This blog is probably going to focus on this new diet twist for a while as I work all this out. Right now I am baking some banana bread from the Trader Joe's mix. I decided I might as well use up any wheat and dairy that we have now before Wednesday. This a.m. I hope to clean out the pantry and then go to Trader Joe's and see what I can get for this coming week.
This morning I tried the gluten free, fruit juice sweetened corn flakes with almond milk, a little pinch of sugar and some sliced bananas and blueberries. It was delicious!
I think for lunch we'll have grilled cheese!
Not sure what to have for dinner tonight. Maybe we'll eat out.
Sunday:
I guess we'll meet at Dunkin Donuts. But we won't be able to do that next Sunday, so I have to come up with a suitable replacement. We've been doing this because I teach RE and Sean attends his RE class at 9:30 on Sunday morning. Then we meet the family at the nearby Dunkin Donuts, eat breakfast together and then go to the 11:45 Mass. Just don't know how I am going to handle that situation next week!
Lunch will be come and get it.
If Rick doesn't want to grill I think I'll broil some kabobs.
Monday:
Breakfast - cold cereal, almond milk, fruit
Lunch - I'll let Becky have her cheese and crackers for lunch.
Dinner - chicken nuggets, french fries, salad
Tuesday (Mardi Gras):
Breakfast - fried eggs and toast, fruit
Lunch - quesadillas (use up the last of the cheese and wheat tortillas)
Dinner - pancakes, sausage, fruit salad
Ash Wednesday:
Breakfast - for Becky who doesn't have to fast - cold cereal, almond milk, fruit. For others fruit and gluten free crackers
Lunch - Peanut or almond butter on rice cakes
Snack - raw veggies and hummus
Dinner - Mahi mahi burgers on gluten free english muffins, applesauce
Thursday:
Breakfast - eggs and bacon, juice
Lunch - soup and turkey wraps
Dinner - curry chicken tenders and biryani rice
Friday:
Breakfast - gf oatmeal, fruit
Lunch - Pb&j, veggies and fruit
Dinner - shrimp with cocktail sauce, quinoa, marinated veggies
Saturday:
potato, sausage and egg casserole.
Snacks: tortilla chips, potato chips, sunflower seeds, dried mango, apple cider, any gf cookies I can find.
Saturday, February 9, 2013
GFCF
I am thinking of trying to go gluten and casein free for Lent. The book that inspired this is by Dr. Kenneth Bock, called Healing the New child Epidemics. He calls these the 4 A's that are now so very common among kids these days: autism, ADHD, asthma and allergies. He thinks they are all interrelated and can be helped or even cured by a 4 prong approach. These four are 1)diet, 2)supplements,
3) detoxification and 4) medication. He doesn't seem too looney! LOL. I am such a cynic about such things. But what he writes makes sense to me. And since Seano's little trial with medication has ground to a halt, I am open to other approaches that maybe our very good but very conventional doctors are skeptical of.
So the first step is diet. The diet that seems to work the most for most families (over 50% report improvement) is the gluten free/casein free diet. Now I know someone who used to go to my church whose daughter was diagnosed autistic but the mom stumbled on the fact that it really was a reaction to dairy! She took her daughter off dairy and she was completely normal! I don't know if we'll be affected that way, but maybe it will help Seano and who knows, it could help me and Becky as well. Becky's diet will just be modified. She is so upset that I am threatening to take her cheese away from her! So I can't do that. I did tell her, Josh and Rick that they are free to go out and eat some things. I think it will be really hard on Sean though to have them be eating things he wants and craves just as much as he does. When I broached the subject he was amazingly open about it. And he really fixates on his cheeseburgers and pizzas. But he feels so lousy. He keeps telling me he can't think straight. That feels like he is always trudging through pudding. That is the phrase he uses. He manifests so many of the symptoms Dr. Bock talks about. So he is willing to try to give up these things in order to feel better. That's really is a sign of how desperate he feels! Rick was very upset when I talked about it too, but I think I guilted him into trying it.
