How much did your school experience decision to HS?

There's a really interesting thread going on at HomeSchool Spot, you can follow it here

How much did your school experience decision to HS?

Starting Out

We decided not to send my daughter to the Montessori school for kindergarten. Instead, she will be homeschooled here at home and attend a "farm school" one morning/week. It is a little school that will focus on animals and their care as well as nature and other outdoorsy things.
I have lots of good things planned, have created my "math lab" box with worksheets (mostly Miquon) and manipulatives. I ordered language lessons from Lost Classics Books as well as a history text. We are also using the Environmental Science curriculum from Oak Meadow, their Carpentry for Children and recorder. She has started soccer and my son will be continuing to go to the pool and the climbing gym. The only thing I haven't figured out is how to get both of them in a Spanish class or other language class.

How would you know a kid needs vision therapy?

How would you know a kid needs vision therapy? Also, what kind of professional would provide this? My son also has hypotonia, perfectionist tendencies, etc. Is vision therapy related to the visual processing difficulties I was asking about the other day? Still trying to figure this one out.

Vision Therapy

Here's a website explaining about Vision Therapy

It explains a lot of it. I must admit that I really don't get it all. It's more than just vision, it's also how the brain works. Very complicated stuff.

This web site has a list of doctors on it. Ours is listed as a fellow (Dr. William Ludlum). I think a good vision therapist is just as important as the doctor. Our therapist is actually the doctor's wife. I think she knows as much as her husband does. She is a truly amazing women. I feel so lucky to have found her. I know she gives lectures all over the world.

We have stuff that we're supposed to be doing at least every other day. If you think your child has a vision problem, I highly recommend checking it out. It has really changed my little girl's life.

PE Goals for our children

I think that the goal for our kids should be to be fit and healthy, whether it is through playing team sports or just rollerblading, hiking, walking with mom everyday, just being active, getting outdoors is so important. Is it possible that instead of driving everywhere (I am assuming you live in a more populated area than I do) maybe you both could walk to the store, to rent a video, the library, etc. He will eventually learn how to ride a bike and then he can ride around. I would also limit TV and video games and computer stuff.

Sports and Exercise

As far as the exercise goes, how old is he? My son is 11. He did not really learn to ride a bike until he was 7 or 8. He tried soccer and hated it! He also isn't the most coordinated kid on the planet. He just started tae kwon do and seems to like that but completely avoids team and group sports.

Let him choose his own path when it comes to exercise and fitness. If he likes to be outside playing on the swings or running around, that counts.

It's fun, it provides exercise and it costs nothing. I think our society is really a bit twisted when it comes to team sports. We start children younger and younger in these activities, we as a society want them to become "team players”, group participants and yes, "mentally tough". Think about that! It really doesn't make sense. I've never heard "mental toughness" being needed to overcome sensory integration issues. In the coach saying he needs mental toughness, he is nearly implying that he is just a "wimp" and needs to toughen up to overcome his challenges. Personally there is nothing I hate more than that type of faulty equation. Children should do things not to learn what I feel are "corporate" personality skills, but to find joy and pleasure in the physical activity itself.

I have been involved in various sports my entire life. Mental toughness? No, I don't think so. I look at sports for what they can do for us over the course of our lives.

There are a lot of mental or psychological benefits but for me, they are related to feelings of personal enjoyment and achievement. Perhaps He would enjoy more individually oriented sports, like swimming for instance. You can also consider hiking, running, climbing, or whatever he is interested in. He has lots of time to develop an interest. I wouldn't lose sleep over it. Offer choices and let him decide.

May I also suggest a book? Sportswise by Lyle Micheli MD.

Vision Therapy makes a Difference

Before my daughter started vision therapy she also would get tired a lot. When she was taking Karate she would just slump over and say she was tired. I thought she was just being a pain. I was amazed at the difference vision therapy makes.

Starting Martial Arts

My son is supposed to start vision therapy soon. I bet that does influence his level of comfort with the karate. The class I found that you pay by the class is more competitive/macho than this one I signed him up for. I think I just need to keep looking. I think I’ll let him watch for a while and wait for him to choose to join in when he is ready.

Tight Vision - What's that?

I was talking to one of the doctors at my daughter’s vision therapy the other day. I was commenting on how before we started the therapy she would never guess and now she does (some). The doctor was saying that she has what they call tight vision. She asked if her personality was loosening up as we loosened her vision. It was a light bulb moment. She has mellowed a lot. I thought it was just a confidence thing, but now I can see that it's more than that. The brain is such an amazing thing.