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My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/2/2008 10:48:57 PM
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shakeray
Posts: 20
Joined: 7/2/2008
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Hi,
My name is Amy. I have a 9 1/2 yodd who was diagnosed with ADD in 1st grade. She was put on meds after I tried many natural herbs. She has barely grown in the time that she has been medicated. She only weighs 50 pounds and I just hate giving her meds to kill her personality and creativity. It has been on my heart to homeschool her for two years, but my husband does not think I can handle it. We have 3 other children ages 5, 3, and 2. I keep 5 other children in my home and I am in college via online classes. I really need advice on how to come up with a schedule if my husband does agree to let me homeschool her. ANy advice would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Amy
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/2/2008 10:57:54 PM
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zoebob
Posts: 8866
Joined: 4/13/2005
From: land of limbo
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How long do you have the other kids and how old are they? You can always HS your dd in the evenings after the other kids go home. HSing will actually be easier for an ADD child than traditional child. You can also do some hands on things with all the kids. For example, do a science experiment/lesson and have all the kids watch and learn something.
You can give the other kids pages to color or something at the same time as you are doing things with your student. If she's learning cursive let them have coloring pages about the alphabet. If you are studying history let the other kids join in.
_____________________________
L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/2/2008 11:04:08 PM
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shakeray
Posts: 20
Joined: 7/2/2008
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One boy is 3 and the rest are under 2. Nap time is what I am thinking will be a good time to teach her.
Amy
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/2/2008 11:09:39 PM
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zoebob
Posts: 8866
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From: land of limbo
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Yes, nap time would be a good time.
ETA: keep in mind that you won't need as much time with her as she was spending in school.
< Message edited by zoebob -- 7/2/2008 11:15:50 PM >
_____________________________
L-R: DD1, Ellies DS2, DD2, Ellies DS1
L-R: Ellies DD1, Ellies DD2, DS, Ellies DS3
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/2/2008 11:17:30 PM
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cindybode
Posts: 1581
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: Northwest PA
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Hi Amy! Welcome to forums. I'm glad you found us.
Homeschooling is wonderful for ADD kids. You can create an environment that works for her much more easily than the school can. You can get her out of the textbook/workbook thing, which doesn't work well for most ADD kids, and find a way to teach her that will encourage her creativity. You can do math upside down on the couch. 
If you decide to homeschool, you will have to set some priorities. Realistically, you may not be able to homeschool your own kids, keep 5 others, and take college classes. Maybe you can - I don't know you, so I don't know anything about your energy level and how much stress you can take before you're ready to dive off the deep end. But I honestly don't think you should jump into homeschooling unless you are willing to let something go if it becomes necessary. You can have it all, but you can't have it all at the same time.
Scheduling will very much depend on what style of homeschooling you decide on. Our family uses an interest-led approach (some folks call that "unschooling," but I've come to dislike that term because people assume my kids aren't learning anything) and therefore scheduling isn't as much of an issue. The kids work on their research and projects when they want to, and we work in math and whatever else on a very flexible basis. We don't have school and non-school time - for us it's just life, and we are all constantly learning. Someone who uses a more structured curriculum will obviously need to structure their time more as well.
I'm betting that with all those kids you watch, you already have something of a routine to your day. Look at what you already do and figure out how to work homeschooling into that, rather than upsetting your whole day. Do you have little kids that all nap after lunch? There's a chunk of time right there. Remember too that homeschooling does not have to fit into the 9-3 slot of public school. It might be better for you to save the things your daughter needs the most help with for after your daycare kids go home.
Remind your husband that if you choose to homeschool, it's not all or nothing. If it really isn't working, you can put your daughter back in school. However, make sure he is willing to give it a reasonable try before deciding that it's not working. The first year is always the hardest - you will make and throw out a schedule a dozen times before you find what works. You'll buy some wonderful sounding curriculum only to find out you all hate it. You'll have days when you're ready to put every single kid in your home on the next big yellow bus that comes down the road. There is a huge learning curve for everyone as you figure out how to teach math and keep everyone fed and get the laundry done.
I'll end by saying that if your husband is really against it, don't do it until the day comes that he's at least agreeable. Your life will be miserable if you try to do this without his consent.
