tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34538343701859261712024-03-13T04:25:18.486-04:00Teaching TommyWhat does it mean to teach and learn with a child on the autism spectrum? As we homeschool our son, Tom, age 14, we learn more about learning... and more about ourselves.Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.comBlogger83125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-11773717340199860722010-09-03T22:12:00.000-04:002010-09-03T22:12:25.570-04:00How Does My Kid's Brain Work??In trying to set up a collection of homeschool goals, I needed to consider my child's strengths and weaknesses. <br />
<br />
It sounds easy, doesn't it? <br />
<br />
He's good at reading, but not so good at math. He's good at music, but not so good at handwriting.<br />
<br />
But then it gets tricky. And then it gets trickier.<br />
<br />
For example... He can grasp an author's style to the degree that he can, for example, write a novel story that sounds eerily like the work of Rudyard Kipling. Yet he can't define the main idea of the same story, and then tell you a few details. What's more, his grammar and punctuation are atrocious.<br />
<br />
He can play clarinet at the level of an advanced high school student if he hears and repeats it, yet he can't quite grasp the nuances of reading the notes on the staff. He loves band camp where he spends five hours a day practicing, yet moans if I ask him to spend ten minutes on the clarinet.<br />
<br />
He loves fine art, and can talk at length about the works of Monet, Van Gogh and Picasso. Yet he can tell you nothing about the period during which the artists lived, nor can he accurately explain the difference between France, Holland and Spain.<br />
<br />
What's he good at? Where are his challenges? As a linear thinker myself, I am finding it incredibly hard to develop a meaningful answer. He's a good writer and a rotten writer... a fine musician - or not. A knowledgeable young man or an ignorant kid. <br />
<br />
He's all of the above.<br />
<br />
OK, then. Time to write some goals!Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-88857396287571828782010-08-28T08:05:00.000-04:002010-08-28T08:05:54.496-04:00Tech Tools for Teaching a Kid with Executive Functioning ProblemsTom doesn't really work well independently. He'll do what I ask - at least the first portion - but if he gets stuck or finishes a part of the process, he just.... stops. What that means is that I wind up at his elbow, saying things like "okay, what's next?" or "do you have a question?" <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_l2vLN2BxkHH0UZauTM-dgwSk0v4YiSOPP1nXJTPcTsY8QscKgGUqfHB9wQHppDny7SNL8WKPoOorYGsZBYJLbNq_PqQ6Wa9qOhuTv8AI3yE_8WxJZTlYGarfAhtR5UDuXSY2qxOA54/s1600/timetimer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_l2vLN2BxkHH0UZauTM-dgwSk0v4YiSOPP1nXJTPcTsY8QscKgGUqfHB9wQHppDny7SNL8WKPoOorYGsZBYJLbNq_PqQ6Wa9qOhuTv8AI3yE_8WxJZTlYGarfAhtR5UDuXSY2qxOA54/s200/timetimer.jpg" width="194" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The TimeTimer visual clock</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Often I have to go farther to prompt him with directions such as "why don't you look at the next question on the page?" or "you've written the answer, but now you need to read it out loud to figure out where the commas, periods and capital letters go." Even when we have a written list of "what to do," it can be hard for him.<br />
<br />
The truth is, he's capable of continuing on his own. And with only the merest nudge, he does a reasonable job of proofing and correcting his writing, finishing the project, etc. In fact, Tom actually enjoys writing and doesn't dislike reading, math, or practicing his clarinet. The problem is staying on task, and thinking ahead (AKA executive function).<br />
<br />
To help him build some independence, I'm looking at software and hardware that might provide the prompts and direction he needs - so that neither I nor a future teacher will need to sit at his shoulder to prompt him. So far, I've found some interesting software that actually prompts a writer through the brainstorming, drafting and editing process - but nothing I'm sold on yet.<br />
<br />
A few things I'm looking at:<br />
<ul><li>This article from <a href="http://www.readingrockets.org/article/33074">Reading Rockets</a> about assistive technology for learning disabilities</li>
<li>A database called <a href="http://www.techmatrix.org/">TechMatrix</a>, which lists and reviews assistive technology for learners</li>
<li> A site called <a href="http://www.readwritethink.org/search/?resource_type=16">ReadWriteThink</a> which includes a whole mess of free, web-based interactives to support a range of projects including 5 para essays, persuasive essays, and more.</li>
<li>Inspiration Software (graphical organizing system - ordered a <a href="http://www.inspiration.com/Freetrial">freebie demo</a> to try out)</li>
</ul> I've also bought something called a <a href="http://www.timetimer.com/">TimeTimer</a> - a visual clock that, I'm HOPING, will help Tom to think about and organize time - and even stay on task! Tom's SLP (who's also a social skills coach) has used it with him effectively, so I'm thinking it may be a useful tool at home.Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-10053183915897950142010-08-25T09:44:00.000-04:002010-08-25T09:44:34.471-04:00Planning for a New Homeschool YearIt's August, and time to plan for a new homeschooling year for Tom, our now-14-year-old with autism (actually PDD-NOS, or high functioning autism). This will be our fourth year of homeschooling, and chronologically Tom will be entering 8th grade. We're hoping that, after this year, he'll be ready to enter what we understand is a wonderful charter high school - and with that in mind, we plan to focus much more on basic academic and social skills than on content acquisition (even though he'll be immersed in all kinds of content whether he "aquires" it or not!).<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx74iJGe4V235cmsG4PEY8in4oMcKf2FvR_tiD_av1rO5fpPpAnFBjdQrL1SgsGNeb2g81H9H4KubnnthQrflvdFugR0FM5KEjFSFUDMIUHhG8XSoDXONKAYd__jmo1EP86CrZ5zEnzg/s1600/tompharoah.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKx74iJGe4V235cmsG4PEY8in4oMcKf2FvR_tiD_av1rO5fpPpAnFBjdQrL1SgsGNeb2g81H9H4KubnnthQrflvdFugR0FM5KEjFSFUDMIUHhG8XSoDXONKAYd__jmo1EP86CrZ5zEnzg/s320/tompharoah.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tom as Pharoah!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Being a slightly compulsive planner, I already have most of Tom's program laid out. Like last year, he'll be taking part in two days of small group classes taught by an ex-homeschooling mom who also happens to have a teaching degree and experience in special education. These aren't "special" classes or kids, but the small size of the group combined with the expertise of the teacher make it a good opportunity for Tom. Truth is, I personally wouldn't have chosen the topics for Tom (The American Presidency, for example) since he does poorly with abstractions; in general he does much better with topics that are more limited in scope (like Ancient Egypt or Greek Myths, for example). <br />
<br />
Jessica, the homeschool teacher, has offered to work with us on helping Tom reach specific goals. Now "all" I have to do is figure out what the goals are, break them down into objectives, and select objectives that really make sense given the setting, the other kids, and Tom's real capabilities (which are always hard to grab hold of!).<br />
<br />
In addition to these Tues/Thurs classes which run from 9-1, here are some of my plans for the year:<br />
<br />
<ul><li>Continue with our genius of a math tutor who works with Tom on Sundays (we barter for his time, but have to travel over an hour each way!)</li>
<li>Continue with our genius of a clarinet teacher, who is a whole lot closer (he's a professor at a conservatory, and an absolute jewel of a person)</li>
<li>Continue with the after-school jazz band at the middle school (nervous since the wonderful and experienced band director has retired!)</li>
<li>Continue with our genius of a speech/social skills therapist, who is now helping Tom to interact socially with other kids at about his age and level </li>
<li>Restart tennis at a local tennis school (for reasons I can't understand, Tom seems to love and be reasonably good at tennis)</li>
</ul>We're also working on ideas for building Tom's independence and academic skills. With that in mind, we're thinking about -<br />
<br />
<ul><li>buying a small laptop and teaching him to take notes using a keyboard (he's been learning to type on Mavis Beacon software, and he's a decent typist)</li>
<li>tapping into Universally Designed software programs intended to prompt learners with LDs and other issues (much more on that soon)</li>
<li>purchasing a "visual clock" that actually counts down so you can see how much time is available (Tom is still really unable to understand the concept of hours and minutes fully, though he's fine with days, weeks, months and years) </li>
</ul>Whew! Sound like I'm biting off an awful lot, but since the vast majority of what we're doing is NOT being done by us (mom and dad), the biggest challenges are organization and, of course, cash money to PAY for all this wonderful equipment and programming. Of course some is free, and some we barter for... but with all that, getting a child with autism out of the house and into typical settings with appropriate programs and support isn't the all-time cheapest or easiest road to take!<br />
<br />
More coming very soon... meanwhile, any thoughts or questions are welcome!Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-43607651675799628262010-02-28T08:24:00.001-05:002010-02-28T08:25:02.100-05:00It's All About MotivationTeaching a child with autism takes time. Lots of time.<br />
<br />
With Tom, the issue isn't compliance. And it isn't behavior. To some degree I could say that it's about comprehension. But most importantly, it's about motivation.<br />
<br />
Tom's happy to go out... or stay in. He's perfectly willing to do a project if we sit next to him and give him direction and support. But almost inevitably, when we step away, he's off in his own head - or back on the couch, flipping through picture books and waiting for his next instructions.<br />
