Adding some HOD material into 9th grade, special ed child

[rumkimom]

HI all, I have some questions about adding in some HOD materials for my 14 year old special needs daughter. Doing straight HOD would never work for her as her special needs just do not work with the way HOD does things, but I would love to add some of the Living books and such into her curriculum.

Just so you know where she is at....she has an official diagnosis (from a neuropsychologist) of PPD-NOS (autistic scale, but mild...very sensitive to tastes and sounds & majorly obsesses over things, socially several years younger than her age, needs lots of constancy/scheduling) and Expressive-Receptive Language Disorder (the Dr was fascinated by this...the best way she could describe it was that it was like the information is in her head but she can't get it out, kind of like a stroke patient). She can't listen to someone read and then very simple answer questions about it, but if she reads it and then reads a multiple choice question, she can answer it correctly. So read alouds and oral questions never worked with her (the the reason we switched from HOD when she was little, we tried for 1/2 a year). She currently reads missionary biographies for LA and does some grammar as well. She can't really write very well and what she does is at about a 3rd/4th grade level (and has been for several years). Math wise she is close to grade level (almost done with pre-algebra) and does well until you get to those word problems.

What I have planned for her so far this year....Finishing Pre-algebra and then going into algebra (teaching textbook, she is used to this format and likes it); Physical Science by Apologia (She only reads the book and does not do the worksheets/tests as they are open ended questions and she can't do them due to her disability. Sometimes she reads the chapter multiple times so I know she does understand it). Mystery of History book IV (she liked the other 3, so we are moving on to the last one. Again like with Science, she only reads the book.) For Grammar we are doing Easy Grammar Ultimate Series for Grade 8. Literature & writing-undecided yet. For electives she will do home economics & keyboarding (like typing).

My question is, I think her history is the same time period as Missions to Modern Marvels. Which of those books could I add on? Knowing her like for biographies, what kind of books would be good for her for literature this year? The read-alouds for this book, would those work? Should I try DITHOR with her at the lowest level? Comprehension for her is very hard (part of her disability). What we have done for the past 3 years worked well for middle school, but now that she is moving on, I think she needs a little more (and I know that the change will be very hard for her as she does best when I keep things consistent). I would also like her to do more for Bible/quiet time...maybe something from a 'younger' book as socially she is younger than her actual age.

With her once I decide on something for High School, I have to keep it consistent.
Thanks so much!

[LynnH]

As far as books to add to her history that wouldn't be too challenging of a reading level I would suggest both of the Hero Tales books, Candy Bomber, TEAM Moon and Gladys Aylward and Teresa of Calcutta and maybe Factory Girl. These would tie in with her enjoyment of Biographies and TEAM Moon and Factory Girl have lots of pictures which might also help her understanding. For literature I think you do have a good idea to do DITHOR at the lowest student book level and then pick books that are a little below her reading level to make the comprehension questions a little easier. For Bible study maybe the Heroes of the Faith study that is scheduled in Rev to Rev would work, again since it focuses on people it might make more sense for her.

[chillin'inandover]

Rumkimom,
I know you mentioned using Apologia Physical Science, but I believe MTMM science would also be a good fit. I have read all the books and they are interesting living books. The only living book that may be tougher is Atoms in the Family. As the books are read the child writes about what has been read. Snice living books have been successful in the past I thought I would suggest HOD MTMM science.
I haven't read the Evolution Grand Experiment, so I can't comment on that.
The ChemistryC500 labs are do able, and include lab sheets that allow analysis. The analysis might be a challenge, but I think she could do that too.
The Elements book has a living book feel and many hands on activities.
I agree with what Linda, pp, has suggested. I think Hero Tales books are a good read. My son read these when in 4th grade. I would suggest pre-reading some of the books or heed the warnings HOD mentions in TM. This time period addresses difficult issues as the age it is intended for. I don't say this to worry you as HOD is very conscientious. I just thought that your dd might be more sensitive to all the issues of war. Overall I think you would be able to use several components of MTMM TM and resources. HOD keeps Scripture central and the resources flow nicely together.

[rumkimom]

Thanks Lynn and Tammy,

Thanks for the suggestion/recommendation of HOD science. I took a good look at them.

I had a talk with her this morning about the fact that things would have to change some due to the fact that she will now be in high school and as I expected she was in tears. It will take her a few days to absorb what I said and accept it. I told her that she would have some choices (as far as history & science) and that she could think it over for a while. She does like consistency so I think a book with a list of things for her to do each day would make it easier for her in the long run.

I looked at the HOD chart to see where she would be if I would do full HOD (and I can't due to her disability, we would have to modify it no matter what book she would be in) and CTC is where she would fit. I did look at what that did for history and science....she has done that history time period twice already and also has read that science book (actually she has read ALL of the Alpologia elementary science books and most of the AIG science books). BTW, she does not plan to go to college....school is just too hard for her and because of that she does not like it. Her favorite subject is science.