Here's my strategy. I'll just start searching and making the yummiest things I can find that just happen to gluten and casein free. I will only buy gf/cf snacks though. Becky will have to sneak out with her father or brother to get other stuff. Sean and I will be the troopers.
We went out Friday, Sean and I, and looked through Whole Foods for various items. He got bored half way through and really wanted to go home. But we did try different milks. We got almond (which I already knew he liked), rice and coconut. Both he and Becky said the rice was the best. I got some gluten free cold cereal (I haven't bought that in a while because of Nourishing Traditions but what the heck, if I get too narrow we'll have nothing to eat!). So we are going to try that for breakfast. I also got some gf oatmeal and we can have that a couple times a week. Then there are always eggs and bacon. So breakfast really isn't that hard. Lunch - soup and peanut butter and rice cakes, egg salad, chicken salad, chicken nuggets, tuna salad, hot dogs on gf buns. I'll have to come up with others.
I ordered some baked goods stuff from Kinnikinnik.com I heard they made the best gf bread. I ordered their hamburger and hot dog buns as well as their donuts. If the donuts are good that might be a Sunday treat.
I just subscribed to Living Without (the free subscription where you get a new recipe idea a week). That may give me ideas. I also found this really refreshing youtube clip done by a funny mom of four.
3) detoxification and 4) medication. He doesn't seem too looney! LOL. I am such a cynic about such things. But what he writes makes sense to me. And since Seano's little trial with medication has ground to a halt, I am open to other approaches that maybe our very good but very conventional doctors are skeptical of.
So the first step is diet. The diet that seems to work the most for most families (over 50% report improvement) is the gluten free/casein free diet. Now I know someone who used to go to my church whose daughter was diagnosed autistic but the mom stumbled on the fact that it really was a reaction to dairy! She took her daughter off dairy and she was completely normal! I don't know if we'll be affected that way, but maybe it will help Seano and who knows, it could help me and Becky as well. Becky's diet will just be modified. She is so upset that I am threatening to take her cheese away from her! So I can't do that. I did tell her, Josh and Rick that they are free to go out and eat some things. I think it will be really hard on Sean though to have them be eating things he wants and craves just as much as he does. When I broached the subject he was amazingly open about it. And he really fixates on his cheeseburgers and pizzas. But he feels so lousy. He keeps telling me he can't think straight. That feels like he is always trudging through pudding. That is the phrase he uses. He manifests so many of the symptoms Dr. Bock talks about. So he is willing to try to give up these things in order to feel better. That's really is a sign of how desperate he feels! Rick was very upset when I talked about it too, but I think I guilted him into trying it.
Here's my strategy. I'll just start searching and making the yummiest things I can find that just happen to gluten and casein free. I will only buy gf/cf snacks though. Becky will have to sneak out with her father or brother to get other stuff. Sean and I will be the troopers.
We went out Friday, Sean and I, and looked through Whole Foods for various items. He got bored half way through and really wanted to go home. But we did try different milks. We got almond (which I already knew he liked), rice and coconut. Both he and Becky said the rice was the best. I got some gluten free cold cereal (I haven't bought that in a while because of Nourishing Traditions but what the heck, if I get too narrow we'll have nothing to eat!). So we are going to try that for breakfast. I also got some gf oatmeal and we can have that a couple times a week. Then there are always eggs and bacon. So breakfast really isn't that hard. Lunch - soup and peanut butter and rice cakes, egg salad, chicken salad, chicken nuggets, tuna salad, hot dogs on gf buns. I'll have to come up with others.
I ordered some baked goods stuff from Kinnikinnik.com I heard they made the best gf bread. I ordered their hamburger and hot dog buns as well as their donuts. If the donuts are good that might be a Sunday treat.
I just subscribed to Living Without (the free subscription where you get a new recipe idea a week). That may give me ideas. I also found this really refreshing youtube clip done by a funny mom of four.