<br />
The reality is, there's no good reason for him to actively want to complete a project, read a whole book, or think of and execute something on his own. There are no peers he wants to share things with, and the idea of excelling in something for its own sake hasn't really caught on. Competition doesn't interest him. And as soon as he shows himself capable of doing something on his own (making lunch, taking a shower, and so forth), we immediately expect him to do it every time.<br />
<br />
From time to time, we offer bribes for independent work (sometimes called "reinforcers," or "motivators."). But we've found that then the process becomes all about the prize. When we withdraw the prize reward, he's still willing to do the work - but only because we insist, support, and nudge.<br />
<br />
I keep hearing how people with HFA and Asperger syndrome are passionately involved in their areas of interest. I see kids on the spectrum who fit this mold. But I'm still working on just how best to help my own child discover his own sense of purpose and direction.<br />
<br />
And, meanwhile, I'm working on a skill that's eluded me for a lot of years: patience.Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-52348350913812907862010-02-02T08:51:00.004-05:002010-02-02T09:04:15.940-05:00The Frustrations of a Busy ScheduleWe've been busy, Peter and I... and it shows in Tom's homeschooling experience. <br /><br />When we first got started with homeschooling, I had a steady gig... we had health insurance on the COBRA plan... and there's was plenty of time to create unique study units based on Tom's personal interests. <br /><br />We explored Cape Cod; took field trips from Bourne to Provincetown. <br /><br />We went to Boston museums on a regular basis, and checked out many of the homeschooling programs and events offered throughout the whole area.<br /><br />We used the woods, the lakes and the beach as our classroom... we took on complex art projects and even went on a whale watch.<br /><br />All that wonderful creative activity has gone up in a puff of smoke, though, as we struggle to keep our financial ducks in a row. <br /><br />The steady gig disappeared in a budgetary implosion. COBRA dried up. "Guaranteed" markets I'd relied on for years no longer exist... and many "sure thing" gigs suddenly decided the money wasn't available to outsource. It takes most of our time, energy and hard work just to keep the work coming in and going out in a timely manner.<br /><br />That doesn't mean Tom isn't learning: he certainly is! He's now with a group of homeschoolers twice a week, giving him the opportunity to learn social and collaborative skills (and us the chance to get some work done!). At home, he's working on critical academics: reading comprehension, long-form writing, mathematics, computer skills. And of course there's still music. <br /><br />But it's not the wonderful, fun, free exploration we started with... and I miss it. <br /><br />The funny thing is, Tom rarely seems to feel he's missing out. Sure, he'd love to get to the art museum - but it's by no means an obsession. In fact, he seems perfectly happy with our much-more-predictable but much duller day-to-day schedule.<br /><br />Can't help but wonder whether all the creative, open-ended activity we were doing was more for me than for Tom??Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-61229041329117950922010-01-03T15:27:00.006-05:002010-01-03T15:40:08.583-05:00Homeschool and Autism: New Skills for LearningAccording to the mythology, kids with autism are absolutely fanatical about legos, K'nex, computers and video games. Not so Tommy. In the past, he'd stuff his legos into his piggy bank until it was so full that nothing could be removed... or build "contraptions" with bits of legos and string, and carry them around in his pockets.<br /><br />This Christmas, though, he received the K'Nex Roller Coaster - hundreds of tiny pieces, dozens of pages of diagrams, and an amazing payoff: a working electrical roller coaster. Together with Dad, Tom actually built the thing - and it works! It's a huge step forward for him, and may be - in part - a result of working on hands-on collaborative projects with a homeschool resource center.<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ULGksYM4o3ckXuQHGHYU61V45vCtq4DI02P6FuOO7Ls9sSnhR2HfLVGk3_Xs14UK_3m7oaxHB49DJ4QpbLNRdjM_Ckso-WuM2OUZr6gf_skrQlwCSUtRcTJpom0ok1UICkFp-6_uMz8/s1600-h/TomCoaster.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ULGksYM4o3ckXuQHGHYU61V45vCtq4DI02P6FuOO7Ls9sSnhR2HfLVGk3_Xs14UK_3m7oaxHB49DJ4QpbLNRdjM_Ckso-WuM2OUZr6gf_skrQlwCSUtRcTJpom0ok1UICkFp-6_uMz8/s320/TomCoaster.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422614334526710402" border="0" /></a>In addition to building and experimenting, each member of Tom's homeschool group of 9 kids or so learned about and reported on an explorer. Tom picked Hiram Bingham, discoverer of Macchu Pichu (in Peru). In the photo below he is making his presentation to the group!<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /></span>Our next challenges are biggies. We're taking on executive functioning skills, social interactions, and reading comprehension on a higher level (beyond who, what, where and when - we're now looking at "why," and "what does it all mean?").<br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BGBrkdxG-r_DnDr-10uKuaDkoAmxlMDxl8reTaaxZNBWJUZSdB5gGlzsG7sP_KSp1BDMRvzxsveeU-Dhk_uk4lqYiXzAQ4UdUNUznhyHeIW5u4jY0va6ZjUYggEBoHzO9xbiUdGUnEQ/s1600-h/hirambingham.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1BGBrkdxG-r_DnDr-10uKuaDkoAmxlMDxl8reTaaxZNBWJUZSdB5gGlzsG7sP_KSp1BDMRvzxsveeU-Dhk_uk4lqYiXzAQ4UdUNUznhyHeIW5u4jY0va6ZjUYggEBoHzO9xbiUdGUnEQ/s320/hirambingham.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422613718173244194" border="0" /></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script><noscript></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-52544760239231383192009-09-08T22:51:00.003-04:002009-09-08T23:04:09.016-04:00Fall 2009: A New Year, A New Beginning<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script>Last spring, we tried hard to get Tom into a local Montessori-style middle school, based at an organic farm just minutes from our house. But he just wasn't ready.<br /><br />The concerns were understandable. He needed independent learning skills. He needed conversation skills. He needed collaborative skills. Those skills are just in the earliest stages right now. So -- we decided to try to teach him those skills through direct instruction and practice.<br /><br />We put together a program of study that includes two full days at a homeschool resource center. That means time to work for us, and time with other kids for him. He's nervous, which is understandable, and he's talking about his concerns with his "talking and thinking coach," Kathleen. We'll also be using the Model Me Kids videos and workbooks to help him manage his social anxiety -- and, hopefully, get to the point where he can really engage with other kids in a natural way.<br /><br />Today, we went for a visit to the new "non-school school," and talked with the teacher, Jessica, about his concerns. She reassured him that yes, it's okay to have and keep your pocket toys and no, you don't have to share them. It's okay to be quiet so long as you say SOMEthing (I don't know is acceptable). I THINK he's comfortable with all that!<br /><br />Three days a week he's with us -- and BUSY. We're doing independent reading (found a literature reader/workbook combo which should arrive shortly). We're working on math based on the fabulous tutorial involvement of dyscalculia expert Mahesh Sharma (yes, it's over an hour away, but we go twice a month and it's worth the drive). He's continuing with clarinet AND saxophone with his wonderful music teacher, and starting a new afterschool jazz band. He's starting with Rosetta Stone Spanish. He's going to try out a new homeschool gym program.<br /><br />All this overscheduling is, we hope, going to make it easier for both Tom and us. Easier for Tom because we'll have a clear, written schedule that includes time for TV and relaxing. Easier for us because both Peter and I will KNOW who's doing what, when, and how.<br /><br />I'm thinking of this year as a "bye" year: if things work out, instead of starting 7th grade this year, he'll start next year -- as a first year student at the Montessori School. If it doesn't work out, we'll just think of it as a repeated sixth grade year, and move forward.<br /><br />Wish us luck!<br /><noscript><br /><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-55691038453463763202008-11-17T21:43:00.003-05:002008-11-17T21:57:43.750-05:00Tom and the Shaggy Dog Story<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script>In the past few weeks, Kathleen (our wonderful speech therapist) has been doing a little bit of testing and evaluation at our request. It's been an interesting experience. <br /><br />Kathleen asks Tom what the object is on the page, and Tom replies "that's just a toothbrush."<br /><br />"And what do you do with a toothbrush?"<br /><br />"Well, when it's bedtime I go upstairs, and then I go into the bathroom. And then I brush my teeth. And I use my toothbrush to brush my teeth."<br /><br />"What goes with a toothbrush?"<br /><br />"Well, when I brush my teeth I use my strawberry toothpaste."<br /><br />It's the long winded approach, but it gets where it's going. But now try this on for size. Kathleen asked Tom what foods he likes to eat. We got into a conversation about trying new foods, and he said "I don't like trying new foods."<br /><br />"But sometimes," I said, "you like trying new foods. Like garlic bread. You liked garlic bread."<br /><br />"Yes," said Tom. "This summer we went on a whale watch. We went to Provincetown, and the waves were huge. I felt scared, and I was crying. Some people threw up!" (Here I tried to interrupt to get him back on course, but Kathleen stopped me)<br /><br />"But after the whale watch," Tom went on, "we went into the town. I saw the pirate museum, and I wanted the pirate toy. But I didn't get it. But then we went to the candy store, and we went to the restaurant. And I wanted pizza. But Dad said, I have something neeew you might like. And he said try this bread. And it was garlic bread. And I liked it!"