Homeschooling Special Needs in a Small Apartment
By Heather Idoni
Added Thursday, September 17, 2009
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The Homeschooler's Notebook
Encouragement and Advice for Homeschool Families
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Vol. 10 No 68 September 17, 2009
ISSN: 1536-2035
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Copyright (c) 2009 - Heather Idoni, FamilyClassroom.net
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IN THIS ISSUE:
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Notes from Heather
-- A Thank-You from Leslie
Helpful Tip
-- Free Unit Study on Sheep!
Winning Website
-- Thinkfinity
Reader Question
-- Schooling in a Small Apartment
Additional Notes
-- Newsletter Archives
-- Sponsorship Information
-- Reprint Information
-- Subscriber Information
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Notes from Heather
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A Thank-You from Leslie
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"Hello, Everyone --
I wanted to thank you all so much for responding to my situation
(depressed and homeschooling). I think I've realized that I don't
have to follow that curriculum to the 't' and that I should use it
as a 'tool' instead of making it the law.
Thank you to all who took time out of your busy schedule to respond.
I know that sometimes I read things and think I'll respond later...
but I never take the time. I won't do that anymore.
I want you all to know that each and every word is a treasure to me.
I have all of the responses saved on my computer so I can go back
for more encouragement when I need it. This week has been so much
better than last week. Not sure if the meds need to be tweaked or
not -- I still don't have much interest in anything -- but I think
that slacking up a bit on what we accomplish each day has lifted a
burden. Anyway, thanks again.
God is a great big God and I know he knows my name and my situation.
Thank you Lord for working through these wonderful ladies to bring
me encouragement." -- Leslie
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Do you have comments to share? Please do!
Send your emails to: mailto:heather@familyclassroom.net
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Helpful Tip
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Cool Unit Study about SHEEP!
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"I've written a new unit study on sheep. It is available here:
http://homeschoolingaddkids.com/blog/?p=281
It has video and fun, yet educational, ideas. And it's free!"
-- Kevin Broccoli, Author of the Homeschooling ADD Kids blog
Kevin is also a member of our Homeschool Country Living group!
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Do you have an idea, experience, or tip to share? Please write!
Send to: mailto:HN-ideas@familyclassroom.net
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Winning Website
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Thinkfinity -- www.thinkfinity.org
Funded by Verizon with content support from a variety of
organizations, this amazing site boasts over 50,000 K-12 lesson
plans, student interactive activities, and reference materials.
The site is searchable by grade level, subject area, keyword,
and more, which makes finding what you need a bit easier. While
you probably won't use everything offered on the site (it is
definitely geared toward classroom learning), there are still
plenty of helpful resources to be found.
-- Cindy, http://www.HomeschoolingFromTheHeart.com
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Last Issue's Reader Question
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"I have an 8 year old with ADD, Tourette's and learning disabilities,
who needs one-on-one with me nearly all the time. My 5 year old
is quite bright and able, but is just starting out and also needs
lots of individual attention. Additionally, we live in an apartment
where there really is not another place to go for very long.
Schooling, play, chores... life pretty much happens all in the open
downstairs living area. The 2 upstairs bedrooms are large enough
for beds, dressers and not much else. I'd love any suggestions
for how to constructively occupy my kids while I am working with
the other on schoolwork. Activities they can do, creative use of
space, how to keep the other from interrupting, creative scheduling
ideas... anything you can think of. Thank you." -- Dee
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Our Readers' Responses
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"Dee -- You have some intriguing challenges, but nothing you can't
manage. First, I'd recommend thinking in small increments - maybe
15 minutes, if your older son can handle that amount of time. Maybe
start with 15 minutes with one child, 5 minutes transition, 15 with
the other, then something they can both do - then back to working
individually for one or two cycles, and another group activity.
For the together time, consider educational games, a brief walk or
playtime outside, or a subject such as history or science that you
can teach to both together.
As far as having uninterrupted time during those individual 15 minute
segments, you may need to do some training here. Start by considering
what interests each of the boys - Legos, computer, dinosaurs, cars,
puzzles, coloring, etc. Search garage sales and resale shops for
additional items that will hold their interest for 15 minutes. Once
you have maybe 6-10, designate them for school time only. Train each
of the boys to play without interrupting you (if you need to, start
with 3 minute increments), and reward them (with your attention and
perhaps a small treat) for making it. Work up to 15 minutes (or
whatever time you determine).