Sunday, February 3, 2013
Be Different - Book 4
The full title of this book is Be Different; My Adventures with Asperger's and My Advice for Fellow Aspergians, Misfits, Families and Teachers. John Elder Robison didn't find out he had Asperger's until he was forty. The diagnosis made everything fall into place though, in terms of understanding his own childhood and the problems he had always had when it came to relating and communicating with other people. But in spite of this disability which caused him to drop out of high school in 10th grade, he went on to a successful career in sound electronics and special effects as well as eventually owning and running an auto repair garage that catered to the nicer, high end cars.
This is the follow up book to Robison's New York Times bestseller, Look Me in the Eye. I am curious now to read this first book. His brother, Augusten Burroughs, wrote another bestseller called Running With Scissors, which sounds absolutely dreadful. Apparently, Robison made out much, much better than his poor younger brother. Robison, being older, was able to get out on his own before his mother's mental illness took over.
While I found this book interesting and a quick read, the author is awfully proud of himself and his success. He does seem a tad self-absorbed. Though I understand his pride, because it must have been a very difficult road for him. He also strikes me as beyond ordinary in terms of ability. So I don't know if he is typical of most people with Asperger's. Still it is a very interesting read and I do feel it gave insight into the mind of those with Asperger's Syndrome.
For more book reviews see 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
This is the follow up book to Robison's New York Times bestseller, Look Me in the Eye. I am curious now to read this first book. His brother, Augusten Burroughs, wrote another bestseller called Running With Scissors, which sounds absolutely dreadful. Apparently, Robison made out much, much better than his poor younger brother. Robison, being older, was able to get out on his own before his mother's mental illness took over.
While I found this book interesting and a quick read, the author is awfully proud of himself and his success. He does seem a tad self-absorbed. Though I understand his pride, because it must have been a very difficult road for him. He also strikes me as beyond ordinary in terms of ability. So I don't know if he is typical of most people with Asperger's. Still it is a very interesting read and I do feel it gave insight into the mind of those with Asperger's Syndrome.
For more book reviews see 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Friday, February 1, 2013
Daybook
I used Bookworm's daybook entry as inspiration a post or two ago. This time I am using Jen's Midweek Daybook entry:
Outside my window: It is very dark but there is a dusting of snow over the ground. In fact it was so windy last night that there is a dusting of snow all over my screen porch!
I am thinking . . . about cleaning my house. I have people coming this evening.
I am thankful . . . for a warm home, for God and all His blessings. For coffee and a laptop and electricity.
In the kitchen . . . the kitchen is an untidy mess right now. It is number one on my cleaning list. I also have to think of something to eat for dinner tonight. I forget now what I planned last Saturday when I went shopping! Must rummage in freezer and see what I come up with.
I am wearing . . . Hmmm. This is my second daybook type post and since I do most computer stuff in the a.m. before I shower, I am again wearing my pajamas. I do however, occasionally wear things other than pajamas.
I am creating . . . Well, I am not creating but I think I've talked my husband into building book shelves for two bedrooms. I want him to do it with Josh and Sean helping so they learn some manly skills! I am still in the throes of planning for next year. Also I have to plan a lesson for my Religious Education class on Sunday.
I am reading . . . I'm still reading Robin Hood but this week I also started reading a book called Be Different. I'll be reporting on that in my Sunday morning 52 Books post.
I am hoping . . . that we'll figure out a solution to Sean's issues. Jesus, I trust in you!
I am looking forward to . . . my meeting tonight, to see how many are interested in the program we are trying to start up for 7th and 8th graders next year.
Around the house . . . I am still enjoying not having cleaners come in and disrupt my life and make me feel so guilty and disconnected from my own house. I am actually enjoying puttering around the house cleaning here and there. We are still a cluttery mess, but I have been enjoying doing the scrubbing and vacuuming. My house is no where near house beautiful and I am sure I am no where near to a germaphobe's standards, but I am pretty satisfied!
One of my favorite things . . . this reminds me! I was trying to find the perfect breakfast read aloud for Becky and Sean and I stumbled across The Story of the Trapp Singers. It's wonderful. We just started it and the kids are really enjoying it. I love read alouds. Rick has started reading The Lord of the Rings out loud to Becky and Sean. And in between my morning read aloud and Rick's evening read aloud, I am reading Famous Men of Rome, usually some time in the afternoon. I love a day punctuated by read alouds!