<br /><br />A ha! At the very end of the shaggy dog story, there was the garlic bread - safe and sound, and really foremost in his mind after all. Who would have guessed? You'd think I would have worked it out, but today I was surprised again. <br /><br />We were at Kathleen's and Tom pulled out a toy I'd never seen - a little turkey-like plastic bird. I asked where he'd got it, and he went off on a long riff about picking things up off the ground and why we don't like him to do it, and how he feels about that... and on and on...<br /><br />"But Tom - where did you get THAT bird?" I asked again.<br /><br />"Well, when I lived in Pennsylvania, I went to pony camp."<br /><br />"Yes, you did - but - "<br /><br />"And my favorite horse was Scooby. And there were lots of different animals living there. There were pigs, but they weren't pink. They sometimes got angry. And there were goats. Do you know what goats like t eat? They like crab apples. And grass. And there were sheep. The sign outside the sheep pen said 'baa baa black sheep.' And there was Fred the Rabbit. I liked to feed him. And sometimes we went inside the barn, and had lunch. And that's where I found this toy."<br /><br />Now, I know I am somewhat directive in my style, which is something I have to work on. But I have to say it never occured to me in my wildest dreams that Tom's long winded, totally off-topic wanderings weren't off topic wanderings at all, but rather shaggy dog stories with a point and a purpose. I guess it just goes to show what you can learn if you stop assuming you know what's going on, and actually pay attention.<br /><br />Lesson - mostly - learned.<br /><br /><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-58507371061017360602008-11-08T13:19:00.004-05:002008-11-08T13:48:03.683-05:00Bird Tracks (and others) In the Sand<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVWcu3bevjRhNuvbKi67Q8txfjCqNl4z3DbJHuZBU2onYP0Js6MH4ZX50HG4BirZyGCT89pd0JWG9sJAR9CETxiB6qBMNuHu1DScBb-Ag5WI2Ik5ScaWgaQloYiS7xtAmpUZPT7K3J5c/s1600-h/tracks7.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpVWcu3bevjRhNuvbKi67Q8txfjCqNl4z3DbJHuZBU2onYP0Js6MH4ZX50HG4BirZyGCT89pd0JWG9sJAR9CETxiB6qBMNuHu1DScBb-Ag5WI2Ik5ScaWgaQloYiS7xtAmpUZPT7K3J5c/s320/tracks7.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266360169083285042" border="0" /></a><br />As part of our birding unit, Tom and I went to the local beach with a camera at lowish tide to see what we could find in the way of bird tracks. As you can see, we found a lot more than we counted on! In addition to tracks, we also discovered (on the tidal marsh side of the road) a whole colony of what I believe are fiddler crabs: crabs that dig holes, and have one huge claw. Mighty cool indeed.<br /><br />Once we found and photographed these tracks, I cut and pasted them into a word document. Then I added lines beneath each photo, and asked Tom to write captions.<br /><br />So... can you figure out what made all these tracks? Any ideas about what was going on?<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEPDr-UzBUzW8sGc-XpZlwaO5w86tpg7Q-aZUvuFrSr2cDdvghIigY8wolYkr27e9ZiHMjNK6kZx0rzleHK6CcD8gvRDrAJtIK6NXTh8Oo9O8Lcq8pzCk6JcJqQ3ShXxCk6XmQuXm5oc/s1600-h/tracks4.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOEPDr-UzBUzW8sGc-XpZlwaO5w86tpg7Q-aZUvuFrSr2cDdvghIigY8wolYkr27e9ZiHMjNK6kZx0rzleHK6CcD8gvRDrAJtIK6NXTh8Oo9O8Lcq8pzCk6JcJqQ3ShXxCk6XmQuXm5oc/s320/tracks4.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266357275748538930" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprhBqney7B-k-o0QGRg87uiLJI4TG-bZCAZvAcFSXfrdRcP4b5Dv8xPKCo6XGAg00eXraqYlnIUTw4CCoeB40cGlmFYG2wgMSH_9eRsWLHW3xgUY8PPUT88TjiWG-MxbVX8WxElR9k9E/s1600-h/tracks3.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjprhBqney7B-k-o0QGRg87uiLJI4TG-bZCAZvAcFSXfrdRcP4b5Dv8xPKCo6XGAg00eXraqYlnIUTw4CCoeB40cGlmFYG2wgMSH_9eRsWLHW3xgUY8PPUT88TjiWG-MxbVX8WxElR9k9E/s320/tracks3.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266357269514333026" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIzNwTFoleTdUj6MdZNeA6Oqom3ZHXKkqETapwje2H7EzQJchJXt-KDYy_r9kxGywQ910NEmqh0tgglouyJHUwf1xI_4usDwMzWmY6WNWVxqtwnQnyr5pMUAtD_b3xiVFTBJiZt5sgMs/s1600-h/tracks2.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizIzNwTFoleTdUj6MdZNeA6Oqom3ZHXKkqETapwje2H7EzQJchJXt-KDYy_r9kxGywQ910NEmqh0tgglouyJHUwf1xI_4usDwMzWmY6WNWVxqtwnQnyr5pMUAtD_b3xiVFTBJiZt5sgMs/s320/tracks2.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266357258840978818" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwgElgysKJ33KXyuFyaWW2GOmxc5uSgJF_2sGQX3qrfu5KLcVT36-UQkX3UghJGsa8ngOV1WfS2o8hrPnfMtZgZ9scoWsxtYRcJkLWADPuFZA2VmDQvcS0nXv4TiAOiXcA9iOz3mo98o/s1600-h/tracks1.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzwgElgysKJ33KXyuFyaWW2GOmxc5uSgJF_2sGQX3qrfu5KLcVT36-UQkX3UghJGsa8ngOV1WfS2o8hrPnfMtZgZ9scoWsxtYRcJkLWADPuFZA2VmDQvcS0nXv4TiAOiXcA9iOz3mo98o/s320/tracks1.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266357246666386434" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWVSwo4xdX6IE_45Gq-Ecfkr0cSMDFDg2BgY-JVMNPzwp3_jn2imsUXB_0Sf6bH8Myrvt0WHF4AwLhk4JlB7jZW4Vp7_LXc_mEx-H8AWrNSxMPUeEZtY2DwS66IigTIfvXdeI4Z4OypI/s1600-h/tracks5.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoWVSwo4xdX6IE_45Gq-Ecfkr0cSMDFDg2BgY-JVMNPzwp3_jn2imsUXB_0Sf6bH8Myrvt0WHF4AwLhk4JlB7jZW4Vp7_LXc_mEx-H8AWrNSxMPUeEZtY2DwS66IigTIfvXdeI4Z4OypI/s320/tracks5.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266357285418833362" border="0" /></a><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script><br /><br /><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-90088873478141651672008-11-02T20:46:00.002-05:002008-11-02T21:09:44.871-05:00When Are High Standards Too High?<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script>In the last few days, I've had a number of reasons to wonder whether I'm holding Tommy to too high a standard.<br /><br />We've had Tommy meet with a math tutor once a week, because I thought it was important to supplement TouchMath, which is calculation-oriented, with some content on number sense (focusing on the purpose of the calculations in real life, but also on non-calculation skills like graphing, understanding the concept of multiples, etc.). In conversation with our tutor, I said,<br /><br />"I know Tom can multiply - but I don't think he has any idea of how to USE multiplication. I'm not even sure he fully understands that 6X3 is the same as 3X6, or the same thing as six groups of three."<br /><br />"Actually," she replied, "lots of people don't understand that. I'm not sure I fully understood that until I was in high school."<br /><br />REALLY?? Oh....<br /><br />We went candlepin bowling, as usual on Saturday. As usual, Tom spoke to no one, and threw the ball two-handed (instead of the usual way, with one hand). He did well: around 70 points. Naturally, I wanted him to interact; to throw the ball "right;" to keep his eye on the scoring screen to know when his turn was up. In other words, I wanted him to act "normal."<br /><br />But while he was doing his thing, another boy just his age was throwing a temper tantrum. I mean, a real doozy. Another boy his age was rolling the ball - and then rolling on the ground himself. These were not "special needs" kids: they were twelve-year-old boys who are NOT on the autism spectrum.<br /><br />Later this week, I was talking with Tom's speech therapist.<br /><br />"I just don't think he fully grasps the ideas of same and different or bigger/smaller," I said. "I mean, he can tell you three ways in which a swan is different from an eagle - but he can't tell you whether six is bigger than nine."<br /><br />"But he could tell you if you put it differently. For example, if you said 'I have six toys and you have nine toys. Who has more toys?"<br /><br />Hm... <br /><br />She went on to ask whether Tom had trouble in changing his schedule, based on our unpredictably changing job requirements. I responded that he really didn't - he's not an especially rigid person.<br /><br />"That's huge!" she exclaimed. "Most kids have a very hard time when their routine is disrupted."<br /><br />REALLY? ohhhh....<br /><br />Last night, my husband Peter and a local selectman put on a "star party" (observing the moon and planets through telescopes) right down town in front of the library. I stayed briefly, but the kids hung out. One man said to me "wow - I never knew Jupiter had stars around it!" "Those are moons," I replied without thinking.<br /><br />Y'know, Tom knows all about the moons of Jupiter. He can also name all the planets in order, and describe each. Hm..<br /><br />Today, I took Tom, Sara, and a friend of hers for a little expedition. We went to a state park, and started exploring a trail. Within about a hundred feet, we knew we weren't on a "real" trail, but both my kids saw a quarry and wanted to check it out. The friend, who is very neurotypical indeed, was scared to stray off the trail - and almost burst into tears with anxiety. As we turned back, Tom wanted to know what the problem was. Why was Sara's friend crying? All he and Sara wanted to do was explore! <br /><br />Later in the day, we took another path to the "sliding rock." It's a big boulder you can climb and slide down. My kids scampered to the top and slid without thinking twice. Sara's friend wouldn't even think of climbing to such a height. A perfectly reasonable anxiety - but one Tom has never shared.<br /><br />This week, I also heard from a friend of mine. She has a 13 year old who is truly the perfect kid. He's tall, handsome, a fine athlete, a brilliant student - and a really delightful human being. Not only that, but so far as I can tell he's never had a pimple! I asked how he was. "Where do I start? " she said. "Well, Joey's been diagnosed with OCD. He got to the point where his rituals took two hours a day to complete, and what with traveling soccer four days a week and advanced high school classes, he just couldn't get through everything. So now he's seeing a therapist..."