Res to Rev - She did that history book last year but said that she would not mind doing it again. Also she has done astronomy, but it was her favorite book so she would be willing to do it again. Adding the other books in would make it a more advanced study than she had. Out state requirements say 2 sciences for High School but do not specify what has to be taken, plus with her like of science I am guessing we will be doing it every year.

Rev to Rev - this would all be new material if we would do it. I like the inventor study, but do not know if she would.

MTMM - if we would do this it would just be the history add-on books (with Mystery of History IV) & the science. I would have to add-on lower levels of LA materials & Bible.

Any other suggestions would be appreciated. Once she decides what she wants to do, then I can make up a plan for the rest of high school. I will have to adjust things as we go to make them fit for her abilities.

[Jennymommy]

Hi Wendy I know there are better advisors here in the form of Carrie and Julie, but I thought I would share my first impression. I think your daughter will enjoy the HOD format and the notebooking pages. I also think that starting with RestoRef and moving on through to WG could be a good fit for her with modifications. The science in RevtoRev is probably going to be interesting to her as she will get to read great books. Does she have any specific area of science that thrills her though? I substituted oceanography and sea creatures this year for one ds because that is his area of interest and he really needed to know that I was in tune with his heart It is a tough thing sometimes to look at this wonderful curriculum and think about changing aspects of it for our dc, isn't it? Yet, God will lead us in the right path for each of them, and I am praying and trusting this for you.

[LynnH]

You know Rev to Rev might be a really good choice. I know you said you didn't know if she would like the inventor study, but they are very interesting biographies so it would play to her strength. Also the Exploration Education Science is hands on and computer so no writing and not much reading. She actually might do better with it than with Apologia Physical Science. I know lots of kids that find that specific book dry. The bible study is the one I thought might fit her. The signers study is the looking for the same information every week as she reads about the signers of the Declaration. The chapters in that book are very short. That should fit her need for knowing what to expect. You could then modify other things as needed.

[Gwenny]

I also think HOD WOULD be a great choice for her. I have an 18 yo from Liberia that has even more severe learning disabilities than your daughter. She has done Preparing and most of CTC. She is about to start RTR. However, she does them on her own and I don't "correct" anything. I will help her with something if she asks. She reads the material and fills in the notebook pages and I don't "care" what she writes in them. She writes what she can come up with because they aren't necessarily asking specific questions. Or even if they do, just her writing something and thinking a bit about it is fantastic. It is amazing how much she has grown just by doing that. They draw beautiful pictures and draw and copy something for the timeline. That is easy for her to do and she loves it. If there is ever anything that she just can't do, she doesn't. The notebook pages and oral and written narrations are great for people who struggle also. They just do what they can do-even if it is a line or two or nothing, Because HOD is more interactive, like in the science, I think she would learn more than just reading the Apologia book. They are heady and somewhat dry.
Don't forget that children in special education are doing just that, having a "special" education and their requirements are to do what they can at THEIR level. They graduate with a diploma based on that, not on what others are doing. Even if that is 2nd grade level.

[rumkimom]

Thanks LynnH & Jennymommy. I asked her about the Physical Science book (she has read module 1) and she said that she did not understand it. It is then time to do something else.

Thanks so much Nancy!! I needed to hear that.

I am tending towards putting her in Res to Ref. Even though she has done some of it, I am thinking that repeating it and adding on more info (the notebooking pages & living books) might be a good place for her to start. That way I will not overload her brain with too much new information all at once. I like that they have optional Shakespeare Notebooking pages. She had a co-op class this past spring where they learned a little about him and read "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and did much better with the class than I expected.

I am trying to get a 4 year plan made out (which will may change due to how she is doing). As long as she is making progress, that is what is important. If I start her with Res to Ref, she will end high school with World Geography. I think I could use HOD for everything except LA and modify to make it fit for her. I will have to add in government, economics and health somewhere as they are requirements here. I will look for something that is elementary level so that she can understand it.

[StephanieU]

Rev2Rev and MtMM have some government and economics in them. I think with her disabilities, it might be enough. I would definitely see what is included, and then decide based on what you know about her skill level.

[rumkimom]

Thanks StephanieU. It is hard to know what is in each guide. I will have to write that down so when we reach that level I can check it out. Those are the 2 I wrote down to add it into.

[rumkimom]

Since I know my daughter will have some issues with the amount of work and how different this program is, I want to start her off doing maybe half of the work/day until she understands how to do it and can do some of it independantly (as it will be very mom intensive in the beginning.....and I have 3 other children, 2 will be in beyond and the other is a senior). Any suggestions on how to split it up? She will still do math everyday (she is used to that as we are not changing that program). Do I split it up by doing the basics one day and the History the other? Also how much time should she be spending on each box? Thanks!!