A Peek into my day. . . Sorry, can't do this one. Oh where is my camera?? Oh where is my camera? Oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where oh wwhheerreeee is my camera?!! (Sung to the tune of one of my favorite Veggie Tale songs).
Outside my window: It is very dark but there is a dusting of snow over the ground. In fact it was so windy last night that there is a dusting of snow all over my screen porch!
I am thinking . . . about cleaning my house. I have people coming this evening.
I am thankful . . . for a warm home, for God and all His blessings. For coffee and a laptop and electricity.
In the kitchen . . . the kitchen is an untidy mess right now. It is number one on my cleaning list. I also have to think of something to eat for dinner tonight. I forget now what I planned last Saturday when I went shopping! Must rummage in freezer and see what I come up with.
I am wearing . . . Hmmm. This is my second daybook type post and since I do most computer stuff in the a.m. before I shower, I am again wearing my pajamas. I do however, occasionally wear things other than pajamas.
I am creating . . . Well, I am not creating but I think I've talked my husband into building book shelves for two bedrooms. I want him to do it with Josh and Sean helping so they learn some manly skills! I am still in the throes of planning for next year. Also I have to plan a lesson for my Religious Education class on Sunday.
I am reading . . . I'm still reading Robin Hood but this week I also started reading a book called Be Different. I'll be reporting on that in my Sunday morning 52 Books post.
I am hoping . . . that we'll figure out a solution to Sean's issues. Jesus, I trust in you!
I am looking forward to . . . my meeting tonight, to see how many are interested in the program we are trying to start up for 7th and 8th graders next year.
Around the house . . . I am still enjoying not having cleaners come in and disrupt my life and make me feel so guilty and disconnected from my own house. I am actually enjoying puttering around the house cleaning here and there. We are still a cluttery mess, but I have been enjoying doing the scrubbing and vacuuming. My house is no where near house beautiful and I am sure I am no where near to a germaphobe's standards, but I am pretty satisfied!
One of my favorite things . . . this reminds me! I was trying to find the perfect breakfast read aloud for Becky and Sean and I stumbled across The Story of the Trapp Singers. It's wonderful. We just started it and the kids are really enjoying it. I love read alouds. Rick has started reading The Lord of the Rings out loud to Becky and Sean. And in between my morning read aloud and Rick's evening read aloud, I am reading Famous Men of Rome, usually some time in the afternoon. I love a day punctuated by read alouds!
A Peek into my day. . . Sorry, can't do this one. Oh where is my camera?? Oh where is my camera? Oh where, oh where, oh where, oh where oh wwhheerreeee is my camera?!! (Sung to the tune of one of my favorite Veggie Tale songs).
Saturday, January 26, 2013
St. Philip of the Joyous Heart - Book 3
I seem to be only able to read children's books right now. This book was our religion read aloud, these past few weeks. I had planned to read it two years ago when Hannah was staying in Rome with the University of Dallas. So I'm a little late. I knew nothing about this particular saint and picked up this book at a used book sale. It is a Vision book. I think Becky and Sean found it fairly interesting. I found it very much so. It is a little bit cloying and dated but for the most part it is well written. It is an older hard back edition and in the back it has the little manilla pocket with a library card stuck in it that used to be the way we checked out library books. There is a stamp on the back that says St. Mary of Celle School Library. First of all, I've never heard of St. Mary of Celle. Secondly, where do you think it might have been located? The last person to read it was Kim O'Conner, January 29. I wonder what year? The book was published in 1957. I wonder how Kim is doing today?
St. Philip was known for his patient perseverance and his cheerfulness (also his ecstasies, healings, visions and levitations). I think it was good to read about him to my often complaining, disgruntled children. I don't know how much scratched the surface, but I am praying some of it penetrated!
One funny thing is that I never knew the origins of the word Oratory. St. Philip seems to have founded them. At the same time I was reading about this to the kids, I was kind of daydreaming about going to England for our upcoming 25th wedding anniversary (in November). I was looking at different hotels in London and I stumbled on one that said it was a very short walk to the Brompton Oratory! This just after finding out what an Oratory is! Do you think that is a sign that we should go to England for our big anniversary? I am certainly reading it as such!