<br /><br />Tom is, of course, my first child. I have no close nieces, nephews or neighbor children to compare him to. All I really know, as a result, is that he's twelve, and autistic. I know that some 12 year olds can stay home alone, call friends, make their own play dates, even pick up younger siblings at friends' homes. Tom could no more do those things than fly. But he CAN... evidently... do a great many other things that are beyond the reach of his typical peers.<br /><br />Who knew?<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-28315041327389267352008-10-26T19:51:00.004-04:002008-10-26T20:38:21.864-04:00Bird Beaks<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script>Sara (our public-schooled nine-year-old) had a rotten cold one day, so she stayed home with Tom - and had a grand time being homeschooled. Truth is, homeschooling really is a bit tougher than school-school (higher expectations and more supervision!), but on the other hand it's often a lot more fun.<br /><br />On the day she stayed home, we were planning a "bird beaks" lesson based on the recommended activity in the KONOS curriculum. It involved finding household items that resemble various different kinds of beaks, and foods (or non-foods) that resemble tasty bird treats - and then experimenting to figure out which kind of beak (and bird) works best with which food item.<br /><br />We made spaghetti to simulate worms and used peanut butter to stand in for mud... found some unpopped popcorn for seed... tossed some uncooked rice on a plate to be bugs... and so forth. The kids had a great time with tongs, tweezers, and other "beaks," trying to grab each type of food. As they decided which type of food went with which type of beak, we then looked through our bird guides to find real-life examples of the birds, beaks, and food.<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbtkNKcQHMx3xTPGavJS6nPjYw-0GWAYxPkTuOiZ2_YOAD59w18HKoGMREKdsV0fwTufrX923Lr9Ql9lGc1T6HjaZDVewAHZJQnbu1Eep1-Xr6QD-YovQ1Bb0b2hBtlFSxyjujwGtpFc/s1600-h/HPIM4707.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 252px; height: 190px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfbtkNKcQHMx3xTPGavJS6nPjYw-0GWAYxPkTuOiZ2_YOAD59w18HKoGMREKdsV0fwTufrX923Lr9Ql9lGc1T6HjaZDVewAHZJQnbu1Eep1-Xr6QD-YovQ1Bb0b2hBtlFSxyjujwGtpFc/s320/HPIM4707.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261623312546642690" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Tweezer-shaped beaks work well to pick up seeds like popcorn.<br /></div><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy460G-aQFkTzT2voIjEMDLrxoyIW8oc8u-VNEEmo5tABk4VY8UaDfJlqH1qQRieuwi0NI41QgeGcye4A6dXhf_6PMU6pgUbFIxC9x2idaw5iBGy_0vuFjHG9rhgD4rfJ-zqJaKjRXlo/s1600-h/HPIM4700.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIy460G-aQFkTzT2voIjEMDLrxoyIW8oc8u-VNEEmo5tABk4VY8UaDfJlqH1qQRieuwi0NI41QgeGcye4A6dXhf_6PMU6pgUbFIxC9x2idaw5iBGy_0vuFjHG9rhgD4rfJ-zqJaKjRXlo/s320/HPIM4700.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261623303273569746" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0756637686?ie=UTF8&tag=homeschoolunits-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0756637686">EyeWitness Birds Book</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=homeschoolunits-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0756637686" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> is a great image resource<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT23ry2g7UeAQgfAzM72nqb6nh_t1u7aEMAchKlOtazqVRuufjCoWxGju91QIIzrzanfzPp5Qzd9s0e7lQl83sBOEUTjUeppAVJiRkz_yvv2IkVaraxTChqWR8yehquTE6OlD6PrBbXOY/s1600-h/HPIM4702.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT23ry2g7UeAQgfAzM72nqb6nh_t1u7aEMAchKlOtazqVRuufjCoWxGju91QIIzrzanfzPp5Qzd9s0e7lQl83sBOEUTjUeppAVJiRkz_yvv2IkVaraxTChqWR8yehquTE6OlD6PrBbXOY/s320/HPIM4702.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261623296846378098" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Which beak works best to grab worms?<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsRRr6EVvt-rB5tcjuUdhSjrlX47GF0sB9Y_umVADY8bNNcWrht0YW0Q5KlEINrPRb7x8TKtsVl7JVUCubw_6yt7pp4ydMWG9KjbhdF7EdZPdDGt7wIzLyvN1vMH7OlwEeY19R1-tlog/s1600-h/HPIM4703.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTsRRr6EVvt-rB5tcjuUdhSjrlX47GF0sB9Y_umVADY8bNNcWrht0YW0Q5KlEINrPRb7x8TKtsVl7JVUCubw_6yt7pp4ydMWG9KjbhdF7EdZPdDGt7wIzLyvN1vMH7OlwEeY19R1-tlog/s320/HPIM4703.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5261624884467537954" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Sara learns how tong-shaped beaks work!<br /></div><br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=homeschoolunits-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0756637686&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe><br /><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-8426335804602817372008-10-23T16:50:00.005-04:002008-10-23T17:21:31.188-04:00Hands-On Homeschool Birding at the AudubonTo round out our Birds Unit, I thought we should take a trip to the Audubon Society and get a "real" birding experience. I called - and lo and behold, they were happy to put together a two-hour homeschooling experience for us and other local homeschooling families. Moral: it can't hurt to ask! About 12 families turned up, ranging in age from about 4 to 14.<br /><br />We got an hour of indoor instruction (feathers under a microscope, mix and match food and bird game, exploration of birds and their beaks). Tom was distracted by an exhibit of eggs and skeletons, but managed to tune in to check out an owl feather under the microscope.<br /><br />Following the indoor presentation, we hiked a bit around some ponds (just a few birds here and there) and then walked down to a fabulous spot on the tidal marsh facing Sandy Neck (a strip of pristine beach that sticks out into Cape Cod Bay). We had a chance to try out a real spotting scope and watch osprey on their nest - but the real highlights were the crabs and insects we discovered right next to the boardwalk!<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEtpoMhdNnsYiFYS4Zt2VbnbLl2_04CWTWvfLoqFclejFvnYDCcnKt2_QKmIAQ5bAaisxE19-9iQurWCN_bIrYpO2LS1tGBf2Yi9sN8rbj2FPkiSWpHBVVCKUKPaQtN083-nSN4Oudnk/s1600-h/spotter+scope.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiEtpoMhdNnsYiFYS4Zt2VbnbLl2_04CWTWvfLoqFclejFvnYDCcnKt2_QKmIAQ5bAaisxE19-9iQurWCN_bIrYpO2LS1tGBf2Yi9sN8rbj2FPkiSWpHBVVCKUKPaQtN083-nSN4Oudnk/s320/spotter+scope.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260460405703397922" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Spotting osprey through the scope at Longpasture Audubon in Barnstable.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d59DqoJNNldwe_ZMd1uRtIuk_zaijdsO1yRI9oLW45YFOG1ISSNzZ6dBgIvNhvQD0aFxDVBg3gNQ1di3TgkrjOLIdlTCoT6Eej6e-eXQhxrG_DTJ7msH9zbza7rbcdIOWe-SoSDT3DU/s1600-h/tom+microscope.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9d59DqoJNNldwe_ZMd1uRtIuk_zaijdsO1yRI9oLW45YFOG1ISSNzZ6dBgIvNhvQD0aFxDVBg3gNQ1di3TgkrjOLIdlTCoT6Eej6e-eXQhxrG_DTJ7msH9zbza7rbcdIOWe-SoSDT3DU/s320/tom+microscope.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260459468038419506" border="0" /></a>Bird feathers up close and personal.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDpxBFt9wk4u5NoMCOFLZv1pKnuPxHzE5j1Vw2KQs2p6eaBNy0T9rHuEc8-JZjPgy7aA-6rnwLb1g9VThkDW64AyDdO9iQNK45lDRPX44hF2LL4kHvQHAQb7_fNXNOq-niH5kgNIgGkM/s1600-h/Sandy+Neck.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwDpxBFt9wk4u5NoMCOFLZv1pKnuPxHzE5j1Vw2KQs2p6eaBNy0T9rHuEc8-JZjPgy7aA-6rnwLb1g9VThkDW64AyDdO9iQNK45lDRPX44hF2LL4kHvQHAQb7_fNXNOq-niH5kgNIgGkM/s320/Sandy+Neck.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260459464023705794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Be jealous! This is the view from the Audubon to Sandy Neck, a pristine beach that juts out into Cape Cod Bay.<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMTUKGY1MarTiVb421mmRbu4q4aZycFMdaeltwYrCHQ5Oq_0oQOTW2K3ddcctxVXV5k_dmvjkOc9mdE9XtkQK-PX7Ld1mhMfIw2sDCweOmEEKNKkqnAkWN5tj-Xf2feZm81dzs8MueYQ/s1600-h/New+Feather.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMTUKGY1MarTiVb421mmRbu4q4aZycFMdaeltwYrCHQ5Oq_0oQOTW2K3ddcctxVXV5k_dmvjkOc9mdE9XtkQK-PX7Ld1mhMfIw2sDCweOmEEKNKkqnAkWN5tj-Xf2feZm81dzs8MueYQ/s320/New+Feather.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260459439027733170" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Owl feather (I think!).<br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioFSqjtsJQcSy5-0To4HdwSExAfsdYoDYWj7KhzBw1LIft8eOxqfdVy1IbV7-aGsKUM11XjLIGJzKtEXo90RIIDlkX_xSotGYLXcHrWVQcc8QxJ9EjUlakc3astl1hdlTtAsIqGeqHcE/s1600-h/Horseshoe+molts.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 241px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioFSqjtsJQcSy5-0To4HdwSExAfsdYoDYWj7KhzBw1LIft8eOxqfdVy1IbV7-aGsKUM11XjLIGJzKtEXo90RIIDlkX_xSotGYLXcHrWVQcc8QxJ9EjUlakc3astl1hdlTtAsIqGeqHcE/s320/Horseshoe+molts.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5260459434592831794" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;">This is just part of a fabulous group of horseshoe crab molts we found on the salt grass in the tidal marsh. We brought home four!<br /></div><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br />I wanted to do a "real" birding expedition with Tom as part of our birding unit, and so I gave a call to the Massachusetts Audubon Society in Barnstable. They were willing to create a two-hour homeschooling event, so I advertised it, and about 12 kids and their parents turned up at a breathtakingly gorgeous spot just across from Sandy Neck (a fabulously pristine stretch of sand that stick out into Cape Cod Bay). Lesson learned: it can't hurt to ask - the worst they can say is "no."<br /><br />We had a terrific presentation, with a little of everything birdesque: something about beaks, nests, feathers, eggs... the kids used microscopes to observe feathers up close and then sketch them (something we'd already done, but with different types of feathers). There was a mix and match (birds with foods) game, a "build your own nest" activity, and even a duck call to try.<br /><br />Outside, the naturalists took us around to see various birding spots... and set up a birding scope so we could observe an osprey in its nest. Tom did take a look - but he and almost all the kids wound up being distracted by an incredible collection of sea critters and insects. Impressive among them: a real praying mantis, and an amazing set of horseshoe crab molts (we were allowed to bring a selection home).