_____________________________
If you lock in any creature, from rats to chickens to pigs to people, 10 to 30 or more in a box and force feed them you'll create little monsters. Confinement Education School Operations (CESOs) just don't compare to naturally pastured free-ranged kids.
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/3/2008 10:46:45 AM
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his_chosen
Posts: 937
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My youngest son would most likely be diagnosed with ADD/ADHD. He's never done well in a "classroom" setting--Sunday school or home school co-op. He just doesn't have the focus and can't sit still without wiggling. Heck, it's just been within the past 6mos or so that he's not falling off his chair at meal time! He'll be 10yo next week.
Hsing is PERFECT for these kids. You find what type of curriculum (or lack of!) works best for them. Ds4 gets lost when there are pictures/colors on a page. So we do worksheets/books of plain text. We've also found games that teach skills. Who needs worksheets to learn math facts when you can use a deck of playing cards? And sitting at a table just doesn't work for him, so he sits/lies/wiggles on the floor.
Can you do it with your other kids AND babysitting AND going to college? I don't know. You will probably need 1-2hrs to "do school". It doesn't have to be big chunks of time. YOur dd might need to pitch in and help around the house, too. Oh, and maybe help by reading to the other kids.
The first couple of months will be the hardest as you switch from "school" to home school. So you will need to give it time. I'd give it at least a semester or even a full year before you decide if it's going to work or not.
_____________________________
You have a choice. You can throw in the towel or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face.
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/3/2008 10:46:46 AM
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Ellie-Mae
Posts: 4283
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From: The EMPIRE state!
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It is much easier to hs than to ps with ADD... a LOT easier! Class room settings are a nightmare when it comes to children with ADD or ADHD.
I am wondering about your child' s lack of creativity and change of personallity. Are you sure that she is getting the right dosage for her? You may want to talk to the Dr about that. My son has ADHD. When he went on meds, he actually became seemingly MORE creative because he was finally able to concentrate enough to write/draw out his ideas and put them to work. He is the same child, but more focused and able to express himself.
_____________________________
Isaiah 40:29
He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
W2D1
292 more miles to go!
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/3/2008 1:49:54 PM
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cindybode
Posts: 1581
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From: Northwest PA
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Ellie-Mae
I am wondering about your child' s lack of creativity and change of personallity. Are you sure that she is getting the right dosage for her? You may want to talk to the Dr about that. My son has ADHD. When he went on meds, he actually became seemingly MORE creative because he was finally able to concentrate enough to write/draw out his ideas and put them to work. He is the same child, but more focused and able to express himself.
I meant to address this in the book I wrote above.  Homeschooling doesn't necessarily mean you will stop her medication. It might mean that, because a lot of kids who are on ADD meds really only need a change in environment. The school can't change the environment, so they push to get kids on meds to try and make the square pegs fit into their round holes. However, some kids really do much better on medication, and if they need it, they need it. Does she see a pediatric neurologist? If not, it might be a good idea. There are all sorts of meds out there for ADD, and sometimes it takes some trial and error to find the one that will work best for her.
_____________________________
If you lock in any creature, from rats to chickens to pigs to people, 10 to 30 or more in a box and force feed them you'll create little monsters. Confinement Education School Operations (CESOs) just don't compare to naturally pastured free-ranged kids.
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/3/2008 1:54:48 PM
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creationtalk
Posts: 611
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My son would be diagnosed ADD/ADHD (two dr's have offered Ritalin) if I were to put him in PS, which I won't because I refuse to drug him, for many of the reasons that you have posted.
I homeschool because I can schedule the little bit of "book work" we do for when he is most able to handle it. He does do some workbooks, but that is primarily because I'm a single parent. Other's watch him much of the time and many days I don't get him home before bed time. If that weren't the case, we would not use workbooks as more than a guide.
One advantage to homeschooling, if she is struggling with sitting, send her outside to run. This helps expel some of the excess energy.
Look for teachable moments--have her help with preparing food--she can measure ingredients and figure out how many 1/3 cups of XXX are needed to make 1 1/3 cup (measuring and fractions--both "core requirement" in math here). Discuss how you can take powdered ingredients, combine them with liquid ingredients, mix a paste, put it in a pan bake it in the oven, and some how come out with a great tasting cake (or cookies, etc). Some of the ingredients don't taste all that good separate (tasting each as it's added makes it a science experiment), but together they can make something wonderful (this is also a lesson in life...even if everything that is included in the "mix" isn't that great, with God's hand, when it has gone through the "oven" something good can come out on the other side).