Some ideas that have worked well for my children (my oldest son has
ADD and other issues also) include: K'nex or Kid K'nex, Legos, nearly
any other building toys, a mini trampoline (the legs unscrew so it
can slide under our couch when not in use - use it for free time or
for jumping on while listening to a story or reciting math facts,
etc.), LeapFrog or similar books that can be 'read' independently,
educational computer games (you can often borrow these from your
library before or instead of purchasing). Also, Marvelous Math -
http://www.heart-of.com/ - is an excellent way to learn/review math
facts. It's not at all flashy, but all of my children ask to play it.
Empty wrapping paper tubes and matchbox cars, homemade fishing game,
tangrams, and a marble toy - don't know what it's called as we bought
it used, but it has plastic pieces that you fit together to make a
track for marbles to roll down.
You also asked about creative use of space. It sounds like you have
a fairly open living area, but I'm assuming you have an eating area
and a sitting area, though they may be close together. The September
issue of Family Fun Magazine had an idea for a homework station that
could easily be adapted as a carrel to help cut down on visual
distractions when you are working with a child at the table. You can
find directions here:
http://familyclassroom.net/homework-central-workstation.htm
My kids also really enjoy forts - perhaps you could use a card table
or some chairs and large sheets to make a play space for the one you
aren't working with. As a final thought, what types of activities
help your older son settle down and concentrate? Physical activity?
Swinging? Compression of large joints (i.e. wheelbarrow walking,
being a 'sandwich' squished in between couch cushions - my son loved
this), classical music, a set routine? Whatever works for your son,
be intentional about including those things in your schedule. If you
don't know, look into scheduling a session or two with a pediatric
Occupational Therapist. You also may want to see if your older son
retains more information if he has a 'fidget' toy to manipulate while
he listens to you. It may look like his attention is elsewhere, but
for my son at least, he could concentrate on what he was hearing better
if his hands were moving - or even his whole body. Enjoy this time
with your sons, and remember that learning can happen in many different
ways - it doesn't have to look like traditional school to be effective."
-- Laurie
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"Keep activities short - 30 minutes or less, then change. This works
out well for young children. It is also easier for a child to keep
themselves entertained for short periods of time. The book 'Managers
of Their Home' was very helpful to me. http://www.titus2.com/
If your 8 year old's reading skills need to be worked on, you can work
with both children at the same time. It will be an introduction for
one child and a review for the other child. And use unit studies.
If the older child has basic reading down pat, and or some basic math,
you can assign him to help his younger brother. This serves as a
review for the older child, reinforces what has been learned, and it
provides you with a bit of down time (though you;d need to supervise),
and it is a boost to the older child's self-esteem.
You can assign either child to work on a Lego design, or a patterning
project where he must count out the number of blocks, classifying them
by color and size and creating a table -- or using graph paper to
recreate the design on paper and coloring it. This used to keep my
very active son happily occupied during rainy days. This and other
similar activities can work well for both children.
Teach each child how to do specific chores which they must master and
eventually get a reward or be paid for (motivation). They need to do
the chore totally on their own while you work with the other child.
I'm a substitute teacher and a management tool which has worked well
in the classroom that might help you is to determine the amount of
time you will need for each child. Then tell the other child that he
may have free play time (maybe have special toys or games for this time)
and set written rules down. Write on a white board or piece a paper a
word or phrase -- for example, 'NO INTERRUPTIONS'. Establish a reward,
or a point system. Every time the child interrupts or misbehaves, you
erase a letter. The total points earned are based on the letters left
on the board. For example, each letter equals a point -- if they earn
10 points they get to select dessert that evening or they get to choose
which video to watch. You can also do the opposite -- if they have
only 5 points left, they get a negative reward –- do the dishes, or
something they dislike. If you keep activity times short, they need
to earn the points for the entire day, not just the morning or afternoon.
Lastly, how about asking for help from your homeschool community? Maybe
teen might be able to come by and help out for couple of hours at least
twice a week? This way you'd have alone time with each child." -- Judy A.
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Answer our NEW Question
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"I homeschool my 5 and 7 year olds and we have been very blessed
with great support groups in the past. We have just moved to Bend,
Oregon and I have been looking for a support group and have not
found one yet. Does anyone have a good resource for finding a
support group or know of one in the Bend (Central Oregon) area?
I think it is important to find something so my girls can begin to
make friends. Thank you." -- Tracy
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Do you have a resource to recommend or specific information for Tracy?
Please send your answer to: mailto:HN-answers@familyclassroom.net
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