<br /><br />While all this was fabulous, it was a bit frustrating for me: Tom became fascinated by a small collection of eggs and nests he discovered as he walked in the door, and found it almost impossible to break away and attend to the speaker. It wasn't until after we headed outside that he really zeroed in - and wound up getting quite a lot from the scope and the guided walk. And after the event, we had time to explore the area more fully; no doubt that we'll be back again.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript></script>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-23367988516288739232008-10-11T14:32:00.004-04:002008-10-11T14:42:24.827-04:00Mastering "Same" and "Different" ??!??<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script>How can a child who is mastering double digit multiplication, who can describe earth's biomes with accuracy, who can read a full-length novel with fluency - NOT grasp the concepts of "same" and "different?"<br /><br />I am grappling with this question this week - in part because I simply can't figure out whether the problem is conceptual or semantic. Obviously, Tom can tell the difference between, say, a peanut butter sandwich and a cat. He can even tell you, when asked, the differences between summer and winter, oceans and lakes, and so forth.<br /><br />He knows that birds belong to the same group - and that the bird group is different from the reptile group.<br /><br />When I place two equations in front of him - say 7 +2 and 2 +7 - he can handily tell you that each adds up to 9.<br /><br />BUT!<br /><br />When I ask him - "So - do 7+2 and 2+7 add up to the same thing?" He looks at me confused and says "I don't know... um... no."<br /><br />"But - they both add up to nine."<br /><br />"Yes..."<br /><br />"And nine is the same thing as nine, right?"<br /><br />"I don't know..."<br /><br />"Look, Tom, here's 2 + 7 using the cuisinaire rods. And here's 7 +2. Can you place them one on top of the other?" (He does - and they are identical in length.)<br /><br />"Are they the same length?"<br /><br />"I don't know... no."<br /><br />"Tom! Look at them! They are exactly the same length!"<br /><br />"They are???"<br /><br />"OK, I tell you what, show me two rods that are different." (He pulls out a blue and a red rod.)<br /><br />"These are different."<br /><br />"Yes, they are. Now show me two the same." (He pulls out two reds.)<br /><br />"These are the same."<br /><br />"Right. So... are these two rods (7+2) the SAME length as those two rods (2+7)?"<br /><br />"Ummm...."<br /><br />OK, folks, is Tom just playing dumb? Am I using the wrong words? Or is he truly not grasping what looks to me to be the most basic of concepts? SOMEthing is going haywire here!!<br /><br /><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-36068256226392347242008-10-05T09:55:00.003-04:002008-10-05T10:12:01.282-04:00Homeschool, Autism, and Time Management<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script>When we started homeschooling this year, I decided it was time for Tom to take more responsibility for his own schedule. One of the strategies I thought we could try was a kitchen timer. We'd hand him the timer, and have him time his own breaks (our "lessons" are based more on content than on elapsed time).<br /><br />Early on, we established that breaks would be ten minutes long. I showed him how to set the timer, and told him he could take the timer upstairs to his room so long as he listened for the alarm and let us know when it was time to start work again.<br /><br />This worked beautifully for a few weeks. He mastered the skill of setting the alarm, and did a terrific job of letting us know it was time to get back to work.<br /><br />Then, he started trying to negotiate for more time - fifteen, minutes, or maybe twenty. When we were firm, he started making the changes himself, and mentioning them to no-one.<br /><br />Just yesterday, my husband Peter and I were exchanging notes, and Peter mentioned that Tom had actually reset the timer for 25 minutes... and that, since Peter had gone back to work (in his office) during the break, he really hadn't noticed the passage of time until he looked up at the clock!<br /><br />At first, we commiserated, saying "how frustrating is that? We've really got to pay more attention to the time ourselves."<br /><br />Then, we realized what a huge leap Tom had taken. Not only had he really, truly mastered the idea of measuring increments of time - he had also mastered the concept of RELATIVE increments of time (20 minutes is longer than 10 minutes), and he had worked out how to MEASURE a longer increment of time. Even more impressive, he had figured out how to manipulate his own schedule by SECRETLY changing the setting on the timer - a big jump in terms of "theory of mind." He knew we weren't paying attention, and that he thus had the power to make changes secretly, and change the schedule to his own benefit.<br /><br />Having finally noticed the significance of this change, I then realized that he'd made other "silent" leaps that we'd essentially ignored. For example, he's decided to learn to bowl one-handed - entirely on his own - and while it's tough for him, he's persevering. He's noticing the emotions of other kids in the bowling league, and when one boy was upset we talked about the clues that showed us "upset" (red eyes, for one). Tom then remembered that HIS eyes had been red when HE'd been upset! He was also able to identify that a girl telling her friend to "shut up!" was just fooling around - because of the tone of her voice (which he was able to imitate).<br /><br />Homeschool gym and "Hot Jazz" (afterschool jazz ensemble) are also a real breeze this year. Tom's joining in, paying attention, and generally connecting with the experiences being offered. While he still isn't really chatting with anyone else, he IS doing pratfalls, acting silly, taking his turn, smiling a lot - all wonderful social skills.<br /><br />These changes are really pretty exciting - and seem to bode well for this year. Right now, I'm also considering a change in his clarinet teacher. He's working with a wonderful musician who was also the dean of a college music education department - and while it's good to be working hard on the basic skills of music and rhythm reading and execution, it isn't much fun. At this point, it seems to me that Tom should be focusing more on the idea of music as a way to express himself, join in with others, and generally find a place in the world - and less on sight reading and musical theory.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-24770316086183028762008-09-24T16:47:00.005-04:002008-09-24T17:34:59.276-04:00The Ups and Downs of Owl PelletsGreat pun, eh?!<br /><br />When we purchased the KONOS "attentiveness" kit, which includes a unit on birds, one big reason was that the kit contains an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CS4ITS?ie=UTF8&tag=homeschoolunits-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B001CS4ITS">Owl Pellet Dissection Kit</a> (which, it turns out, are available on Amazon!). Tom has always been fascinated with owls, and of course owl pellets contain all the "left-over" materials not digested by the bird after it gobbles its prey (eg bones, fur, etc.). We thought dissecting a pellet would be a great activity - not only because it's bird-related, but because it really builds those beginning science skills of observation and manipulation of tools.<br /><br /><br />It turned out the owl pellet was a hit - but the dissecting tools were too much for Tom at this point. That's because his fine motor skills are somewhat delayed (part of the autism, I suppose) - so that holding the pellet with pincers and then pulling it apart was tough. As a result, it was up to Dad to actually "unpack" the pellet and place it, on white paper, under a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0018OXIM4?ie=UTF8&tag=homeschoolunits-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0018OXIM4">folding desktop magnifying glass</a>.<br /><br />Under the glass, Tom was intrigued to find bits and pieces of a real mouse skeleton (though his sister was completely grossed out!). We also found a huge amount of mouse fur, and other miscellaneous jetsam. Evidently, Tom was already versed in owl digestion (who knew? it was probably in a video or TV show he saw) - because he was immediately able to explain what he was looking at, why it was in the pellet, and how owls eat and then excrete their leavings.<br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASx_Ua-YBIVs9isnQfei9pRw3kgKlbfMt9mwD6t1O_7eJTXd78YsMAksGAe5eyMlhQvID2A22gv8OzvgLjpvfaKge_zI88oI9v690UVZCxgQLIQ4YoSbPocLCI4mnpyL4UUor_0811Bs/s1600-h/dadandtom.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249701255020821170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASx_Ua-YBIVs9isnQfei9pRw3kgKlbfMt9mwD6t1O_7eJTXd78YsMAksGAe5eyMlhQvID2A22gv8OzvgLjpvfaKge_zI88oI9v690UVZCxgQLIQ4YoSbPocLCI4mnpyL4UUor_0811Bs/s320/dadandtom.JPG" border="0" /></a> </p><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvbYShlIKehmeRRE2VaNLgKijRDf_O-FKLgj3UyqKo92P-PWPHctFt2VyBJNZdwKHkDsr7pbC5E3e8hWJjRJltkPiRG5wQvD9HIR8kMut4VSmSayGzOTnf8RzRXc6Koi2cUJPSUKY0eM/s1600-h/magnified+pellet.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249701260371193410" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGvbYShlIKehmeRRE2VaNLgKijRDf_O-FKLgj3UyqKo92P-PWPHctFt2VyBJNZdwKHkDsr7pbC5E3e8hWJjRJltkPiRG5wQvD9HIR8kMut4VSmSayGzOTnf8RzRXc6Koi2cUJPSUKY0eM/s320/magnified+pellet.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_wwf2NOBQ5zq6F-XzZD0VUpkpay5eZfbsZ6ywrFx8U7XeINlKPIj98pvG1CswQ9jz8nZR2l6czLq2Q1rq-rp5_q-lF9puZbFXX4lcWgHhUaedEJ4NC4FKweQFDEki4lZiqi7aBA0Ggk/s1600-h/peerthruglass.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249701273401820482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip_wwf2NOBQ5zq6F-XzZD0VUpkpay5eZfbsZ6ywrFx8U7XeINlKPIj98pvG1CswQ9jz8nZR2l6czLq2Q1rq-rp5_q-lF9puZbFXX4lcWgHhUaedEJ4NC4FKweQFDEki4lZiqi7aBA0Ggk/s320/peerthruglass.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pRQCIBQjJ4Fnl4da5M6-PrKleM6LpPRx47ZSftE-_2z_eXa3v9275UHmy3qFBPESYihKQoKcbkvY49TcPc-jTgog0VKUyifnbLFAavorERM3w9cybAvuFcIheMsV2WO612n_r-afO2U/s1600-h/pellet.