So I am glad I finally read the book and learned about St. Philip Neri. And now I am wondering what our next religion read aloud should be. Any suggestions?
For more book reviews go to 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
St. Philip was known for his patient perseverance and his cheerfulness (also his ecstasies, healings, visions and levitations). I think it was good to read about him to my often complaining, disgruntled children. I don't know how much scratched the surface, but I am praying some of it penetrated!
One funny thing is that I never knew the origins of the word Oratory. St. Philip seems to have founded them. At the same time I was reading about this to the kids, I was kind of daydreaming about going to England for our upcoming 25th wedding anniversary (in November). I was looking at different hotels in London and I stumbled on one that said it was a very short walk to the Brompton Oratory! This just after finding out what an Oratory is! Do you think that is a sign that we should go to England for our big anniversary? I am certainly reading it as such!
So I am glad I finally read the book and learned about St. Philip Neri. And now I am wondering what our next religion read aloud should be. Any suggestions?
For more book reviews go to 52 Books in 52 Weeks.
Thursday, January 24, 2013
This Week (even thought it's only early Thursday morning)
I am stil stressing out over Sean. Things are hard. It is hard to be preserving in mid-January, I find.
But this morning I got up early to get ready to take Sean to his Aquinas Learning and it has been cancelled due to the weather. A little reprieve. Therefore, I decided to make myself another cup of coffee and just try to relax.
I thought I'd take a page from The Bookworm and do a This Week post.
The Weather: It snowed overnight. I hadn't been paying attention to the weather at all, so it completely surprised me. it is just enough to cancel everything apparently. Sean usually goes to Aquinas Learning on Thursday but not today!
I am wearing . . . my pajamas. It is 6:27 a.m. here.
I am reading . . . Robin Hood, told by Roger Lancelyn Green. Very enjoyable. Also, I am slowly reading St. Philip of the Joyous Heart. I only seem to read it aloud a couple mornings a week, but I am enjoying learning about St. Philip Neri, who I knew nothing about before.
I am creating. . . hmmm. I am not a very creative person. Right now I am in investigating and planning mode. I am researching possible schools for Sean to attend for 9th grade. I am also planning for my Aquinas Learning, my homeschool, summer vacations, 25th wedding anniversary, etc. etc.
I am listening . . . Lately I have been stuck on Bach's Goldberg Variations. I've been playing a cd I have (don't even know who the pianist is!) pretty much every morning. I am also listening to a Teaching Company course on The Early Middle Ages. I listen to that when I am driving around in the car. Very, very interesting!
I am watching . . . mostly I watch video clips and youtube clips that the kids want to show me. I've been watching things from My Froggy Stuff and Rhett and Link that Becky shows me. Sean was showing me things on line yesterday, various strange prehistoric animals. On Monday Josh and I sat and watched all 17+ minutes of Martin Luther King's famous I Have a Dream speech.
I am enjoying . . . this is crazy but I cancelled my 2x a month cleaners. They had moved my cleaning time to 8:00 a.m. Friday morning and I just couldn't take it. I am enjoying (and this is bizarre!) having no cleaners and cleaning my house in odd moments here and there. Yes, I am enjoying it, if you can believe it.
From the learning rooms . . . my whole house is a learning room. Right now we are steeped in Roman history, trying to write papers (Josh is halfway through writing a 10 page paper on the Commerce Clause, Sean is about to launch into writing a research paper on some historical figure from Antiquity, and Becky is gearing up for the same), we are also trying to keep up on math so we can have a summer break from it.
