies are napping. He ends his day with a documentary of some sort on the mini DVD player in his bed tent (a huge deal in this house) And the thing is, he seems to be 'getting' it. He's relaxed, he's smiling, his chatter is positive. And he's starting to really like books!<br>
So I'm really, really leaning towards keeping him home next year. The thing is I'm terrified of 'messing him up' or 'ruining him' , and I don't want to offend his teachers who are working so hard for him.....I know that sounds weird.<br>
Anyway, just my rambling thoughts.......<br>
anyone else here been through this or similar?<br>
Thanks : )