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249701282056397634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2pRQCIBQjJ4Fnl4da5M6-PrKleM6LpPRx47ZSftE-_2z_eXa3v9275UHmy3qFBPESYihKQoKcbkvY49TcPc-jTgog0VKUyifnbLFAavorERM3w9cybAvuFcIheMsV2WO612n_r-afO2U/s320/pellet.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249701245939567826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0heqw3OCGAg5UwXni0sLSd7WMHxRFouTNFOgQ_R5Ay1WVnK5OPKxvmgQe4Pf1gbkkHyNqIDSRQ4PqFzP5Pfu6U1NmcFqtY5Mza7NQ-wsq44NRDNpbmkMwY36LrdusCKvWi_s3ZD2DBxc/s320/inpellet.JPG" border="0" /><br /></p><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-86931330545438586212008-09-19T20:08:00.002-04:002008-09-19T20:16:41.810-04:00Homeschool Conference and the Child with AutismToday, Tom and I took a trip to Boxboro MA, to a homeschool conference. It was an unusual type of event, run by the Family Resource Center - an organization that creates homeschooling programs with museums and other non-profits. There were all kinds of exhibitors, and all kinds of programs - and we had a great time last year. This year was more so-so, but that was partly because we had so little time (had to rush home for Sara's 4:00 bus).<br /><br />Interestingly, to me, many of the exhibitors were very focused on selling us on "what boys like," on skill building, and so forth. I found myself, more than usual, aware that my child was NOT like most boys... that he ISn't a skilled engineer-in-training, or "loaded with energy," or any of the usual stereotypes. In fact, he spent a fair amount of time in the exhibit hall engaging with soft animal pelts... blech. <br /><br />Not to complain, because he really did do a great job, and enjoyed the one program we did attend (weaving). But I did find myself continually looking at "cool" programs (US Constitution for Kids, Exchange City, Invention Camp, Challenger Space Programs) and saying to myself "too abstract... too group-oriented... too focused on fine motor... too this that or the other." <br /><br />It feels strange, because honestly I've felt - at home - that Tom's doing a great job, developing all kinds of skills, and really progressing. Yet out there in the "real" world, where typical kids are more common than those with autism, it's still a pretty rocky road.<br /><br />On the up side, I got lots of ideas - not only for homeschooling, but also for marketing my new unit studies materials!<br /><br />B<br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-20300416723027876532008-09-18T16:31:00.002-04:002008-09-18T16:41:32.641-04:00Homeschooling ParentS<script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script>It seems that 90% of the time, homeschooling is a moms-only activity. Oh, Dad might take the kids on an expedition, kick the ball around and call it PE, or work with a child on an evening activity. But by and large, day by day, it's all about mom.<br /><br />In our case, it may not be 50-50 proposition, but it's closer to 40-60 than most.<br /><br />It's true that I'm in charge of developing and putting together most of the curriculum materials and overall concepts. But day to day, Peter and I split things up. We can do this because we're both self-employed - which means both of us are flexible, and neither of us gets time off.<br /><br />The "up" side of this arrangement is that Tom has an extraordinary education. I'm the linear teacher, dedicated to building specific skills; creating logical sequences of content; ensuring that we cover all our bases; setting up tutors and field trips. Peter is the inventive, serendipitous teacher - dipping into unexpected areas of interest because they just happen to come up. He's the one who got Tom excited about building a giant marble maze; he's the one who gets hands-on with animal skeleton and such.<br /><br />The "down" side of this arrangement is that neither Peter nor I get a real break - EVER. If we're not working, we're teaching. If we're not teaching, we're maintaining the house, cooking meals, shopping, going to Sara's "back to school" night, or preparing lessons for tomorrow. Of course, not all of this is a grind: homeschooling often entails tramping the woods, combing the beaches, or going swimming! Still, though, there's no option for down time until about 10 at night.<br /><br />Meanwhile, there's the anxiety related to being self-employed. On the one hand- no one employer can leave us high and dry. On the other hand - any ONE of our employers can demand attention at any moment. And, of course, you never know when a contract may dry up (one biggie suddenly got put on hold, putting our schedules into a brief freaked out tizzy!).<br /><br />Tom, meanwhile, sits at the eye of our hurricane. For a kid with autism, he does surprisingly well with constantly-changing teachers and schedules. But I sometimes wonder how much time he spends wondering and worrying about what's going to happen tomorrow!<br /><br /><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-78965940625830974512008-09-18T10:58:00.007-04:002008-09-18T11:29:23.961-04:00Birds of a Feather: Homeschool Birds UnitTom has an obsession with finding and collecting junk. Whether it's a pen cap or a straw wrapper, he feels the need to pocket it. First, it was just a need to collect "stuff." Then, through floortime, he developed the ability to give every tiny piece of trash a purpose and meaning. The scrap of busted balloon turned into a rainhat for a toy lizard. The bent paper clip became part of a contraption. This was fine for a while... until we opened a couple of drawers and discovered a magpie's nest of TRASH!<br /><br />Last year, we developed the idea of focused trash collecting. We told Tom he could pick up red, white and blue trash, to be used in the creation of a "found art" representation of an American Flag. We painted a piece of plywood black, drew an outline of a flag in chalk, and started gluing. We entered the flag in the Barnstable County Fair 4-H art exhibition - and it won a prize!<br /><br />This year, we started out by collecting feathers. Thanks to Tom's eagle eye, we found quite a variety, including the soft downy kind that help birds stay warm and the big, waterproof kind that cover wings.<br /><br />Then, following some ideas suggested in the KONOS bird unit, we explored our feather collection. Peter (my husband) and Tommy sorted them, and compared them to photos. Peter had Tom use a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0013JBPE2?ie=UTF8&tag=homeschoolunits-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0013JBPE2">magnifying glass </a>to look closely at the quills and barbs, and a spray bottle to wet the feathers and watch the water roll off. Tom also drew the feathers and labelled the various parts.<br /><br /><br /><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247380470664931042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGDgCAK2_lPmC_OkoQIHm7lYYxmplvuj7YNE5eaQABHOr4hIR2kknKBKAvi9y81ddvq7-Szd-lBsBkDGRBYf6TfP3YzTsmMymihs5VsujWQx08FSFu8CH1Cz-AxilXdvMt_wwJD4uflNM/s320/feathers2.JPG" border="0" /></p><p><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247380287709296082" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOlJQO_Ba6xvKLvoeYuAzW_xxB5ECe6MmvWcMPLZ7cS_YVWqKNy_Ci6o4StJQcuwmZl63QkUck9bhpSpnKoNDGJPqhbjNMfQnk95ZeV2eXAwZTLRCh-wlBvofu7XYTTCBUD1PTK7NYf04/s320/feathers1.JPG" border="0" /><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript></p><br /><iframe style="WIDTH: 120px; HEIGHT: 240px" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=homeschoolunits-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0013JBPE2&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-51609730320652634062008-09-13T18:07:00.003-04:002008-09-13T18:14:31.858-04:00Homeschool Gym at the YMCAWe started homeschool gym again this fall, and it's even better than before - both for Tom, and for me. Instead of creating two separate groups of homeschoolers (older/younger), the Y went with one larger group. As a result, we have about 10 kids enrolled, ranging in age from abou 7 to 13. Being homeschoolers, they're less intense... less competitive... and more interesting than your average kiddos. Same goes for the moms!<br /><br />Homeschool gym is a sort of substitute for ordinary school gym, only much more interesting. Kids spend about an hour in gym-type activities - but in this case they include things like... ultimate frisbee, rock climbing - things you might actually WANT to do. No "president's fitness test" here. After the first hour, you get changed and get a 1/2 hour swim lesson follow by free swim (including time on the water slide!).<br /><br />One of the nicest things that happened this time around is that a woman I know locally brought her autistic 11 year old to join the group. This is a boy who, I thought, might have a tough time. Certainly his mom was concerned. But lo and behold, he had a terrific time! Not only did he join in as he could, but no one said a word (beyond encouragement) when he chose NOT to join in.<br /><br />This mom thought perhaps the fact that the instructors were men might have made a difference. I suspect she's right. Tom, who has NEVER cared for group sports, jumped right into soccer (of all things!). He ran, kicked, and even threw the ball back in when it went out of bounds. His pratfalls were also a hit: everyone giggled when he "hit the wall" and pretended to slide down to the floor!<br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/link-enhancer?tag=homeschoolunits-20&o=1"><br /></script><br /><noscript><br /> <img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/s/noscript?tag=homeschoolunits-20" alt="" /><br /></noscript>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-27064225075507969432008-09-12T09:21:00.009-04:002008-09-13T20:24:06.352-04:00The Trumpet of the Swan - Right in Our BackyardOur first unit study this year focuses on birds. It's a great subject for Tom, because he's always been fascinated by owls, penguins, puffins... and he really enjoys watching birds, even in his own backyard. I've also been amazed at how well he can identify bird calls. I looked for a unit study on birds and found quite a few - but none seemed to include all the elements we wanted. One of the best, though, is the Konos bird unit - which includes some great activity ideas along with one hands-on item: an owl pellet for dissection!