On the Menu . . . so far this week:
Sunday - Rick grilled hamburgers and hot dogs
Monday - I made baked ziti
Tuesday - roast chicken
Wednesday - pumpkin pancakes and sausage
Thursday - tonight is pizza night
Friday - not sure
Saturday - not sure
On the calendar . . . today, if the roads are good, I am visiting a possible school for Sean. Next Tuesday Rick and I are hoping to attend another school's open house. Right now we are more interested in that one, but I figured I'd check out this other one today on my own. The March for Life is this Friday (tomorrow). Will and friend are coming back home tonight and then going into Washington, D.C. tomorrow for it. But no one else in the family is going. I am too tired and too overwhelmed and just want to focus on schoolish things. Last year when I went, I was exhausted the next day. I just don't have the energy right now. Maybe next year!
I also have to prepare for a meeting next Friday on starting an Aquinas Learning Schola Alta level at our local center. I am spearheading this and have several people coming over to talk about it.
No pictures! I can't even find my camera!
But this morning I got up early to get ready to take Sean to his Aquinas Learning and it has been cancelled due to the weather. A little reprieve. Therefore, I decided to make myself another cup of coffee and just try to relax.
I thought I'd take a page from The Bookworm and do a This Week post.
The Weather: It snowed overnight. I hadn't been paying attention to the weather at all, so it completely surprised me. it is just enough to cancel everything apparently. Sean usually goes to Aquinas Learning on Thursday but not today!
I am wearing . . . my pajamas. It is 6:27 a.m. here.
I am reading . . . Robin Hood, told by Roger Lancelyn Green. Very enjoyable. Also, I am slowly reading St. Philip of the Joyous Heart. I only seem to read it aloud a couple mornings a week, but I am enjoying learning about St. Philip Neri, who I knew nothing about before.
I am creating. . . hmmm. I am not a very creative person. Right now I am in investigating and planning mode. I am researching possible schools for Sean to attend for 9th grade. I am also planning for my Aquinas Learning, my homeschool, summer vacations, 25th wedding anniversary, etc. etc.
I am listening . . . Lately I have been stuck on Bach's Goldberg Variations. I've been playing a cd I have (don't even know who the pianist is!) pretty much every morning. I am also listening to a Teaching Company course on The Early Middle Ages. I listen to that when I am driving around in the car. Very, very interesting!
I am watching . . . mostly I watch video clips and youtube clips that the kids want to show me. I've been watching things from My Froggy Stuff and Rhett and Link that Becky shows me. Sean was showing me things on line yesterday, various strange prehistoric animals. On Monday Josh and I sat and watched all 17+ minutes of Martin Luther King's famous I Have a Dream speech.
I am enjoying . . . this is crazy but I cancelled my 2x a month cleaners. They had moved my cleaning time to 8:00 a.m. Friday morning and I just couldn't take it. I am enjoying (and this is bizarre!) having no cleaners and cleaning my house in odd moments here and there. Yes, I am enjoying it, if you can believe it.
From the learning rooms . . . my whole house is a learning room. Right now we are steeped in Roman history, trying to write papers (Josh is halfway through writing a 10 page paper on the Commerce Clause, Sean is about to launch into writing a research paper on some historical figure from Antiquity, and Becky is gearing up for the same), we are also trying to keep up on math so we can have a summer break from it.
On the Menu . . . so far this week:
Sunday - Rick grilled hamburgers and hot dogs
Monday - I made baked ziti
Tuesday - roast chicken
Wednesday - pumpkin pancakes and sausage
Thursday - tonight is pizza night
Friday - not sure
Saturday - not sure
On the calendar . . . today, if the roads are good, I am visiting a possible school for Sean. Next Tuesday Rick and I are hoping to attend another school's open house. Right now we are more interested in that one, but I figured I'd check out this other one today on my own. The March for Life is this Friday (tomorrow). Will and friend are coming back home tonight and then going into Washington, D.C. tomorrow for it. But no one else in the family is going. I am too tired and too overwhelmed and just want to focus on schoolish things. Last year when I went, I was exhausted the next day. I just don't have the energy right now. Maybe next year!
I also have to prepare for a meeting next Friday on starting an Aquinas Learning Schola Alta level at our local center. I am spearheading this and have several people coming over to talk about it.
No pictures! I can't even find my camera!