The link below is various articles on homeschooling and ADD/ADHD. The home website of the link is a very good resource for all sorts of homeschooling questions and homeschooling methods.
http://homeschooling.gomilpitas.com/weblinks/ADD.htm
Do some research on homeschooling, go to your states education website and see if you can get a listing of the "requirements" for each grade (don't have to follow them, this is just for your information), come up with a plan for how you will educate your daughter. Then take it to your husband. He may be more receptive if you come equipped with information and a plan.
< Message edited by creationtalk -- 7/3/2008 2:01:53 PM >
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/3/2008 2:34:49 PM
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shakeray
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Ellie-Mae,
There is more to the looooong med story that I did not explain. DD was out on Focalin XR 10 mg in the beginning. She did awesome on that for about 8 months. She had to repeat 1st grade and that is when her new teacher started saying she did not think the meds were 'working'. At the next 6 month checkup the Dr. changed her to Adderall. The teacher said there was little improvement.I called the Dr. because we had just had a recheck. They changed her dosage to a higher dose. She was like a zombie, but I did not really realize it because it had worn off some by the end of the day. In hindsight I know we were over medicating her. She had a full phsych and it revealed a processing disorder. I took her straight back to the Dr. and made them put her back on the Focalin and I felt her come back immediately. No meds can help with processing, she just needs extr time that's all. 4 weeks ago she started Stattera. It takes up to six weeks to show results so we kept her on the Focalin. I am weening her off the Focalin and she is doing great!
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/3/2008 3:57:13 PM
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Jenny-Fair
Posts: 6656
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: WA
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I am ADD but fortunately they didn't diagnose for that when I was a munchkin. Also, because I haven aspie sister, she got all the medical focus and I was left to struggle with what I thought were character defects. Even now as an adult I struggle with this thinking.
Anyway, both of my kids would be diagnosed ADD or ADHD if they were in PS. They never have been, though, so they have escaped this. Basically they have learned to work with their challenges and strengths, and it took longer and is a process that the schools would not have been helpful with. Nate, for instance, is an auditory learner but frequently appears to be totally distracted. He rarely is, though. He can do more than one thing at once, and is most comfortable that way. I can understand--I have to be doing something physical, even if the project I am working on is totally mental. I keep silly putty in my purse (small children love me!) but it is for myself, lol.
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Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/7/2008 12:06:13 AM
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locomom
Posts: 243
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Amen to Ellie-Mae. Teachers have no business making comments about the dosage of medicine a child is on! The should let you know what problem(s) they are seeing in your child.
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/7/2008 8:47:18 AM
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dianetavegia
Posts: 1997
Joined: 8/23/2005
From: Southern Baptist, Non Calvinist, Pro Life Ga. girl
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Amy, home schooling is wonderful for so many reasons. My 13 year old is not ADD, etc., but we decided to home school when he was not even old enough for kindergarten. We're about to enter our 10th year!
No time constraints! Lessons can be done in any room. Those other 7 kids who'll be in the house will love 'playing school' and cutting, coloring or making patterns with coins or other objects. Your 9 year old can assist YOU in a 'preschool' setting for those kids teaching them colors and shapes while helping her at the same time. Hey, the moms will love it!
Be brave my young friend, and put away that medicine bottle. You and your daughter will do fine. The main thing to remember is to have fun and relax.
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/7/2008 10:32:05 AM
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Jenny-Fair
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From: WA
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Oh, Diane, you reminded me...I took care of a little girl from the time she was 1 until she was 5 and she demanded to be homeschooled too! So by the time she went away to kindy, she could read and write and do simple math and her mom was thrilled. Her mother called me to thank me after her first parent-teacher conference because the teacher told her that not only had Schuyler done well academically, but she was able to seat her between the rowdy boys and the girlie girls and Schuyler could, 'hold her own with those boys and still be polite'!
_____________________________
Tony: Ziva, did you kill Houdini?
Ziva: It is possible. I do not remember all their names.
My Blog
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RE: My husband wonders how I will HS our ADD child - 7/9/2008 6:43:51 PM
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cynthia
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That is the nice thing about hsing. You can fit the school around your child's needs and the way they learn. 