<br /><br />To start out with, though, we decided to read <span style="font-style: italic;">The Trumpet of the Swan </span>by E.B. White. It's a wonderful classic, and is terrific for vocabulary, narrative and character. What's more (and I had forgotten this), the protagonist, Sam Beaver, is surprisingly similar to Tom in many ways.<br /><br />Having read the first few chapters of the book, in which Sam is sitting quietly on a rock with his field glasses, watching the swans swim around a pond, we went for a nature hike. The idea was just to enjoy the lovely weather and collect a few feathers.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa8Kjv3vtFHZVn3BhDsLh1JKWgmfr9u7IvNrhI20JdSOOuTFDeppABOsZRG469mF4_SRq_JGmGbfOqUKkwSAtMa9L1e2UR8o9zaykTvxg-EobRs721ZvTB-OlpglH5UiVcuY1zNnCKTU/s1600-h/watchswan.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLa8Kjv3vtFHZVn3BhDsLh1JKWgmfr9u7IvNrhI20JdSOOuTFDeppABOsZRG469mF4_SRq_JGmGbfOqUKkwSAtMa9L1e2UR8o9zaykTvxg-EobRs721ZvTB-OlpglH5UiVcuY1zNnCKTU/s320/watchswan.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245126295780194450" border="0" /></a><br />Well, here is Tom - sitting on a rock, using his binoculars, and watching a swan on the lake! Turned out there were actually THREE swans on this little lake... amazing!<br /><br /><iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=homeschoolunits-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=B0012UEWQK&fc1=000000&IS1=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-3843205374843990812008-09-08T10:56:00.006-04:002008-09-11T20:39:54.162-04:00Introducing My "A-Store" - Homeschool Units and Resources for All Kinds of LearnersIf you're a homeschooling parent, chances are your child, like mine, benefits from an education that's "outside the box." Nevertheless, it's always handy to have <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/homeschoolunits-20">homeschool units and resources</a> that are pretested, set up, and ready to go.<br /><br />Last year, I set out to find homeschooling resources and units that I could put to use right away. I was looking for multidisciplinary, multisensory kits, containing books, DVDs, games, and hands-on materials for the arts and sciences. I'm not a Christian homeschooler, so I was looking for secular content. I found science kits. I found art kits. I found downloads and printables. But nowhere could I find a secular, multisensory, multidisciplinary themed unit full of great "stuff" to put to immediate use in our homeschool.<br /><br />So... I started creating my own unit studies. My idea was to create units that engage an "out of the box" learner, who takes in information not only through words but also through eyes, ears, hands, and imagination.<br /><br />I quickly realized that I was building just the kinds of units that I myself had been looking for. Even better, through my blog I was also describing just how we used those units, and what we added to off-the-shelf materials to enrich our homeschool experience.<br /><br />A few weeks ago, I started building an Amazon.com "A-Store" where I could make all the unit studies materials we've used available to homeschoolers. Embedded in the store is information about what we did and how we did it - though of course there's much more information (and photos) about our adventures here on the blog.<br /><br />So far, I've set up the store to offer <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/homeschoolunits-20">all-you-need units</a> on...<br /><br /><ul><li>Whales</li><li>Trains</li><li>Colonial America</li><li>The Wampanoag Indians (Thanksgiving)</li><li>Oceans</li><li>The Human Body</li></ul>I've also created a category that combines books with movies made from those books - because I've found that Tommy, a visual learner, is more motivated to read books he's already seen as movies (and I'm guessing he's not alone).<br /><br />You can get to my A-store by clicking on <a href="http://astore.amazon.com/homeschoolunits-20">this link</a> or on the ads at the top of this blog.<br /><br />Let me know what you think of my A-store! If you like it, please let your friends know it's here - and that it's growing! If you see places where it can be improved, please let me know that too.<br /><br />Thanks so much!Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-5827411276195528292008-09-05T13:09:00.027-04:002008-09-13T20:06:48.053-04:00Week One - Homeschool OpensOn Tuesday, Sara took the bus to school for her first day of third grade. Peter, Tommy and I followed in the car, and saw her safely connected with her teacher and classmates before waving good-bye. Next, we got a cup of something each at the local coffee shop, and then headed to Staples for homeschool supplies.<br /><br />We picked up a few items - velcro for our new schedule cards, magazine racks, a weekly and monthly dry-erase calendar, pencils, and so forth. More importantly, we bought a big crate in which to put all of last year's materials (including wall art, timelines, and poster presentations). It was time to clear the decks for a new year.<br /><br />After all the old stuff was off the walls and stowed away, Tom and I made a list of all the categories of activities we had in mind for the year. Then we put a number next to the category to indicate how often we'd do each activity per week (Reading - 5, and so forth). Then we made up the right quantity of cards for each activity. This year, we decided to color-code - so we could find the cards more easily. So reading and writing are pink, math is green, etc. Lastly, we put velcro patches on the back of each card, so that it could be mounted on our schedule.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgalmPsouuZmfmtw4HNLlIgGsvB8EXylhTYtoJzyKvEnrys2ZXClaIU_Ht5K1tas2wtdPPhZ9TdQsp6dDWhLCx-NCojMmBiPQgpbNq0qxRGhm8JtkV2vP1SET3lFvWdDz5b7mOiVWf6Eo/s1600-h/chart.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgalmPsouuZmfmtw4HNLlIgGsvB8EXylhTYtoJzyKvEnrys2ZXClaIU_Ht5K1tas2wtdPPhZ9TdQsp6dDWhLCx-NCojMmBiPQgpbNq0qxRGhm8JtkV2vP1SET3lFvWdDz5b7mOiVWf6Eo/s320/chart.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244478590167584178" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;">This chart is just a large piece of foam core, along with colored 3X5 backed with velcro. We put together a schedule every week - and often shift things around as needed.</span><br /></div><br />Once that was complete (and we'd had lunch), we started filling in our monthly and weekly calendars. My hope is that, by using all these scheduling tools, Tom will get a better sense of how time flows, and how to think about and schedule activities and projects. Of course, in week one things were pretty loosey goosey - but starting next week, lots of outside activities will start up, and the calendar will become more complex.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WvXZYUpIqVRjhuq4rtvQOiCVcCQIEDa8vjYsQVSGDCpaGiEPdQI4JS4DPH7jh6D9klX-p9nfiGeOmF2d8_ekJHAZJtwfNQTSAECt_rFmH-yCM_2J_-vC5OUMSSd7Dx0Zts-zvhSHZ90/s1600-h/monthlycalendar.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WvXZYUpIqVRjhuq4rtvQOiCVcCQIEDa8vjYsQVSGDCpaGiEPdQI4JS4DPH7jh6D9klX-p9nfiGeOmF2d8_ekJHAZJtwfNQTSAECt_rFmH-yCM_2J_-vC5OUMSSd7Dx0Zts-zvhSHZ90/s320/monthlycalendar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244478591833498162" border="0" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0vHpwivsj611l0rmZXryjWKxHM5BnFsWsBwh0ljYZfGL1Atz-GN4iFF13_aGbdlF36f_LJZVdZzvY5OYUm1DvSwhrm10fx6YGl1j9HIhroaet0vDhJWe0nNSCC_Oz38eJrhS4Dv5P_Q/s1600-h/weeklycalendar.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc0vHpwivsj611l0rmZXryjWKxHM5BnFsWsBwh0ljYZfGL1Atz-GN4iFF13_aGbdlF36f_LJZVdZzvY5OYUm1DvSwhrm10fx6YGl1j9HIhroaet0vDhJWe0nNSCC_Oz38eJrhS4Dv5P_Q/s320/weeklycalendar.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244478600929120626" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">These Dry-Erase calendars make it easy for us to see what's coming up - and for Tom to get a better sense of how time flows, and how to think about planning ahead.<br /></span></div><br />We stuck the calendars up on the sliding doors (too little wall space for a homeschool, really...), and then figured out our schedules for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday (knowing a cousin would arrive on Friday afternoon!).<br /><br />The space was all ready - and, it being the first day of homeschool, it seemed to me we'd done enough. So we set off for a "nature hike" down to the harbor. I stuck a baggie in my pocket, keeping in mind that we're starting our Birds unit - and lo and behold, we found several feathers to stow away for the future.Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-21904212773118786032008-08-31T21:10:00.005-04:002008-09-12T13:20:25.504-04:00Ready for Day One, Year Two Homeschool<center><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">We're getting ready.<br /><br />I've written up our plan for the school district and submitted it according to regulations. So far, no response - but I figure no news is good news.<br /><br />We've got all our Touchmath books ready to go. Our tutor hasn't given us a time yet - but it's early days, right?<br /><br />We've got our first novel picked out for reading: "The Trumpet of the Swan" by EB White. I picked it out to go with our unit on birds (and, to be honest, because A - I have my own copy and B- EdHelper has a literature review unit on it that I can just print and use for reading comprehension, vocabulary, and spelling!).<br /><br />I've got a lot of writing materials set up - though I suspect we'll go slow on writing to start with. I want to get Tom going on keyboarding, and though we have a new software program to teach keyboard, NONE of us has tried it yet!<br /><br />Our first multidisciplinary unit is on Birds. I'm using the KONOS birds kit as a jumping off place, but I suspect we'll get quite creative. To start with, we'll do a KWL (what we know, what we want to know, what we learned) chart, and we'll use it as a tool for planning. Meanwhile, I'm trying to get either Mass Audubon or a local birding group to offer an "intro to birding" for a group of homeschoolers... so far, nothing. I have an Eyewitness video on birds and am just about to get hold of a few books and other resources. We'll go search for feathers; take photos of birds in the area; probably investigate bird families...