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Processing Speed
Right now I am a bit fixated on helping Sean improve his 'processing speed' as the psych testing he did calls it. We've run across this territory before back when Will was tested and also had slow processing. I don't know exactly what processing means here. But I do think it is connected to the speed with which one writes. Sean writes painfully slowly. Will had been diagnosed dysgraphic when he was 12 or so. This was before he did vision therapy or occupation therapy for it. Sean has had VT which also contained some OT, so his handwriting is legible and he forms his letters way better than Will did so he's not technically dysgraphic, but I think he still really is and needs to work on automaticity and speed now. So I've been perusing the internet trying to figure out ways to help him.
1. I am making up my own copy work using this school script font found here. Hannah managed to download it on my laptop. I can take quotes from things we are learning and have the kids copy it three days a week. On Fridays we do dictation with it, but I'm not strict about the dictation. If they need help with spelling or punctuation, I give it to them. Even after all these years of fits and starts in cursive copywork they still ask questions like "how do you make a lower case f." That's a lack of automaticity which makes their speed go way, way down. (I am including Becky in this too, as she writes really slowly too).
2. I am having Sean do exercises to strengthen his arms. His legs are strong, he can do lots of sit ups in a row, but his arms are weak. It is like they have very little tone in them for some reason. The other kids arms are naturally wiry, but not Sean's. They look so soft for some reason. Anyway, I got a list of exercises from this site. I'm having Sean do the leopard crawl, the wall push and the crab walk as well as trying to do push ups.
3. I just stumbled across this wonderful series of articles on homeschooling a student with dysgraphia. A lot of it is so unschoolish. Play games! Let them develop at their own pace! Be creative and think outside the box! But the articles are full of great suggestions and are very inspirational. I plan to mine them for ideas for Sean (and Becky). One thing I'm going to do is have Sean play with modeling clay while we are reading aloud.
I know that Sean will probably rely on typing and technology for a lot but I still want him to have basic literacy when it comes to writing himself, the old fashioned way. I've said this before, but I came to this conclusion when Will was struggling with this same issue. Everyone was saying accommodate, accommodate! At the time we had someone finishing up the basement in our house. We were talking over plans with him and he was inputting all the info into his laptop and then his laptop died! He didn't pause for a beat. He got out a paper and pen and proceeded to write. Even with all our technology, to be a competent adult, you need to be able to write quickly and accurately. It might just take Sean a longer while to get there, but that's the goal.
1. I am making up my own copy work using this school script font found here. Hannah managed to download it on my laptop. I can take quotes from things we are learning and have the kids copy it three days a week. On Fridays we do dictation with it, but I'm not strict about the dictation. If they need help with spelling or punctuation, I give it to them. Even after all these years of fits and starts in cursive copywork they still ask questions like "how do you make a lower case f." That's a lack of automaticity which makes their speed go way, way down. (I am including Becky in this too, as she writes really slowly too).
2. I am having Sean do exercises to strengthen his arms. His legs are strong, he can do lots of sit ups in a row, but his arms are weak. It is like they have very little tone in them for some reason. The other kids arms are naturally wiry, but not Sean's. They look so soft for some reason. Anyway, I got a list of exercises from this site. I'm having Sean do the leopard crawl, the wall push and the crab walk as well as trying to do push ups.
3. I just stumbled across this wonderful series of articles on homeschooling a student with dysgraphia. A lot of it is so unschoolish. Play games! Let them develop at their own pace! Be creative and think outside the box! But the articles are full of great suggestions and are very inspirational. I plan to mine them for ideas for Sean (and Becky). One thing I'm going to do is have Sean play with modeling clay while we are reading aloud.
I know that Sean will probably rely on typing and technology for a lot but I still want him to have basic literacy when it comes to writing himself, the old fashioned way. I've said this before, but I came to this conclusion when Will was struggling with this same issue. Everyone was saying accommodate, accommodate! At the time we had someone finishing up the basement in our house. We were talking over plans with him and he was inputting all the info into his laptop and then his laptop died! He didn't pause for a beat. He got out a paper and pen and proceeded to write. Even with all our technology, to be a competent adult, you need to be able to write quickly and accurately. It might just take Sean a longer while to get there, but that's the goal.
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