<br /><br />We've also signed up for candlepin bowling... homeschool gym at the Y (though I'm not sure it'll meet...), and we're waiting to hear about clarinet lessons and ensemble options. Of course we'll continue with speech therapy too... and perhaps start implementing some RDI elements into our program. Certainly I want to give Tom more responsibility for managing his time and getting more independent - I'm thinking that just giving him a timer and creating a schedule on paper (in addition to the velcro schedule) will help.<br /><br />In reading this over, I realize that I'm taking on an awful lot - and there's an awful lot still up in the air. But I'm not too freaked out ... YET! After all, this is pretty much what we were doing last year, and it worked out just fine... And if it's too much, we can always scale back.<br /><br />Not sure if this is a plus or a minus, but it seems that I'm really excited about learning about all this new stuff. I can't wait to learn how to go birding... how to paint like Monet... or to design my own totem pole. Hmm... Who is this homeschool program supposed to be for, anyway?!!<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ringsurf.com/ring/aut2bhome/">Aut-2B-Home</a><br /><a href="http://www.ringsurf.com/">Power By Ringsurf</a></center><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!-- google_ad_client = "pub-1934262420547699"; /* 180x90, created 8/30/08 */ google_ad_slot = "9399435848"; google_ad_width = 180; google_ad_height = 90; //--><br /></script><br /><script src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js" type="text/javascript"><br /></script>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-44660734873525344562008-08-26T09:20:00.003-04:002008-09-12T13:20:25.507-04:00RDI and Homeschool...?<div align="left">Is Tom doing well - or not so well? The answer is yes. <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">In the past year, he's come a huge way in terms of academics, engagement, self-esteem, and willingness to suggest and try new things. He's much more independent in certain ways, too: he's now getting dressed and brushing his teeth on his own - and one day, when he was hungry, I heard him tell Sara "let's get our own breakfasts." Indeed, they did: he got himself cereal with milk and a glass of juice! <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Tom has also been successful in typical situations that would once have required 1:1 shadowing. He bowls on a team; plays clarinet in an ensemble; takes typical tennis lessons. He swims like a fish, and can take part in quite a few carefully selected homeschool programs. In the grocery store he automatically helps out with finding items, placing items from the cart onto the counter, bagging, and even carrying bags to the car and from the car to the house! <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">He's great in most public places. He handles restaurants beautifully, reads and orders from a menu, waits nicely in lines (much better than most kids). He's way beyond most 12-year-olds in his ability to engage with and learn from museums, aquariums, zoos, and gardens. He enjoys classical music, and can discern the different instruments by ear. <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">On the other hand... <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">Tom has yet to make a friend. He's absolutely terrified (I THINK that's the problem!) of interaction with peers, and often interacts with adults only when he's completely in control of the interaction or when there's an obvious yes/no response. <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">His thinking skills are adequate for many tasks, but he's still unable to even use most abstract terms. The other day he called me a liar - and I was upset until I realized that the terms "truth" and "lie" are still somewhat hazy for him. As a result, more complex ideas like "freedom," "justice," etc. are way beyond him. <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">He can describe something in concrete adjectival terms - it's green, it's fat, and it's soft. But, for example, if I ask "why do you like that book," he'll simply tell me the plot. I repeat the question and he might say "I like the pictures," or "I like the part when the boy does X." But he's really not able to look at the entire book and derive a "big picture" answer to the question (I love adventure stories and this is great adventure story, for example). <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">He has a terrific imagination, and can come up with a thousand ways to talk about his imaginary friend Lizard and Lizard's world. But generally speaking his stories are one-dimensional and lack coherence: he'll say "Lizard has a friend who's a lion. The lion comes to Lizard's restaurant and Lizard cooks him meat. The lion has some friends, and they like to do XYZ." Great ideas, but really just a setting and a starting place - and without lots of help, he can't actually develop a story about these characters and settings. <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">He's amenable to doing many different things, and is willing to go along with a wide range of activities. But when he's asked what HE wants to do, or left to his own devices, he falls back on TV and books over and over again. Even when we're right in the middle of doing something that he loves, he wants to know "what are we going to do next?" And while I used to think this was just an expression of a need for structure, I now know that it's code for "can I watch TV soon?" <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">He's able to complete certain tasks on his own with minimal prompting, but only when they're always the same (get dressed, for example). When there are variables (even variables that he fully understands and has mastered), he finishes one step and then waits or wanders off - assuming that someone will come along and tell him what to do next (or not, which is even better). <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">The fact that we can now see strengths and weaknesses, and point directly at both, is huge - a great leap from "he's got issues." But the question of how in the world to address those weaknesses has been really gnawing at me. How do you push a child to want to take responsibility for his own actions; help a child to think well; motivate a child to want to interact with peers and others beyond a nod? <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">A number of people I respect have suggested RDI might be a good direction at this point, and I've started learning more about it and talking with a semi-local consultant. My frustration is that it's like going back to school (with all my copious free time!!) - and it also requires Peter to do the same. On the other hand, the idea of having someone to help us set goals, devise techniques for meeting the goals, integrate the goals into homeschool, and so forth is very appealing indeed. <p></p></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left">More on this as we learn more... meanwhile, if you're a homeschooling RDIer - what's your thought? Is it worth the time, money, and effort to work with a consultant? Can we get what we need in a less strenuous way? Is this something we should pursue, or should we just work with local therapists and social skills coaches?</div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><div align="left"></div><center></center><center><a href="http://www.ringsurf.com/ring/aut2bhome/">Aut-2B-Home</a><br /><a href="http://www.ringsurf.com/">Power By Ringsurf</a></center>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3453834370185926171.post-45319039738270851222008-08-22T23:55:00.004-04:002008-09-12T13:20:25.508-04:00Searching E-Bay for Homeschool "Stuff"<center><div style="text-align: left;">I turned in my plan for Tom's homeschool program last week... it's similar to last year's, with a few exceptions. Here's the bare outline (much more to come):<br /><br />Math - Upper Level Touchmath + weekly tutoring<br />Reading - List of 6th grade novels; reading comprehension with Edhelper.com<br />Writing - Eclectic - Writing Strands, Edhelper materials, etc.<br />Music - Clarinet (and possibly piano) lessons, some kind of ensemble program<br />Art - Mostly built into unit studies<br />PE - Tennis, bowling, hiking, cycling<br />Units (history/geog/science) - Birds, Impressionism, Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, North/South Poles, Water, The American West, Sound/Music<br /><br />We (Tom and I) were lucky enough to discover a discounted cuisinaire rod set, a set of science materials and a KONOS kit with all kinds of cool stuf inside, and it inspired me to search Ebay for homeschool goodies. I've already ordered a pile of videos - but am surprised at how little seems to be available that's anything like the KONOS box. Somehow, I expected homeschoolers to be out there creating amazing kits full of wonderful art materials, science stuff, explorations... But it all seems to be books, software and videos with an occasional lapbook or something added for good measure.<br /><br />For all you veteran homeschoolers out there - what's great?? And what's especially great for a kid who needs lots of inspiration when trying to stay on task doing anything with his two hands? I'm collecting Usborne and DK books and videos... using Edhelper and Enchanted Learning online, and of course making good use of all kinds of local programs, events and resources. But with all that, I'm kinda feeling uninspired, and hoping to find some great hands-on kits.<br /><br />Am I missing something terrific??<br /></div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.ringsurf.com/ring/aut2bhome/">Aut-2B-Home</a><br /><a href="http://www.ringsurf.com/">Power By Ringsurf</a></center>Lisa Jo Rudyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07517170138121456391noreply@blogger.com2